Before Chrift 524. ^^ 



According to authors quoted by Strabo, [L. xvii, />/;. 1182, 1 185] 

 the Tyrians (i. e. Carthaginians) had planted colonies along the weftern 

 fliore of Africa to the extent of thirty days' courfe ; and there were 300 

 of their towns on tliat coaft, a definite number being ufed for an inde- 

 finite one, which infers that there were very many ; though 100 trad- 

 ing pofls would be abundantly fufficient for fuch an extent of coaft *. 



When the Carthaginians arrived at Kerne, their cuftom was to land 

 their goods, and flore them in tents on the beach, whence they carried 

 them over to the African fiiore in boats or fmall craft. They ex- 

 changed wine, the ointments of Egypt, the earthen ware and tiles of 

 Athens, and other manufadures, for hides of cattle, deer, lions, ele- 

 phants, and other wnld animals, which abound in that country, tor ivory, 

 and probably, though not mentioned, for gold or gold dufl:. A part at 

 leaft of this trade was carried on at a great city of the Africans, to which 

 the Carthaginians navigated. ISkjlax.l 



There was another branch of the African trade, apparently more re- 

 mote, which I fliall relate in the words of the father of hifi:ory. — ' The 

 ' Carthaginians report, that there is a country in Africa beyond the Pil- 

 ' lars of Hercules, in which, when they arrive, they land their merchan- 

 ' dize, and range it along the fhore. Then returning onboard their 

 ' fhips, they announce their arrival to the natives by making a fmoke. 

 ' Thefe immediately repair to the beach, and having laid down a quan- 

 ' tiry of gold befide the goods, they retire a little way back from the 

 ' fliore. The Carthaginians then land, and examining the gold, if they 

 ' think it a fatisfadlory price, they carry it off: if not, they return on- 

 ' board, and the natives add to the gold, till the fellers are fatisfied. 

 ' Neither party offers the leafi; injury to the other, nor will the Afri- 

 ' cans touch the goods, till the Carthaginians declare their fatisfadion 

 ' in the price by receiving the gold.' [Herod. L. iv, c. 196.] This 

 narrative of fo honourable a commercial intercourfe, which feems to be 

 continued down to the prefent age f , from an author, far fuperior for 



Hanno 4C0 years before Clirift. The opinions of ence. [_Strabo, L. i, />. 82 ; L. xvii, pp. 1181, 



feveral other Spanifh writers are collefted by Cam- 1 182-] 



pomanes In the prologue to his /Inliguidnd marilima f I'he fame filent trade is ftill carried on by the 



de Cartago. Mr. de Bougainville is of opinion Moors of the weft coall of Afiica with the Ne- 



that the voyage was performed 703, 570, or 510, giocs on the River Niger, perhaps the defcendents 



years before Chrill ; and of the three dates he of thofe with whom the Carthaginians traded ; 



thinks 570 the moft probable. [_Memotres ik I'aca- and the fame commercial honour and flriiil integrl- 



demie des infcript. -v. xxvii, J 4.] Mr. Le Roy ty on both fides ftill regulate their intercourfe. 



dates it 610 years before Chrift. [^Miirine des an- At a fixed time a large caravan of Moors arrive at 



ciem peuples, p. 201.] Such minute accuracy is the appointed place of the trade, where they find 



evidently unattainable. gold duft l.iid down in feparate heaps. Befide 



* In the time of Strabo (at the commencement each of ihefe they lay down fuch quantities of cut- 



of the Chriftian asra) alnioft the whole of thofe fet- lery and trinkets as they think equivalent, and next 



tlemcnts were deftroyed, and the celebrated ifiand morning they find their goods carried off, if ap- 



of Kerne was forgotten, or at leaft unknown to proved, or elfe a diminution of the quantity of 



him. Some of the trading pofts on the African gold duft. [.S'A^aiV Travels, p. 302. — Cadamojlt 



coaft near the Straits, however, were ftill in exift- in Purchas's Pilgrimage, p. 810-] The relatioat 



