BOOK V.] History of Nature. 47 



Africa. For Writers have given out that, rising out of the 

 very midst of the Sands, it mounteth to the Sky, rough and 

 ill-favoured on that side which lieth toward the Shore of the 

 Ocean, unto which it gave the Denomination : and the same 

 is shadowy, full of Woods, and watered with Sources of 

 spouting Springs, on the way which looketh to Africa, with 

 Fruits of all sorts, springing of their own accord, one under 

 another, in such a manner, that at no time is Fulness of Plea- 

 sure wanting. Moreover, that none of the Inhabitants are 

 seen by day : all is silent, like the Awe of Solitude : a secret 

 Devotion creepeth into the Hearts of those who approach 

 near to it ; and besides this Awe they are lifted above the 

 Clouds, even close to the Circle of the Moon : that the same 

 (Mountain) shineth by Night with frequent Fires, and is 

 filled with the Lasciviousness of ^Egi panes and Satyrs ; that it 

 resoundeth with the Melody of Flutes and Pipes ; and 

 ringeth with the Sound of Drums and. Cymbals. These are 

 the Reports of famous Writers, besides the Labours of 

 Hercules and Perseus there. The Way unto it is exceedingly 

 long, and not certainly known. There were also Com- 

 mentaries of Hanno, the General of the Carthaginians, who 

 in the time of the most flourishing state of Carthage had a 

 charge to explore the Circuit of Africa. Him, most of the 

 Greeks as well as our Countrymen following, among some 

 other fabulous Stories, have written that he also built many 

 Cities there : but neither any Memorial, nor Token of them 

 remain. When Scipio jEmylianus carried on War in Africa, 

 PolyUus, the Writer of the Annals, received from him a Fleet ; 

 and having sailed about for the purpose of searching into that 

 part of the World, he reported, That from the said Mountain 

 West, toward the Forests full of Wild Beasts, which Africa 

 breedeth, to the River Anatis, are 485 Miles ; and from 

 thence to Lixus, 205. Agrippa saith, That Lixus is distant 

 from the Straits of Gades 112 Miles. Then, that there is a 

 Bay called Saguti; also a Town upon the Promontory, 

 Mutelacha. Rivers, Subur and Sala. That the Port 

 Rutubis is from Lixus 313 Miles. Then the Promontory 

 of the Sun. The Port Risardir : the Gaetulians, Autololes, 



