160 History of Nature. [BooK VI. 



King of Egypt, knew no use of Fire. Some Writers have 

 reported, that in the Country near the Marshes from whence 

 the Nile hath its Source there inhabit a Nation of Pygmei. 

 But where we left off there is a continual range of Moun- 

 tains, all Red, as if they were Burning. Beyond Meroe 

 there is a Country lying above the Trogloditae and the Red 

 Sea ; where Three Days' Journey from Napata toward the 

 Red Sea, in most places they save Rain Water for their ordi- 

 nary Use ; all the Country between is very abundant in 

 Gold. All beyond this Region is Inhabited by the Atabuli, 

 a People of Ethiopia. The Megabari, whom some have 

 named Adiabarse, lie overagainst Meroe, and have a Town 

 bearing the Name of Apollo. Part of them are Nomades, 

 who live on Elephant's Flesh. Just against them in a part 

 of Africa are the Macrobii. Again, beyond the Megabari 

 are the Memnones and Daveli ; and Twenty Days' Journey 

 from them the Critensi. Beyond them are the Dochi and 

 the Gymnites, who are always naked. Soon after you find the 

 Anderae, Mathitse, Mesagebes, Hipporeae, of a Black Colour, 

 but who paint their Bodies with a kind of Red Chalk called 

 Rubrica. But upon a part of Africa are the Medimni ; be- 

 yond then are Nomades, who feed on the Milk of Cynoce- 

 phali : and the Olabi and Syrbotse, who are reported to be 

 Eight Cubits high. Aristocreon saith, that on the side of 

 Libya, Five Days' Journey from Meroe, there is a Town 

 called Tole ; and Twelve Days' Journey from thence is Esar, 

 a Town of the Egyptians, who fled from Psammeticus. It is 

 reported, that they have lived in it for 300 Years; another 

 Town of theirs called Daronis, on the opposite side, on the 

 Coast of Arabia. But that which Aristocreon nameth Esar, 

 Bion calleth Sapa; and he saith, the very word signifieth 

 Strangers come from other parts. Their Capital City is 

 within the Island Sembobitis ; and Sai in Arabia is the Third. 

 Between the Mountains and the Nile are the Symbari and 

 the Phalanges ; but upon the Mountains themselves live 

 the Asachae, with many Nations ; and they are by report 

 Seven Days' Journey from the Sea. They live by Hunting 

 Elephants. The Island in the Nile, of the Semberritse, is 



