164 History of Nature. [BooK VI. 



they were seen there until Carthage was taken. Beyond 

 these Isles also there are said to he two Islands of Hesperides. 

 But so uncertain are all things concerning these parts, that 

 Statins Sebosus affirmeth, it is Forty Days' Sailing from the 

 Islands of the Gorgones along the Coast of Atlas, to the 

 Isles of the Hesperides ; and from thence to Hesperion- 

 Ceras, one. As little certainty there is concerning the 

 Islands of Mauritania. In this only they all agree, that Juba 

 discovered some few of them over against the Autololes, in 

 which he purposed to dye Gsetulian Purple. 1 



CHAPTER XXXII. 

 Of the Fortunate Islands. 



SOME Authors think, that the Fortunate Islands, and 

 some others besides them, are beyond the Autololes ; among 

 whom the same Sebosus spoke of their Distances : and parti- 

 cularly that the Island Junonia is from Gades 750 Miles ; 

 and that from it westward the Isles Pluvialia and Capraria 

 are as much : also that in the Island Pluvialia there is no 

 Water but what they have by Showers. From them to the 

 Fortunate Islands is 250 Miles ; they lie eight Miles from the 

 Coast of Mauritania to the Left Hand, called the Coast of 

 the Sun, in a Valley, because it is like a Valley or Hollow ; 

 and it is also called Planaria, as resembling an even Plain. 

 This Valley containeth in Circuit 300 Miles: wherein are 

 Trees so luxuriant that they grow to the Height of 144 

 Feet. Concerning the Islands named Fortunate, Juba 

 learned by diligent inquiry, that they lie from the South 

 near to the West 625 Miles from the Islands Purpurarise : 

 so that to Sail thither a Man must pass 250 Miles above the 

 West, and then for 75 Miles bend his course Eastward. He 

 saith, moreover, that the first of these Islands is called Om- 

 brion, wherein are no Tokens of Houses. Also that among 

 the Mountains it hath a Marsh ; and Trees resembling the 

 Plant Ferula, out of which they press Water : that which 



1 On which account in the next chapter these islands are called 

 Purpurese. Wern. Club> 



