

382 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 



Arabia probably had not then fet itfclf up as a rival to 

 this fide of the Red Sea, nor had it introduced from Abyfli- 

 nia the myrrh and frankincenfe, as it did afterwards, for 

 there is no doubt that the principal mart, and growth of 

 thefe gums, were always near Saba. Upon the confumption 

 increasing, they, however, were tranfplanted thence into 

 Arabia, where the myrrh has not fucceeded. 



The Troglodyte extended himfelf ilill farther fouth. As 

 an aftronomer, he was to difengage himfelf from the tro- 

 pical rains and cloudy ikies that hindered his correfpon- 

 dent obfervations with his countrymen at Meroe and Thebes. 

 As he advanced within the fouthern tropic, he, however, 

 flill found rains, and made his houfes fuch as the fears of 

 a deluge had inftruclcd him to do. He found there folid and 

 high mountains, in a fine climate ; but, luckier than his 

 countrymen to the northward, he found gold and filver in 

 large quantities, which determined his occupation, and made 

 the riches and confequence of his country. In thefe moun- 

 tains, called the Mountains of So/via, large quantities of both 

 metals were difcovered in their pure unmixed ftate, lying 

 in globules without alloy, or any neceflity of preparation or 

 feparatiori. 



The balance of trade, fo long againft the Arabian and 

 African continents, turned now in their favour from the 

 immenfe influx of thefe precious metals, found in the 

 mountains of Sofala, jufl on the verge of the fouthern tro- 

 pical rains. 



Gold and fiver had been fixed upon in India as proper 

 returns for their manufactures and produce. It is impoifi- 



' ble 



