133 PRINCIPAL EPOCHS IN THE HISTORY OF THE 



Bojador under favourable circumstances, and especially 

 during eruptions, and by the aid of reflection from an ele- 

 vated cloud above the volcano. It has even been asserted 

 that eruptions of Etna have been seen in recent times from 

 Mount Taygetos. (W) 



In noticing the elements of a more extended knowledge 

 of the earth which early flowed in to the Greeks from other 

 parts of the Mediterranean, we have hitherto followed the 

 Phoenicians and Carthaginians in their intercourse with the 

 northern countries from whence tin and amber were derived, 

 and in their settlements near the tropics on the west coast 

 of Africa. We have now to speak of a southern navigation 

 of the same people to far within the torrid zone, four thou- 

 sand geographical miles east of Cerne and Hanno's western 

 horn, in the Prasodic and Indian Seas, Whatever 

 doubts may remain as to the particular locality of the 

 distant " gold lands" Ophir and Supara, whether these 

 gold lands were on the west coast of the Indian peninsula, 

 or on the east coast of Africa, it is not the less certain that 

 this active Semitic race, early acquainted with written cha- 

 racters, roving extensively over the surface of the earth, 

 and bringing its various inhabitants into relation with each 

 other, came into contact with the productions of the most 

 varied climates, ranging from the Cassiterides to south of 

 the Straits of Bab-el-Mandeb, and far within the region of 

 the tropics. The Tyrian flag waved at the same time in 

 Britain and in the Indian ocean. The Phoenicians had 

 formed trading settlements in the most northern part of the 

 Arabian Gulf, in the harbours of Elath and Ezion Geber, as 

 well as in the Persian Gulf at Aradus and Tylos, where, 

 according to Strabo, there were temples similar in their 



