48 History of Nature. [BOOK V. 



the River Cosenus, the Nation of the Scelatiti and Massati. 

 The Rivers Masatal and Darat, wherein Crocodiles are pro- 

 duced. Then a Bay of 516 Miles, enclosed within the Promon- 

 tory of the Mountain Barce, running out into the West, which 

 is called Surrentium . After it, the River Palsus, beyond which 

 are the ^Ethiopian Perorsi, and at their back are the Pharusi. 

 Upon whom join the inland People, the Geetuli Darae. But 

 upon the Coast are the ^Ethiopian Daratitee ; the River 

 Bambotus full of Crocodiles and Hippopotami. From which, 

 he saith, there is a Continuation of Mountains as far as to 

 that which we call Theon-Ochema (the Gods' Chariot). 

 Then, in sailing nine Days and Nights to the Promontory 

 Hesperium, he hath placed the Mountain Atlas in the mid- 

 way ; which by all other Writers is set down to be in the 

 utmost Borders of Mauritania. The Romans first warred in 

 Mauritania, in the time of Claudius the Prince : when 

 JEdcemon, the Freedman of King Ptolemceus, who was 

 slain by C. Ccesar, endeavoured to avenge his Death. For 

 as the Barbarians fled backward, the Romans came to the 

 Mountain Atlas. And not only to such Generals as had 

 been Consuls, and to such as were of the Senate, who at that 

 time managed affairs, but to Knights also, who from that 

 time had command there, was it a glory to have pene- 

 trated to the Atlas. *Five Roman Colonies, as we have 

 said, are in that Province, and by common fame it may seem 

 to be accessible. But this is found for the most part by 

 Experience very fallacious : because Persons of high Rank, 

 when it is irksome to search out the Truth, find it not irk- 

 some through the shame of Ignorance, to give out Untruths : 

 and never are Men more credulous to be deceived than when 

 some grave Author fathereth the lie. And indeed I less 

 wonder, that things are not known, when they of the Eques- 

 trian Order, and those now also of the Senatorial Rank, 

 admire nothing but Luxury: which very powerful and pre- 

 vailing Force is seen when Forests are searched for Ivory and 

 Citron-trees : and all the Rocks in Getulia for Murices and 



* It seemeth that this clause is to be set in the beginning of the next 

 chapter. 





