BOOK V.] History of Nature. 55 



they find without much difficulty Wells almost in the Depth 

 of two Cubits, where the Waters of Mauritania settle. They 

 build themselves Houses of Salt, hewn out of their own 

 Mountains in the manner of Stone. From these to the Tro- 

 glodites, in the South-west Coast, the Country is four Days' 

 Journey ; with whom is a Traffic only for a precious Stone, 

 which we call a Carbuncle, brought out of Ethiopia. There 

 cometh between, the Country Phazania toward the Solitudes 

 of Africa, above the said Lesser Syrtis : where we subdued 

 the Nation of the Phazanii, with the Cities Alele and Cillaba. 

 Also Cydamum, over against the region of Sabrata. Next to 

 these is a Mountain, reaching a great way from East to 

 West, called by our People Ater, as if burnt by Nature, or 

 scorched by the reflection of the Sun. Beyond that Moun- 

 tain are the Deserts : also Matelgse, a Town of the Gara- 

 mantes, and likewise Debris, which casteth forth a Fountain, 

 the Waters boiling from Noon to Midnight, and for as many 

 Hours to Mid-day reducing again : also the very illustrious 

 Town Garama, the head of the Garamantes. All which 

 Places the Roman Arms have conquered, and over them 

 Cornelius Balbus triumphed ; the only Man of Foreigners 

 that was honoured with the (Triumphant) Chariot, and en- 

 dowed with the Freedom of Roman Citizens ; because being 

 born at Gades, he and his Uncle, Balbus the Elder, were 

 made free Denizens of Rome. And this wonder our Writers 

 have recorded, that besides the Towns above named by him 

 conquered, himself in his Triumph carried the Names and 

 Images, not of Cydamus and Garama only, but also of all 

 the other Nations and Cities ; which went in this Order. 

 The Town Tabidium, the Nation Niteris ; the Town Neglige- 

 mela, the Nation Bubeium ; the Town Vel, the Nation Enipi ; 

 the Town Thuben, the Mountain named Niger; the Towns 

 Nitibrum and Rapsa ; the Nation Discera, the Town Debris ; 

 the River Nathabur, the Town Tapsagum, the Nation Nan- 

 nagi, the Town Boin ; the Town Pege, the River Dasibari. 

 Presently these Towns lying continuously, Baracum, Buluba, 

 Alasi, Balsa, Galla, Maxala, and Zinnia. The Mountain 

 Gyri, wherein Titus hath reported "that precious Stones 



