Chap. 1.] ACCOTTlfT OF COUNTBIES, ETC. 377 



"with the surname of Yalentia. At a distance of thirty-five 

 miles from this last is the town of Volubilis, which is just 

 that distance also from both' seas. On the coast, at a 

 distance of fifty miles from Lixos, is the river Subur^, which 

 flows past the colony of fianasa, a fine river, and available 

 for the purposes of navigation. At the same distance from 

 it is the city of Sala', situate on a river which bears the 

 same name, a place which stands upon the very verge of the 

 desert, and though infested by troops of elephants, is much 

 more exposed to the attacks of the nation ol the Autololes, 

 through whose country lies the road to Mount Atlas, the 

 most fabulous* locality even in Africa. 



It is from the midst of the sands, according to the story, 

 that this mountain* raises its head to the heavens ; rugged 

 and craggy on the side which looks toward the shores of the 

 ocean to which it has given its name, while on that which 

 faces the interior of Africa it is shaded by dense gi'oves 

 of trees, and refreshed by flowing streams; fruits of all 

 kinds springing up there spontaneously to such an extent, 

 as to more than satiate every possible desire. Throughout 

 the daytime, no inhabitant is to be seen ; all is silent, like 

 that dreadful stillness which reigns in the desert. A religious 

 horror steals imperceptibly over the feelings of those who 

 approach, and they feel themselves smitten with awe at the 

 stupendous aspect of its summit, which reaches beyond the 



of the 



clouds, and well nigh approaches the very orb of the moon. 

 At night, they say, it gleams with fires innumerable lighted 



* From both the Atlantic and the Mediterranean. According to 

 Poinsinet, Volubilis was the synonym of the Afirican name Fez, signify- 

 ing a * band,' or * swathe.' Mannert conjectures that it is the same as 

 the modern WalUi, or QualiH. D'Anville calls it Guulili, and says that 

 there are some remains of antiquity there. 



2 The modem Subu, or Sebou. D'Anville is of opinion that this river 

 has changed a part of its course since the time of Phny. 



* Most probably the modem Sallee stands on its site. 



* Not in reference to the fact of its existence, but the wonderful stories 

 \rhich were told respecting it. 



5 Like others of the ancient writers, Pliny falls into the error of con- 

 sidering Atlas, not as an extensive chain of mountains, but as an isolated 

 mountain, surrounded by sands. With reference to its height, the whole 

 range declines considerably from west to east ; the highest summits in 

 Morocco reaching near 13,000 feet, in Tunis not 5000. 



