378 plint's natubal histoet. [Book V. 



up ; it is then the scene of the gambols of the .Sgipans' and 

 the Satyr crew, while it re-echoes with the notes of the flute 

 and the pipe, and the clash of drums and cymbals. All this 

 is what authors of high character have stated, in addition to 

 the labours which Hercules and Perseus there experienced. 

 The space which intervenes before you arrive at this moun- 

 tain is immense, and the country quite unknown. 



There formerly existed some Commentaries written by 

 Hanno^, a Carthaginian general, who was commanded, in 

 the most flourishing times of the Punic state, to explore 

 the sea-coast of Africa. The greater part of the Greek 

 and Eoman writers have followed him, and have related, 

 among other fabulous stories, that many cities there were 

 founded by him, of which no remembrance, noi: yet the 

 slightest vestige, now exists. 



While Scipio ^milianus held the command in Sicily, 

 Polybius the historian received a fleet from him for the 

 purpose of proceeding on a voyage of discovery in this part 

 of tne world. He relates, that beyond' Mount Atlas, pro- 



* Or " Goat-Pens ;" probably another name for the Faiini, or Fauns. 

 More usually, there is but one ^gipan mentioned, — the son, according 

 to Hyginus, of Zeus or Jupiter, and a goat, — or of Zeus and ^ga, the 

 wife of Pan. As a foundation for one part of the stories here men- 

 tioned, Brotier suggests the fact, that as the Kabylcs, or mountain tribes, 

 are in the habit of retiring to their dwellings and reposing during the 

 heat of the day, it would not, consequently, be improbable tliat they 

 would devote the night to their amusements, lighting up fires, and 

 dancing to the music of drums and cymbals. 



' Under his name we still possess a " Periplus," or account of a 

 voyage round a part of Libya. The work was originally written in 

 Punic, but what has come down to us is a Greek translation. We fail, 

 however, to discover any means by which to identify him with any one 

 of the many Carthaginians of the same name. Some writers call 

 him king, and others dux, or imperaior of the Carthaginians ; from 

 wliich wo may infer, that he held the office of mffeies. This expedition 

 has by some been placed as far back as the time of the Trojan war, or of 

 Hesiod, while others again place it as late as the reign of Agathocles. 

 ¥alconer, Bougainville, and Gail, place the time of Hanno at about 

 B.C. 570, wliile other critics identify him with Hanno, the father or son 

 of Hamilcar, who was killed at Himera, B.C. 480. Pliny often makes 

 mention of him ; more particularly see B. viii. c. 21. 



• 8 M. Gossehn thinks that the spot here indicated was at the south- 

 western extremity of the Atlas range, and upon the northern frontier of 

 the Desert of Zahara. 



