Plinics Natnrall Hiftoiie, ' pi 



A a river of the fame name^neere now unto the wildernefife^much infefted and annoled with whole 

 beards of Elephants^buc much more with the nation of the Autololcs, through which lieth the 

 way to Atlas the moft fabulous mountaine bf all Affrickc. For writers have given out, that this 

 hill arifing out of thevery middeftof thefeafands^mounteth up to the skip, all rough jillfavou- 

 redj and overgrowne on that fide that lieth to the fhoreof theOcean, unto which it gave the 

 name : and yet the fame is fhadowie/ull of wioodsjand watered with veines of fpouting Springs 

 that way which looketh to Affricke_,with fruitfull trees of all forts^fpringing of the owne accord^ 

 and bearing one under another^in fuch fort^that at no time a man can want his pleafure and de- 

 light to his full contentment. Moreover, that none of the inhabitants there are feenealldaf 

 long r all is ftill and filent, like the fearefull horror in defert wildernefle^ and as men come neeset 



B and neerer unto it,a fecret devotion arifeth in their harts ; and befidcs this fearc and horror^they 

 are lifted up above the clouds,and even clofe to the tiTclc of the Moohe. Over and belidesjthat 

 the fame hillfhineth oftentimes with m^ny flafhes of ffres^and is haunted with the wanton lalci- 

 vious ^gipancs and Satyres^whcreof it is fuUjthat it refoiindeth widi noife of haut-boies^ipipeSj 

 and fifesjand ringethagaine with the found of tabersj tihibrels, and cymbals. Thefe bee the rc_: 

 ports of great and famous writers jto fay nothing of the labours and works both of Herculesznd 

 Ferfis there : and to conclude^that the way untp it is exceeding great^and not certainely knownCo i 

 Bookes there were befides of Hanno^ a great captaine and commander among the Carthagini- 

 ansjwho inthetimeof themoflflourilliingflateof Carthage,hada charge and commiifion to 

 difcover and furvey the whole compaffe of Alfricke . Him, mofl of the Greeke s as well as out 



C countreymenfoUowing^amongfome other fabulous iloriesjhave written thathe alfo built ma- 

 ny citties there : but neither memoriall upon rccordjuor any token of them at all is left extante 

 VsJh\\tsScipoM'9ijlianmmitt^iv\ Affrick,iP^/y^/Vi^^ the writer of the Annales, received of him 

 a fleet : who havingfailed about of purpofe to fearch into that part of the world, hath put thus 

 much downe in writing. That from the faid mountaine Wef^, toward the forre'fts full of wild 

 beaftsjwhich Affricke breedeth^unto the river Ahatisjare 485 miles. And from thence to LJxus 

 20 '^.Jgrii^pa faithjThatLixus is diilaht from the ftreighis of Gades 1 1 2 miles. Then^that there 

 is an arme of the fea called Saguti, Alfo a townc upon thePromontoriejMutelacha.RiverSjSu- 

 bur and SaIa.Morcover3that the haven Rutiibis is from Lixus 313 miles. And fo forward to the 

 Promontorie of the Sunne.The port or haven Rifardir : the G^etulians, Autololesjihe river Co- 



D fcnusjthe nation of the Scelatites and Maffalians. The rivers Mafaral and Darat^wherin Croco- 

 diles are engendred. Thenforward, that there isagulfeof 51^ miles, enclofcd within the pro- 

 montorie or cape of the mountaine Barce^running along into the VVeft^which is called Surren- 

 tium. After it,the river Palfus5beyond which areilie JEthyopiansPerorfijand at.thcifbacke are 

 the Pharufi. Vpon whom joine the midlanders^to wit^theGactuliandars. But upon the coal^ are 

 the iEthyopianDaratiteSjthcrivcrBambotus/uIiof Crocodiles S^Hippopotames^/". Water- 

 horfesjFrom which^he faith,That there is nothmgbut mountains all the way as farre as to thatg 

 winch we call Theon Ochema [The gods chariotJThcnjin failing nine daies and nights to the 

 promontorie Hefperium,he hath placed the mountaine Adas in the midway thereof, which by 

 all other writers is fet downe to bee intheutmoft marches of Mauritania. The firfl time that the 



E Romanes warred in Mauritania, was in the time bi prince CUudms Emperour •. at what time as 

 Mdmion the freed fervant of king Ptoiom^ips^y C.c^ySr flain, went about to revenge his death,' 

 For as the barbarous people retired and fled backe, certaine it is that the Romanes came as far 

 as to the hill Atlas. And not onely fuch Generals as had b eerie Confuls, and were of Senatours 

 degree and calling, who at that time managed and conducted the wanes, but knights alfo and 

 gentlemen of Rome,whofrom that time had government and commaund therc,tooke it for anf 

 honour and glorie^that they had pierced and entred into Adas. [^Five Romane Colonies, as f^it reemcth 

 wee have faid,be in tl^at province] and by that common fame and report,thcre may feeme to lie jj^^ [J'^^'^^'^^Ji;^* 

 a thorow- fare thither. But that is found for the moft part by daily experience,mofl; deceiveable ihrbeginning 



P of all things clfe : becaufe perfons of high place and great worth, when they are lotli to fearch of the next 

 out narrowly into the truth of matters, flicke not for fliame of ignorance,to give out untruths i ^^^V^^'-'^ 

 and never are men more credulous andapter to beleeve and be dcceived,than whenfonie grave 

 perfonagcfathereth alie. And verily I leffc marvel), that they of gentlemens degree, yea,and 

 thofe now of Senatours calling,have not come to the certaine knowledge of fome thingstherc: 

 feeing they fee their whole affeclibriaiid mind upon nothing but exceiie and roioc : which how 



powerfull 



