VOYAGE OF DISCOVERY BY PIKEXICIAXS. 11 
passing round the Southern part of Africa, the 
sun was on their right hand, their account 
was disbelieved ; although their mention of this 
very fact, viz., that they saw the sun describe 
its cotLrse from East to West in the Northern 
heavens, (although contrary to their former 
experience,) seems to us now the more clearly 
to demonstrate that they did circumnavigate 
this continent. It was not, however, then 
accredited, for Herodotus, speaking of this, 
says, " They brought back a strange account, 
perfectly incredible to me, another may believe 
it if he pleases ; but when they sailed round 
Lybia, they had the sun on their right hand." 
Eeferring to this voyage, Col. Wilkie, in a 
very ably written article, which appeared in 
the United Service Journal some years ago, 
remarks, that "a combination of natural causes 
would render the navigation of those early 
days not so difficult, as may at first appear, to 
such frail vessels that probably never lost sight 
of land. After leaving the Straits of Babel- 
mandel, and doubling Cape Guardafui, they 
would have, during their IT. E. monsoon, a fair 
wind until they were well to the Southward 
and Westward of Madagascar, and keeping 
along shore, they would soon fall into the 
powerful current that runs along the L' Agullas 
bank, to the Westward." 
