22 DISCOVERIES OF THE ANCIENTS. 
shores of the then known world. His representation 
of the western coast agrees nearly with that of 
Hanno, except that it reaches no farther than 
Cerne ; beyond which, he asserts that the accu- 
mulation of mud and sea- weed renders navigation 
impossible. Here the Phenicians carried on trade 
with the Ethiopians, a race who exceeded all other 
men in stature, and even chose their kings on ac- 
count of that quality of body* Ivory was the 
chief object of trade, and was here so abundant, 
that the natives made it into cups, and employed 
it in adorning, not themselves only, but even their 
horses. They abounded in horses and cattle 5 
lived chiefly on flesh and milk, and made, as well 
as imported, a great deal of wine. Other imports 
were Egyptian unguent, Athenian cloths, and 
various domestic utensils. It was reported by 
some, that the coast, from this point, reached 
across in a direct line towards Egypt, and that 
Africa thus formed a peninsula, of which the 
greatest length was from east to west. 
This coast, at a much later period, excited the 
curiosity of the Roman conquerors. Polybius, 
the celebrated historian, was sent by Scipio to 
make an exploratory voyage in this direction. 
It is much to be regretted, that we should possess 
no record of an expedition made by so able and 
judicious an observer. Pliny has presex'ved only 
a very meagre itinerary, from which, however, 
