* 
INTRODUCTION. 
CHAPTER I. 
DISCOVERIES OF THE ANCIENTS. 
Division of the Ancient World into Continents. — Mediterra- 
nean Coast. — Influence of poetical ideas. — Curiosity of the 
Ancients respecting the interior.— -Attempts to circumnavi- 
gate Africa ; Phenicians under Necho ; Sataspes ; Eu- 
doxus.— Voyages along the Western Coast; Hanno; Scylax; 
Polybius. — Eastern Coast ; Evemerus ; Arrians Peri" 
plus. — Attempts to penetrate into the interior ; the Nasa- 
mones ; Cambyses ; Alexander ; Roman Expeditions. 
In every age, gifted with any liberal spirit of in- 
quiry, the discovery of regions before unknown 
has afforded a favourite gratification to human 
curiosity. The contemplation of nature under 
a new aspect, — the view of beings who, while 
they generally resemble ourselves, exhibit fea- 
tures strikingly dissimilar, — even the perils and 
adventures through which the discovery is made, 
kindle always an extraordinary interest. Seve- 
ral expeditions of discovery are mentioned by 
