APPENDIX, 
No. I. 
Description of Central Africa, by Edrisi, the most emi» 
nent of the Arabian Geographers. He flourished in the 
middle of the twelfth century. 
Climate I. — Part I. — This climate begins on the west, 
from the Western Sea, which is called the Unknown Sea, or 
Sea of Darkness, beyond which what may be, geographers 
have no knowledge. There are along its coast six islands, 
called the Fortunate Islands, from which Ptolemy began his 
computation of longitude and latitude ; and it is related, that 
4n every one of the said islands is to be seen a pillar raised of 
stone, of the length of a hundred cubits, each pillar support- 
ing a brazen image, with its hand lifted up and pointing back- 
wards. These pillars are six, and one of them, as it is report- 
ed, is the idol Cades, which is to the west of Andalusia, and 
Ibeyond these no one knows of any habitations. 
In this part of the climate are the cities Ulil, Salla, Toc- 
rur, Dau, Berissa, and Mura ; all situated in the negroes coun- 
try of Meczara. The island Ulil stands not far distant from 
the continent, and in it are found these famous salt pits, the only 
ones that we know of in all the country of the negroes, whence 
they are every where supplied with salt ; for men coming to 
this island load their vessels with salt, and direct their course 
to the mouth of the Nile, which is at the distance of one day's 
