12 
AFRICA AND ITS EXPLORATION. 
of an extract made from it by a Greek, apparently of a 
much later age, ought not to be weighed against the 
positive indications it contains. 
But Carthage fell at last, after its long struggle with 
Rome, and North Africa became a Roman province. 
The Romans, like the Carthaginians, must have sent 
military and trading expeditions into the interior, but 
of only one of them have we a detailed account. Nero, 
the emperor, though cruel, was enterprising, and seems 
to have had real curiosity about the interior of Africa. 
He actually despatched two centurions with men to 
ascend the Nile from Syene, and solve, if possible, the 
long-disputed question as to its origin. It is needless 
to say, as Mr. Bunbury points out, that they did not 
HIITARCHI'S. 100 B.C. 
really accomplish this object; but they brought back 
information of much interest and value, and undoubtedly 
ascended the river to a higher point than had previously 
been known to either Greek or Roman geographers. 
Seneca heard the story, he tells us, from the centurions 
themselves, and after him we quote the account as 
given by Mr. Bunbury in his ‘ History of Ancient 
Geography : ’— 
“ After a long journey ” (he tells us), “ which they had 
accomplished by the assistance of the King of Ethiopia, 
and the recommendations with which he had furnished 
them to the neighbouring kings, they arrived at length 
at immense marshes, the exit from which was unknown 
to the inhabitants, nor could anyone hope to discover it. 
So entangled were the waters and the herbage, and the 
waters themselves so full of mud and beset with plants, 
