8 
A FBI CA AND ITS EXPLORATION. 
500 b.c., was despatched by the Senate of Carthage to 
establish some colonies on the western coast of Africa. 
The fleet which he commanded was composed of sixty 
large vessels, and had on board no less than 30,000 
persons of both sexes. After sailing for two days 
beyond the Columns of Hercules, the fleet anchored 
opposite to a great plain, where a town called Thymi- 
aterion was built, and a settlement effected. Still 
sailing westward, the expedition next arrived at the 
promontory of Solve (perhaps Cape Cantin), covered 
with thick woods. Having doubled this cape, they 
built five other towns on the seaside, and at no great 
distance from one another. They continued their 
southerly course, and at length reached the great river 
Lixus , flowing from Libya ; some wandering shepherd- 
tribes inhabited its banks. Beyond this, people in the 
interior, ^Ethiopian (negro) savages inhabited a hilly 
country, overrun with wild beasts. The Carthaginians, 
taking with them some of the friendly Lixites as inter¬ 
preters, continued their voyage to the south, along a 
desert shore. Two days’ sail brought them to an inlet, 
at the bottom of which was an island about five stadia 
in circumference, to which they gave the name Crene ; 
here they calculated the reckonings of their voyage, 
and found that Crene was as far from the Pillars of 
Hercules as the latter place was from Carthage. The 
next remarkable object which occurred was the great 
river Chretes; this they entered, and found that it 
opened within into a wide haven, containing several 
large islands. The hills in the neighbourhood were 
inhabited by black savages clothed in the skins of wild 
beasts, who drove away our voyagers with stones and 
other missiles. Not far from this was another great 
river filled with crocodiles and hippopotami. After 
sailing twelve days to the south from Crene, the 
Carthaginians came to a hilly country, covered with a 
variety of odoriferous trees and shrubs. The ^ Ethiopians 
or negroes of this coast were a timid race, who fled from 
the strangers, and whose language was quite unin¬ 
telligible to the Lixite interpreters. Seven days’ sail 
