Читать книгу The Natural History of Pliny (Vol. 1-6) - Pliny the Elder - Страница 192

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The Greeks have given the name of Libya3232 to Africa, and have called the sea that lies in front of it the Libyan Sea. It has Egypt for its boundary, and no part of the earth is there that has fewer gulfs or inlets, its shores extending in a lengthened line from the west in an oblique direction. The names of its peoples, and its cities in especial, cannot possibly be pronounced with correctness, except by the aid of their own native tongues. Its population, too, for the most part dwells only in fortresses3233.

(1.) On our entrance into Africa, we find the two Mauritanias, which, until the time of Caius Cæsar3234, the son of Germanicus, were kingdoms; but, suffering under his cruelty, they were divided into two provinces. The extreme promontory of Africa, which projects into the ocean, is called Ampelusia3235 by the Greeks. There were formerly two towns, Lissa and Cotte3236, beyond the Pillars of Hercules; but, at the present day, we only find that of Tingi3237, which was formerly founded by Antæus, and afterwards received the name of Traducta Julia3238, from Claudius Cæsar, when he established a colony there. It is thirty miles distant from Belon3239, a town of Bætica, where the passage across is the shortest. At a distance of twenty-five miles from Tingi, upon the shores of the ocean3240, we come to Julia Constantia Zilis3241, a colony of Augustus. This place is exempt from all subjection to the kings of Mauritania, and is included in the legal jurisdiction of Bætica. Thirty-two miles distant from Julia Constantia is Lixos3242, which was made a Roman colony by Claudius Cæsar, and which has been the subject of such wondrous fables, related by the writers of antiquity. At this place, according to the story, was the palace of Antæus; this was the scene of his combat with Hercules, and here were the gardens of the Hesperides3243. An arm of the sea flows into the land here, with a serpentine channel, and, from the nature of the locality, this is interpreted at the present day as having been what was really represented by the story of the dragon keeping guard there. This tract of water surrounds an island, the only spot which is never overflowed by the tides of the sea, although not quite so elevated as the rest of the land in its vicinity. Upon this island, also, there is still in existence the altar of Hercules; but of the grove that bore the golden fruit, there are no traces left, beyond some wild olive-trees. People will certainly be the less surprised at the marvellous falsehoods of the Greeks, which have been related about this place and the river Lixos3244, when they reflect that some of our own3245 countrymen as well, and that too very recently, have related stories in reference to them hardly less monstrous; how that this city is remarkable for its power and extensive influence, and how that it is even greater than Great Carthage ever was; how, too, that it is situate just opposite to Carthage, and at an almost immeasurable distance from Tingi, together with other details of a similar nature, all of which Cornelius Nepos has believed with the most insatiate credulity3246.

In the interior, at a distance of forty miles from Lixos, is Babba3247, surnamed Julia Campestris, another colony of Augustus; and, at a distance of seventy-five, a third, called Banasa3248, with the surname of Valentia. At a distance of thirty-five miles from this last is the town of Volubilis, which is just that distance also from both3249 seas. On the coast, at a distance of fifty miles from Lixos, is the river Subur3250, which flows past the colony of Banasa, a fine river, and available for the purposes of navigation. At the same distance from it is the city of Sala3251, situate on a river which bears the same name, a place which stands upon the very verge of the desert, and though infested by troops of elephants, is much more exposed to the attacks of the nation of the Autololes, through whose country lies the road to Mount Atlas, the most fabulous3252 locality even in Africa.

It is from the midst of the sands, according to the story, that this mountain3253 raises its head to the heavens; rugged and craggy on the side which looks toward the shores of the ocean to which it has given its name, while on that which faces the interior of Africa it is shaded by dense groves of trees, and refreshed by flowing streams; fruits of all kinds springing up there spontaneously to such an extent, as to more than satiate every possible desire. Throughout the daytime, no inhabitant is to be seen; all is silent, like that dreadful stillness which reigns in the desert. A religious horror steals imperceptibly over the feelings of those who approach, and they feel themselves smitten with awe at the stupendous aspect of its summit, which reaches beyond the clouds, and well nigh approaches the very orb of the moon. At night, they say, it gleams with fires innumerable lighted up; it is then the scene of the gambols of the Ægipans3254 and the Satyr crew, while it re-echoes with the notes of the flute and the pipe, and the clash of drums and cymbals. All this is what authors of high character have stated, in addition to the labours which Hercules and Perseus there experienced. The space which intervenes before you arrive at this mountain is immense, and the country quite unknown.

There formerly existed some Commentaries written by Hanno3255, a Carthaginian general, who was commanded, in the most flourishing times of the Punic state, to explore the sea-coast of Africa. The greater part of the Greek and Roman writers have followed him, and have related, among other fabulous stories, that many cities there were founded by him, of which no remembrance, nor yet the slightest vestige, now exists.

While Scipio Æmilianus held the command in Sicily, Polybius the historian received a fleet from him for the purpose of proceeding on a voyage of discovery in this part of the world. He relates, that beyond3256 Mount Atlas, proceeding in a westerly direction, there are forests filled with wild beasts, peculiar to the soil of Africa, as far as the river Anatis3257, a distance of 485 miles, Lixos being distant from it 205 miles. Agrippa says, that Lixos is distant from the Straits of Gades 112 miles. After it we come to a gulf which is called the Gulf of Saguti3258, a town situate on the Promontory of Mulelacha3259, the rivers Subur and Salat3260, and the port of Rutubis3261, distant from Lixos 213 miles. We then come to the Promontory of the Sun3262, the port of Risardir3263, the Gætulian Autololes, the river Cosenus3264, the nations of the Selatiti and the Masati, the river Masathat3265, and the river Darat3266, in which crocodiles are found. After this we come to a large gulf, 6163267 miles in extent, which is enclosed by a promontory of Mount Barce3268, which runs out in a westerly direction, and is called Surrentium3269. Next comes the river Salsus3270, beyond which lie the Æthiopian Perorsi, at the back of whom are the Pharusii3271, who are bordered upon by the Gætulian Daræ3272, lying in the interior. Upon the coast again, we find the Æthiopian Daratitæ, and the river Bambotus3273, teeming with crocodiles and hippopotami. From this river there is a continuous range3274 of mountains till we come to the one which is known by the name of Theon Ochema3275, from which to the Hesperian Promontory3276 is a voyage of ten days and nights; and in the middle of this space he3277 has placed Mount Atlas, which by all other writers has been stated to be in the extreme parts of Mauritania.

The Roman arms, for the first time, pursued their conquests into Mauritania, under the Emperor Claudius, when the freedman Ædemon took up arms to avenge the death of King Ptolemy3278, who had been put to death by Caius Cæsar; and it is a well-known fact, that on the flight of the barbarians our troops reached Mount Atlas. It became a boast, not only among men of consular rank, and generals selected from the senate, who at that time held the command, but among persons of equestrian rank as well, who after that period held the government there, that they had penetrated as far as Mount Atlas. There are, as we have already stated, five Roman colonies in this province; and it may very possibly appear, if we listen only to what report says, that this mountain is easily accessible. Upon trial, however, it has been pretty generally shown, that all such statements are utterly fallacious; and it is too true, that men in high station, when they are disinclined to take the trouble of inquiring into the truth, through a feeling of shame at their ignorance are not averse to be guilty of falsehood; and never is implicit credence more readily given, than when a falsehood is supported by the authority of some personage of high consideration. For my own part, I am far less surprised that there are still some facts remaining undiscovered by men of the equestrian order, and even those among them who have attained senatorial rank, than that the love of luxury has left anything unascertained; the impulse of which must be great indeed, and most powerfully felt, when the very forests are ransacked for their ivory and citron-wood3279, and all the rocks of Gætulia are searched for the murex and the purple.

From the natives, however, we learn, that on the coast, at a distance of 150 miles from the Salat, the river Asana3280 presents itself; its waters are salt, but it is remarkable for its fine harbour. They also say that after this we come to a river known by the name of Fut3281, and then, after crossing another called Vior which lies on the road, at a distance of 200 miles we arrive at Dyris3282, such being the name which in their language they give to Mount Atlas. According to their story there are still existing in its vicinity many vestiges which tend to prove that the locality was once inhabited; such as the remains of vineyards and plantations of palm-trees.

Suetonius Paulinus3283, whom we have seen Consul in our own time, was the first Roman general who advanced a distance of some miles beyond Mount Atlas. He has given us the same information as we have received from other sources with reference to the extraordinary height of this mountain, and at the same time he has stated that all the lower parts about the foot of it are covered with dense and lofty forests composed of trees of species hitherto unknown. The height of these trees, he says, is remarkable; the trunks are without knots, and of a smooth and glossy surface; the foliage is like that of the cypress, and besides sending forth a powerful odour, they are covered with a flossy down, from which, by the aid of art, a fine cloth might easily be manufactured, similar to the textures made from the produce of the silk-worm. He informs us that the summit of this mountain is covered with snow even in summer, and says that having arrived there after a march of ten days, he proceeded some distance beyond it as far as a river which bears the name of Ger3284; the road being through deserts covered with a black sand3285, from which rocks that bore the appearance of having been exposed to the action of fire, projected every here and there; localities rendered quite uninhabitable by the intensity of the heat, as he himself experienced, although it was in the winter season that he visited them. We also learn from the same source that the people who inhabit the adjoining forests, which are full of all kinds of elephants, wild beasts, and serpents, have the name of Canarii; from the circumstance that they partake of their food in common with the canine race, and share with it the entrails of wild beasts.

It is a well-known fact, that adjoining to these localities is a nation of Æthiopians, which bears the name of Perorsi. Juba, the father of Ptolemy, who was the first king3286 who reigned over both the Mauritanias, and who has been rendered even more famous by the brilliancy of his learning than by his kingly rank, has given us similar information relative to Mount Atlas, and states that a certain herb grows there, which has received the name of ‘euphorbia’3287 from that of his physician, who was the first to discover it. Juba extols with wondrous praises the milky juice of this plant as tending to improve the sight, and acting as a specific against the bites of serpents and all kinds of poison; and to this subject alone he has devoted an entire book. Thus much, if indeed not more than enough, about Mount Atlas.

(2.) The province of Tingitana is 170 miles in length3288. Of the nations in this province the principal one was formerly that of the Mauri3289, who have given to it the name of Mauritania, and have been by many writers called the Maurusii3290. This nation has been greatly weakened by the disasters of war, and is now dwindled down to a few families only3291. Next to the Mauri was formerly the nation of the Massæsyli3292; they in a similar manner have become extinct. Their country is now occupied by the Gætulian nations3293, the Baniuræ3294, the Autololes3295, by far the most powerful people among them all, and the Vesuni, who formerly were a part of the Autololes, but have now separated from them, and, turning their steps towards the Æthiopians3296, have formed a distinct nation of their own. This province, in the mountainous district which lies on its eastern side, produces elephants, as also on the heights of Mount Abyla3297 and among those elevations which, from the similarity of their height, are called the Seven Brothers3298. Joining the range of Abyla these mountains overlook the Straits of Gades. At the extremity of this chain begin the shores of the inland sea3299, and we come to the Tamuda3300, a navigable stream, with the site of a former town of the same name, and then the river Laud3301, which is also navigable for vessels, the town and port of Rhysaddir3302, and Malvane3303, a navigable stream.

The city of Siga3304, formerly the residence of King Syphax, lies opposite to that of Malaca3305 in Spain: it now belongs to the second3306 Mauritania. But these countries, I should remark, for a long time retained the names of their respective kings, the further Mauritania being called the “land of Bogud3307,” while that which is now called Cæsariensis was called the “country of Bocchus.” After passing Siga we come to the haven called “Portus Magnus3308” from its great extent, with a town whose people enjoy the rights of Roman citizens, and then the river Mulucha3309, which served as the limit between the territory of Bocchus and that of the Massæsyli. Next to this is Quiza Xenitana3310, a town founded by strangers, and Arsenaria3311, a place with the ancient Latin rights, three miles distant from the sea. We then come to Cartenna3312, a colony founded under Augustus by the second legion, and Gunugum3313, another colony founded by the same emperor, a prætorian cohort being established there; the Promontory of Apollo3314, and a most celebrated city, now called Cæsarea3315, but formerly known by the name of Iol; this place was the residence of King Juba, and received the rights of a colony from the now deified Emperor Claudius. Oppidum Novum3316 is the next place; a colony of veterans was established here by command of the same emperor. Next to it is Tipasa3317, which has received Latin rights, as also Icasium3318, which has been presented by the Emperor Vespasianus with similar rights; Rusconiæ3319, a colony founded by Augustus; Rusucurium3320, honoured by Claudius with the rights of Roman citizens; Ruzacus3321, a colony founded by Augustus; Salde3322, another colony founded by the same emperor; Igilgili3323, another; and the town of Tucca3324, situate on the sea-shore and upon the river Ampsaga. In the interior are the colony of Augusta, also called Succabar3325, Tubusuptus3326, the cities of Timici and Tigavæ3327, the rivers Sardabal3328, Aves3329, and Nabar3330, the nation of the Macurebi, the river Usar3331, and the nation of the Nababes. The river Ampsaga is distant from Cæsarea 3223332 miles. The length of the two Mauritanias is 1038, and their breadth 467 miles.