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was made in forty days。＇67＇
Strabo；＇68＇ who accounts for their ignorance of the countries between the Hypanis and the Ganges； says there were very few of those who sailed from Egypt to the Indies that ever proceeded so far as the Ganges。 Their fleets； in fact； never went thither： they sailed with the western monsoons from the mouth of the Red Sea to the coast of Malabar。 They cast anchor in the ports along that coast； and never attempted to get round the peninsula on this side the Ganges by Cape Comorin and the coast of Coromandel。 The plan of navigation laid down by the kings of Egypt and the Romans was to set out and return the same year。＇69＇
Thus it is demonstrable that the commerce of the Greeks and Romans to the Indies was much less extensive than ours。 We know immense countries； which to them were entirely unknown； we traffic with all the Indian nations； we even manage their trade and carry on their commerce。 But this commerce of the ancients was carried on with far greater facility than ours。 And if the moderns were to trade only with the coast of Guzerat and Malabar； and； without seeking for the southern isles； were satisfied with what these islanders brought them； they would certainly prefer the way of Egypt to that of the Cape of Good Hope。 Strabo informs us＇70＇ that they traded thus with the people of Taprobane。
10。 Of the Circuit of Africa。 We find from history that before the discovery of the mariner's compass four attempts were made to sail round the coast of Africa。 The Phoenicians sent by Necho＇71＇ and Eudoxus；＇72＇ flying from the wrath of Ptolemy Lathyrus； set out from the Red Sea； and succeeded。 Sataspes＇73＇ sent by Xerxes； and Hanno by the Carthaginians； set out from the Pillars of Hercules； and failed in the attempt。
The capital point in surrounding Africa was to discover and double the Cape of Good Hope。 Those who set out from the Red Sea found this cape nearer by half than it would have been in setting out from the Mediterranean。 The shore from the Red Sea is not so shallow as that from the cape to Hercules' Pillars。＇74＇ The discovery of the cape by Hercules' Pillars was owing to the invention of the compass； which permitted them to leave the coast of Africa； and to launch out into the vast ocean； in order to sail towards the island of St。 Helena； or towards the coast of Brazil。＇75＇ It was； therefore； possible for them to sail from the Red Sea into the Mediterranean； but not to set out from the Mediterranean to return by the Red Sea。
Thus； without making this grand circuit； after which they could hardly hope to return； it was most natural to trade to the east of Africa by the Red Sea； and to the western coast by Hercules' Pillars。
The Grecian kings of Egypt discovered at first； in the Red Sea； that part of the coast of Africa which extends from the bottom of the gulf； where stands the town of Heroum； as far as Dira； that is； to the strait now known by the name of Babelmandel。 Thence to the promontory of Aromatia； situate at the entrance of the Red Sea；＇76＇ the coast had never been surveyed by navigators： and this is evident from what Artemidorus tells us；＇77＇ that they were acquainted with the places on that coast； but knew not their distances： the reason of which is； they successively gained a knowledge of those ports by land； without sailing from one to the other。
Beyond this promontory； at which the coast along the ocean commenced； they knew nothing； as we learn from Eratosthenes and Artemidorus。＇78＇
Such was the knowledge they had of the coasts of Africa in Strabo's time； that is； in the reign of Augustus。 But after the prince's decease； the Romans found out the two capes Raptum and Prassum； of which Strabo makes no mention； because they had not as yet been discovered。 It is plain that both those names are of Roman origin。
Ptolemy； the geographer； flourished under Adrian and Antoninus Pius； and the author of the Periplus of the Red Sea； whoever he was； lived a little after。 Yet the former limits known Africa to Cape Prassum；＇79＇ which is in about the 14th degree of south latitude； while the author of the Periplus＇80＇ confines it to Cape Raptum； which is nearly in the tenth degree of the same latitude。 In all likelihood the latter took his limit from a place then frequented； and Ptolemy his from a place with which there was no longer any communication。
What confirms me in this notion is that the people about Cape Prassum were Anthropophagi。＇81＇ Ptolemy takes notice＇82＇ of a great number of places between the port or emporium Aromatum and Cape Raptum； but leaves an entire blank between Capes Raptum and Prassum。 The great profits of the East India trade must have occasioned a neglect of that of Africa。 In fine； the Romans never had any settled navigation； they had discovered these several ports by land expeditions； and by means of ships driven on that coast； and as at present we are well acquainted with the maritime parts of Africa； but know very little of the inland country； the ancients； on the contrary； had a very good knowledge of the inland parts； but were almost strangers to the coasts。＇83＇
I said that the Phoenicians sent by Necho and Eudoxus under Ptolemy Lathyrus had made the circuit of Africa； but at the time of Ptolemy； the geographer； those two voyages must have been looked upon as fabulous； since he places after＇84＇ the Sinus Magnus； which I apprehend to be the Gulf of Siam； an unknown country； extending from Asia to Africa； and terminating at Cape Prassum； so that the Indian Ocean would have been no more than a lake。 The ancients who discovered the Indies towards the north； advancing eastward； placed this unknown country to the south。
11。 Of Carthage and Marseilles。 The law of nations which prevailed at Carthage was very extraordinary： all strangers who traded to Sardinia and towards Hercules' Pillars this haughty republic sentenced to be drowned。 Her civil polity was equally surprising； she forbade the Sardinians to cultivate their lands； upon pain of death。 She increased her power by her riches； and afterwards her riches by her power。 Being mistress of the coasts of Africa； which are washed by the Mediterranean； she extended herself along the ocean。 Hanno； by order of the senate of Carthage； distributed thirty thousand Carthaginians from Hercules' Pillars as far as Cerne。 This place； he says； is as distant from Hercules' Pillars as the latter from Carthage。 This situation is extremely remarkable。 It lets us see that Hanno limited his settlements to the 25th degree of north latitude； that is； to two or three degrees south of the Canaries。
Hanno being at Cerne undertook another voyage； with a view of making further discoveries towards the south。 He took but little notice of the continent。 He followed the coast for twenty…six days； when he was obliged to return for want of provisions。 The Carthaginians； it seems； made no use of this second enterprise。 Scylax says＇85＇ that the sea is not navigable beyond Cerne； because it is shallow； full of mud and sea…weeds：＇86＇ and； in fact； there are many of these in those latitudes。＇87＇ The Carthaginian merchants mentioned by Scylax might find obstacles which Hanno； who had sixty vessels of fifty oars each； had surmounted。 Difficulties are at most but relative； besides； we ought not to confound an enterprise in which bravery and resolution must be exerted with things that require no extraordinary conduct。
The relation of Hanno's voyage is a fine fragment of antiquity。 It was written by the very man that performed it。
His recital is not mingled with ostentation。 Great commanders write their actions with simplicity； because they receive more glory from facts than from words。
The style is agreeable to the subject； he deals not in the marvellous。 All he says of the climate； of the soil； the behaviour； the manners of the inhabitants； correspond with what is every day seen on this coast of Africa； one would imagine it the journal of a modern sailor。
He observed from his fleet that in the day…time there was a prodigious silence on the continent； that in the night he heard the sound of various musical instruments； and that fires might then be everywhere seen； some larger than others。＇88＇ Our relations are conformable to this； it has been discovered that in the day the savages retire into the forests to avoid the heat of the sun； that they light up great fires in the night to disperse the beasts of prey； and that they are passionately fond of music and dancing。
The same writer describes a volcano with all the phenomena of Vesuvius； and relates that he captured two hairy women； who chose to die rather than follow the Carthaginians； and whose skins he carried to Carthage。 This has been found not void of probability。
This narration is so much the more valuable as it is a monument of Punic antiquity； and hence alone it has been regarded as fabulous。 For the Romans retained their hatred of the Carthaginians； even after they had destroyed them。 But it was victory alone that decided whether we ought to say the Punic or the Roman faith。
Some moderns＇89＇ have imbibed these prejudices。 What has become； say they； of the cities described by Hanno； of which even in Pliny's time there remained no vestiges？ But it would have been