96 MELPOMENE. I

Europe, for instance, in length much exceeds tin
other two, but is of far inferior breadth: except in thai
particular part which is contiguous to Asia, the whojl
of Libya is surrounded by the sea. The first perstil
who has proved this, was, as far we are able to judge!
Necho king of Egypt. When he had desisted froM
his attempt to join by a canal the Nile with tin
Arabian Gulf, he despatched some vessels, under tbn
conduct of Phoenicians, with directions to pass bjj
the columns of Hercules, and after penetrating thai
Northern Ocean to return to Egypt. These Phoeni­
cians, taking their course from the Red Sea, enteregi
into the Southern Ocean : on the approach of auturaM
they landed in Libya, and planted some corn in tafl
place where they happened to find themselves; whcMj
this was ripe, and they had cut it down, they again
departed. Having thus consumed two years, they in
the third doubled the columns of Hercules, and re­
turned to Egypt. Their relation may obtain atten­
tion from others, but to me it seems incredible, for
they affirmed, that having sailed round Libya, they
had the sun on their 'right hand. Thus was Libya
for the first time known.

XL III. If the Carthaginian account may be credit­
ed, Sataspes, son of Teaspes, of the race of the Achs-
menides, received a commission to circumnavigate
LibyaVfwhich he never executed: alarmed by the
length of the voyage, and the solitary appearance of
the country, he returned without accomplishing the
task enjoined him by his mother. This man had
committed violence on a virgin, daughter of Zopyrus,
son of Megabyzus, for which offence Xerxes had or­
dered him to be crucified ; but the influence of his
mother, who was sister to Darius, saved his life. She
avowed, however, that it was her intention to inflict a
still severer punishyient upon him, by obliging him to
sail round Libya, till he should arrive at the Arabian
Gulf. To this Xerxes assented, and Sataspes accord­
ingly departed for Egypt; he here embarked with his
crew, and proceeded to the columns of Hercules; pass­
ing these, he doubled the promontory which is called
Syloes, keeping a southern course. Continuing hii