“ We then came to a lake which we reached by sailing up a large river
called Khretes. This lake had three islands, larger then Kerne, from which
proceeding a day’s sail, we came to the extremity of the lake, that was
overhung by large mountains, inhabited by savage men clothed in skins
of wild beasts, who drove- us away by throwing stones, and hindered us
from . landing. Sailing thence, we came to another; river, that, was large
and broad, and full of crocodiles and river horses; whence turning back
we came again to Kerne. Thence we sailed towards the-south twelve
days, coasting the shore, the whole of which is inhabited by Ethiopians,
who would not await our approach, but fled from us. Their language
was not intelligible even to the Lixitre who were with us. Towards the
last day we approached some large mountains covered with trees, the
wood of which was sweet-scented and variegated. Having sailed by
these mountains ‘ for two days,' we came to an immense opening of the
sea, on e^h side of which towards the continent was a plain; from which
we saw by night fire arising at intervals in all directions, either more or less.
“ Having taken in water there, we sailed forwards five days near the land,
until we came to a large bay, which our interpreters informed us whs
called the Western Horn. In this was a large island, and in the island
a salt-water lake, and in this another island, where, when we had landed,
we could discover nothing in the day-time except trees, but in the
night we saw many fires burning, and heard the sound of pipes, cymbals,
drums, and confused shouts. We were then afraid, and our diviners
ordered us to abandon the island. , Sailing quickly away, we passed a
country burning with fires and perfumes; and streams of fire, supplied from
jt fell into the sea. The country was impassable because of the heat.
“ We sailed quickly thence, being much terrified; and passing on for
four days, we discovered at night a country full of fire. In the middle
was a lofty fife, larger than the rest, which seemed to touch the stars.
When day came we discovered it to be a large hill called the Chariot o f
the Gods. On the third day after our departure thence, having sailed by
those streams of fire, we arrived at a bay called the Southern Horn,
at the bottom of which lay an island like the former, having a lake, and
in this another island full of savage people, the greater part of whom
were women, whose bodies were hairy, and whom our interpreters called
gorillas. Though we pursued the men, we could not seize any of them,
but all fled. from us, escaping over the precipices, and defending themselves
with stones. Three women were, however, taken; but they attacked
their conductors with their teeth and hands, and could not be prevailed
on to accompany us. Having killed them, we flayed them, and brought
their skins with us to Carthage. We did not sail farther on, our provisions
failing us.” .
Thus far the famous narrative, a fragment which, brief as it is, has
become the subject of volumes. It has been translated into many languages,
and several times into English. The following comments, extracted
from some of these, represent the views of various schools, and certainly
add to its interest.*
“ T h e P e r ip lu s o f H a n n o , -Kin g o f t h e K a r ch e d o n ia n s , c o n c e r n in g
t h e L y b ia n P a r t s o f t h e E a r t h b e y o n d t h e Pi l l a r s o f .
H e r a k l e s , w h ic h h e d e d ic a t e d t o K r o n o s , t h e
g r e a t e s t G o d , a n d t o a l l t h e g od s
D W E L L I N G W I T H H I M . ” +
“ Some of the modem critics.contend without any proof that the Peri-
plus which has come down to us is a work, not of the Karchedonian
Hannon, King of Karchedon, but of some other person. Others again,
o f different opinion, accept and affirm with ancient proof that this work
is the genuine production of Hannon, which is indeed true. Far Aris-
toteles of Kyrene also mentions it in the book ‘ Aboqt. remarkable relations’,
speaking thus, ‘ It is said that all the parts beyond the Heracleian
Straits burn, some- constantly, some only during the night, as the Periplus
o f Hannon affirms.’ ’’ .
From Ancient Fragments o f the Phoenician, Chaldean, Egyptian, Tyrian,
Carthagenian, Indian, Persian, and other writers,
B y I s a a c P r e s t o n C o r r y , E sq ., F e llo w o f C a iu s , C am b r id g e . $
' “ The Periplus of Hanno is an account of the earliest voyage of discovery
extant... With respect to its age, Falconer agrees with Bougainville
in referring it to the sixth century before the Christian E r a ... It
may be sufficient, however, to remark that Thymiatherion the first of the
colonies planted by Hanno, occupies a position very nearly, perhaps
precisely the same with that of the present commercial city of Mogadore.
The promontory of Soloeis corresponds with Cape Bojador nearly opposite
to the Canaries. Karikdn-Teikhos, Gytta, Akra, Melitta and Arambys
are placed between Cape Bojador and the Rio D’Ouro which is supposed
to be the Lixus. Kerne is laid down as the island of Arguin under the
southern Cape Blanco; the river Khretes is perhaps the St. John, and
the next large river mentioned is the Senegal. Cape Palmas and Cape
Three Points are supposed to correspond respectively with the Western
and Southern Horns, and some island in the Bight of Benin with that
•Of Gorillae. Vossius, however, ■ supposes the Western Horn to be Cape
Verde, and the Southern Cape Palmas, in which case Sierra Leone will
answer to the Okherma Theon, the Chariot of the Gods.”
. * See also Appendix to The Moorish Empire.
- f London, Trubner, 1864: Extract fr om Prolegomena, p. 145.
^ London, 1832. Introductory Dissertation, pp. xxvii— xxix.