The workes of Caius Crispus Salustius contayning the Conspiracie of Cateline The Warre of Iugurth. V. bookes of historicall fragments. II orations to Cæsar for the institution of a co[m]monwealth and one against Cicero.

CHAP. 4.

Africke described as was then knowne to the Romanes. Her first Inhabitants.

THe occasion seemes to require, that I

should briefly deliuer the situation of Africke, and touch the conditions of those Nations, with whom we haue had warre or peace. But what places and people haue beene scarce frequented, through the skortching heate, mountaines, and desarts, of them I will relate no∣thing for•• certaine: the re∣sidue•• I will in few words vnsold.

In the diuision of the terrestriall Globe, most men allow Africke for a third part: some fewe would haue onely Asia & Europe: but Africke in Europe. Her borders on the West are the Ocean, and Mediterranean seas;

on the East a spacious breadth of declining land, which place the Inhabi∣tants call Carabathmon. The sea is rough without hauens: the soile is fertill of graine, fit for Cattell, scant of trees. In the Aire and earth, there is scarci∣ty of water. The people are healthfull of body, swift of foot, patient of labour Old age dissolues most of them, except per∣chance, such who perish by the sword or wild beasts. For seldome sicke∣nesse kills any. Besides there are many creatures of venemous kinds.

But what people inha∣bited Africke at first, and who afterward arriued,

and how they were inter∣mingled one with ano∣ther, although it differs from the common report; yet as it hath beene inter∣preted vnto vs out of the Punicke bookes, which were said to be King Hiempsals, and as the na∣tiues of that Country thinke to be, I will dis∣course in briefe. But the credit of it shall be requi∣red of the Authours.

In the beginning, the Getulians and Libians in∣habited Africke, a rough and barbarous people: whose food was the flesh of wild beasts, and such fruites of the earth, as Cattell eate. These men were gouerned neither

by customes, Lawes, nor Magistrates: wandring disperst, they lodged there where night infor∣ced. But after that Hercu∣les dyed in Spaine (as the Africans doe coniecture,) his Army being composed of sundry Nations (ha∣uing lost their Captaine, and many of the Leaders affecting the chiefe com∣mand) disbanded shortly after. Of this number the Medes, Persains, and Ar∣menians transported into Affricke by shipping, sea∣zed vpon the Regions confining on the Medi∣terranean sea; the Per∣sians were inmost from the Ocean; and they dwelt in the Hulles of their

ships turned vpside down, in lieu of Cottages: for neither the soyle afforded materials for building, neither had they meanes to buy or barter any from the Spaniards. The great Sea, and an vnknowne lan∣guage prohibited all com∣merce.

These by degrees, mar∣rying with the Getulians, intermingled themselues with them; and because trying the goodnesse of the pasture, they wandred from one place to ano∣ther, they called them∣selues Numidae. Now euen to this day, the hou∣ses of the Peazart Numi∣dians, which they terme Mapalia, being very large,

and couered with croo∣ked tiles, doe resemble the bottomes of ships.

Vnto the Medes and Armenians, the Lybians adioyned themselues, for they liued next the Afri∣can Sea; the Getulians more neere the Sunne, not farre from the skort∣ching heat, and these soo∣nest inhabited Townes: For being diuided from Spaine by a narrow sea, they resolued to trafficke one with another. The Lybians not long after corrupted their names, calling them in their bar∣barous language, Mauri, for Medi.

But the estate of the Persians soone flourished;

and after that the Nomo-Numidians, because of multitude forsaking their parents, possessed that ter∣ritory, which lying next to Carthage is named Numidia. Then relying on each others support, they inforced their neigh∣bours, either by Armes, or the terrour of them, vnto subiection: they got a name and renowne: those especially which were seated neerest to the Mediterranean sea. Be∣cause the Lybians were lesse warlike then the Ge∣tulians: besides, for that all nether Africke is pos∣sessed by the Numidians; all the vanquished were incorporated into the

name and Nation of the Conquerours.

Afterwards the Phaeni∣cians, some for lessening the multitude at home, some through the desire of rule hauing sollicited the Commons, and others longing after nouelties, built Hippon, Adrume∣tum, Leptis, and other Cities on the sea-coast; and these in short time be∣ing much augmented, be∣came partly a safe guard, partly an honour vnto their first Progenitours.

For to be silent of Car∣thage, I hold it more per∣tinent, then to speake of spa∣ringly, since time warnes me to speede to another discourse.

Neere therefore vnto Catabathmon, which is the frountier diuiding Aegypt from Africke, in the lower sea, first of all appeareth Cirene a Colo∣ny of the Thereans; then the two Syrtes, and be∣tweene them Leptis: last of all the A••tars of the Philenian brethren, which place towards Ae∣gypt the Carthaginians had for a border of their Empire: beyond are some Punicke Citties: the rest of those Regions the Nu∣midians possesse, as farre as Mauritania. The Moores are next to Spaine. Aboue Numidia we haue heard the Ge••u∣lians are liuing partly in

Cottages, others of them wandring more wildly. Behind them are the Ae∣thiopians, then the Coun∣tries skortched with the Solar heate.