The Island St. Thomas.
This Island which Hanno then found, can be no other but that which we call St. Thomas, and hath a very unhealthy Air for Strangers, but else very fruitful, and abounding with Sugar-Canes; and the hairy People which he makes mention of, were Babeons, or Baboons, which Africa in this place breeds large, to the amazement of the Beholders, in great abundance; because those deform’d Monsters, more than any other Beast whatsoever, represent Humane shape.
Hanno’s Return.
Is for his Voyage plac’d amongst the Gods.
Here Hanno stopp’d his Voyage, being hindred from going further for want of Provision. Five years he spent in this Expedition, before he Anchor’d again at Cadiz, from whence not long after he steer’d to his Native Countrey Carthage, where he was receiv’d with no less Wonder than State, insomuch that none before or after him ever gain’d greater Honor, seeming to oblige his Countrey with the hopes of future Profits from these new discover’d Regions: Nay, he receiv’d a Name, and was plac’d amongst their Gods in the Temples, which he being ambitious of, promoted after a strange manner, teaching several Birds to cry, The great God Hanno; which when they could speak perfect, they were let fly in the Air, where to the admiration of all People, they every where repeated their well-taught Lesson.
This the most remarkable Voyage which hapned in the time of the Ancients, considering they wanted several Mathematical Instruments belonging to Navigation, and especially the use of the Compass; and also considering the length of the Voyage to Sierra Liona, whither never any durst venture before: Nay, in so many Ages after Hanno, the famousest Navigators which were set out by the King of Portugal, fear’d a long time to cut their Passage through the Æquinoctial-Line; however in long Process of time, divers Experiments were made, which have now so much improv’d the Art of Navigation.
Testimony that America was not known to the Ancients.
Hanno’s Voyage was four hundred years before the Birth of our Savior; therefore if none have been further than Hanno, until the time the Portuguese sail’d beyond Cape de Bona Esperanza, how could America be discover’d by Sea? How did they steer from the Salt-Islands, or St. Thomas, out of sight of Land, through the Main Ocean, to an unknown World? Hanno himself, who was the stoutest of all Ancient Navigators, not only crept along the African Coast, which made him spend so much time; but not daring to cross over those wide spreading Bays he found, left not his hold of the Shore, and measur’d and search’d every winding Inlet and Creek: And if he found a New World, why was it not known? The more, because his Ambition carry’d him on to get a Name and Reputation by such Naval Discoveries. And how true the Relation of this Expedition is, Pliny tells us, saying, The Journal-Books were then to be seen which Hanno writ in that his African Expedition: Though many of the Greeks, and also of our Moderns, following Hanno, have found several things contrary to his Observations, wherein he makes mention of several Cities built by him, which none ever since heard of, or any have seen, neither is there the least Marks of their Ruines to be found.
This large Relation serves for nothing else, but to shew that they seek in vain herein to give the Honor of the Discovery of America to the Ancients; And as little do those Testimonies signifie that are taken out of Diodorus Siculus, Pliny, Pomponius Mela, and Ælian. It will be worth our time to hear every one of them particularly.
Lib. 6. cap. 7.