well as the cities of Alele[1] and Cilliba[2], we have subdued by force of anns, as also Cydamus[3], which lies over against Sabrata. After passing these places a range of mountains extends in a prolonged chain from east to west: these have received from our people the name of the Black Mountains[4], either from the appearance which they naturally bear of having been exposed to the action of fire, or else from the fact that they have been scorched by the reflection of the sun's rays. Beyond it[5] is the desert, and then Talgæ, a city of the Garamantes, and Debris, at which place there is a spring[6], the waters of which, from noon to midnight, are at boiling heat, and then freeze for as many hours until the following noon; Garama too, that most famous capital of the Garamantes; all which places have been subdued by the Roman arms. It was on this occasion that Cornelius Balbus[7] was honoured with a triumph, the only foreigner indeed that was ever honoured with the triumphal chariot, and presented with the rights of a Eoman citizen ; for, although by birth a native of Gades, the Roman citizenship was granted to him as well as to the elder Balbus[8], his uncle by the father's side. There is also this remarkable circumstance, that our writers
- ↑ Now called Tanet-Mellulen, or the station of Mellulen, on the route from Gadamez to Oserona.
- ↑ Zaoiiila or Zala, half way between Augvla and Mourzouk.
- ↑ Now GadameZj which, according to Marcvis, is situate almost under the same meridian as Old Tripoli, the ancient Sabrata.
- ↑ According to Marcus this range still bears the name of Gibel-Assoud, which in the Arabic language means the "Black Mountain."
- ↑ In a southerly dh'ection. He alludes probably to the Desert of Bildulgerid.
- ↑ This spring is also mentioned by Pliny in B. ii. c. 106. Marcus suggests that the Debris of Pliny is the same as the Bedir of Ptolemy. He also remarks that the Enghsh traveller Oudney discovered caverns hewn out of the sides of the hills, evidently for the purposes of habitation, but of which the use is not knom by the present people. These he considers to have been the abodes of the ancient Troglodyte or "cave-dwellers." In the Tibesti range of mountains, however, we find a race called the Rock Tibboos, from the circumstance of their dwelling in caves.
- ↑ Cornelius Balbus Gaditanus the Younger, who, upon his victories over the Garamantes, obtained a triumph in the year B.C. 19.
- ↑ L. Cornelius Balbus the Elder, also a native of Gades. He obtained the consulship in B.C. 40, the first instance, as we find mentioned by Pliny, B. vii. c. 44, in which this honour had been conferred upon one who was not a Roman citizen.
