Here the poet merely describes them as the common stables of the Morning and of the Sun; but further on he tells us they were near to the dwellings of Merops, and in fact the whole plot of the piece has reference to this. This does not therefore refer alone to the [land] next to Egypt, but rather to the whole southern country extending along the sea-coast. 28. Ephorus likewise shows us the opinion of the ancients respecting Ethiopia, in his Treatise on Europe. He says, “If the whole celestial and terrestrial globe were divided into four parts, the Indians would possess that towards the east, the Ethiopians towards the south, the Kelts towards the west, and the Scythians towards the north.” He adds that Ethiopia is larger than Scythia; for, says he, it appears that the country of the Ethiopians extends from the rising to the setting of the sun in winter; and Scythia is opposite to it. It is evident this was the opinion of Homer, since he places Ithaca Towards the gloomy region,[197] that is, towards the north,[198] but the others apart, Towards the morning and the sun, by which he means the whole southern hemisphere: and again when he says, “speed they their course With right-hand flight towards the ruddy east, Or leftward down into the shades of eve.”[199] And again, “Alas! my friends, for neither west Know we, nor east, where rises or where sets The all-enlightening sun.”[200] Which we shall explain more fully when we come to speak of Ithaca.[201] When therefore he says, “For to the banks of the Oceanus, Where Ethiopia holds a feast to Jove, He journey’d yesterday,”[202] we should take this in a general sense, and understand by it the whole of the ocean which washes Ethiopia and the southern region, for to whatever part of this region you direct your attention, you will there find both the ocean and Ethiopia. It is in a similar style he says, “But Neptune, traversing in his return From Ethiopia’s sons the mountain heights Of Solymè, descried him from afar.”[203] which is equal to saying, “in his return from the southern regions,”[204] meaning by the Solymi, as I remarked before, not those of Pisidia, but certain others merely imaginary, having the same name, and bearing the like relation to the navigators in [Ulysses’] ship, and the southern inhabitants there called Ethiopians, as those of Pisidia do in regard to Pontus and the inhabitants of Egyptian Ethiopia. What he says about the cranes must likewise be understood in a general sense. “Such clang is heard Along the skies, when from incessant showers Escaping, and from winter’s cold, the cranes Take wing, and over ocean speed away. Woe to the land of dwarfs! prepared they fly For slaughter of the small Pygmæan race.”[205]