92

MINES IN

CHAP. II.

considerable as early as the age of Solomon . Itis said by Diodorus 1 that the Tyrians first visitedSpain as traders; and, when they had becomeacquainted with the natives, introduced manycolonists, in order to lay a more sure foundationfor their commerce. The building of Gades (now Cadiz ) must have followed soon after thediscovery of the country. Velleius Paterculus 2states the foundation of that city to have beenabout the same as that of Utica in Africa , in thetime of Codrus , 1100 years before Christ, as thedate of the building of the latter city is fixed byAristotle 3 , who adds, as is to be found iv ralg

QoivLKucaic iffTopiaiQ.

At first the Phoenicians established themselveson the defensible island of Gades , but speedilyerected other cities,, especially Carteja, betweenAlgesiras and Gibraltar, Malacca, now Malaga ,and Hispalis, now Seville . Though, for greatersecurity, they first settled themselves in strongpositions, the whole country was in a few genera-tions covered with smaller Phoenician towns, tothe number of more than two hundred. By theconstant immigration of five centuries and thenatural increase, their power was sufficient togain them unlimited authority over the abori-

1 Diodorus, book v. cap. 2. 2 Velleius , book i. cap. 2.

5 Arist. de Mirabil. cap. 146.