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Such are the tribes of wandering Libyans dwelling upon the
sea-coast. Above them inland is the wild-beast tract: and beyond
that, a ridge of sand, reaching from Egyptian Thebes to the Pillars
of Hercules. Throughout this ridge, at the distance of about ten
days' journey from one another, heaps of salt in large lumps lie upon
hills. At the top of every hill there gushes forth from the middle of
the salt a stream of water, which is both cold and sweet. Around
dwell men who are the last inhabitants of Libya on the side of the
desert, living, as they do, more inland than the wild-beast
district. Of these nations the first is that of the Ammonians, who
dwell at a distance of ten days' from Thebes, and have a temple
derived from that of the Theban Jupiter. For at Thebes likewise,
as I mentioned above, the image of Jupiter has a face like that of a
ram. The Ammonians have another spring besides that which rises from
the salt. The water of this stream is lukewarm at early dawn; at the
time when the market fills it is much cooler; by noon it has grown
quite cold; at this time, therefore, they water their gardens. As
the afternoon advances the coldness goes off, till, about sunset, the
water is once more lukewarm; still the heat increases, and at midnight
it boils furiously. After this time it again begins to cool, and
grows less and less hot till morning comes. This spring is called
"the Fountain of the Sun."
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