Of the particular voyages undertaken by the Carthaginians, for the purpose either of discovery or of commercial enterprise, we possess little information; as, however, these topics are most particularly within the scope of our work, it will be indispensable to detail all the information relating to them which can be collected.  The voyages of Hamilcar or Himilco, as he is called by some historians, and of Hanno, are the most celebrated, or, rather, to speak more accurately, the only voyages of the Carthaginians of which we possess any details, either with regard to their object or consequences.  Himilco, who was on officer in the navy of Carthage, was sent by the senate to explore the western coasts of Europe:  a journal of his voyage, and an account of his discoveries, were, according to the custom of the nation, inscribed in the Carthaginian annals.  But the only information respecting them which we now possess, is derived from the writings of the Latin poet Rufus Festus Avienus.  This poet flourished under Theodosius, A.D. 450, translated the Phaenomena of Aratus, and Dionysius’s Description of the World, and also wrote an original poem, on the sea coasts.  In the last he mentions Himilco, and intimates that he saw the original journal of his voyage in the Carthaginian annals.  According to the account of Festus, the voyage of Himilco lasted four months, or rather he sailed for the space of four months, towards the north, and arrived at the isles Ostrymnides and the coast of Albion.  In the extracts given by Avienus from the journal of Himilco, frequent mention is made of lead and tin, and of ships cased with leather (or, more probably, entirely made of that material, like the coracles still used by the Greenlanders, and even in Wales, for crossing small rivers).  In these parts, he adds, the East Rymni lived, with whom the people of Tartessus and Carthage traded:  we have given this appellation to the inhabitants of the isles Ostrymnides, because in the first part of the latter word, the Teutonic word, OEst, distinctly appears.

Hanno was sent by the senate to explore the western coast of Africa, and to establish Carthaginian colonies wherever he might deem it expedient or advantageous.  He sailed from Carthage with a fleet of 60 vessels, each rowed with 50 oars, and had besides, a convoy containing 30,000 persons of both sexes.  He wrote a relation of his voyage, a fragment of a Greek version of which is still remaining, and has lately been illustrated by the learning and ingenuity of Dr. Falconer of Bath:  his voyage is also cited by Aristotle, Pomponius Mela, and Pliny.  The era at which it was performed, and the extent of the voyage, have given rise to much discussion.  Isaac Vossius fixes the date of it prior to the age of Homer:  Vossius the father, subsequent to it:  Wesseling doubts whether it was even prior to Herodotus.  Campomanes fixes it about the 93d Olympiad:  and Mr. Dodwell somewhere between the 92d and the 129th Olympiad.  According to Pliny, Hanno and Himilco were contemporaries; the latter author mentions the commentaries of Hanno, but in such a manner as if he had not seen, and did not believe them.