There is a mine of salt on it every ten days' journey, and men live there. Their houses are all built of blocks of the salt; for these are parts of Libya [17,25] (nation), AfricaLibya where no rain falls; for the walls, being of salt, could not stand firm if there were rain.

The salt there is both white and purple. Beyond this ridge, the southern and inland parts of Libya [17,25] (nation), AfricaLibya are desolate and waterless: there are no wild beasts, no rain, no forests; this region is wholly without moisture.