Leo Africanus

"The ancient Africans were much addicted to idolatrie, even as certain of the Persians are at this day, some of whom worship the sunne, and others the fire, for their gods. For the saide Africans had in times past magnificent and most stately temples built and dedicated, as well to the honour of the sunne as of the fire. In these temples day and night they kept fire kindled, giving diligent heed that it might not at any time be extinguished."

"The fifteene kingdomes of the land of Negros knowen to us, are all situate upon the river of Niger, and upon other rivers which fall thereinto. And all the land of Negros standeth betweene two vast deserts, for on the one side lieth the maine desert betweene Numidia and it, which extendeth it selfe unto this very land: and the south side thereof adjoineth upon another desert, which stretcheth from thence to the maine Ocean: in which desert are infinite nations unknowen to us, both by reason of the huge distance of place, and also in regarde of the diversitie of languages and religions. They have no traffique at all with our people, but we have heard oftentimes of their traffique with the inhabitants of the Ocean sea shore."