Then, again, some of the classical authorities, as Pliny and Solinus, had admitted into their geographical accounts legends of strange tribes of monstrous men, strangely different from normal humanity.

Among these may be mentioned the Sciapodes, or men whose feet were so large that when it was hot they could rest on their backs and lie in the shade.

There is a dim remembrance of these monstrosities in Shakespeare's reference to "The Anthropophagi, and men whose heads Do grow beneath their shoulders." In the mythical travels of Sir John Maundeville there are illustrations of these curious beings, one of which is here reproduced.

Other tracts of country were supposed to be inhabited by equally monstrous animals.

Illustrations of most of these were utilised to fill up the many vacant spaces in the mediaeval maps of Asia.
One author, indeed, in his theological zeal, went much further in modifying the conceptions of the habitable world.