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 Page 309.
 
 THE ADVENTURES 
 
 CAPTAIN MAGO 
 
 A Phoenician Expedition 
 
 B.C. 1000 
 
 BY 
 
 LEON C A H U N 
 
 NEW YORK 
 
 CHARLES SCRIBNER'S SONS 
 1889
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 THE following pages pretend to no original or scientific 
 research. It is their object to present, in a popular form, 
 a picture of the world as it was a thousand years before 
 the Christian Era, and to exhibit, mainly for the young, a 
 summary of that varied information which is contained in 
 books, many of which by their high price and exclusively 
 technical character are generally unattainable. 
 
 It would only have encumbered the fictitious narrative, 
 which is the vehicle for conveying the instruction that 
 is designed, to crowd every page with references ; but it 
 may be alleged, once for all, that for every statement 
 which relates to the history of the period, and especially to 
 the history of the Phoenicians, ample authority might be 
 quoted from some one or other of the valuable books which 
 have been consulted. 
 
 Of the most important of these a list is here appended : 
 
 1. F. C. MOVERS. Das Phoni/ische Alteithum. 
 
 2. KENAN. Missies en 1'hcnicie. 
 
 3. DAUX. Keelirrches siu les Empuria pheniciens clans le Zeugis et 
 
 le Byzacium. 
 
 a 2
 
 IV PREFACE. 
 
 4. NATHAN DAVIS. Carthage and her Remains. 
 
 5. WILKINSON. Manners and Customs of Ancient Egyptians. 
 
 6. HCECKH. Kreta. 
 
 7. GROTE. History of Greece. 
 
 8. MOMMSEN. Geschichte der Romischen Republik (Introduction and 
 
 Chap. I.). 
 
 9. BOURGUIGNAT. Monuments megalithiques du nord de 1'Afrique. 
 10. FERGUSSON. Rude Stone Monuments. 
 
 n. BKOCA and A. BERTRAND. Celtes, Gaulois et Francs. 
 
 12. ABBE BARGES. Interpretation d'une inscription phenicienne trouvee 
 
 a Marseille. 
 
 13. LAYARD. Nineveh and its Remains. 
 
 14. BoTTA. Fouilles de Babylone. 
 
 15. REUSS. New translation of the Bible, in course of publication. 
 
 A few foot-notes are subjoined by way ot' "illustration of 
 what might have been carried on throughout the volume ; 
 and an Appendix will be found at the end, containing 
 some explanation of topics which the continuity of the 
 fiction necessarily left somewhat obscure.
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAP. PAGI 
 
 I. WHY BODMILCAR, THE TVRIAN SAILOR, HATKS HANNO, 
 
 THE SIDONIAN SCRIBE .. .. .. .. I 
 
 II. THE SACRIFICE TO ASHTORETH .. .. ,. ..19 
 
 III. CHAMAI RECOGNISED BY THE ATTENDANT OF THE 
 
 SLAVE .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 44 
 
 IV. KING DAVID .. .. .. .. .. .. 6l 
 
 V. PHARAOH ARRIVES TOO LATE .. .. .. .. 76 
 
 VI. CRETE AND THE CRETANS .. .. .. .. 98 
 
 VII. CHRVSEIS PREFERS HANNO TO A KING ,, .. 112 
 
 VIII. AN AFFAIR WITH THE PHOCIANS .. ., .. 132 
 
 IX. THE LANP OF OXEN .. .. ,. .. .. 148 
 
 X. GISGO THE E \RLESS RECOVERS HIS F.ARS ., .. l66 
 
 XI. OUR HEADS ARK IN PERIL .. .. .. ,. 175 
 
 XII. I CONSULT THE ORACLE .. .. .. .. .. 196 
 
 XIII. THE SILYKR MINES OF TARSHISH .. .. .. 207 
 
 XIV. AN AMBUSCADE .. .. .. .. .. .. 219 
 
 XV. JUDGE GEBAL DISTINGUISHES HIMSELF ,, .. 234 
 
 XVI. PERILS OF THE OCEAN .. .. ., ., .. 243 
 
 XVII. JONO, THE GOD OF THE SUOMI .. v . -. 260
 
 VI CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAP. PAGE 
 
 XVIII. JONAH WAXES AMBITIOUS .. .. .. .. 277 
 
 XIX. BODMILCAR AGAIN .. .. .. .. .. .. 287 
 
 XX. THE WORLD UPSIDE DOWN .. .. .. .. 29$ 
 
 XXI. THE QUEEN OF SHEBA .. .. .. .. .. 307 
 
 XXII. BELESYS FINDS BICHRI SOMEWHAT HEAVY .. .. 314 
 
 XXIII. WK SETTLE OUR ACCOUNTS WITH BODMILCAR ,. 327
 
 LIST OF FULL PAGE ILLUSTRATIONS. 
 
 PAG* 
 
 HANNO PROCEEDED TO DRAW UP THE ARTICLES ,. .. 8 
 
 HANNO CAUGHT UP A LARGE PITCHER .. .. .. .. II 
 
 MY SALUTE 45 
 
 THE IONIAN COMMENCED ONE OF THE SONGS OF HER 
 
 NATIVE LAND 52 
 
 SHORTLY BEFORE SUNSET WE REACHED JERUSALEM .. .. 63 
 
 WAITING FOR THE KING TO SPEAK .. ., .. .. 67 
 
 "DOWN, YOU PHOENICIAN THIEVES!" .. .. .. .. 85 
 
 THE SOLDIERS RAPIDLY CROSSED THEIR LANCES .. .. 86 
 
 PLEASED WITH HIS MORNING'S WORK .. .. .. .. 99 
 
 " THE MELKARTH ! " IO6 
 
 BORNE TO ITS RESTING-PLACE .. .. .. .. .. 121 
 
 HOMER .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 129 
 
 UNAWARES IN AN AMBUSH 132 
 
 HANNO AND CHRYSEIS BESPEAK THEIR ATTENTION .. .. 140 
 
 "IF YOU ADVANCE ONE STEP BEYOND THIS LANCE".. .. 152 
 
 CLOSE TO ETNA .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 163 
 
 UTICA 187 
 
 A. HUGE ELEPHANT WAS BEING LED PAST .. .. ... 191
 
 viii CONTENTS. 
 
 PAG* 
 
 I PROSTRATED MYSELF THREE TIMES 2O2 
 
 AN AVALANCHE OF STONES 22O 
 
 NO QUARTER .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 222 
 
 ON THE VERY POINT OF SLAYING THE CHILD .. .. .. 228 
 
 THE DESPICABLE SYMAN .. .. .. .. .. .. 22Q 
 
 I DID WHAT I COULD TO CONSOLE HASDRUBAL .. .. 247 
 
 JUDGE GEBAL .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 248 
 
 BICHRI AND DIONYSOS BROUGHT THEM BOTH DOWN .. .. 258 
 
 HE DASHED IT TO THE GROUND 262 
 
 SEVERAL OF THE SAVAGES ENTERED THE HUT .. .. 267 
 
 THE GOD JONO .. 275 
 
 BLOWING HIS TRUMPET .. .. .. .. .. .. 284 
 
 THE CHILD HAD FOUND THE LEAK .. .. .. .. 293 
 
 IT SNAPPED A PIKE-STAFF IN TWO .. .. .. .. 301 
 
 THE QUEEN OF SHEBA 309 
 
 IN HONOUR OF THEIR GENERAL 322 
 
 WE WERE COMMANDED TO HALT .. .. .. .. .. 334 
 
 HIMILCO AND CISCO IN ANIMATED CONVERSATION WITH THE 
 
 CHALDEAN SOLDIERS .. .. .. .. .. 327 
 
 MY ACCOUNT WAS SETTLED WITH BODMILCAR .. .. .. 335 
 
 And Thirty -six smaller Text Illustrations.
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 WHY BODMILCAR, THE TYRIAN SAILOR, HATES HAN.NO, THE SIDONIAN 
 
 SCRIBE. 
 
 I AM Captain Mago, and Hiram, 1 King of Tyre, was well 
 aware that my experience as a sailor was very great. It 
 was in the third year of his reign that he summoned me 
 to his presence from Sidon, 2 the city of fishermen, and the 
 metropolis of the Phoenicians. He had already been told 
 of my long voyages ; how I had visited Malta ; how I had 
 traded to Bozrah, 3 the city founded by the Sidonians, but 
 now called Carthada 4 by the Tynans ; and how I had 
 reached the remote Gades in the land of Tarshish. 6 
 
 The star of Sidon was now on the wane. The ships of 
 Tyre were fast occupying the sea, and her caravans were 
 covering the land. A monarchy had been established 
 by the Tyrians, and their king, with the snjfccts^ as his 
 coadjutors, was holding sway over all the other cities 
 of Phoenicia. The fortunes of Tyre were thus in the 
 ascendant : sailors and merchants from Sidon, Gebal, 
 Arvad and Byblos were continually enlisting themselves 
 in the service of her powerful corporations. 
 
 1 Hiram I. reigned from 980 to 947 B.C. 
 
 * Sidon, or Zulon, in the Phoenician tongue means " fishery." 
 
 * Bostra, or Bo/rah ; hence Byrsa, the citadel. 
 4 Carthage, or Kart-Khadecht, the new city. 
 
 3 Tarshish, the Tartessus of the Greeks, Spain. 
 
 * Sufiect, or chouplicth (plural chop/it'ftfm\ the Hebrew and Phoenician 
 magistrates preceding the monarchy. 
 
 B
 
 2 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 When I had made my obeisance to King Hiram, he 
 informed me that his friend and ally, David, King of the 
 Jews, was collecting materials for the erection of a temple 
 to his god Adonai (or our Lord} in the city of Jerusalem, 
 and that he was desirous of making his own royal con- 
 tribution to assist him. Accordingly he submitted to me 
 that at his expense I should fit out a sufficient fleet, and 
 should undertake a voyage to Tarshish, in order to procure 
 a supply of silver, and any other rare or valuable com- 
 modity which that land could yield, to provide embellish- 
 ment for the sumptuous edifice. 
 
 Anxious as I was already to revisit Tarshish and the 
 
 ands of the West, I entered most eagerly into the proposal 
 
 of the King, assuring him that I should require no longer 
 
 time for preparation than what was absolutely necessary to 
 
 equip the ships and collect the crews. 
 
 It was still two months before the Feast of Spring, an 
 annual festival that marked the re-opening of navigation. 
 This was an interval sufficient for my purpose, for as the 
 King directed me to call first at Joppa, and to proceed 
 thence to Jerusalem to receive King David's instructions, 
 I had no need for the present to concern myself about 
 anything further than my ships and sailors, knowing that 
 I could safely trust to the fertile and martial land of Judaea 
 to provide me with provisions and soldiers. 
 
 The King was highly gratified at my ready acquiescence 
 in his proposition. He instructed his treasurer to hand 
 over to me at once a thousand silver shekels 1 to meet 
 preliminary expenses, and gave orders to the authorities 
 at the arsenal to allow me to select whatever wood, hemp, 
 or copper I might require. 
 
 I took my leave of the King and rejoined Hanno my 
 scribe and Himilco my pilot, the latter of whom had been 
 my constant associate on my previous voyages. They were 
 sitting on the side-bench at the great gate of the palace, 
 
 ' The silver shekel was the standard money of the Phoenicians, and was 
 worth about 2s. It was a tenth part of a shekel of gold.
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 3 
 
 and had been impatiently awaiting my return, mutually 
 speculating upon the reason that had induced the King to 
 send for us from Sidon, and naturally conjecturing that it 
 must relate to some future enterprise and adventure. At 
 the first glimpse of my excited countenance, revealing my 
 delight, Hanno exclaimed : 
 
 " Welcome back, master ; surely the King has granted 
 you some eager longing of your heart ! " 
 
 " True ; and what do you suppose it is ? " I asked. 
 
 " Perhaps a new ship to replace the one you lost in the 
 Great Syrtes ; and perhaps a good freight into the bargain. 
 No son of Sidon could covet more than this." 
 
 " Yes, Hanno ; this, and more beside," I answered. " But 
 our good fortune at once demands our vows ; let us hasten 
 to the temple of Ashtoreth, 1 ' and there let us render our 
 thanks to the goddess, and sue for her protection and her 
 favour to guard our vessels as we sail to Joppa. To Joppa 
 we go ; and onwards thence to Tarshish ! " 
 
 "Tarshish! " echoed the voice of Himilco, with a cry of 
 ecstasy ; and as he spoke he raised up his sole remaining 
 eye towards the skies ; he had lost the other in a naval 
 fight. " Tarshish," he said again : " O ye gods, that rule 
 the destinies of ships ! ye stars, 2 that so oft have fixed my 
 gaze in my weary watch on deck ! here I offer to you six 
 shekels on the spot ; 'tis all my means allow. But take 
 me to Tarshish, and vouchsafe that I may come across the 
 villain whose lance took out my eye, so that I may make 
 him feel the point of my Chaleidian sword below his ribs, 
 and I vow that I will offer you in sacrifice an ox, a noble 
 ox, finer than Apis, the god of the idiot Egyptians." 
 
 Hanno was less demonstrative. " For my part," he said, 
 " I shall be satisfied if I can barter enough of the vile wine of 
 Juda?a, and the cheap ware of Sidon, to get a good return 
 
 1 Astarte. The Aphrodite of the Greeks ; the goddess of navigation, am! 
 the national deity of the Sidonians. 
 
 ' The stars in the constellation of Ursa Major were also tutelary deities o< 
 navigation ; the pole-star by the Greeks being called "the Phcenician."
 
 4 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 of pure white silver. I shall only be too pleased to build 
 myself a mansion upon the sea-shore where I can enjoy 
 my pleasure-boat as it glides along with its purple sails, 
 and so to pass my days in ease and luxury." 
 
 " Remember, however," I replied, " that before you can 
 get your lordly mansion, we shall again and again have to 
 sleep under the open sky of the cheerless West ; and before 
 you arrive at all your luxury, you will have to put up 
 with many a coarse and meagre meal." 
 
 "All the more pleasant will be the retrospect," re- 
 joined Hanno ; " and when we come to recline upon our 
 costly couches it will be a double joy to dwell upon 
 our adventures, and relate them to our listening guests." 
 
 Conversation of this character engaged us till we 
 reached the cypress-grove, from which the temple of 
 Ashtoreth upreared its silver-plated roof. The setting 
 sun was all aglow, and cast its slanting rays upon the 
 fabric, illuminating alike the heavy gilding and the 
 radiant colours of the supporting pillars. Flocks of 
 consecrated doves fluttered in the sacred grove, alighting 
 ever and again upon the gilded rods that connected one 
 pillar with another. Groups of girls were frequently met, 
 dressed in white, embroidered with purple and silver, 
 either hastening, pomegranates in their hands, to make a 
 votive offering at the shrine, or sauntering leisurely in the 
 sacred gardens. Ever and again, as the temple-doors 
 were opened, there was caught the distant melody of 
 the sistra, flutes, and tambourines, upon which the priests 
 and priestesses were celebrating the honour of their 
 goddess. Such were the sounds, the modulated measures 
 of the music oiingled with the soft cooings of the doves 
 and the joyous laughter of the heedless maidens, that 
 combined to make a mysterious murmur that could not 
 fail to impress the minds of such as us, rough mariners 
 unaccustomed to anything more harmonious than the 
 groanings of the waves, the creaking of our ships, and 
 the howling of the wind.
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 5 
 
 I went with Himilco to consult the tariff of the 
 sacrifices, which was exhibited, engraven on a tablet and 
 affixed to the feet of a huge marble dove at the right-hand 
 entrance to the precincts of the temple. As my own 
 offering, I selected some fruit and cakes, the value of which 
 did not exceed a shekel, and was just turning back to call 
 Hanno, when I encountered a man in a dirty and thread- 
 bare sailor's coat, who was hurrying along, muttering bitter 
 curses as he went. 
 
 " Help me, Baal Chamalm, Lord of the heavens ! " I 
 involuntarily exclaimed ; " is not this Bodmilcar, the 
 Tyrian ?" 
 
 The man paused, and recognised me in a moment ; and 
 we exchanged the warmest greetings. 
 
 Bodmilcar, whom I had thus unexpectedly met, had been 
 one of my oldest associates. Many a time, alike in expe- 
 ditions of war and commerce, he had commanded a vessel 
 by my side. He was likewise already acquainted with 
 Himilco, who consequently shared my surprise and regret 
 at meeting him in so miserable a plight. 
 
 " What ill fate has brought you to this ? " was my im- 
 patient inquiry. " At Tyre you used to be the owner 
 of a couple of gaouls 1 and four good galleys ; what has 
 happened ? What has brought it about that you should 
 be here in nothing better than a ragged kitonet ? " 2 
 
 "Moloch's 3 heaviest curses be upon the Chaldeans!" 
 ejaculated Bodmilcar. "May their cock-head Nergal 4 
 torture and burn and roast them all ! My story is soon 
 told. I had a cargo of slaves. A finer cargo was never 
 under weigh. The hold of my Tyrian gaoul carried 
 Caucasian men as strong as oxen, and Grecian girls as 
 lissome as reeds ; there were Syrians who could cook, or 
 play, or dress the hair ; there were peasants from Judaea 
 
 1 Gaoul, a round ship, employed in merchant service. 
 1 Kitonot, a short tunic, worn by Phoenician sailors. 
 * Baal M oloch, the sun god, 
 
 4 Nergal, the Chaldean god of fire and war, always represented with t 
 cock's head.
 
 6 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 who could train the vine or cultivate the field. Their value 
 was untold." 
 
 " And tell me, friend Bodmilcar," I inquired, " where are 
 they now ? Did they not yield you the countless shekels 
 on which you reckoned ? " 
 
 " Now ! where are they now ? " shrieked out the excited 
 man ; " they are every one upon their way to some cursed 
 city of the Chaldeans, on the other side of Rehoboth. In- 
 stead of shekels I have got plenty of kicks and plenty 
 of bruises, of which I shall carry the marks on my body 
 for a long time to come. The naval suffect gave me a 
 few zeraas, 1 just to relieve my distress, and had it not 
 been for that, I should not have had a morsel of bread 
 to keep life in me. It is now three days since I arrived in 
 Tyre, and to get here I have been continually walking, till 
 my feet are so swollen I can hardly move." 
 
 "You mean you have walked here?" said Himilco, 
 compassionately. " But surely you might have found a 
 boat of some sort to bring you?" 
 
 "Boat!" growled Bodmilcar, almost angrily; "when did 
 boats begin to journey overland ? Did I not tell you I 
 came from Rehoboth in the land of those cursed Chaldeans ? 
 But hear me out, and you will sympathise with my mis- 
 fortune. I started first of all along the coast, buying slaves 
 from the Philistines, and corn and oil from the Jews. I 
 went across to Greece, and made some profitable dealings 
 there. I chanced upon a few wretched little Ionian barques, 
 and secured some plunder so. Then I conceived the 
 project of going through the straits, and I succeeded 
 beyond my hopes in getting iron, and, what is more, in 
 getting slaves from Caucasus. My fortune was made. I 
 was proceeding home, when just as we neared the Phasis, 
 on the Chalybean coast, some alien gods for sure I am 
 that neither Melkarth nor Moloch would so have dealt 
 with a Tyrian sailor some alien gods, I say, sent down a 
 frightfu' storm. With the utmost peril I contrived to save 
 
 1 Zeraas, small copper coin.
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. J 
 
 my crew and all my human cargo ; but the bulk of my 
 goods was gone, and my poor vessels were shattered 
 hopelessly. There was but one resource ; I had no al- 
 ternative but to convey my salvage in the best way I 
 could across Armenia and Chaldea by land, consoling 
 myself with the expectation of finding a market for the 
 slaves along the road. But once again the gods were 
 cruelly adverse. We were attacked by a troop of Chal- 
 deans ; fifty armed men could not protect a gang of four 
 hundred slaves, who, miserable wretches as they were, 
 could not be induced by blows or prayers to lift up a hand 
 in their own defence. The result was that we were very 
 soon overpowered, and that, together with all my party, I 
 was made a prisoner. The Chaldeans proposed to sell us 
 to the King of Nineveh, and I had the pleasure of finding 
 myself part and parcel of my own cargo." 
 
 " But, anyhow, here you are. How did you contrive to 
 get out of your dilemma ?" I asked my old comrade. 
 
 Bodmilcar raised the skirt of his patched and greasy 
 kitonct, and displayed a long knife with an ivory handle 
 hanging from his belt. 
 
 " They forgot to search me," he said, "and omitted to 
 bind me. The very first night on which there was no 
 moonlight I was entertaining a couple of rascals who had 
 charge of me, by telling them wonderful tales about Libyan 
 serpents, and about the men of Tarshish who had mouths 
 in the middle of their chests, and eyes at the tips of their 
 fingers ; openmouthed, they were lost in amazement at the 
 lies I was pouring into their ears, and were entirely off their 
 guard. I seized my opportunity ; and having first thrust 
 my knife into the belly of one of them, I cut the throat of 
 the other and made my escape. I took to my heels, and, 
 Moloch be praised ! the rascals failed to find a trace of me. 
 Hut now that I am here, the gods only know what is to 
 become of me. If I fail to get service as a pilot, I must 
 enter as a common sailor in some Tyrian ship." 
 
 "No need of that, Bodmilcar," I exclaimed; "you have
 
 8 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 made your appearance just at a lucky moment. All praise to 
 Ashtoreth ! you are just the man I want. I have a com- 
 mission from the King to fit out ships for Tarshish ; I am 
 captain of the expedition, and here at once I can appoint 
 you my second in command. My pilot is Himilco ; and 
 here is Hanno, my scribe ; we arc on our way to the temple 
 of the goddess, and are going in her presence to draw up 
 the covenants." 
 
 "Joy, joy, dear Mago!" ejaculated Bodmilcar; "may the 
 gods be gracious to you, and repay your goodness ! I shall 
 not regret my disaster at the hands of the Chaldeans, if it 
 ends in a voyage to Tarshish with you. Only let Melkarth 
 vouchsafe us a good ship, and with Himilco to guide our 
 course, we cannot fail to prosper, even though our voyage 
 be to the remotest confines of the world." 
 
 Hanno, who meanwhile had joined us, took out from his 
 girdle some ink and some reeds, with a little stone to 
 sharpen them, and having seated himself upon the temple 
 steps, proceeded to draw up the articles which appointed 
 me admiral of the expedition, Bodmilcar vice-admiral, and 
 Himilco pilot-in-chief. Himilco and myself both affixed 
 our seals to the document, and Bodmilcar was proceeding 
 to do so likewise, feeling mechanically for his seal, which he 
 remembered afterwards that the Chaldeans had stolen. I 
 gave him twenty shekels to buy another, and to provide 
 him with a new outfit of clothes. Then, with Himilco, I 
 proceeded to make my oblation of fruits and cakes to 
 Ashtoreth ; and in the highest spirits we made our way 
 to the harbour, where our light vessel, the Gadita, was 
 awaiting us. 
 
 Early next morning we set vigorously to work. I drew 
 out the plans of my vessels upon papyrus sheets. My own 
 Gadita was to be kept as a light vessel ; but I resolved to 
 have a large gaoul constructed as a transport to carry the 
 merchandise, and two barques to act as tenders to the gaoul, 
 which would draw too much water to approach very near 
 the shore. As an escorting convoy I chose two large
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. $ 
 
 double-decked galleys, 1 manned by fifty oarsmen, similar 
 to those recently invented at Sidon. At this period, the 
 Tyrians had three of these galleys in port ; they were very 
 rapid in their course, and drew very little water ; they were 
 armed with strong beaks at the prow ; were worked both 
 by oars and sails, and were adapted either for war or 
 commerce. 
 
 I determined to use cedar for the keel and sides of my 
 vessel, and oak from Bashan, in Judaea, for the masts and 
 yards. I discarded the ancient method of making my sails 
 of Galilean reeds or papyrus-fibre, preferring to have them 
 woven out of our excellent Phoenician hemp, which the 
 people of Arvad and Tyre are skilful in twisting into a 
 very substantial texture. It was of the same material 
 that I resolved to make my ropes. 
 
 As I was going through the arsenal, and wondering at 
 the accumulated mass of copper, I espied a little store 
 of the beautiful white tin obtained from the Celts in the 
 distant islands of the far north-west. Previously to my own 
 voyage those islands had been all but unknown, and I 
 believe that I may say that my own investigation of them 
 has conferred as great a benefit upon the Phoenicians as 
 they had reaped two hundred years before by the discovery 
 of the silver mines of Tarshish. 
 
 The sight of the copper determined me upon carrying 
 out a plan which I had for some time been contemplating. 
 It occurred to me that if the keel and flanks under water 
 were protected with copper in the same way as the prows 
 had hitherto been, the solidity of the vessel would be greatly 
 increased, and the wood would be far less liable to decay. 
 Accordingly, I made up my mind to protect the prows of 
 the galleys with a hard alloy of copper and tin, and t') 
 sheathe the keels and flanks of all the four vessels witli 
 plates of wrought copper. The copper of Cyprus I rejected 
 as being too soft and spongy for my purpose, and that 
 
 1 For details of the construction of these galleys, see notes at the end ^ 
 the Volume.
 
 1C THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 of Libanus as far too brittle ; but the firm yet ductile 
 Cilician metal suited me admirably, and Kheleshbaal, 
 the renowned Tyrian founder, set to work at once to forge 
 me some large sheets, three cubits 1 long by two wide. 
 
 The King had placed 200 workmen at my disposal ; and, 
 in order that I might better superintend their operations, I 
 took a lodging with my three friends in a house at the 
 corner of the Street of Caulkers, just opposite the arsenal, 
 and there from my window upon the fourth floor I could well 
 overlook the men working in the docks below. I directed 
 Hanno to make out a list of the goods we should require 
 for barter, and he and Himilco chiefly busied themselves in 
 collecting the things together ; whilst Bodmilcar, with two 
 of my sailors, kept perambulating the neighbourhood of the 
 harbour, succeeding tolerably well in securing recruits for 
 my crew from amongst the seamen who were loitering about 
 the quays, with tilted hats, looking out for employment. 
 
 On the first day of the month Nisan, 2 just four weeks 
 after I had undertaken my commission, I returned home for 
 my evening meal, and found my companions in hot dispute. 
 
 " How now ! " I cried, on entering the room ; " what's this ? 
 What is the meaning of this angry contention ? " 
 
 " I am telling Bodmilcar," said Hanno, " that he has 
 about as much brains as a bullock, and about as much 
 elegance as a Bactrian camel." 
 
 o 
 
 " And am I to endure this insolence from a young strip- 
 ling ? " cried Bodmilcar, angrily ; " am I to put up with it 
 from a fresh-water lubber, who will cry like a baby at the 
 first gust of wind, and implore us to put him on shore 
 again ? He has lived among women and scribblers till he 
 has no more pluck in him than a garden-tortoise." 
 
 " I confess," rejoined Hanno, sarcastically, " that I have 
 not had your experience ; I have not had the advantage of 
 being pounced upon by the Chaldeans, or of being thrashed 
 by my own slaves. But let me say, I am twenty, and that 
 I hope the first time you find me funking the sea, you 
 
 1 The common cubit is about 16 inches. 
 Nisan ; part of March and April.
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. II 
 
 will pitch me overboard like an old sandal. Anyhow, I 
 have had a voyage as far as Chittim j 1 I have been amongst 
 the lonians, and can speak their language ten times better 
 than any one among you." 
 
 " Talk to me about the lonians," shouted Bodmilcar in a 
 fury, " and I will break every bone in your precious skin." 
 
 And, as he spoke, he laid his hand upon his knife ; but 
 Hanno, without flinching for a moment, caught up a large 
 pitcher that was standing on the table. 
 
 "Steady, steady ! " interposed Himilco, "or you will be 
 spilling all the nectar ;" 2 and whilst I laid a firm grasp upon 
 Bodmilcar's arm, he rescued the pitcher, and deposited it 
 safely in the corner of the room. 
 
 Then addressing myself to the two excited combatants, 
 I said : " Now then, I cannot permit this altercation ; you are 
 both under my orders, and you must both submit ; conduct 
 yourselves amicably, or it shall be the worse for him that 
 disturbs the peace. But what is the meaning of this 
 chatter about the lonians ? " 
 
 Hanno held out his hand to me, in token of submission, 
 expressed his regret for having given offence to Bodmilcar, 
 and assured me that he had only spoken in jest. 
 
 "You see now," I said to Bodmilcar, "Hanno is not 
 your subordinate, and you are bound to treat him as your 
 equal. However, what is it that he has said to offend you 
 so grievously ? " 
 
 Bodmilcar seemed abashed ; he stood twirling his beard, 
 and without raising his eyes, said : 
 
 " Amongst the slaves that the Chaldeans captured, there 
 was one Ionian girl that I thought to make my wife. I 
 spoke of her to Hanno, but he only jeered me ; he told me 
 that the girl had gone off with the Chaldeans of her own 
 accord, merely to get out of reach of me ; and his provoca- 
 tion made me angry." 
 
 1 Chittim, the classical Citiuni, a Phoenician colony in Cyprus. 
 * Nectar ; the sweet and perfumed wiue of the Phoenicians, said by the 
 Greeks to be the drink of the yods.
 
 12 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 " Nay, nay," said Hanno : " I did not want to make him 
 angry ; it was a thoughtless joke ; he was somewhat old, I 
 said, for so young a bride, and Ionian girls generally like 
 the perfume of flowers and the fragrance of sweet spices 
 better than the smell of tar." 
 
 "It was wrong of you," I said, as sternly as I could, 
 though I really felt inclined to laugh. 
 
 To my suggestion that they should make up their 
 quarrel with mutual pledges over a cup of wine, Hanno 
 eagerly responded, "With all my heart, and Ashtoreth 
 give me my deserts if ever wilfully I offend his grey hairs 
 again ; " but Bodmilcar took the proffered hand coldly, and 
 with evident constraint. 
 
 Seeing that all immediate peril of a smash was over, 
 Himilco brought forward his pitcher again from its place 
 of safety. I heard nothing more of the disagreement ; but 
 I could not help noticing that Bodmilcar was never again 
 the same in his demeanour towards Hanno, and that he 
 did not speak to him any more than he could avoid. 
 
 About a week later, as I was in the arsenal for the 
 purpose of selecting the ropes for the rigging, Himilco 
 came running to me to inform me that one of the King's 
 servants had arrived with a message that was to be delivered 
 to myself. I went to meet the messenger. He was a tall 
 Syrian eunuch with frizzled hair and painted face, arrayed 
 in a long embroidered robe, and wearing large gold ear- 
 rings after the fashion of his country. He held a long cane 
 surmounted by a golden pomegranate, and spoke with a 
 languid lisp. 
 
 " Are you Captain Mago, the King's naval officer ? " he 
 asked, as he eyed me from head to foot. 
 
 Receiving my reply, he continued : " I am Hazael, of 
 the royal household ; here on my finger you may see the 
 signet which empowers me to exercise my authority. 
 The purpose of my visit is to inspect the vessels you are 
 building ; but specially my object is to give instructions 
 that proper accommodation shall be provided for myself.
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 13 
 
 and for a slave that I have to conduct from my master to 
 Pharaoh, King of Egypt. Two proper berths must be pre- 
 pared ; and the King's orders are that you are to remit us 
 to Egypt after you have visited Jerusalem." 
 
 " As to your directions about berths," I replied, utterly 
 astonished at his cool effrontery, " you must permit me 
 to remind you that on board ship the captain, with his 
 pilot under him, invariably allots the place for every 
 passenger." 
 
 " Be it so," rejoined the eunuch ; " yet it is imperative 
 that separate apartments, tapestried and carpeted suitably, 
 should be provided for myself and for the royal slave. Im- 
 possible for us to live in contact with the rough and tarry 
 seamen." 
 
 I felt a strong inclination to let Hazael experience 
 how he relished lying full length upon a heap of rubbish 
 that was close at hand ; but I controlled my indignation 
 and said : 
 
 " I will contrive something. I will either make a partition 
 in a corner of the hold, or put up a cabin of planks upon
 
 14 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 the deck ; but whatever is done must not interfere with the 
 working of the ship. When I have made the provision in 
 space, I leave you to fit and furnish as you please ; but 
 mark you this, your curtains and carpets will be ruined 
 in the first tempest that we get. However, that is your 
 concern, not mine." 
 
 " Each of the cabins," complacently continued the eunuch, 
 " must be twelve cubits by six ; there must be six benches 
 of sandal-wood and ivory ; the bedsteads must be inlaid ; 
 the windows must be framed and fitted perfectly." 
 
 " Fitted ! " I rejoined : " have I not told you already 
 that you may furnish and adorn the cabins as you will : 
 their size, their position must rest with me : in such matters 
 my authority is supreme. You may tell your royal master 
 from me that adequate accommodation shall be provided, 
 but that with my arrangements no one is at liberty to 
 interfere." 
 
 The eunuch looked aghast at my temerity ; but he 
 seemed somehow to comprehend that I was not to be 
 trifled with. He muttered a few words to the effect that 
 I had better see that everything was duly done, and without 
 a word or gesture of leave-taking, turned on his heel and 
 sauntered leisurely away. I watched him for a moment, 
 and turning to Himilco, who had been near enough to 
 overhear the conversation, I said : 
 
 " Unless I reckon badly, that fellow will give us some 
 trouble before we have done with him." 
 
 " Ah, no ; I'll take care of that," said Himilco. "Sooner 
 than the painted hound should interfere with us too much, 
 I'd have a rope to his heels, and he should dangle, head in 
 the water, all the way from Joppa to Tarshish. Tis not 
 for us to permit ourselves to be treated like dogs." 
 
 "No," said I; "but maybe, all will go well; Moloch 
 will be our guardian ; and once at sea we shall not fail to 
 secure the protection of our Ashtoreth. To tell you the 
 truth, I am really far more apprehensive about Hanno's 
 pranks with Bodmilcar."
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 15 
 
 ' We must hope for the best," replied Himilco. " Bod- 
 milcar will be on board the gaoul, and we will contrive for 
 Hanno to come with us in one of the galleys." 
 
 " True," I assented ; " it is indispensable that they should 
 be separated. But with regard to this eunuch's require- 
 ments ; I hardly see whether it will be better to provide 
 the cabins in the gaoul, as being the more roomy, or to 
 have them under my own supervision. Plague upon the 
 slave and eunuch both !" 
 
 At that moment Hanno come up, with his roll of 
 papyrus in his hand, and caught the tenor of our con- 
 versation. 
 
 "A slave and an eunuch to go !" he exclaimed. "Surely 
 the charge of them ought to fall to my lot. Such duties 
 ever belong to a scribe. Besides, I have made some pro- 
 gress in the studies of a magician ; and better even than 
 a magician I could humour their fancies, and understand 
 their likes and dislikes." 
 
 I expressed my opinion that they would have enough of 
 magicians in Egypt whither they were going, and resolved 
 that I would keep them under my own eye. 
 
 " There's an end then to all my pretty scheme of teach- 
 ing them caligraphy, rhetoric, and what not," said Hanno, 
 smiling. " I must fall back, I see, upon my own accounts." 
 
 He unfolded his roll, and submitted to me his reckoning 
 of the amount that would be requisite to pay our sailors 
 and our oarsmen, at the same time handing me his state- 
 ment of the sums that had already been expended in the 
 purchase of the goods for barter. 
 
 The outlay far exceeded the golden talent, the thousand 
 shekels, which the King had advanced. He had, however, 
 commissioned me to spare no expense, and had promised 
 to meet all reasonable demands, so that I felt no uneasiness, 
 but sent Hanno straight to the palace to exhibit the 
 accounts and to ask for a further grant. The request was 
 most generously met. 
 
 Meanwhile, Himilco and I continued to employ ourselves
 
 16 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 in having planks of fir from Senir * fitted to the flanks of 
 our vessels, and in rigging our heavy masts of oak with 
 yard-arms of cedar. 
 
 Our work progressed to our entire satisfaction. The 
 Gadita was repaired and entirely refitted ; the figure-head, 
 an immense horse, was illuminated with dazzling enamel 
 eyes ; the sides of the vessel were painted red upon a black 
 ground ; and twelve shields of bronze, each glowing in the 
 centre with a polished copper boss, were hung outside. 
 
 After everything had been completed, I obtained permis- 
 sion for the Gadita to be conducted with great ceremony, 
 to the music of trumpets and cymbals, into the basin of the 
 harbour. For the occasion the naval sufiect lent me a large 
 purple sail, reserved expressly for state festivities ; twelve 
 armed sailors, lance in hand, stood behind the shields of 
 bronze ; and twenty-two oarsmen, plying their oars in 
 regular cadence, made the ship glide swiftly through the 
 water. Gisgo, the helmsman, from his station in the stern, 
 deftly wielded the tiller, according to the directions of 
 Himilco, whose place was at the prow. Bodmilcar, Hanno, 
 and myself were upon the poop. We were all of us in state 
 attire, and were conscious of a keen enjoyment of the ad- 
 miring gaze of the crowds of sailors who thronged, not only 
 the adjacent quays, but the terraces of the arsenal and of 
 the admiralty palace, and watched our manoeuvres. The 
 naval suffect was himself one of the spectators ; he was 
 seated at the grand entrance of the palace, just above the 
 flight of steps that led down to his official wharf. So 
 pleased he was with the appearance of the Gadita, that he 
 invited all the officers to sup with him in the evening, and 
 sent a sheep, a large jar of wine, two baskets of bread, a 
 supply of figs and raisins, and twelve cheeses, for the 
 entertainment of our sailors. 
 
 Arrived at the palace, we passed up the narrow staircases 
 and dim corridors of the eastern tower, and found ourselves 
 in a large round room with a lofty dome, from the centre 
 
 1 Senir, in Libanus, now Djebel Sannin.
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. IJ 
 
 of which there hung a polished copper lamp. The suffect 
 paid us many compliments ; and, on learning that we should 
 be ready for our outfit within ten days, he gave me per- 
 mission to go next morning and to choose whatever arms 
 would be requisite for the expedition. 
 
 After our entertainment we embarked from the suffect's 
 private wharf, intending to return, all of us, to our own 
 quarters on shore ; but all at once Bodmilcar declared 
 himself so enamoured of the Gadita, that he resolved to 
 sleep alone on board. As our boat was silently threading 
 its way along the canal that intersected the mainland, 
 cutting off an island by its course, Hanno commenced 
 singing in a foreign language. My attention was arrested, 
 and I asked him what language it was. He replied that 
 it was Ionian, and expressed his surprise that I did not 
 understand it. 
 
 " No," I answered ; " it is strange to me. I have sailed 
 but rarely along those coasts. But haven't you done with 
 the lonians yet ?" 
 
 " Oh, Bodmilcar is not here to get in a rage, and we have 
 not got the slave amongst us to be affected by any songs 
 of mine." 
 
 " The slave ! " I exclaimed with wonder. " I did not 
 imagine that the slave would care for your songs. Is she 
 an Ionian ?" 
 
 Hanno laughed, and made me no answer ; but after a 
 while he yielded to my persuasion, and made me acquainted 
 with all he knew. 
 
 " Hazael the eunuch," he said, "is a chattering fool. 
 When I went to the palace I saw him, and wormed out of 
 him that the slave in question had been brought from some 
 Chaldean merchants, and that she had been originally 
 carried away from her own country by a Tyrian pirate, so 
 that the whole truth was not hard to guess." 
 
 " Not a word of this," I said ; " not a word to Bodmilcar. 
 More than ever it makes me resolve to have both eunuch 
 and slave on board my <?wn galley ; otherwise I foresee there 
 
 C
 
 1 8 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 will be no end of mischief. Neither you nor Himilco must 
 breathe a syllable until we have seen our unwelcome 
 passengers securely landed at their destination." 
 
 Each promised faithfully to preserve the strictest re- 
 ticence : Hanno, for his part, vehemently asseverating that 
 if a word upon the matter should escape him, he would 
 forthwith cut off his tongue, and devote himself to Horus, 
 the Egyptian god of silence. 
 
 As we now reached our lodging, the conversation dropped, 
 and for the next few days we were far too much engaged in 
 active duties to think any further of what had transpired. 
 
 I gave my own personal superintendence to the weaving 
 of all the sails, which were made strictly after the directions 
 prescribed by the goddess Tannat. 1 I saw that my ropes 
 were well twisted and thoroughly tarred ; and I arranged 
 the benches for my oarsmen with such compactness that 
 there was only an interval of a hand's breadth between the 
 seat of the rower on the upper tier and the head of the man 
 in the tier below. 
 
 To give extra strength to the masts and yards, I had 
 them bound at regular distances with bands of ox-hide, and 
 finally I had the entire hulls plated with sheets of copper, 
 fastened together with bolts of bronze. 
 
 Never had prouder ships been launched upon the Great 
 Sea. 2 
 
 1 The Grecian Tamith ; according to the Phoenician legend, she was the 
 inventor of sails. 
 
 * The Mediterranean.
 
 THE ADVENTURES CF CAPTAIN MAGO. 19 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 THE SACRIFICE TO ASHTORETH. 
 
 TWO days before the great spring festival which celebrated 
 the re-opening of navigation, and which was observed as a 
 national holiday, our ships were ready in the stocks, and in 
 the course of three hours were launched without difficulty. 
 
 The two galleys were each seventy-two ordinary cubits 
 (or sixty-two sacred cubits) long by seventeen wide. The 
 gaoul, with its keel of one solid piece of cedar, was sixty- 
 seven cubits in length by twenty in width ; it had three 
 decks and, as I have said, two tiers of rowers ; the decks 
 were four cubits apart, and were raised fore and aft, so as 
 to make the elevation sixteen cubits above the water, whilst 
 in the centre it did not exceed twelve cubits. The galleys, 
 when carrying their full burden, and the double line of oars- 
 men, stood each eight cubits above the water-line. Each 
 contained space enough to take I 50 sailors and 50 rowers ; 
 but hitherto I had only engaged 200 seamen, expecting 
 that I should be able to enlist the services of 100 soldiers 
 and archers who would be willing to take a share of the 
 working of the vessel. The number of the crew of the 
 gaoul was complete ; the Gadita had likewise her full com- 
 plement of thirty-seven men, and the barques their crews of 
 eight. These two small craft were to be kept constantly 
 in tow, and would consequently be in no need of a pilot ; 
 but each of the larger vessels was provided with two pilots 
 one at the prow, one at the stern, Himilco being pilot-in- 
 chief. At the top of every mast, there was a look-out
 
 2O THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 place, constructed of fir-wood from Senir, for the purpose 
 of sheltering the man on watch. The apertures for the 
 oars were arranged at equal distances along the sides ; and 
 all the vessels, after they had been caulked and tarred, 
 were made to correspond with the Gadita by being painted 
 black with red lines. Hanno had drawn up a document 
 for each of the captains, containing the names of the 
 respective crews, and a complete list of every piece of spare 
 rigging on board, with a register of the place where every 
 article was stored. All the arms, the bedding, the cooking- 
 utensils, the water-barrels, had their positions carefully 
 recorded, and in the crew's quarters between decks, each 
 seaman and rower had his berth distinctly marked with his 
 own name. The cabin under the raised deck at the stern 
 was reserved for the use of the captain and pilots, whilst 
 that under the prow was set apart for the officers of the 
 crew, and the captains of the men-at-arms. On all the 
 vessels the arrangements were identical, with the excep- 
 tion that at the stern of the galley which I had chosen for 
 myself I had ordered a boarded cabin to be erected, 
 divided into two compartments by a partition, and lighted 
 by two small windows, for the especial use of the eunuch 
 and the King's slave under his charge. 
 
 Hanno was extremely interested in the selection of good 
 and appropriate names for the ships. At his wish, the 
 eaoul. which was under the command of Bodmilcar, and 
 
 o 
 
 numbered a large proportion of Tyrians amongst its crew, 
 was named after Melkarth, the god of Tyre. One of the 
 galleys was named the Dagon, being placed under the 
 protection of the Philistine god of fish ; whilst the one on 
 which we ourselves were about to embark was dedicated to 
 the Sidonian goddess Ashtoreth, to whom we were per- 
 sonally bound by an especial reverence. Associated with 
 these divinities, of course it was out of all character that the 
 Gadita should retain her previous name ; accordingly, at 
 Himilco's request, and in consideration that she was to sail 
 at the head of the squadron, we gave her the designation of
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 21 
 
 the Cabiros. Bodachmon, the high priest of Ashtoreth, 
 undertook to present us with images of the various deities 
 to be kept on board the ships which were severally 
 dedicated to them. 
 
 Bodmilcar was assigned the command of the Melkartk, 
 and her attendant barques ; Hasdrubal, a Sidonian, was 
 appointed to the charge of the Dagon ; and the Cabiros was 
 confided to the care of Hamilcar, another Sidonian, a bold 
 and experienced seaman. 
 
 On board the Ashtoreth, my flag-ship, I took for my 
 personal staff Hanno as scribe, Himilco as head pilot, and 
 Hannibal of Arvad (whom I knew to be a strong, brave 
 man) as commander of my men-at-arms. 
 
 Fore and aft of each of the ships Hannibal placed two 
 machines of his own invention for hurling stones and darts, 
 and called " scorpions ; " thus, with the exception of the 
 Cabiros, which being small could only carry two, every 
 vessel was provided with four of these powerful engines. 
 
 We worked hard throughout the greater part of the 
 night and all the following morning in packing and stowing 
 the freight of our little fleet as it lay in the inner basin of 
 the trade harbour, and the Cabiros joined us to receive her 
 portion of the cargo and provisions. Towards the middle 
 of the day we found time for rest and refreshment Antici- 
 pating our departure on the morrow, several of us met for a 
 frugal meal in a tent that had been erected for our accom- 
 dation on one of the quays. The three captains, the 
 commander of my men-at-arms, the chief pilot, and myself, 
 had just seated ourselves at the table, when the curtain that 
 covered the entrance was drawn aside by one of the sailors, 
 and Hazael the eunuch was announced. 
 
 Hazael entered with his usual lazy saunter ; behind him 
 was a train of six slaves carrying baskets, boxes, and 
 bundles, and accompanied by a workman with a hammer 
 and a variety of tools. Outside, mounted on white asses, 
 were two women, one of them closely veiled ; the face of 
 the other was uncovered, and by her red skull-cap with
 
 22 
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 its gold band and dependent white veil, as well as by 
 her frizzled hair and prominent features, I recognised her 
 at once as a daughter of Israel. 
 
 " We have come," said the eunuch, without pretence of 
 courteous salutation, " to take possession of our berths, and 
 to stow away our baggage." 
 
 Hanno started to his feet. I laid my hand upon his 
 arm, and asked him what he was about to do. 
 
 " To stow away the baggage for them," he replied ; 
 adding, " unless, captain, you forbid me." 
 
 " Better for you," I continued, " to remain where you art ; 
 I have other business for you to do. This falls best to 
 Himilco's duty. Go, Himilco," I said, turning to the pilot, 
 "go and assist Hazael to arrange his property and see to 
 the accommodation of the women." 
 
 Himilco emptied his glass, and, not without a longing 
 glance towards the jar of wine round which we were sitting, 
 left the tent. Hanno, who had fallen back to his seat with 
 an assumed air of indifference, now asked : 
 
 " And what is the business for which you want me ? " 
 
 "You must go," I answered, "to the temple of Ashtoreth
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 2J 
 
 to prepare for our sacrifice to-morrow : you must procure 
 us some birds to take with us on board our ships ; in 
 stormy weather they will show us which way lies the land : 
 you must find the naval suffect, and deliver him a list of all 
 the crews, and a catalogue of all the cargoes ; most of all, 
 you must wait upon the royal treasurer and furnish him 
 with an abstract of all accounts. Is not all this enough for 
 you to do ? " 
 
 "No time, I see, then, for me to lose," said Hanno, 
 with impetuous eagerness ; and snatching up his papyrus 
 roll, he ran hastily away. It was my impression, as I 
 caught sight of him through the half-opened curtain 
 of the tent, that he turned, not in the direction of the 
 temple, but towards the harbour-basin ; however, when 
 he came back in the evening all his commissions had been 
 fully and faithfully executed, and I thought no more of 
 the matter. 
 
 On his return he was accompanied by one of the officials 
 of the temple, carrying on his head some large bird-cages 
 made of palm-wicker. Hanno himself held a smaller cage, 
 containing four pigeons of a rarer sort, a beautiful shot 
 plumage glittering gaily on their breasts. 
 
 " If these birds don't bring us good luck," he said, " I am 
 sure no others will ; they come straight from the temple of 
 Ashtoreth, and were handed over to me by the priestess 
 herself, who made me promise that they should be prized 
 according to their worth." 
 
 Each of the captains selected his proper share of the 
 birds, with the exception of Bodmilcar, who contemptuously 
 refused. 
 
 " Don't the birds suit you ?" said Hanno ; " what's the 
 matter with them ? " 
 
 "I want no pigeons," retorted Bodmilcar; "ravens are 
 the birds for me, and I have taken enough of them on 
 board already." 
 
 Hanno turned his back ; but Himilco, who had witnessed 
 what was passing, remarked :
 
 24 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 " Fortunate for the passengers that they will not be on 
 board the Melkarth. Far more congenial, I should think, 
 the cooing of doves than the croaking of ravens, to the ears 
 of an Ionian 1" 
 
 "Ionian!" ejaculated Bodmilcar, turning pale, "is the 
 slave an Ionian ? " 
 
 In an instant I gave Himilco a sharp dig below the 
 ribs to recall him to his senses, and as quickly he clapped 
 his finger on his forehead, pretending to recollect himself : 
 " No, no ; not an Ionian ; I mean a Lydian." And turning 
 round to me he asked me whether he was right. 
 
 I made a sort of a gesture which I hoped would satisfy 
 Bodmilcar, but he was manifestly still agitated ; he made 
 no further remark, but shortly afterwards quitted the room, 
 mumbling unintelligibly as he went. As soon as his back 
 was fairly turned, Hanno, who had been seated quietly 
 arranging his papyrus leaves, rose from his seat, and 
 advancing towards the door, made a low and solemn bow, 
 a proceeding on his part that caused Himilco to burst 
 into a roar of laughter. 
 
 "Our friend Bodmilcar," remarked Hannibal, "seems to 
 be rather a morose sort of gentleman." 
 
 " Nothing of the sort, I assure you," said Hanno, 
 satirically ; " I hardly know a man of a brighter and more 
 genial temperament ; however, I confess that we may 
 thank our stars that we have not to sail in the same ship 
 with him." 
 
 Hannibal smiled, in token of assent. 
 
 Time to retire for the night had now arrived. We in- 
 dulged in a parting glass, in recognition of our mutual 
 hopes for the successful issue of the enterprise before us, 
 and with no little emotion, parted to seek the repose which 
 should prepare us for the ceremonial of the morrow. 
 
 Early in the morning I repaired to the arsenal, but not 
 too soon to find the crews assembled each round its own 
 captain. Hannibal had been successful in collecting 
 together all the archers and the men-at-arms. Every
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 2$ 
 
 captain was attended by his own trumpeter, in a scarlet 
 tunic, the trumpeter of the military captain being dis- 
 tinguished by the magnitude of his trumpet, which was 
 double the size of the others. 
 
 With effective precision Hannibal had arranged his 
 soldiers in their ranks. The first rank was composed of 
 twenty archers in white tunics, their heads covered with 
 white linen caps, which were encircled by a band of 
 leather studded with nails, and of which the ends hung 
 down behind. They all wore scarlet waistbands, in which 
 were inserted ivory-handled broadswords ; their quivers 
 were attached to a belt of ox-hide, that passed over the 
 shoulder, and was ornamented with a profusion of copper 
 studs. In his hand every one carried his long Chaldean 
 bow, the upper extremity of which was carved to represent 
 a goose's head. Next behind the archers were two ranks 
 of armed men, twenty in each rank : they wore cuirasses 
 composed of small plates of polished copper, and had 
 helmets of the same material. Their tunics were scarlet, 
 and hung below the cuirasses ; on the left of their belts was 
 a strong Chalcidian sword, and on the right an ivory-hilted 
 dagger ; one hand carried a large circular shield, ornamented 
 in the centre with a deep-red copper figure of the sun ; the 
 other hand bore a lance, furnished with a long sharp point 
 of bronze. 
 
 Hannibal stood at the head of his troop. He wore a 
 Lydian helmet, surmounted with a silver crest, which was 
 further adorned with a scarlet plume. The image of the 
 sun in the middle of his shield was likewise silver, and 
 around that was a circle of the eleven planets. His sword- 
 handle was carved into the figure of a lion, the lion's head 
 forming the guard. Like all the rest of the company he 
 commanded, his feet and legs were protected by leather 
 greaves or gaiters, laced up the front, and turned upwards 
 at the point in the Jewish fashion. He no sooner saw me 
 approaching than he unsheathed his sword, and his 
 trumpeter sounded three blasts, an example which was
 
 26 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 followed by the other trumpeters, all blowing in unison, 
 after which the captains and pilots advanced and made me 
 a general salute. 
 
 Our seamen were provided with neither belts, shields, nor 
 helmets, but carried large cutlasses below their kitonets ; 
 they wore pointed caps that covered the nape of the 
 neck, similar to those that are constantly seen at Sidon. 
 Hannibal proposed that they should be drawn up and 
 drilled like the soldiers, but I did not acquiesce in his 
 suggestion ; I preferred allowing them to rove about at 
 their pleasure, knowing that they could be drilled far better 
 on board ship, after they had been regularly assigned their 
 proper place and duties. 
 
 Hanno and Himilco, who had gone by my directions to 
 see that everything was in readiness for the sacrificial rites, 
 now joined us. They were accompanied by two men, each 
 leading a superb bullock covered with purple housings, and 
 with their horns decorated by fillets of embroidery, to which 
 were attached little bells, which tinkled as they moved. 
 Close in their rear followed my slave, carrying on his head 
 a large basket of pomegranates, covered with a napkin 
 embroidered with silver. 
 
 After he had stationed our four trumpeters in couples 
 behind his own, Hannibal gave me to understand that he 
 was only waiting for me to give the signal to march. No 
 sooner had I signified my permission, than he shouted out 
 the word of command, and the archers and men-at-arms 
 doubled file and faced about with an alertness that elicited 
 universal commendation. The trumpeters led the way with 
 a flourish that was well-nigh deafening ; the archers followed 
 two and two ; then came Hannibal at the head of his 
 warriors, all shouldering their lances. My own place was 
 the next ; and I marched on, supported by Hanno and 
 Himilco, and immediately followed by my slave and the 
 two men who were in charge of the oxen devoted as 
 victims for the altar ; whilst behind us were the four 
 troops of sailors, not marching in any special order, but
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 27 
 
 each headed by its own captain and pilots. This irregular 
 company brought up the rear. 
 
 The thoroughfares along which we passed were decorated 
 gaily. In honour of the great yearly festival of Melkarth, 
 which attracted the mass of all the surrounding population, 
 they were profusely hung with coloured canvas of many a 
 hue, and floating streamers of linen, dyed with the richest 
 shades of purple, orange, green, and vermilion were inter- 
 spersed amongst waving branches of palms and massy 
 boughs of cedar. Each separate window was a separate 
 centre of display. The people, in holiday attire, were 
 wending their way in crowds in the direction of the island 
 upon which stands the temple of Melkarth, but they stood 
 aside in every portico to allow us to proceed ; they were 
 eager in their inquiries as to the meaning and purpose 
 of our formal progress through the streets ; and when they 
 understood that we were marching to the shrine of the 
 goddess Ashtoreth to make our sacrifice, and to intreat 
 her favour upon an expedition to Tarshish which we were 
 about to make, they rent .the air with their boisterous 
 acclamations. Men expressed their wonder at the con- 
 course of our sailors and the quality of our oxen ; women 
 admired our attire and the carriage of our officers, being 
 especially lavish in their praise of Hanno ; the children 
 ran after the procession, attracted equally by the glittering 
 crest in Hannibal's helmet, by the glowing red of the 
 trumpeters' tunics, and the swelling notes of their martial 
 music. Every one was unanimous in declaring that never 
 before had so magnificent a retinue left a Phoenician city 
 on a distant enterprise. 
 
 As we passed along beneath the sycamines in front of 
 the King's palace, the vast concourse that had assembled 
 in readiness for the royal procession parted asunder to 
 allow us room to pass, and the King's trumpeter and 
 musicians, who were stationed at the gateway, broke out into 
 strains of welcome. A messenger was observed hurrying 
 down from the palace, and it was soon known that he came
 
 29 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 with orders for us to halt. Hannibal immediately made 
 his men face about ; the sailors, as it were involuntarily, 
 turned towards the palace, and I myself, with Hanno and 
 Himilco, advanced in the direction of the window at which 
 the King is accustomed to show himself to his people, and 
 which is easily distinguishable from the others by the 
 gilding and tapestried hangings with which it is decorated- 
 Meanwhile our trumpeters had taken up the strains of the 
 royal march in concert with the King's musicians, and 
 the melody was re-echoed by various bands in other 
 quarters of the palace-yard. 
 
 Only a short time elapsed before the King presented 
 himself at the window. An attendant, gorgeously attired, 
 held over the King's head a purple canopy embroidered 
 with gold and richly jewelled ; behind him could be seen 
 the glittering helmets and cuirasses of his body-guard. 
 Without a word of preface, he called me forth by name ; 
 and having prostrated myself to the earth in deep obei- 
 sance, in another moment I was standing with folded arms 
 before him awaiting his commands. 
 
 He spoke to this effect : 
 
 " Mago ! content I am with the preparation you have 
 made. Well pleased I am with the way in which you 
 have collected your seamen and equipped your warriors 
 in behalf of my friend, my royal ally, King David. You 
 quit these realms for the distant shores of Tarshish. May 
 our guardian gods protect you ! Hazael will deliver you 
 the letters signed by my own hand, which you are to 
 present to the various sovereigns who are my allies ; to him 
 I have further intrusted the papyrus roll on which my 
 instructions are inscribed. Onwards now, fulfil your ob- 
 lations to your goddess Ashtoreth. I go to render my 
 sacrifice to our great Melkarth ; but when I have dis- 
 charged my vows, my purpose is to be myself a witness 
 of your departure, and you shall not fail to have still 
 further tokens of my favour." 
 
 Again I prostrated myself before the King, who then
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 2Q 
 
 retired, leaving me to proceed upon my way, still heralded 
 by the trumpets and greeted by the continuous accla- 
 mations of the people. We had hardly turned away, when 
 the great gate of the palace was thrown open, and, headed 
 by a band composed of trumpets, sistra, tambourines, and 
 flutes, there issued the grand procession on its way to 
 the island upon which rose the columns of the temple of 
 Melkarth, the supreme deity of Tyre. 
 
 We had hardly reached the limit of the royal court-yard, 
 when Bodmilcar, who had quickened his pace to overtake 
 me, came to my side and said mysteriously, 
 
 " Melkarth is a great god ! " 
 
 " Assuredly ! " I said, but did not in the least compre- 
 hend his meaning. 
 
 " A great god is Melkarth of the Tyrians," he repeated. 
 " Melkarth requires greater sacrifices than Ashtoreth : his 
 sacrifices are large as Moloch's ; and they are going to 
 offer him some children to-day." 
 
 I assented, yet still failed to see his purpose ; but after 
 a little hesitation, he said : 
 
 " Might it be permitted me to take my Tyrians and to 
 join the worship of our own Melkarth ?" 
 
 The discovery of his intention vexed me exceedingly ; 
 it was mortifying to myself to see the number of my own 
 retinue diminished, or to allow the dignity of our own ob- 
 servances to Ashtoreth to be curtailed ; but I felt that 
 I had no alternative than to comply with his request to 
 make his sacrifice to the god of his peculiar veneration 
 Reluctantly I gave him my assent, and when we reached 
 the steep street that led up to the elevated groves of 
 " Baaltis- Ashtoreth," 1 I saw that, instead of continuing 
 with us, he dropped out of our line and joined himself 
 with about thirty of our sailors to a procession that was 
 conducting a chariot, resplendent with gold, and sur- 
 mounted by a canopy ornamented with plumes of ostrich- 
 feathers. This chariot was conveying the children that 
 
 1 Baaltis, feminine of Baal, lord.
 
 30 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 were to be offered as the victims of the sacrifice. To 
 welcome the addition to the throng, the shouts of the 
 populace and the clang of the cymbals burst forth with 
 redoubled vehemence. 
 
 " How I hate that sacrificing of children ! " said Hanno 
 to me. 
 
 " Yes ; " I concurred, " but if Moloch and Melkarth 
 demand it, what can be said ? " 
 
 " With all due reverence for Moloch and Melkarth," he 
 continued, " I cannot but rejoice that Ashtoreth of Sidon 
 makes no such request." 
 
 We had now turned into the pathway through the grove 
 that winds up to the temple of Baaltis. By far the 
 greater proportion of the temple-officials were absent, 
 having gone to join the general celebration of the city in 
 honour of Melkarth ; only six priests and four priestesses 
 remained. Seen through the hazy glow of the rising sun, 
 the grove and temple looked surprisingly lovely, and one 
 could hardly help being conscious of some feeling of regret 
 at having to leave such charming scenes. But amidst all 
 the fascination of the prospect, I realised how a perpetual 
 residence in such an abode would make a man effeminate, 
 and unfit him for peril and adventure ; and proudly I 
 recalled the recollection that apart from the enterprise of 
 her sons, Phoenicia could have known no luxury : it was her 
 commerce that had brought her wealth ; and had it not been 
 for their bold and undaunted navigation, the people might 
 have seen their shores the prey of invading kings. 
 
 Hanno had manifestly been under a like influence, and 
 had been following a kindred train of thought. 
 
 " Yes," he said, as if uttering aloud the conclusion of 
 his own reflections ; " yes, even if Pharaoh, Melek-David, 1 
 the Chaldeans and Assyrians all were to concentrate their 
 hosts and fall on us Phoenicians, we could betake ourselves 
 to our ships and brave them on the seas. Aye, though 
 
 1 Melek was the title of the Kings of Jndah, as Pharaoh was that of tht 
 Kings of Egypt
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 3! 
 
 they should drive us out from our own domain, build ships, 
 and encounter us upon the ocean where the supremacy has 
 hitherto all of late been ours, yet we have Chittim, Utica, 
 Carthage, Tarshish to fall back upon ; the whole world is 
 ours!" 
 
 " True," I replied ; " in a sense, the world is ours : but it 
 is nothing except our own undaunted perseverance that 
 has made it so. We have had no kings to lead us on to 
 vanquish neighbouring states ; we have had no generals to 
 gain us victories and acquire us power ; but depending only 
 on our native resources, trusting simply to our own courage, 
 and relying on the good protection of our gods, we have 
 traversed regions that were unexplored, and discovered 
 wealth that was unknown. And now, none dares to assail 
 us ; we command the respect of all. None too proud to 
 ask our aid, none too independent to own our service. 
 Who procures Melek-David his choicest timber, his silver 
 and gold ? Who provides Pharaoh with balm, his jewels, 
 his copper and his tin ? From whom does the Assyrian 
 seek his purple and glass, his ivory and embroidery ? Who 
 is the great purveyor of every luxury for every prince and 
 magnate of the world ? A Tyrian may well be proud 
 when he claims all this for the mariners of Sidon and the 
 merchant-princes of Phoenicia." 
 
 Stirred to emotion by my enthusiasm, Himilco took up 
 the strain : " Yes ; great and deservedly great is Tyre's 
 renown. May her spirit of adventure never flag ! For my 
 part, give me but the favour of Cabiros for my guiding star, 
 and I would not exchange my peaked sea-cap and ragged 
 kitonet for the tiara sparkling with its fleur-de-lys, 1 and the 
 mantle gorgeous with embroidered work that grace the 
 King of Nineveh ! " 
 
 Whilst we were thus indulging the spirit of our national 
 
 pride, the priests within had been lighting the altar-fires 
 
 and preparing the sacrificial basins, some of which they 
 
 filled with water, leaving the rest empty. Hannibal had 
 
 1 See note uu Chap. II. at eiiil of Volume.
 
 32 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 drawn up his men in order upon the temple-steps, making 
 an imposing array : he had just put them in the form of a 
 crescent, of which the archers in double file at the top were 
 the extremities, the centre being made by the men-at-arms, 
 four deep, and below, an avenue was left for the progress 
 of myself and my companions, the oxen being conducted 
 into the temple by an entrance at the back. 
 
 On our approach, our trumpeters gave a loud flourish, 
 which was answered by the flutes and instruments within. 
 The high priest advanced towards us and, in sonorous 
 tones, exclaimed : 
 
 " Let Mago, the Sidonian,. the son of Maherbaal, now 
 draw near. Commander of the expedition, he comes to 
 present himself before the goddess. Let him now approach, 
 and all his followers attend him ! " 
 
 Obedient to the summons, I ascended the steps, followed 
 immediately by my slaves ; Hanno and Hannibal were on 
 my right hand ; Hasdrubal, Hamilcar and Himilco on my 
 left ; behind us was the general throng of sailors and of oars- 
 men. At a sign from Hannibal, the soldiers shouldered their 
 bows and lances, and having faced about, entered the temple 
 by the two side doors, and completely lined the edifice. 
 
 An official proclaimed silence. " Order ! " he shouted ; 
 " Mago, son of Maherbaal, makes an offering for his people." 
 
 It was the work of but a short time to bring in the oxen, 
 and have them slain and quartered, and while this was 
 being done my slave distributed amongst us the pome- 
 granates he had brought. The high priest with much 
 formality presented me with the shoulder of one of the 
 victims, upon which, according to rule, I laid a purse con- 
 taining six shekels of coined money. The officiating priest 
 accepted the offering, and while he was proclaiming my 
 liberality aloud, the sacerdotal scribe was inscribing the 
 names of myself and my captains, together with the 
 amount of my donation, in the temple register. The chief 
 priest then took the breasts of the victims and placed them 
 upon the altar, whence the smoke ascended high towards
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 33 
 
 the round window in the dome. The black stone at Sidon 
 is the true goddess, but here at Tyre, Ashtoreth is merely 
 represented by a statue. Standing with his face towards 
 this, the priest made his invocation and chanted some 
 prayers to music, which gradually died away into perfect 
 silence. 
 
 During the time that these ceremonies were proceeding, 
 the remaining portions of the oxen were being steeped in 
 the lavers, after which they were thrown into great caldrons, 
 part to be boiled over the chafing-dishes in the temple- 
 kitchen, and part to be cooked in the open air of the sacred 
 groves. The sailors lent their ready assistance in kindling 
 the fires and superintending the boilers. 
 
 The chief priest next handed me one of the bullock's 
 breasts. I raised it on high with both hands before the 
 goddess, and delivered it back to the priest, who turned it 
 round three times, as if solemnly dedicating it to the deity 
 on my behalf. Hanno went through a corresponding cere- 
 mony with the other breast, which was turned round seven 
 times in behalf of us all. 
 
 I had given the scribe five shekels to provide us with 
 bread for the entertainment, and in the name of the 
 captains, pilots, and sailors, Hamilcar gave him eight shekels, 
 a part to provide us with wine, a part as a free tribute to 
 the goddess. He entered the several sums upon the 
 registers, and the officiating priest again made a public 
 announcement of our liberality. One after another we 
 prostrated ourselves before the image of the goddess, the 
 high priest made a short final invocation, and full of joy we 
 withdrew from the temple to the adjacent grove. At a sign 
 from Hannibal, the soldiers, who had stood mute and 
 motionless throughout the ceremony, fell out of their ranks, 
 and rushing in wild confusion, mingled with the sailors to 
 assist them in preparing the banquet. 
 
 I took my seat at the foot of a noble cypress, and Hanno, 
 Hannibal, and Gisgo, placed themselves as my supporters 
 on either hand, Himilco charging himself with the duty of 
 
 D
 
 34 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 Buperintending the filling of a large earthenware vase with 
 wine. My slave arranged the drinking-cups by placing 
 mine (which had a lion's head at its mouth) in the centre, 
 and disposing those of the captains in order round it. 
 Hannibal's cup was of plated copper, with a stem and two 
 handles, and embossed with flowers and bunches of grapes. 
 Having done this, the slave went away, and returned 
 ushering in two soldiers, who carried a huge caldron ; 
 they let the caldron down heavily on the ground, their 
 cuirasses rattling again with their exertion. The lid of the 
 caldron was at once removed ; a large basket of bread had 
 been handed round preparatory to the repast, and each 
 man having brought out the wooden knife and spoon that 
 he carried at his waist, the whole of us set ourselves to 
 enjoy an abundant meal. 
 
 When the wine-cups had been distributed and charged, I 
 rose from my seat, and raising my cup on high, drank to 
 the health and welfare of the whole assembly. 
 
 "A goodly draught is this!" said Hannibal, when he 
 had drained his cup to the very dregs ; " it is the wine of 
 my own city Arvad ; it gives life and strength to those 
 that drink it ; hence Arvad's wide renown for wits and 
 warriors." 
 
 " And Arvad's warriors," I said, turning to the captain, 
 " deserve their fame. By-the-by, have your wide wander- 
 ings by sea and land ever taken you into Judaea before ? 
 Thither it is, you know, that we first direct our course." 
 
 " Truly, yes ; " replied Hannibal, with his mouth full ; 
 " this very sword that I am wearing, and this purple 
 shoulder-belt, were presents from Joab, the general and 
 cousin of the King. I commanded twenty archers under 
 him at the battle of Gebah, when the Philistines were 
 defeated at the mulberry groves. Nor was that the only 
 time. I w r as garrisoned for a year or more at Hamath, 
 with the troops of Nahari, Joab's armour-bearer, one of 
 David's thirty-seven mighty men. It was on returning 
 thence that I had the command of the soldiers on board
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 35 
 
 the ship of our friend Hasdrubal here, at the time when the 
 galleys of Sidon were sent to engage the Cilician fleet" 
 
 " Aye, I have heard of that expedition," said Himilco ; 
 " at that time we were far away at Gades." 
 
 " And we," broke in Hamilcar, "were in the service of 
 Pharaoh, sailing along the coast of Ethiopia, beyond the 
 Sea of Reeds. 1 What splendid shells were there, containing 
 precious pearls ! and one great fish there was that could 
 swallow a man entire!" 
 
 At this moment one of the young priestesses approached 
 our party, and handed Hanno a small packet, carefully 
 wrapped in linen. 
 
 " This," she said to him, " is the image of Baaltis. Over 
 it I have burnt the costliest perfumes ; I have anointed it 
 with the rarest ointments ; I have laid it before the goddess, 
 who has graciously accepted it. To you, Sidonian, I now 
 entrust it, and may it bring good fortune to yourself and 
 all who share your enterprise." 
 
 The high priest came in person to deliver us the other 
 images of the gods, that of Melkarth alone excepted, which 
 liodmilcar himself was to convey from the temple to which 
 he had separately gone. 
 
 The priestess offered to accompany us to our ships, that 
 she might sprinkle the images on board before we took our 
 departure. 
 
 Himilco craved permission to carry the image of the 
 Cabiros down to the quay before resigning it to the keeping 
 of the captain. 
 
 " How about your vow of twenty shekels and a bullock that 
 you made to the Cabiri ?" I asked him, as we rose to go. 
 
 " That will have to wait," he answered, "till I have come 
 across that Tarshish rascal who deprived me of my eye. 
 The patient gods, I have no doubt, will give me credit, and 
 nut require me to pay at once, or in advance." 
 
 Meantime Hanno had been uncovering his image of 
 Ashtoreth, and was standing holding it in both hands and 
 1 Jain Soupli, the Red Sea.
 
 36 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 gazing at it with the profoundest admiration. It was an 
 alabaster figure, with a necklace of three rows of gold beads 
 and a pointed cap, beneath which flowed ample masses of 
 wavy hair. 
 
 " I, too," said Hanno, " have made a vow to my goddess, 
 but she has promised to abide my time, and to tarry till my 
 expectations and my longings are fulfilled;" and as he 
 spoke, he stooped and kissed the face of the image. I know 
 not whether it was imagination on my part, but I certainly 
 thought the cypresses around gave a soft yet perceptible 
 rustle in response to his words. Perhaps the priestess 
 observed it also, for she smiled on me, and laid her hand 
 on Hanno's shoulder. 
 
 " But now, Captain Mago," she cried, " let us start. The 
 time for embarkation is at hand, and the goddess pronounces 
 that it is a favourable hour. Come, let us proceed ! " 
 
 " To your ships, men ; to your ships ! " I shouted ; and 
 turning for a moment towards the temple, said, " Farewell, 
 Baaltis, Queen of Heaven : to-night thou shalt behold us on 
 the waters of the Great Sea ! " 
 
 Hannibal, who had resumed his helmet, made a signal 
 to the trumpeters to summon the soldiers and sailors. 
 Hanno and the priestess came on one side of me ; Himilco, 
 carrying the image of his god, took his place on the other, 
 and in the same order in which it had come, our cortege 
 wended its way along the decorated streets down towards 
 the port The roads adjacent to the harbour and all 
 the quays were so densely thronged, that it was only with 
 considerable difficulty that we could force our way along. 
 Every nation seemed to make its contribution to the crowd : 
 besides the native Phoenicians, there were Syrians in their 
 fringed and bordered robes ; Chaldeans with their frizzled 
 beards ; and Jews in their short tunics and long gaiters, with 
 panther-skins thrown across their shoulders. Again, there 
 were Lydians with bands around their foreheads ; Egyp- 
 tians, some with shorn heads, and some with enormous 
 wigs ; Chalybeans, wild in aspect, and half naked ; and
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 37 
 
 men of Caucasus, gigantic in size and strength. Many a 
 far distant land had sent its sons to our Phoenician cities 
 as the headquarters and the home of industry and com- 
 merce ; Arabs and Midianites were here looking with 
 astonishment at the height of the houses, and bewildered at 
 the multitude of the population ; whilst the Scythians of 
 Thogarma, their legs strap-bound, moved with heavy 
 strides, and looked around amazed, perplexed at the absence 
 alike of horses and of chariots from the narrow streets. 
 
 The air was rilled with songs and shouts of many a 
 different tongue ; the people jostled one another in their 
 eagerness to catch a sight of whatever company came last 
 in view. Every band of musicians enlisted its own 
 admirers ; every troop of priests attracted the closest 
 scrutiny. Every regiment with its painted shield excited 
 a perpetual interest ; and as our own procession, with 
 its trumpeters and soldiers and promiscuous groups of 
 sailors, could not fail to draw a large and curious concourse, 
 it was in the midst of a veritable whirl that we passed the 
 arsenal and made our way to the reserved quay, where 
 our ships, poops inward to the shore, had been left under 
 the care of a few sailors. 
 
 Bodmilcar and the eunuch had arrived before us, and 
 were standing in eager conversation on the gangway that 
 led to the poop of the Melkarth. As soon as they 
 observed us, they stopped abruptly, and Bodmilcar whistled 
 for his sailors, whilst the eunuch advanced to meet me. 
 
 " Is all your baggage duly stowed on board ? " I asked 
 Hazael. 
 
 " It is," he answered ; " but it disappoints me much 
 that our berths have not been made upon this larger 
 ship ; here we might have far more space and comfort : 
 however, it matters little ; at the first point we touch \ve 
 can make a change. Bodmilcar thinks it will be best 
 we should." 
 
 " It cannot be," I said ; " the King's slave has been 
 entrusted to myself, and under my supervision she must
 
 38 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 be. The Melkarth is a transport, and the captain of a 
 transport has no concern with passengers. I must hear no 
 more of this. Do I understand aright that you have 
 letters for me from the King ? " 
 
 Without one word in reply, the eunuch handed me a box 
 of sandal-wood, which I opened, and found it to contain 
 several sheets of papyrus, on which were written various 
 instructions to myself. 
 
 I was about to give orders to my trumpeter to pro- 
 claim silence, but before the words were out of my mouth, 
 Bodmilcar rushed forward and threw himself into my 
 arms. 
 
 " I have been sacrificing to Melkarth," he exclaimed ; 
 " I have paid my vows tc my god, and I must unburden 
 my conscience. I wish to ask pardon of any and of all to 
 whom I have shown insolence or ill-temper." 
 
 Without hesitation, Hanno offered him his hand, assuring 
 him that he fully forgave everything that had happened in 
 the past, and that, forgetting all previous quarrels, for the 
 future he would show him all proper deference, and yield 
 to his authority. Pleased with this open reconciliation, I 
 expressed my satisfaction that we were able thus to set 
 out with so universal a spirit of harmony and of concord. 
 
 In the meanwhile the captains had severally collected 
 their crews, and Hannibal had told off his men-at-arms, 
 reserving ten archers and ten soldiers for our own ship. 
 The priestess then, with the accustomed solemnities, pre- 
 sented each vessel with the image of its own peculiar 
 divinity. 
 
 Before we started, our host, with whom we had been 
 sojourning, accompanied by his wife and son, forced his way 
 through the guards that had been keeping the inclosure, 
 and came in haste to me. 
 
 " Mago, dear friend," he said, " I could not suffer you to go 
 without seeing you once more. Here are cakes, and here 
 is a basket of dried grapes ; but, most of all, here are two 
 goat-skins of genuine nectar. Accept them from me in
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 39 
 
 token of my good-will. Farewell, and the gods grant you 
 a prosperous voyage ! " 
 
 " Farewell, honest pilot," said my host's wife to Himilco ; 
 " for you I have brought this goat-skin of Byblos, because I 
 know there is no wine you like so well." 
 
 "Thanks, good hostess, many thanks," replied Himilco ; 
 " to me there is no wine that can compare with the rich 
 and luxurious produce of Phoenicia. I shall not forget 
 your bounty, and if only our star shall favour us, and the 
 Cabiros shall safely bring us home again, I promise to 
 bring you such a gift as shall make the Tyrian women die 
 with envy." 
 
 The son, a youth of about sixteen, was devotedly 
 attached to Hanno, and only with the greatest difficulty 
 could be dissuaded from accompanying him upon his voyage. 
 As a farewell gift, he had brought his friend a large packet 
 of the choicest reeds for writing ; and the two parted with 
 mutual expressions of affection. 
 
 Amongst those present there was yet another whom I 
 regarded with the profoundest reverence, and whose know- 
 ledge was accounted as little short of divine. This was 
 an aged priest, named Sanchoniathon, 1 the historian and 
 chronicler of past events ; although no traveller himself, 
 he had acquired the fullest information concerning well- 
 nigh every country of the world. 
 
 Addressing himself to me, he said : " Mago, my son, 
 Hanno your scribe has undertaken to transmit to me, in 
 writing, an account of whatever he may see rare or wonder- 
 ful in the far-off lands to which you go ; his genius seems 
 bright and quick, but his youth renders him wild and 
 unstable as a kid. Is it too much to ask of you that you 
 will urge him on to keep his word ? " 
 
 " To gratify you, my father," said Hanno, " 1 will do all 
 I can to control the caprices and irregularities of my youth. 
 My own indebtedness to you is great. I trust that I may 
 
 1 I am guilty of an anachronism here for the mere satisfaction of intro- 
 ducing the name of the great historian.
 
 4O THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 not forget the lessons you have taught me ; and if I can 
 render any aid in enabling you to keep the Phoenicians in- 
 formed of the wonders of the world, I shall be ready to 
 show myself a pupil worthy of my master." 
 
 The aged Sanchoniathon then gave us his blessing. He 
 had scarcely concluded his benediction when the priestess 
 of Ashtoreth came by, returning from the ships. As she 
 passed Hanno I distinctly heard her say in an undertone : 
 
 " She is as good as she is beautiful ! " 
 
 "Hush!" he murmured; "I must forget her! Happy 
 Pharaoh ! " 
 
 Everything being reported ready, I ordered the trumpeters 
 to sound the signal for departure, and we proceeded to 
 embark. The first man to step on board was old Gisgo, 
 the pilot of the Cabiros, commonly known as Gisgo the 
 Celt, and perhaps still more frequently spoken of as Gisgo 
 the Earless. He had been eight times on a voyage to the 
 Rhone, and the story went that on one of his visits there he 
 had married a Celtic wife, with yellow hair, who was still 
 awaiting him in her native forests ; on another occasion he 
 had been taken prisoner by the Siculians, who had cut off 
 both his ears. Having mounted the poop, the old man 
 waved his cap and shouted cheerily : 
 
 " Mariners, mariners all ! quick and ready ! quick on 
 board ! rulers of the ocean ! sons of Ashtoreth ! listen to 
 your captain's call. Tyrians and Sidonians ! To sea ! to 
 sea ! and long live Captain Mago ! " 
 
 The men all hastened to their several ships, and as soon 
 as I had taken my station on the raised bench of the poop 
 of the Ashtoreth, my standard was hoisted as the signal of 
 departure, the gangways were removed, the boathooks were 
 driven vigorously towards the facing of the quay, and we 
 were on our way. 
 
 The Cabiros, with its twenty-two oarsmen, took the lead ; 
 next came the Ashtoreth j the Dagon towed the Melkarth, 
 \\hich was too large to hoist a sail in port Our little 
 squadron floated on past the numerous ships that lined
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 41 
 
 the quays, making its way through crowds of boats that 
 darted to and fro, conveying the countless visitors to the 
 island where the feast of Melkarth was still in course of 
 celebration. Our trumpeters continued to blow, our oars 
 rose and fell in regular cadence, and the voices of thousands 
 of spectators kept up a perpetual acclamation. 
 
 From my own position I could overlook the decks of all 
 the other vessels. Hanno was at my side, and Himilco 
 stood at the bow giving his orders to the helmsman. Han- 
 nibal had made his warriors hang their shields over the 
 
 ship's sides ; every one had betaken himself to his proper 
 post, Hazael the eunuch being no exception, as he had 
 retired to the privacy of his own cabin. 
 
 Passing the mouth of the trade-harbour, with its two 
 watch-towers, we entered the canal that led to the island ; 
 it was covered with boats decorated with holiday-trafppings ; 
 above it rose the palace of the naval suffect, its terraces all 
 decked with coloured hangings, and thronged with a motley 
 crowd. Beyond again, in the centre of the island, I could 
 see the dome of the temple of Melkarth, the blue smoke of
 
 42 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 the sacrifices rising high above its ochred roof. I could even 
 hear the uproarious clanging of the cymbals and the other 
 instruments within. 
 
 The royal galley, escorted by the galley of the naval 
 suffect, came forth to meet us. On the poop of the royal 
 vessel was a raised platform, which shone as if it were a 
 mass of solid metal, being covered entirely with cloth of 
 gold and silver. The oars were faced with ivory ; the sails 
 were embroidered with silver thread, with representations 
 of Melkarth, Moloch, and Ashtoreth, the large hyacinth- 
 coloured sail in the middle being worked with green to 
 imitate waves, from which rose the figure of Ashtoreth 
 protecting the fish from the fury of Dagon. A full band of 
 musicians was playing at the bows, and, on deck, a number 
 of graceful women, wearing state tiaras and triple necklaces, 
 performed upon gaily painted tambourines, and waved light 
 rods adorned with little bells and tassels of pale green 
 and purple. At the stern sat King Hiram. He wore a 
 Phoenician cap, his beard was frizzled in the Syrian fashion, 
 and he had two gold bracelets on each arm. His throne 
 was of gold and enamel ; the back of it was carved into the 
 image of a ship, and the arms were representations of 
 dolphins. In attendance, standing with folded arms, were 
 his scribe and the keeper of the seals ; behind him stood 
 two officers, one of them holding the purple canopy of state, 
 fringed with gold, the other carrying the royal standard, 
 which bore, worked in silver on a hyacinth-coloured ground, 
 representations of the sun and the planets, with the crescent 
 moon above. The suffects were on board the Admiralty 
 galley, surrounded by guards in Lydian helmets, whose 
 silver shields and cuirasses glittered brightly in the sun. 
 
 At sight of the royal cortege I ordered my men to ship 
 their oars and to bring our vessels to a standstill. A 
 corresponding order was given to the royal ships, and it 
 was but the work of a few minutes for the slaves to throw 
 the ebony gangway across, and to cover it with a brilliant 
 carpet. King Hiram rose from his seat and stepped oo
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 43 
 
 board, and I had the honour of conducting him all over my 
 vessel, and of showing him the double deck, the stowage of 
 the cargo, and the great earthen reservoirs of water. He 
 went, unaccompanied, to visit the berth that had been 
 provided for the slave, and before leaving, presented me, 
 through his treasurer, with two talents of silver. When he 
 had returned to his throne, the temporary passage was 
 withdrawn, and at a signal from me, our hundred and 
 twenty-two oars cleft the water without a splash. The 
 trumpets sounded ; soldiers, sailors, rowers, raised a tre- 
 mendous cheer, and from my place I shouted aloud : 
 
 " Farewell, my King ! Tyre and Phoenicia, farewell ! And 
 now, children of Ashtoreth, my crew, forwards, forwards ! " 
 
 Quickly the squadron made its way past the two towers 
 that guarded the military harbour, and on which perpetual 
 watch was kept. I cast one look back at the canal with 
 its swarm of gala-boats ; at the quays still thronged with 
 the motley crowd ; at the city, rising like a vast white 
 amphitheatre intersected by the threading of its narrow, 
 crooked streets ; at the mass of the yellow temple of Mel- 
 karth ; at the great Admiralty Palace, above which were 
 the glittering walls of the temple of Baaltis ; and, last of 
 all, at the heights of Libanus beyond, standing out green 
 and black against the background of the sky. I turned 
 away to give my attention to the ships that were dashing 
 the snowy foam from their prows. The Cabiros was riding 
 the waves like a dolphin ; the Melkarth, now no longer in 
 tow, and the Dagon were crowded with sail. 
 
 A favourable wind bore us onwards to the south-west, 
 so that I gave orders that the galleys should hoist their 
 sails, and that half the rowers should ship their oars and 
 take an interval of rest. I sat down and gazed upon the 
 broad and glittering ocean. 
 
 We were now fairly on our way to Tarshish,
 
 44 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 CHAMAI RECOGNISED BY THE ATTENDANT OF THE SLAVE. 
 
 IN order to clear the White Cape in the south-west, I took 
 an oblique course across the bay, on the north of which 
 stands the city of Tyre. From White Cape 1 I should sight 
 the distant promontory of Mount Carmel, and avoiding 
 the deep waters of the bay to the north of this point, I 
 should double it and coast along direct to Joppa. 
 
 The Cabiros was quite capable of making 1 300 stadia a in 
 twenty-four hours ; but the gaoul, which was always in ordi- 
 nary weather worked by sails and was now heavily laden, 
 could not attain that speed ; neither could the galleys. I 
 succeeded in accomplishing a rate of 1000 stadia in the 
 twenty-four hours, so that in about three hours after our 
 departure we had rounded White Cape, and holding on by 
 a south-west course, by nightfall had lost sight of land. To- 
 wards midnight Himilco roused me with the announcement 
 that we were off Mount Carmel. I could just discern its bluff 
 peak standing out in the moonlight, and gave instructions 
 that our course should be changed to the south ; at the 
 same time I took the precaution to signal to the Melkarth 
 to clew up her sail and use her oars, because we were again 
 approaching the shore. A brisk breeze in the morning 
 brought us in sight of the low, level coast of Palestine, 
 and before noon we recognised Joppa by its elevated 
 towers and surrounding groves of palms and wild fig-trees. 
 
 1 Now Ras-el-Abiad. 
 
 * That is, 32^ geographical miles, the rate given by Herodotus.
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 45 
 
 After passing the mouth of a river which empties itself 
 about forty stadia north of the port, the Cabiros neared the 
 shore, while the Melkarth and the two galleys, owing to 
 the shallowness of the water, were brought to anchor at 
 about a stadium and a half away. 
 
 The harbour of Joppa is insignificant, and has neither 
 basins nor piers ; scattered about the beach are a few 
 cabins and dilapidated hovels, in the midst of which rises 
 the small fortress of rubble built by King David when he 
 opened traffic with the Phoenicians, and made Joppa the 
 port whither the firs and cedars hewn down in Lebanon 
 were brought on floats. A large Phoenician barque, and 
 a miserable Egyptian craft, with a goose as its figure-head, 
 were -stranded in the mud below the beach, and on the 
 beach itself were a few wretched boats belonging to the 
 Jewish fishermen. 
 
 Taking Hanno and Hannibal with me, I went on shore 
 in one of my small boats, for the purpose of paying a visit 
 to the governor in command of the little garrison that 
 occupied the fortress. Before, however, we had gone far, 
 we saw the governor himself coming to meet us, followed 
 by about fifteen men armed with swords, lances, and square 
 shields. They wore linen girdles, fastened at the side by 
 a strap, which was finished off at the end with a cut and 
 polished flint. Their heads were bare, but their hair was 
 arranged in a lot of little tresses ; upon their feet and legs 
 were long laced gaiters, and a panther's skin, according 
 to Jewish habit, was thrown across their shoulders. The 
 captain alone was distinguished by a cuirass, which was 
 of copper, and badly made. As soon as I was within a 
 tew paces of him I stopped and made him my salute, a 
 courtesy which he acknowledged, giving me to understand 
 that he was already aware I came as an envoy from King 
 Hiram. 
 
 " Peace be with you ! " he said. " Having been informed 
 of your arrival, I have come to offer you the escort to 
 Jerusalem which you require. But now, I beg you, come
 
 46 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 to the fortress and partake of what hospitality we have 
 it in our power to give." 
 
 We were pleased at our reception, and followed our host 
 to the vaulted gate of the tower that overhung the fortress. 
 He conducted us to a lofty chamber overlooking the sea, 
 and made his servants spread a carpet over the floor, that 
 was but roughly paved. The walls of the room were of the 
 coarsest rubble and perfectly bare, the entire building being 
 of the most meagre construction. Water, bread, dried figs, 
 and cheese was the simple fare that was set before us, to 
 which, however, there was added some very palatable wine, 
 which the Jews, since their conquest of Syria, had been 
 able to procure from Helbon. 
 
 While the repast was being prepared we interchanged 
 mutual inquiries about ourselves and our respective kings, 
 but the meal was no sooner ready than the Jewish com- 
 mandant set us the example of eating by cramming his 
 mouth chockfull of cheese. 
 
 Presently, as he observed me throwing glances round the 
 room, he said : 
 
 " Ah, yes, you are thinking that we have not your 
 Phoenician skill in building ! We lack your taste and 
 finish. But, remember, we have not your wealth nor your 
 materials. However, you must recollect that this is only 
 a poor straggling village ; patience ! and you shall see our 
 populous cities, as well as our fertile country, before you 
 reach Jerusalem." 
 
 " The land of Judah," said Hannibal, " is not unknown 
 to me. I have traversed it already, and can bear witness 
 to its richness and fertility ; truly it is a land of olives, 
 dates, and corn and wine. And not only are you husband- 
 men, you are proud of being warriors. Every nation has 
 its own pursuit. We men of Tyre and Sidon for the most 
 part are sailors full of ardour, and merchants full of enter- 
 prise : but yet I think we may boast of our warriors, too : 
 Arvad, for instance, need not be ashamed of the generals 
 she can show."
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 4? 
 
 " True enough," rejoined the other, as his eye rested with 
 involuntary admiration on Hannibal's arms and cuirass, 
 " and no doubt Phoenician soldiers are well equipped." 
 
 " I can tell you," said Hannibal, "something that may 
 perhaps surprise you. In spite of your keeping no standing 
 army, and of your never admitting strangers into your 
 service, I have myself served under your king. It happened 
 in this way : when I was very young I was taken to the 
 town of Cana, in the heritage of the sons of Asher ; I grew 
 up as a child of the tribe, and eventually, at the regular 
 age, I was enlisted into your army." 
 
 The Jewish captain was delighted ; he rose and embraced 
 Hannibal, and in token of their friendship they partook of 
 a cup of wine, which was afterwards passed on to Han no 
 and myself. " I belong," he said, "to the tribe of Judah, 
 through whose inheritance we shall have to pass as we go 
 to Jerusalem. The King is maintaining some troops at his 
 own expense, and I am one of the captains of twenty. My 
 mission here is to await your arrival ; the requisite horses and 
 asses are provided for your journey, and you may start when- 
 ever it suits your wishes ; this very evening, if you choose." 
 
 " Impossible to-night," I answered ; " I cannot be absent 
 from the ships until I have retuined and made all things 
 ready. To-morrow, however, I shall be prepared." 
 
 As there seemed time at our disposal, he inquired whether 
 he might not be permitted to visit our ships, suggesting 
 that as we were Phoenicians, we might probably have com- 
 modities to offer that they might be glad to purchase. 
 
 I explained that being in the royal service we were not 
 carrying any goods for commercial transactions, but had 
 only such articles on board as we hoped to barter for the 
 provisions that we might require on our way. 
 
 " In that case," he said, " I may perchance further your 
 designs ; we have flocks of goats, and we have balm and 
 olives in abundance. I will serve you in any way I can. 
 I am Chamai, the son of Rehaiah ; my father is well known 
 throughout the country."
 
 48 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 I acquiesced in his wish of visiting our ships, and he 
 followed me down after a very short interval. 
 
 During my absence the sailors had been displaying on 
 the beach the few articles that they had brought for theit 
 own private benefit, and were driving a briskish trade with 
 the fishermen and shepherds that had gathered round them. 
 On board the Melkarth some of the barter-goods were 
 already unpacked, and Hanno was not long in drawing up 
 a list of such things as I was ready to part with, and such 
 as I was anxious to procure in exchange. The additions 
 to my store of which I was in especial need were ten 
 measures of grain, two measures of oil, a barrel of olives^ 
 half a measure of balm, six baskets of dried figs, six baskets 
 of dates, and fifty cheeses ; and I further instructed Bod- 
 milcar, who superintended the exchanges, to purchase some 
 sheep and kids, in order that our men should be adequately 
 supplied with fresh meat until our arrival in Egypt. Other 
 supplies would be requisite ; but for these I reckoned upon 
 the generosity of King David, and upon what I should be 
 able to buy at Jerusalem. 
 
 Chamai expressed his great delight at the order and 
 arrangement of our ships ; and as almost everything pre- 
 sented some feature of novelty to him, he could hardly find 
 words to describe his admiration. The discipline of the 
 crews and the completeness of the rigging seemed equally 
 to fill him with surprise. He accepted my invitation to 
 remain to supper ; and as we were all seated on the poop 
 of the Ashtoreth, he gave a deep sigh, and exclaimed : 
 
 " How glorious your long voyages are ! How glorious 
 to be able to obtain the wealth that the Great Sea can 
 give ! Here, in our mountains, we are as ignorant as goats. 
 From time to time we may plunder a few villages, but our 
 chiefs always get the lion's share of the prey, which, after 
 all, is meagre enough compared with what you gain by 
 commerce." 
 
 I reminded him how that there was something more 
 to charm an adventurer on the seas than merely getting
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 49 
 
 wealth ; there was the advantage of seeing the wonders of 
 the world. 
 
 " Ah, yes," he assented. " I have heard your Phoenician 
 merchants tell of enormous serpents, and of fishes fifty 
 cubits long. I have listened to their tales of valleys full 
 of precious stones, and mines with inexhaustible stores of 
 silver and of gold. I know, too, that they relate wonderful 
 stories about giants, and about mountains that belch forth 
 fire and smoke." 
 
 " No doubt," I said, " you must allow a little for exag- 
 geration in travellers' tales ; but beyond a question there 
 are strange sights for travellers to see." 
 
 " And do you not," he asked, " occasionally have to fight ? 
 I have had some experience in fighting ; I have slain 
 Moabites and Philistines with my own hand. I could fight 
 again ; and if you are likely to have any more fighting I 
 should like to go with you. Could you not take me ? " 
 
 Hannibal laid his hand upon Chamai's shoulder, and said : 
 " Look here, captain. If you are in earnest, perhaps that 
 might be done. I want forty recruits as archers. Would 
 it be in your power to get them for us ? " 
 
 " Yes, yes ! " he cried eagerly, adding his accustomed 
 oath, " in the name of El, the Lord of hosts." 
 
 " Get them then," I said ; " and if they are forty sturdy 
 fellows, fit for soldiers, you shall have the command of 
 them, under Hannibal." I further delighted him by pro- 
 mising him a new cuirass, and a Chalybean dagger with an 
 ivory handle. 
 
 " Long live the King ! " he cried, in an ecstasy of joy ; 
 and Hannibal rubbed his hands with glee at the pro- 
 spect of so successfully recruiting the number of his troops, 
 saying that now they might face the world and conquer 
 kingdoms. 
 
 " Whatever kingdoms I conquer," broke in Hanno, " I 
 shall sell forthwith, subjects and all ; I shall put them up 
 to auction to the highest bidder, and shall purchase my 
 palace with the proceeds. You, Himilco, shall be appointed 
 
 E
 
 50 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 cup-bearer. ' When the goat is gardener, the goat-skins are 
 taken care of ; ' you know the proverb." 
 
 "But instead of talking about your feast," said Himilco, 
 drily, " we may as well proceed to enjoy our own ; " and he 
 moved towards the table on which the supper had now 
 been laid. 
 
 We had hardly commenced our repast, when a sailor 
 came from Bodmilcar to announce that he had completed 
 all his purchases. I inquired why the captain himself 
 did not come to join our party. The man said that he 
 could give no other reason than that he believed Bodmilcar 
 had invited the eunuch to supper with him on board the 
 Melkarth, 
 
 Hanno turned pale. 
 
 "That rascally eunuch, I fear, is manoeuvring some 
 mischief," I said, when the sailor had left us ; " however, 
 let us hope that the women are not in the plot." 
 
 Hanno was on the point of hurrying off immediately to 
 the cabin, when the door opened, and the waiting-maid 
 made her appearance, followed by her mistress, closely 
 veiled. 
 
 " Never fear, captain," said the maid, smiling ; " the hawk 
 may fly, but the doves do not follow." 
 
 " Did he tell you to follow him ? " I asked angrily. 
 
 " He did not insist upon it," replied the girl ; " and we 
 preferred remaining here ; we had no taste for taking up 
 our quarters on that big black ship." 
 
 I told her that she had only done right, and that I 
 should reprimand Hazael most severely if he made the 
 slightest attempt at removing them from my immediate 
 supervision. She then made a request, to which I willingly 
 acceded, that they might enjoy a stroll in the fresh air 
 upon the deck ; but before she turned away, Chamai, who 
 had hitherto been engrossed in some military discussion 
 with Hannibal, caught sight of her face, and suddenly 
 starting to his feet, exclaimed: 
 
 " Abigail, you here ! "
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 5! 
 
 " Chamai, is it you ? " she answered ; and in an instant 
 they were grasping each other's hands ; and gazing in each 
 other's eyes, they wept aloud. 
 
 As soon as Chamai had recovered his composure, he 
 asked her by what strange chance it happened that she 
 was on board a Phoenician vessel. 
 
 " Did you not know," she asked in return, " that the 
 Philistines came down on Guedor, our native village, and 
 carried me off to Askelon, and afterwards sold me to the 
 Tyrians ? " 
 
 " No," he said ; "all this is new to me. I was away in 
 the north, fighting against the King of Zobah, and since 
 that time, have not been home." 
 
 It did not take Abigail long to regain all her wonted 
 cheerfulness and vivacity ; and she went on to tell how she 
 had been purchased by the King of Tyre, and was now on 
 her way to Egypt in attendance upon the Ionian lady, 
 whom King Hiram had bought at the same time as herself, 
 and whom he was now sending as a present to Pharaoh. 
 
 Chamai, in his turn, informed her that he was to be 
 allowed to accompany us in our expedition, but was loud 
 in expressing his regret that the voyage to Egypt would be 
 so quickly over ; he could have wished, he said, that it would 
 take as long as his forefathers' wandering in the wilderness. 
 
 Touched by the incident of this mutual recognition, I 
 invited the girl to sit down for a little while amongst us ; 
 and requested Hanno, who was acquainted with the Ionian 
 dialect, to ask the lady to do the same. With a graceful 
 obeisance, she took her seat on a cushion that was placed 
 for her. 
 
 The evening meal proceeded pleasantly enough. Abi- 
 gail and Chamai entertained us with the story of their 
 attachment, relating how in the days of their early childhood 
 they had tended goats together in their native pastures. 
 I could not refrain from expressing my sorrow that they had 
 met to be parted again so soon. 
 
 " But perhaps," said Abigail, " Pharaoh will not want to
 
 52 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 keep me ; of such as I am, King Pharaoh must have 
 thousands. My mistress here is sent for him ; but me, 
 surely, he will send back again." 
 
 Chamai clenched his strong fists, and gave an appealing 
 look at me ; but I could give him no further consolation 
 than by remarking that it was very probable the company 
 pf the waiting-woman was only required for the lady during 
 the voyage. 
 
 "Apart from that," said Hannibal, "she would be 
 lonely and desolate enough. Little is the trouble that the 
 eunuch Hazael puts himself to for the sake of entertaining 
 her." 
 
 Meanwhile, Hanno and the Ionian lady had entered into 
 a conversation so close, and apparently so confidential, that 
 it gave me a feeling of uneasiness ; and in order to interrupt 
 it, I took the opportunity, while the wine-cups were being 
 replenished, of asking Hanno whether, as he had a reputa- 
 tion for playing the psaltery, he could not persuade the 
 lady to allow him to accompany her while she sung one of 
 the songs of her country. She had some slight acquaint- 
 ance with Phoenician, and answered for herself that she 
 should have much pleasure in singing as I wished. 
 
 Hanno fetched his psaltery, and as soon as it was tuned, 
 the captive damsel turned back her veil and revealed a 
 countenance of peculiar beauty. She was dressed as a 
 Phoenician, in a purple robe embroidered with silver, 
 and wore a necklace composed of three rows of gold 
 beads and gold ornaments of elaborate design. Her head 
 was bare, and her hair was arranged in the fashion of her 
 own country, turned back from the forehead and secured in 
 the middle. We sat in silence, as though riveted by a 
 spectacle of surpassing beauty. 
 
 As soon as my slave had attached the earthenware lamps 
 to the supports that were ready for them in the ship's side, 
 the Ionian, in a rich harmonious voice, commenced one 
 of the songs of her native land. I cannot profess to be 
 familiar with the Ionic tongue, but in the course of my
 
 THE IONIAN COMMENCED ONE OF THE SONGS OF HER NATIVE LAND. 
 
 Ta ftit'f page 52.
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 53 
 
 wanderings I had gained sufficient acquaintance with it to 
 be aware that the verses which she sung were in celebration 
 of the wars made long, long ago by her countrymen, the 
 Achaeans, against Priam and the city of Troy. Ever and 
 again, as her voice rose in thrilling sweetness, Chamai's 
 eyes could be noticed flashing with emotion, and Hannibal's 
 fingers seemed to be feeling for the hilt of his sword ; and 
 even those who could not comprehend the meaning of the 
 words were all enraptured by the melody of the song and 
 the bewitching loveliness of the singer. When she had 
 finished, she rose and retired with a step stately as that 
 with which Ashtoreth might move along the floods. 
 
 Immediately after she had gone, Hanno moved to the 
 ship's side, where he stood for a considerable time gazing 
 moodily into the water. I missed his merry voice from 
 our party, and going up to him asked him what was the 
 matter. 
 
 " Nothing but what will soon pass away," he replied. 
 
 " Take my advice," I said, " and let nothing be told 
 Bodmilcar about what has transpired this evening. I 
 neither trust him nor the eunuch." 
 
 " Let Bodmilcar do as he pleases," replied Hanno, 
 quickly. " For my part, I shall abide by the promise I 
 have made. What I want now is to get to Tarshish, and 
 to find adventures to divert me. I think I shall be a good 
 sailor yet, captain ;" and his tone brightened as he spoke. 
 I shook him heartily by the hand. Somehow or other I 
 felt myself every day to be drawn closer to the youth. 
 
 When I rejoined the others I found Chamai on the point 
 of returning to shore. 
 
 " Good-night, Chamai," said I ; "we meet again in the 
 morning." 
 
 " Good-night, captain ; good-night all :" and as soon as 
 he was in the boat he shouted, " Good-night, Abigail, my 
 charming dove 1" 
 
 " Good-night, my pretty lamb ! " responded Abigail, 
 saucily, as she looked forth from the interior of her cabin.
 
 54 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 At this very moment the eunuch arrived. " The fellow 
 has good lungs," he sneered, as he passed ; " but I question 
 whether King Pharaoh would be best pleased to know that 
 his slaves had been displayed to all the world." 
 
 " No, nor if he should learn that they have been enter- 
 tained by a ship's captain and his scribe," put in Bodmilcar, 
 contemptuously kicking aside Hanno's psaltery, which had 
 been accidentally left upon the cushion that had been 
 occupied by the Ionian. 
 
 "Your proceedings displease me ;" I began, in a tone of 
 reproof; but Bodmilcar interrupted me by saying sharply: 
 " Hazael has the King's authority for placing the slaves 
 wherever he thinks best." 
 
 This was too exasperating. It was intolerable that a 
 Syrian eunuch, himself a mere slave, should presume to set 
 up his authority ovtr me, a free man and a captain of a 
 Sidonian fleet, and I stared steadily at Bodmilcar, as if he 
 could hardly be aware of what he said ; but he only 
 returned my gaze with a look of defiance. 
 
 He proceeded in a haughty tone : " This Ionian damsel
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 55 
 
 was once mine, but she was stolen from me by men 
 who sold her to the King. The King sends her to 
 King Pharaoh as a present, and I shall do my duty to 
 the King by preventing his present from falling into the 
 hands of your scribe." 
 
 I answered firmly : " In all these matters I alone am 
 judge. On these vessels my authority in all things is 
 supreme, and woe to any one who questions it." 
 
 " Well spoken ! " cried Hannibal " Discipline and 
 obedience for ever ! " 
 
 " I shall do this, then," he began, with a voice half- 
 chpked with rage ; but I took him up coolly and decisively : 
 " You will do what I order ; you will go back to your 
 ship and look after your sailors. I shall be away five 
 days." 
 
 Me retreated slowly towards the boat, muttering threats 
 and oaths as he went, but to these I did not pay the 
 slightest heed. 
 
 When he u*as gone, Hazael said : "And now I shall go 
 and chastise that girl."
 
 56 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 I laid my hand upon his shoulder to deter him ; but he 
 shook himself free, and was about to open the cabin-door, 
 when the powerful grasp of Hannibal was upon him, so 
 that he was twisted completely round. 
 
 " How ? how now ?" he stammered out, looking first at 
 me and then at Hannibal, who still retained a firm hold 
 upon him. I folded my arms and looked steadily at him. 
 
 " Listen !" I said ; " listen to me. The rule of a 
 Phoenician ship is this : whoever defies the captain's orders 
 is tied to a rope from the yard-arm and dipped three 
 times in the water. Do you understand me ?" 
 
 Quivering with fear, the eunuch only bowed his head in 
 assent. 
 
 " Remember it then," I added ; " and remember, too, 
 another rule : when any one curses another he is fastened 
 tight to that mast and flogged ; five-and-twenty lashes. 
 Do you understand ?" 
 
 He bent his head again. 
 
 " And don't forget," I said, " that Abigail has a busy 
 tongue, and that I have sharp ears. Now, Hannibal, let 
 him go." 
 
 Hazael made his way to his cabin without a word. Han- 
 nibal could not suppress his glee. He exclaimed : " Bravo ! 
 captain ! all right ! no good doing things by halves ; mutiny 
 in a ship is as bad as rebellion in a camp." 
 
 Early next morning I sent for Bodmilcar. 
 
 "Bodmilcar," said I, "you are an old Phoenician mariner 
 and ought to be trusted, but I am afraid the influence of 
 that eunuch has turned your head. He will not be long 
 with us ; and when he takes his women ashore, I hope 
 you will be yourself again : but meanwhile you must give 
 me your word that you will not be promoting further 
 discord." 
 
 He attempted to deny that he had in any way fostered 
 discord, but I was not to be put off; I insisted upon the 
 promise being distinctly given, and wien he had yielded 
 and made me the promise I required, I said to him :
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 57 
 
 " Now, attend to my instructions. You will remain here 
 in command of the vessels, while I am gone to Jerusalem. 
 Hanno and Hannibal will accompany me, but Hasdrubal, 
 Hamilcar and Himilco will remain with you, and you will 
 be under the protection of the soldiers. We will make it 
 our business to get provisions in the interior of the country, 
 so that you will have nothing to concern yourself about in 
 the way of purchases." 
 
 "And what becomes of the two women ?" he inquired. 
 
 " That is my affair," I answered ; " I shall see that they 
 are provided for on shore. But we are off at once ; so look 
 to your duty. Farewell ! " 
 
 I directed Hanno and Hannibal to get into the boat, 
 and ordered my slave, with two sailors carrying the baggage, 
 to accompany them. As Hanno passed Bodmilcar, I 
 noticed that the latter scowled and spat upon the ground. 
 Hanno merely shrugged his shoulders. 
 
 Before I took my own place in the boat, I saw the 
 women and the eunuch safely on board the other boat, and 
 told two sailors to go with them, and take on shore all that 
 they might require. Hazael tried to invent some pretext 
 for remaining behind ; he would look after the baggage, 
 he said, but on hearing me cry out, " No, no," he embarked 
 without further remonstrance. 
 
 Everything being ready, I gave the word for starting, 
 and the two boats moved off. Bodmilcar stood upon the 
 poop watching us gloomily, whilst Himilco, who was by his 
 side, bade us good-bye with a friendly cheer. 
 
 A very few strokes of the oar brought us to land ; Chamai 
 had been impatiently awaiting our arrival, and hastened to 
 assist Abigail from the boat. We made our way straight 
 to the village, which lies in a grove of wild fig-trees, about 
 two bowshots from the fortress, and is provided with a good 
 cistern. In front of the house that seemed by far the most 
 important in the place, there were tied two horses and about 
 a dozen asses. The horses were well caparisoned with 
 embroidered bridles, and had their heads decked out with
 
 58 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 scarlet network, trimmed with little bells and parti-coloured 
 rosettes, their tails being tied up with scarlet bands. The 
 asses' manes and tails, according to a general custom, were 
 dyed with henna, and these animals, like the horses, were 
 all well harnessed. 
 
 " This," said Chamai, " is the house of Bichri ; he is one 
 of the men that I propose getting to join you on your 
 voyage. He is young and strong, and skilful in the use 
 alike of his bow, his sword, and his shield. He has been a 
 vine-dresser on the mountains, and has learnt the art of 
 making wine." 
 
 Bichri himself at this moment came forward to give us 
 his greeting ; he was accompanied by another man with a 
 young woman. 
 
 " This is Barzillai, one of my captains of ten," said 
 Chamai, introducing him to me; "and this is his wife, 
 Milcah ; she is the sister of our friend Bichri here, and is 
 famous for the honey-cakes she makes." 
 
 Hannibal suggested that Barzillai and his wife should 
 join us on our expedition, but Chamai explained that 
 nothing would induce them to go to sea. 
 
 I next proceeded to make arrangements for lodging the 
 two women during my absence. I found that they could 
 either be accommodated in the tower, or that they could be 
 received into Bichri's house, where they would be near 
 enough to Barzillai to have the companionship of his wife, 
 and the protection of his men-at-arms. At first Chamai 
 was disposed to murmur when he learnt that Abigail was 
 not to accompany us to Jerusalem ; but when he understood 
 that it was my wish that she and her mistress should remain 
 together where they were, he acquiesced without another 
 word of disapprobation. To Barzillai I give the strictest 
 injunctions to allow no one, except the eunuch, to see the 
 Ionian lady on any pretence whatever, and he struck his 
 hand upon the hilt of his sword as a guarantee that he 
 would be faithful to his trust. 
 
 " And where am I to lodge ?" asked the eunuch.
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 59 
 
 "Wherever you may choose," I answered; "in Bichri's 
 house, if you like." 
 
 " In my house ! " cried Bichri ; "a Syrian of Zobah in my 
 house ! No, no, captain, by your leave, I'd rather not. It 
 cannot be." 
 
 " Why not ? " yelped out the eunuch ; " are we Syrians 
 not as good as you ? " 
 
 " No ; Syrians are slaves : our King conquered you at 
 Zobah and Damascus both ; you are fleas, dead dogs !" 
 
 "True," chimed in Chamai ; "the Philistines of Gaza 
 and Askelon are foes worth conquering, but as to Syrians, I 
 could spit a dozen of them on my lance and carry them 
 across my shoulder." 
 
 " Ha, ha ! " laughed Hannibal ; " Chamai dearly loves a 
 joke ; he will make good sport for us along our way." 
 
 To Barzillai's inquiries whether the women were ever to 
 be allowed to go out, I replied that Abigail, since she 
 belonged to the country, might occasionally take a walk in 
 company with Milcah, but that the Ionian must not be 
 allowed to leave the house until my return. They engaged 
 to make the lady's time pass agreeably, and Milcah under- 
 took to initiate her into the art of making cakes and other 
 delicacies. 
 
 Having thus satisfactorily made our preliminary arrange- 
 ments, we entered the house to partake of some refreshment 
 before our departure. 
 
 In order to ensure that the guard should be sufficiently 
 strong, Barzillai had offered to find quarters in the village 
 for fifteen of our men in addition to his own. Hannibal 
 accordingly sent to the ships for fifteen archers to come on 
 shore, and I took the opportunity of sending by the same 
 messenger to Hamilcar and those who were with him, to 
 inform them what I had done by way of putting an effectual 
 check upon any scheme that Bodmilcar and the eunuch 
 misfht concert between them. 
 
 o 
 
 The eunuch had declined joining our meal, and had 
 returned sulkily to the ships. Milcah conducted the Ionian
 
 60 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 to her apartment, but soon reappeared, bringing a supply 
 of her renowned honey-cakes, three for every guest. So 
 engrossed, however, were Abigail and Chamai with each 
 other's society, that they forgot all about taking their own 
 shares, which Hannibal was nothing loath to eat for them. 
 
 Bichri went out first to see that the horses and asses 
 were in readiness, and we followed him as soon as we had 
 taken our leave of Barzillai and Milcah. The parting 
 between the young lovers, it need scarcely be said, was 
 somewhat protracted. Thoroughbred Sidonian as I was, 
 more accustomed to the rolling of a ship than the cur- 
 vetings of a steed, I declined mounting the high-spirited 
 horse which the Jew offered me, feeling that I should be 
 more at my ease upon a pacific steady-going ass. By my 
 directions Hanno had made a present to our host of a 
 piece of scarlet cloth ; to his wife I had given a pair ot 
 silver earrings, with which she was extremely delighted ; 
 and we had distributed a number of earthenware dolls and 
 toys to the children who crawled about or clambered on 
 our knees. Chamai (who had donned his new cuirass and 
 bestowed his old one upon Barzillai), detained us by running 
 back a dozen times upon some frivolous pretext, which ill 
 disguised his real design of saying good-bye once more to 
 his sweetheart, but at last made up his mind to mount the 
 horse which Hanno, as well as myself, had refused to ride. 
 Hannibal had already mounted the other horse, and was 
 exhibiting his skill as an equestrian, by cantering about us. 
 Of the asses, four were laden with our baggage ; Hanno, 
 the two sailors, and my own slave, got upon the others; 
 and Bichri, with his strong mountaineer's stride, marched 
 on ar ead of the caravan to pioneer the way.
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 6l 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 KING DAVID. 
 
 AFTER crossing the fertile corn-fields of the low-lying 
 plains, thickly studded with groves of figs and dates, and 
 with clumps of the stunted trees which abound in Judaea, 
 expanding their parasol-like foliage, we began to ascend 
 the mountain by narrow pathways, bordered by forests 
 of terebinths, alternating with vineyards and plantations of 
 olives. This route, delightful in its shade, brought us to 
 the little town of Timnah, on the ridge of the hill, where 
 Chamai introduced us to a man who found us lodging, and 
 provided shelter for our beasts. Timnah is not only small, 
 but it is most irregularly built ; it is encircled by an em- 
 battled wall, with two gateways and twelve circular towers ; 
 the houses are only of one storey, being detached, and 
 generally surrounded by gardens. 
 
 We were tormented by myriads of fleas, which appeared 
 to be especially remarkable for avidity. There were also 
 countless swarms of flies ; and Hannibal, who had taken off 
 his cuirass in order that he might more effectually scratch 
 himself, remarked, with some show of reason, that he thought 
 the inhabitants of Judaea ought to implore Beelzebub, as 
 the god of flies, to relieve them of this plague of vermin. 
 
 On the following morning, after traversing several ravines, 
 and crossing several ridges of the hilly but well-cultivated 
 country, we came in sight of a deep valley, sterile and 
 deserted. The rocks that formed alike its bottom and its 
 sides were scattered over with human bones, that were 
 bleaching in the air Towards the east some eminences
 
 62 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 could be discerned, surmounted by a fort, whilst the valley 
 again sloped upwards towards the ridges that bounded it on 
 the south. 
 
 " This is the Valley of Giants," said Bichri, as he turned 
 over a skull with the end of a staff he carried. 
 
 " Well enough I know it," broke in Chamai. " When 
 I was young I was Benaiah's armour-bearer. Benaiah 
 was one of King David's mighty men, a captain of a 
 hundred ; one snowy day he killed a lion in a pit ; and 
 once in single fight he slew an Egyptian giant ; and here 
 in this very vale of Rephaim, when I was serving under 
 him, we routed the Philistines so utterly, that the men of 
 Ashdod have been tributary to us ever since." 
 
 "And I, too, can recall it well," said Hannibal. "The 
 Philistines were up there to the right, designing to storm 
 the fortress in our front ; half-way down the valley the 
 King encountered them and drove them to their heights 
 again. The heat of the battle was in the valley, but the 
 greatest carnage was on the flight up yonder ridge." 
 
 As we proceeded, Hannibal pointed out to us on the 
 further side of the valley the thirty stakes to which the 
 King had had the chiefs of the Philistines bound after 
 the battle ; fragments of the skeletons were still attached 
 to them. 
 
 " Ours is a good King," exclaimed Chamai ; " Absalom, 
 his son, rebelled against him, but I stood fast by David." 
 
 "And I, too," said Bichri; "and a battle followed in 
 which I killed Othniel, the son of Ziba : I sent a javelin 
 clean through his temples ; this girdle of purple linen, which 
 I am wearing now, was his." 
 
 All along, as we proceeded, Chamai, Hannibal and Bichri 
 continued in this way to point out the sites, and to recall 
 the history of places and events to which any interest 
 attached. Whenever we passed a village or a town, the 
 inhabitants, recognising us as Phoenicians, came flocking 
 towards us with offerings of milk, dried grapes, figs, wine, or 
 other refreshment, but were always eager in their inquiries
 
 TIIF ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 63 
 
 whether we had any commodities of our own to sell. Bichri 
 invariably told them that if they wished to inspect our 
 merchandise, they must either come to Jerusalem, whither 
 we were going, or go down to Joppa, where we had left our 
 ships. Occasionally the goat-herds, who were in charge of 
 fine flocks upon the hill-sides, accosted us, but we bought 
 nothing of them except a couple of the excellent cheeses 
 of the country, for which we paid only a few zeraas. As 
 we were eating the cheeses under the shade of a terebinth, 
 some girls brought us cool water from a neighbouring 
 spring, and in acknowledgment of their attention, Hanno 
 gave them a number of glass beads, with which they 
 seemed highly delighted. 
 
 Shortly before sunset, on the evening of the second day 
 we reached Jerusalem, a city very strongly built upon a 
 steep and elevated plateau. The distant view of the city is 
 extremely striking ; the soil on which it is built is undulat- 
 ing and irregular, so as to produce an effect of the whole 
 place being literally studded with domes and terraces ; the 
 whiteness of the walls, and the numerous roofs that are 
 imbedded in the foliage of the olive-yards that skirt the 
 walls, all combine to make up a picture that cannot fail 
 most favourably to impress the traveller with its beauty. 
 
 After crossing a road that was bounded on one side by 
 the torrent of Kedron, and which was lost to view as it 
 deflected towards the deserts, we had surmounted the last 
 of the olive-covered hills, and passed the last of the 
 ravines, and soon began ascending a paved street, wide 
 enough to admit three horsemen abreast, of which the 
 houses were of brick, their gardens being enclosed by low 
 clay walls. Night was coming on, and Chamai, who had 
 galloped on ahead (leaving us to the guidance of Bichri), 
 was now awaiting us at the gate of a large garden attached 
 to a handsome brick house of two storeys. This house was 
 the residence of Ira, one of the King's officers, to whom 
 the duty was specially entrusted of providing for the 
 entertainments of foreign ambassadors. Immediately on
 
 64 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 our arrival, some slaves came to take charge of our beasts, 
 and to carry our baggage into the dwelling, where we were 
 first conducted into a long low room, and water was 
 brought us for our feet. It was not long before Ira himself 
 appeared to bid us welcome, and to offer us refreshment 
 I informed him of my name and errand, and showed him 
 the letter I bore from King Hiram to King David. He 
 raised it to his head in token of his respect, and promised 
 to give his sovereign an immediate notice of my arrival. 
 
 When we had completed our repast, I began to prepare 
 my presents for King David. First of all I chose a hyacinth- 
 coloured under tunic, made of the finest Egyptian linen, 
 and a purple upper tunic embroidered round the neck and 
 sleeves with flowers, and bordered with silver fringe ; to 
 these I added a girdle wrought in gold and silver, with a 
 lion's head in gold for a clasp, the eyes being of bright 
 enamel. This girdle was a most elaborate specimen of 
 Egyptian workmanship, being one of four that I had pur- 
 chased of a native artist, intending them for presents to 
 any monarchs to whose presence I might be admitted in 
 the course of my progress. Another gift that I selected 
 was a drinking-cup of silver with two handles ; it was raised 
 upon a stem, and embossed with ornaments, worked in gold, 
 representing fruit and flowers. The whole of these I 
 deposited in a box of the sandal-wood of Ophir, curiously 
 inlaid with gold and mother-of-pearl. Remembering that 
 the King was not only fond of music, but was himself a skilful 
 performer, I further looked out for him a three-stringed 
 harp of sandal-wood, ornamented with coloured tufts, and 
 surmounted by the figure in solid gold of a bird with open 
 beak and outstretched wings. This instrument could not 
 be matched out of Phoenicia, and the wood of which it was 
 made, like that of the box, had been brought from Ophir. 
 I had procured the harp from Khelesh-baal, a Sidonian, 
 to whom it had been given by the Queen of Ophir as an 
 acknowledgment of his having designed some ships for her 
 which could brave the open sea.
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 65 
 
 Early next morning when Ira came to inform me that he 
 had announced my arrival to the King, he expressed his 
 astonishment at the presents which I showed him I was 
 about to make ; he told me that they would be most accept- 
 able to the King, who was very desirous of seeing me. 
 
 About two hours afterwards some of the royal slaves 
 arrived, bringing a calf, some bread, several cheeses, a 
 barket of cakes and figs, a large jar of olives, and a still 
 larger jar of the good wine of Helbon ; one of them, 
 saluting me as an ambassador from King Hiram, said : 
 
 " I am instructed by King David to conduct you and 
 your companions to the palace : come at once." 
 
 I gave the box containing the presents to my two sailors 
 to carry, and collected my people together. Hannibal 
 donned his helmet and cuirass, Hanno put his official ink- 
 horn in his girdle, and we lost no time in setting off. 
 Chamai and Bichri both accompanied us : they were in 
 high glee, the latter especially, as, although he was one of 
 David's subjects, he had never hitherto seen his King. On 
 our way he remarked : 
 
 " David wronged our tribe of Benjamin ; but he made 
 amends by his kindness to Saul's kindred. He is truly 
 the glory of the tribes : I shall be rejoiced to see him ; I 
 have never seen him yet." 
 
 "And after all," said Chamai, "he did not want to be hard 
 upon the tribe of Benjamin ; it went against his heart. 
 Think, too, of his love for Jonathan, and of his marrying 
 Michal ; and Jonathan and Michal were both Saul's children. 
 And how he avenged the death of Saul himself! He has 
 no ill-will against you children of Benjamin." 
 
 " He is a valiant King," said Hannibal ; " and valiant, too, 
 is his general, his sister Zeruiah's son. He and Joab, both 
 are warriors \vorthy of their renown" 
 
 While this conversation had been going on, we had been 
 making our way through a succession of steep, narrow streets, 
 with houses, one or two storeys high, and gardens on either 
 hand. Seeing that we were ushered along by the royal 
 
 F
 
 66 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 servants, easily recognised as these were by the purple 
 borders of their white garments, all the people saluted us 
 respectfully as we passed, an evidence of the high esteem in 
 which the King is held by his subjects. 
 
 We crossed a quarter of the city known by the name of 
 Millo, and came to a canal which runs out in the direction 
 of the open country, and which is overhung by an eminence 
 called Sion, the entire space between Sion and Millo being 
 occupied by houses recently erected at the King's own cost. 
 In the surrounding wall there still remained the breach 
 which had been opened by David, when he took the city 
 from the Jebusites. On the summit of Sion stands a 
 fortress, in the interior court of which the royal palace has 
 been built. Designed by Tyrian architects, this is three 
 storeys high, with a central dome, and is surrounded by 
 magnificent gardens, the edifice for the most part being 
 constructed of hewn stone and sandal-wood. On either 
 side of the gateway are two stately pillars of bronze, and 
 against the wall, to the right of one of these pillars, is 
 placed the seat where the King sits to administer justice ; 
 the gallows for the execution of capital sentences being 
 close at hand. In the rear are other gardens, and the 
 buildings set apart for the women of the household. 
 
 Ira was at the palace-gate to meet us, and conducted us by 
 a ^ Ending staircase into a square apartment, well lighted, and 
 hung with tapestries figured with birds and flowers. At one 
 end was a raised sandal-wood dais, three steps above the 
 level of the floor ; upon this stood the throne, which was 
 likewise of sandal-wood, but perfectly plain and unadorned 
 either with carving or gilding, a lion's skin stretched out at 
 its foot. On the right hand stood Joab, the King's general, 
 in helmet and cuirass ; at a little distance behind was the 
 royal armour-bearer holding the King's sword, while his 
 lance rested against the wall ; several officers were stationed 
 upon the steps ; and in front four of the King's body-guard 
 of mighty men, with their swords drawn. 
 
 Seated upon the throne was the monarch himself, a man
 
 WAITING FOR THE KING TO SPEAK. 
 
 To face /ag-t 67.
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN M AGO. 67 
 
 of moderate stature and slight build, advanced in years, 
 but nevertheless retaining unimpaired every symptom 
 of agility and vigour. His straight, uncurled beard was 
 perfectly white, but his hair was dressed in the ordinary 
 fashion of his countrymen. His costume was very simple; 
 neither frontlet nor coronet adorned his brow ; no bracelets 
 encircled his wrists ; no rings were upon his toes ; he wore a 
 plain white tunic with a purple border, and instead of the 
 high-heeled shoes usually worn by kings, he had on his 
 feet a pair of mountaineer's sandals. There was nothing 
 in his attire to distinguish him from ordinary men ; only by 
 the penetrating glance of his clear blue eye could he be 
 marked out as one that was born to reign. 
 
 My people having ranged themselves in a line behind 
 me, I stepped forward and prostrated myself at the foot of 
 the dais ; then rising, I stood with folded hands, waiting 
 for the King to speak. He began by bidding me welcome, 
 and proceeded to ask whether our voyage hither had been 
 prosperous, and made numerous inquiries after the welfare 
 of the kings of Tyre and Sidon and their subjects. 
 Expressing his satisfaction at the tenor of my answers, 
 he called for King Hiram's letters to himself. I handed 
 the sealed papyrus to one of the officers, who presented it 
 open to the King. The King perused it deliberately, and 
 turning to me with a kindly smile, said : 
 
 " Mago, son of Maherbaal, I rejoice to see you. Who 
 are these that you bring with you ?" 
 
 One by one, I introduced my companions. 
 
 The King expressed his approval at seeing Chamai and 
 Bichri amongst my followers, and said : 
 
 " I like my younger people to travel ; it gives them 
 courage, as well as wisdom and experience. I am glad, too, 
 that your soldiers are under the command of Hannibal ; 
 he is an able leader ; I remember him well. And now, " he 
 continued, "Jehoshaphat the recorder shall prepare you a 
 catalogue of the materials which I require you to procure 
 and I leave it to your own discretion to purchase, in addi-
 
 68 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 tion, whatever else you may meet with that is curious of 
 rare. It remains for me to inquire what are the supplies 
 you need before you start" 
 
 I explained that I was anxious that forty experienced 
 men should be added as recruits to Chamai's force, and 
 that a sufficient store of corn and wine and oil, and other 
 things that would not be the worse for keeping, might be 
 provided to maintain us on our voyage. 
 
 " Just and fair are your demands," replied the King. 
 " Joab shall choose you out forty men, whom Chamai and 
 Hannibal may command, and my treasurer shall hand you 
 over the money needed for their pay. Ira shall take you 
 to the storehouses, and you shall be at liberty to select 
 what stores you please ; he will provide you also with asses 
 to convey them to the ships. You have only to say what 
 you require, and it is yours." 
 
 Again I prostrated myself before the King in token of 
 my gratitude, and requested him graciously to accept the 
 presents that I had been commissioned to deliver. He 
 seemed highly gratified, and inquired with the liveliest 
 interest about the history of each gift, as it was shown him ; 
 he then rose, and bade us follow him into an adjoining 
 room, where wine was prepared for us. He insisted upon 
 drinking from the cup which I had just given him, and 
 when he had taken his seat again upon his throne, which 
 had been brought in after him, he honoured me still further 
 by asking me about the various countries I had visited. 
 His curiosity seemed wakened by my replies, and amongst 
 other things, he asked me whether peacocks and asses were 
 not found in the West. I informed him that they came 
 from Ophir, whither, subject to his permission, I contem- 
 plated making a voyage upon my return. 
 
 " You are a dauntless man," he said, " to talk about a 
 second voyage before you have accomplished a first. I 
 admire your courage, and confess that Hiram has done well 
 in choosing you for this undertaking. I want now to show 
 you the site of the temple that it is in my heart to rear."
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 69 
 
 With a tread elastic as a young man's, the King con- 
 ducted us from the palace to an adjacent hill upon which 
 was a threshing-floor. The name of the hill was Moriah. 
 
 " I have just bought this threshing-floor and some oxen, 
 for fifty shekels of silver, of Araunah the Jebusite," he said ; 
 adding, "to my mind, the spot is adapted equally for a 
 temple or for a fortress." 
 
 Hanno remarked, " I have heard it said that the King 
 has taken more fortresses than he has built, and that his 
 sword is the best stronghold of his people." 
 
 "You are a flatterer, scribe," said the King, smiling; 
 " nevertheless, I believe that bold hearts do more to defend 
 their country than any masses of piled-up stone." 
 
 "Then I am no flatterer," rejoined the scribe; " I do 
 but echo the King's own sentiments. Happy the people 
 whose pride and confidence are in their King ! " 
 
 " If you use such silvery speech to women," replied the 
 King, " you must ultimately marry a princess." 
 
 Hanno coloured : the King laughed, and turning to me 
 said that I had an excellent scribe. 
 
 " Ah, my lord and King," said Hanno, " we are going 
 where eloquence can avail us nothing. The winds and 
 waves of the Great Sea will not listen to the smooth speech 
 of Canaan. The barbarians of the West will demand a 
 language of a rougher, sterner sort. Compliments will not 
 move the men of Tarshish." 
 
 The King was evidently much pleased with Hanno, and 
 told him that he should be gratified if he would bring him 
 back a written description of whatever he might see in 
 the course of his voyage ; he further inquired whether he 
 had any of his own compositions with h'm Upon this, 
 Hanno handed him a little scroll inscribed with some verses 
 he had written in praise of a lady. After the King, himself 
 a poet of the highest order, had admired the flow of the 
 lines, and commended the beauty of the handwriting, he 
 presented Hanno with a copy of some of his own poetry. 
 
 " There is another poetry," said Hanno, " of a severer
 
 7O THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 style, which the King has written in the valley of Rephaim, 
 and on many another battle-field : I fear he cannot give 
 us that." 
 
 In an instant David took the sword from his armour- 
 bearer's hand. " Here," he said, " is the pen that wrote it. 
 Take it ; it may give you the power to write verses of the 
 character that, in the valley of the giants, I have made to 
 the honour of my God." 
 
 " The King's word is a prophecy," said Hanno, kissing 
 the blade ; " be it my care that it comes to pass ! " 
 
 We had now to take our leave of the kind and courteous 
 King, and I went with Ira direct to the storehouses, whilst 
 Hannibal, Chamai, and Bichri followed Joab. 
 
 The chief storehouse is a long brick building approached 
 by a paved pathway lined with sycamines ; it is built in 
 the Phoenician style over a water-tank, and is flanked 
 by the stables for the royal chariots and the meadows for 
 the horses and other cattle. Hanno had prepared a list, 
 of which a duplicate copy was written for the King : the 
 items were a hundred measures of grain, fifty measures of 
 oil, fifty measures of wine, equal quantities of cheese, figs, 
 and dried grapes, and two thousand shekels of dry salt 
 meat : to these were added salt, beans, lentils, and dates, 
 Ira undertaking that asses, with drivers, should be ready 
 to convey them all to the ships on the following morning. 
 
 King David is renowned for generosity ; and on our return 
 to Ira's house we found that several of the royal servants 
 had arrived before us, bringing various presents for us all 
 For myself there was a shield, a lance, a dagger, and an 
 Egyptian battle-axe ; for Hannibal, a sword and a mace 
 of Chaldean manufacture ; for Bichri, a bow and quiver 
 and an archer's belt ; while for Hanno there was another 
 sword, in addition to the one he had already received. 
 
 Towards evening Hannibal returned, bringing word that 
 t.e had completed his number of men ; Jehoshaphat also 
 came to bring me the King's final letters of instruction. 
 
 On rising the next morning I found the street outside
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 71 
 
 the house crowded with asses and their drivers, the beasts 
 being laden with the heavy packs containing our supplies ; 
 we had therefore nothing further to do than to take leave 
 of our host. I gave him two phials of royal perfume for 
 his wives, and without further delay we took our departure 
 for Joppa. 
 
 Our return journey was unmarked by any special inci- 
 dent. From time to time Bichri gave us proof of his 
 dexterity by using his new bow to shoot partridges and 
 other birds while they were on the wing, and Hanno (with 
 his sword passed through his girdle in Jewish fashion) was 
 as gay as ever, beguiling the time with cheerful songs. 
 
 " Every one owns King David as a prophet," he repeated 
 more than once ; " and as I have David's sword, I should 
 think I might conquer the world." 
 
 " I hope you do not intend to kill King Pharaoh," said 
 I, rather startled at his martial enthusiasm. 
 
 " Pshaw ! " he replied ; " my mistress is Ashtoreth, queen 
 of sea and sky ! She can laugh to scorn Pharaoh and 
 Bodmilcar, both alike ! " 
 
 Bichri interrupted us by bringing a partridge he had just 
 brought down. " Can you tell me, captain," he asked, 
 "whether there are any vines in Tarshish ?" 
 
 " To the great regret of our Phoenician colonists," I 
 answered, " there are no vines at all." 
 
 " It may be a good thing then," he rejoined, " that I 
 have brought some cuttings with me. The climate is 
 warm, even as our own, and who can tell whether ere long 
 they shall not be producing wine as good as ours ?" 
 
 "An excellent venture of yours, archer," I replied ; "I 
 wish your foresight all success." 
 
 The tower of Joppa and the masts of our vessels were 
 hardly viable in the distance before we espied Abigail 
 advancing towards us. Chamai alighted from his horse, 
 and received her with a warm embrace. 
 
 " What news ? " said I, hurrying forward. 
 
 Learning that all was well, I left the young people
 
 72 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 together, and made my own way down immediately to the 
 beach. The first person that I saw was Barzillai, who 
 informed me that the eunuch had not been into the village 
 since my departure, and that no one had attempted to hold 
 any communication with the Ionian lady. Very shortly 
 afterwards, Hamilcar and all the rest, including Bodmilcar, 
 came to greet me on my return, and we proceeded at once 
 to embark the supplies that we had brought. I put all the 
 fresh recruits on board my own galley, thus making up my 
 full complement of 210 men ; namely, 50 rowers, 70 sailors, 
 80 soldiers, and 10 officers. 
 
 While the drivers were assisting my own people to 
 unlade the asses, one of them, a man of gigantic size and 
 stature, stalked up to me, swinging his arms, and stood 
 looking at me with a fixed and steady gaze. His appear- 
 ance was remarkable ; his short bull-neck was imbedded, 
 as it were, between his immense broad shoulders, and 
 he had long shaggy hair that hung close over his brow 
 and was met by a thick beard that grew almost up to 
 his eyes. 
 
 " Do you want me ?" I asked. 
 
 In a stentorian voice he answered, " I am Jonah, of the 
 village of Eltekeh, in the tribe of Dan." 
 
 " Well, what of that ?" I said. 
 
 " I want to go with you : I want to go where the wild 
 beasts are." 
 
 " But what for ; what can you do if you get there ? " 
 
 " I want to go," again he growled. 
 
 " But you can do nothing ; what is the use of taking 
 you ? " 
 
 " I want to go," he still persisted. 
 
 Puzzled in my mind, I asked him whether he could in 
 any way make himself of use on board a ship. 
 
 " I am strong," he said ; " I am a descendant of 
 Samson ; I can carry an ox upon my shoulders, and I 
 can blow a trumpet ;" and as he spoke he struck himself 
 heavily in the chest
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 73 
 
 Hannibal, who all this while had been scanning the man 
 with the eye of a connoisseur, observed : " I don't think we 
 shall find a cuirass big enough to fit the fellow ; but he 
 looks as if he mightn't be a bad trumpeter ;" and turning 
 towards him, he said : " Now look here, man ; I have a 
 good trumpeter already ; but if Captain Mago will allow 
 it, I should like to have a trumpet-match, and see which of 
 you can blow the best." 
 
 Of course I had no objection to allege, and Hannibal's 
 trumpeter was summoned to the spot. A huge clarion was 
 
 fetched from the stores and handed to Jonah, and thus 
 the rivals were brought face to face in the middle of a 
 circle of curious listeners. 
 
 " Blow away, my men," said Hannibal, " as hard as you 
 like ! " 
 
 Both raised their instruments to their lips, and simul- 
 taneously gave forth a series of strong, clear notes, which 
 waxed louder and louder, as the performers, with necks 
 outstretched and inflated cheeks, seemed to grow warm to 
 the work. After a considerable time, during which neither
 
 74 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 appeared to have much superior power, the eyes of 
 Hannibal's trumpeter began to start painfully from their 
 sockets, and he showed symptoms of evident fatigue ; whilst 
 Jonah, although the veins of his neck were swollen as large 
 as one's finger, continued to give forth notes that almost 
 split our ears, and which seemed still louder in contrast 
 to the enfeebled strain of his competitor. At last, when 
 full fifteen minutes had elapsed, Hannibal's herald gave 
 one prolonged and plaintive note, and sunk down upon 
 a stone, breathless and exhausted. Jonah, without exhi- 
 biting any sign of distress, stood with his hand upon his 
 hip, and raising his trumpet high into the air, gave vent 
 to a loud triumphal flourish. 
 
 " Enough, enough ! " we shouted one and all. 
 
 " Bring out the very largest scarlet tunic that we have 
 on board," said Hannibal ; " the fellow has gained his 
 day." 
 
 " Then may I go ?" asked Jonah. 
 
 Hannibal made him understand that I had given my 
 consent, and told him to put on the tunic. While he was 
 endeavouring to fasten the garment, which seemed ready 
 to burst out at every seam, Himilco walked round him, and 
 surveyed him with a puzzled air. 
 
 " I should like to see inside the rascal," he said ; " I have 
 never heard such lungs." 
 
 " I am thirsty," roared the giant. 
 
 A great cup of wine was handed to him ; he drained it 
 at a gulp. 
 
 " Do you call that a draught ? " he asked. " I should 
 give as much to my little children ; can't you let me drink 
 from a pitcher or a cask ? " 
 
 Himilco refilled the cup, and handed it back to Jonah. 
 With an air of wonder, that almost amounted to terror, he 
 muttered to himself, " An extraordinary fellow, but it will 
 cost us something to keep him ! " 
 
 When we had embarked all our goods, we took leave of 
 Barzillai and his wife. The Ionian bade a most affectionate
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 farewell to Milcah, who had treated her with the greatest 
 kindness and hospitality. Abigail was the last to leave 
 the shore, and when she did so, it was with a look, long 
 and lingering, towards her native mountains. 
 
 By the following evening we had rounded the point of 
 Pelusium, easily distinguished from the surrounding lowland 
 by its rising grove of palms. The sea was rough, and to 
 many on board the consequent sickness was very trying. 
 Towards noon next day we came in sight of the troubled 
 waters caused by the outflow of the Nile.
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 PHARAOH ARRIVES TOO LATK. 
 
 WE shortly hove in sight of what is known as the Tanitic 
 mouth of the Nile, beyond which, in the distance, could be 
 discerned the tall obelisks of the City of Tanis. The de- 
 posit brought down by the river itself, combined with the 
 action of the wind and surf upon the two headlands of 
 the bay, has a perpetual tendency to block up this outlet 
 of the Nile ; and when the Cabiros, which had been sent 
 on ahead to explore the bar, returned with the intelligence 
 that the water was too shallow to permit a safe passage 
 to the Melkarth, I determined to push on a little further to 
 the Mendezian mouth, which is considerably wider, and 
 which leads, moreover, direct to Memphis. Night was 
 coming on, so that I would not venture to stem the some- 
 what rapid current of the river in the dark, but brought my 
 ships to anchor within a bowshot of the shore. 
 
 Hazael came to me and asked permission to pass the 
 night with his friend Bodmilcar. I was equally surprised 
 at his request, and at the submissive manner in which he 
 made it ; but after ascertaining that the Ionian was in her 
 cabin, and that Abigail was with Chamai on deck, I allowed 
 him to go. 
 
 Remembering that we had arrived at a land of strangers, 
 with whom hitherto we had held no communication, I 
 doubled the watch, and gave Hannibal special directions 
 to keep a sharp look-out. The order in which our ships 
 were arranged was this : on the right, furthest to the south,
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 77 
 
 was the Cabiros ; the Ashtoreth was moored to some piles 
 about half a bowshot behind ; the Melkarth and the Dagon 
 were stationed on the opposite bank, where the water was 
 deeper. One of the small barques was with me, the other 
 with the Melkarth, 
 
 Anchored higher up the river were several Egyptian 
 vessels, and a considerable number was drawn up upon 
 the shore. I wondered why there should be so many at a 
 spot where there was no regular anchorage, but I sub- 
 sequently learnt that Pharaoh was about to send forth a 
 squadron for the purpose of putting down a revolt that had 
 broken out at Pelusium. Two officers, accompanied by a 
 troop of soldiers, some armed with battle-axes, and some 
 with bows, had already boarded my ship to inquire who 
 we were and what we wanted, and had retired satisfied 
 with my explanation. As the shades of night deepened, 
 we could observe the lights of two galleys cruising about in 
 the open channel, and shortly afterwards another Egyptian 
 came on board and ordered my own lights to be extin- 
 guished, a direction which was instantly obeyed. 
 
 The night was intensely warm, and the scorching east 
 wind, laden with the sand of the desert, blew from time to 
 time in dry and unrefreshing gusts. The sky was over- 
 cast, and although the night was not black it was so dark 
 that little could be distinguished except the gleam from 
 the fires of a large camp pitched on the right bank, and the 
 inconstant lights of the distant villages on either shore. 
 Close in front of us were still burning the torches of the two 
 galleys I have mentioned ; but besides these, there was only 
 the occasional flicker from some little boat that moved 
 upon the stream. 
 
 Towards midnight, five or six hours after our anchoring, 
 I resigned my watch to Himilco, intending to take some 
 r est. On my way to my berth I cast my eye towards the 
 right bank, and through the gloom I could see indis- 
 tinctly that there was a crowd of vessels there ; but 
 everything was silent, and I went below.
 
 /S THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 I had not been asleep for more than a half-an-hour when 
 I was roughly aroused by Himilco. 
 
 "We are adrift ! " he exclaimed. 
 
 In an instant I was upon my feet, and rushed to examine 
 our moorings. They were cut asunder. 
 
 " All hands on deck ! lights ! light the lamps ! " I cried 
 with all my might ; and at the same time I noticed lights 
 appearing on the left, and heard a distant voice hailing the 
 Ashtoreth with the cry, " Our moorings have been cut, and 
 we are all adrift." I shouted in reply that they should 
 come over to us ; it was only too evident that another of 
 our ships was in the same dilemma as ourselves. 
 
 Meantime my crew had come on deck, and had lighted 
 several signals. I ordered the rowers to their benches, and 
 made them backwater gently so as to keep us steady until 
 the other ship should join us. At the distance of about 
 four bowshots behind, I made out the Cabiros hoisting her 
 lights, and could hear the voices of the crew in great ex- 
 citement. Almost immediately there was a splash of oars, 
 and the Dagon came alongside of us. I shouted to 
 Hasdrubal, who was standing on board : 
 
 " Where's the Melkarth f " 
 
 Getting no satisfactory reply, I immediately ordered the 
 three ships on to the left bank. The Dagon went straight 
 across the river ; I followed, taking an oblique course, and 
 the Cabiros, hastening ahead, went a little way south, and 
 then turned back due north, keeping as close as possible 
 to the shore. 
 
 During the time we were getting across, Hannibal had 
 just put all his men under arms, as it occasioned us much 
 surprise that while there was this commotion amongst our- 
 selves the Egyptians had made no sign nor sound ; their 
 lights were out. and their cruisers no longer to be seen. 
 
 O ' O 
 
 The Cabiros rejoined us, and reported that she had seen 
 nothing ; nor even after we - had descended the river a 
 couple of stadia was a single Egyptian vessel visible, and 
 it was not until we were within hearing of the roar of the
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 79 
 
 waves at the river's mouth that we almost ran against some 
 black mass that loomed through the darkness. 
 
 " Back to your moorings, Phoenicians ! no leaving the 
 river at night !" shouted a voice, in Egyptian. 
 
 " We don't want, I can tell you," I replied, " to be 
 running away like a set of thieves. We 'iave been cut 
 adrift, and one of our ships has disappeared." 
 
 " Then get fresh moorings," was the answer : " you must 
 wait till morning. By Pharaoh's orders, you cannot leave 
 to-night." 
 
 There was no help for it but to obey ; and sending some 
 men on shore in the small boat with torches, we succeeded 
 in finding an anchorage. But scarcely had we settled in 
 our places, when our attention was arrested by a voice from 
 the middle of the river gasping out in Phoenician, " Help ! 
 help!" 
 
 We put off a boat in the direction of the sound ; the cry 
 was repeated still closer to us, and in a few minutes the 
 boat returned alongside, and one of my sailors, dripping 
 with water, was hoisted on to the deck of the Ashtoreth. 
 He was in a pitiable condition, his face all bleeding, and 
 his head gashed open in several places. 
 
 " Treason, treason ! we are betrayed by Bodmilcar !" was 
 all he could utter, as he staggered and fell senseless on the 
 deck. I ordered him to be laid upon a piece of carpet, 
 whilst Abigail chafed his face with ointment, and Himilco 
 put some wine to his lips. I had ascertained quite enough 
 to put me on my guard, and consequently had our lights 
 extinguished, permitting only one lamp and one torch to 
 each ship : and I gave directions to the watch to keep a 
 keen look-out. 
 
 Meanwhile the poor fellow had recovered his conscious- 
 ness, and Hanno, Hannibal, Himilco, Chamai, and myself, 
 pressed round him to gather what he had to say. One 
 of our sailors supported his. head to facilitate his power of 
 speech, and Abigail and the Ionian knelt beside him, with 
 the wine and ointment.
 
 80 
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 **I went this evening," began the man, "to visit a friend 
 of mine on board the Mclkarth, You know the crew are 
 nearly all Tyrians. Bodmilcar has tampered with them 
 all. He has had an interview with Pharaoh's general, and 
 told him that you are spies in league with the insurgents 
 at Pelusium ; he said, too, that you had a slave on board 
 your ship, whom he was bringing to Pharaoh, but who 
 had escaped. His people urged me to join the conspiracy, 
 and when I refused they all threatened to kill me. I 
 
 jumped overboard. An Egyptian boat pursued me. I 
 was twice struck on the head by an oar. I dived beneath 
 the water. I suppose they thought I had sunk ; as they 
 gave up the pursuit. Orders have been given to seize us 
 all to-morrow. We are to be attacked in the morning, and 
 carried off to Pharaoh. I can tell no more." 
 
 The exertion of telling all this had been too much for 
 the brave fellow, and he fainted away again. My first 
 impulse was to rush to my cabin for the King's letters, but 
 to my amazement they had all disappeared ; they had 
 evidently been stolen during my absence at Jerusalem
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGC. 8l 
 
 We were overwhelmed with consternation. Hanno was the 
 first to speak : 
 
 " All is plain enough," he said ; " Bodmilcar is the thief. 
 Hazael, you know, has the King's signet ring ; and the 
 rascals have opened the papers, altered their purport, and 
 closed them again with the royal seal. Bodmilcar has 
 carried them and presented them ; he represents himself as 
 leader of the expedition, and denounces you as a traitor. 
 He gets believed : and what is the result ? why, sure as 
 fate, we shall be made prisoners, and only too likely we 
 shall be put to death. Abigail, of course, will be sent to 
 Pharaoh." 
 
 " Not while I have a sword to defend her," said Chamai, 
 stamping with rage. 
 
 " Yes," continued Hanno, coolly ; " no doubt Abigail 
 will be handed over to Pharaoh, and the fair Chryseis 
 will be awarded to Bodmilcar as a recompense for his 
 service." 
 
 Hanno groaned aloud, and Hannibal furiously twirled 
 his moustache. 
 
 " I have no doubt, Hanno," I said, " that all your con- 
 jectures are right. But it's rather soon to despair. Perhaps 
 you haven't been with us old mariners long enough to learn 
 our seamen's song about the Egyptians ? " 
 
 I began to whistle an air, and Himilco, with a merry 
 laugh, broke out with the gay refrain : 
 
 ' The bull-head tribe, with all their skill, 
 Must catch the man they fain would kill" 
 
 The effect was instantaneous. My whole party almost 
 smothered me in their delight. Hanno threw himself at 
 my knees and grasped one of my hands ; Abigail seized the 
 other, and covered it with kisses ; Hannibal caught hold of 
 my cuirass on one side ; Chamai lugged at me on the other. 
 Altogether, I was in a fair way of being strangled. The 
 Ionian, who partially comprehended my meaning, could 
 
 G
 
 82 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 only express her gratitude by the bright glance of her soft 
 eyes. 
 
 As soon as I had extricated myself from the embraces oi 
 the enthusiastic group, I pointed out to them a confused 
 mass of Egyptian boats, now just visible in the dawn. 
 
 " If there were only half-a-dozen of those fresh-water 
 tortoise-shells," said I, "our three ships could soon show 
 them the way to the bottom of the Nile ; but there is such 
 a lot of them ! Besides, they have forces on land, and 
 the river isn't wide enough for us to get out of their reach. 
 Bodmilcar, too, will lend them a helping hand, and he is an 
 old stager ; his ship, it is true, is not much in fighting trim, 
 but it is manned with Tyrians. However, we mustn't give 
 up ! Patience ! Trust yourselves to me !" 
 
 "Yours we are to the death!" cried Hanno ; while 
 Hannibal, with his teeth set, growled out, that if any one 
 disobeyed my orders it should be the worse for him. 
 Chamai, almost beside himself with excitement, clasped 
 Abigail in his arms, and vowed he would bring her the 
 head and spoils of the first foe he should meet, even if it 
 were Pharaoh himself. 
 
 Hamilcar and Hasdrubal, with his pilot Gisgo, now came 
 on board for my orders. 
 
 "I never trusted that Tyrian," said Hamilcar ; " and I am 
 glad to have the chance of fighting it out with him ; and my 
 men are as delighted as myself." 
 
 " Ha, ha! Himilco," laughed Gisgo the earless, "we shall 
 have some sport now." 
 
 "Yes, old Celt," replied Himilco, "we will teach the 
 rascals to swim." 
 
 I shook hands heartily with all three men, and they 
 returned to their ships. It was now broad daylight, and 
 casting my eye towards the river, I reconnoitred the 
 enemy's position. Below-stream the Egyptian galleys 
 were under way ; opposite to us, on the left bank, were 
 about forty small boats, each manned with four rowers
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 83 
 
 and five soldiers, and a troop of nearly a hundred bowmen 
 were assembling hastily on the right-hand shore. Looking 
 up-stream, I could count as many as six galleys about two 
 stadia away ; two large heavy ships, with hanging decks, 
 were sailing down the left bank ; and mid-channel I 
 recognised the towering sides and rounded prow of the 
 Melkarth, her oars shipped, and her sails furled, being 
 towed by a low, open rowing-boat. The camp, of which 
 we had noticed the fires in the darkness, was much too 
 far off to be visible by daylight. The shore on either 
 side was perfectly flat and treeless, but covered with fields 
 of clover and of corn that was nearly ripe, as the harvest- 
 time was drawing nigh. On the left bank, about two 
 bowshots from the water, a steep dyke, surmounted by a 
 causeway, had been thrown up as a protection during the 
 annual inundation. Far away to the south, the white 
 buildings of a city could be distinguished ; and in the north 
 could be seen the yellowish-whitey waters of the river bar, 
 with the broad green surface of the sea beyond. 
 
 We were hardly six stadia from the mouth of the river ; 
 the strong east wind and the current were both in our 
 favour, and once out at sea we should have little to fear. I 
 determined, therefore, to make an attack upon the Egyptians 
 before the Melkarth could get ahead of us, for I knew that 
 once in front of us, her very bulk would be a formidable 
 obstacle to our retreat, and that she could overwhelm 
 us with a storm of missiles ; while the superior height of 
 her deck would not only prevent our men from boarding 
 her, but, on the contrary, would give her men every facility 
 for boarding us. 
 
 My first manoeuvre was to slip my moorings, and to 
 take up my position in the middle of the channel, so as to 
 be out of reach of the archers on the shore. The Dagon 
 had shifted her prow to the north, and lay half a bowshot 
 below me ; the Cabiros was to my left, her prow south- 
 ward. The sails were all furled, the rowers were ordered 
 to backwater very gently so as to just keep the vessels in
 
 84 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 their places, and each pilot took his stand by the side of 
 the helmsman. Hannibal posted his archers fore and aft, 
 and grouped his soldiers round the mast. Hanno and 
 I mounted the prow, and my trumpeter followed. The 
 gigantic Jonah remained with Hannibal ; he could not be 
 persuaded either to put on a cuirass or to take a lance, but 
 stood, clarion in hand, watching all our preparations with a 
 curious eye. 
 
 The scorpions had already been supplied with missiles, 
 and each vessel was provided with a number of earthen- 
 ware pots filled with sulphur and pitch. We improvised, 
 also, a quantity of fire-ships, formed of small planks, into 
 which spikes were driven, to which were fastened well- 
 greased goat-skins charged with combustibles. 
 
 We had not long to wait. Very soon were heard the 
 shrill notes of the small Egyptian trumpets, and the decks 
 of the ships were seen manned with troops. I could 
 discern the smooth brown faces of the soldiers, and make 
 out that they were armed with battle-axes and large 
 triangular shields ; and I could see that the archers, with 
 their legs bare, and poignards in their girdles, were ranged 
 along the sides of the ships. The rowers, more than half- 
 naked (clothed merely by a strip around their loins), plied 
 their paddles, according to their custom, standing. On 
 board the Melkarth, Bodmilcar was easily distinguished ; 
 he was in a state of great excitement and activity, and 
 apparently giving some explanation to an Egyptian officer, 
 a man dressed in green and wearing a large wig, with his 
 face and arms painted with cinnabar, in accordance with 
 the common fashion of their men of rank. 
 
 The soldiers that manned the small boats were nearly as 
 slightly clad as the rowers ; they carried poignards in their 
 girdles, and were armed with axes and staves pointed 
 at both ends, in the use of which the Egyptians are 
 notoriously skilful. Although all appeared in considerable 
 commotion, not one of the vessels made any attempt tc 
 advance, and there seemed a general state of expectation.
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 85 
 
 The solution of all this was soon apparent. A large 
 boat was seen to detach itself from the general mass, and 
 make its way down-stream towards us. Eight rowers 
 stood paddling on the raised bow and stern ; twelve 
 soldiers, with square plates of bronze strapped on their 
 breasts, and armed with lances, daggers, and short scimitars, 
 were in the middle ; and amongst them was an Egyptian 
 officer of high rank. He was arrayed in two tunics of 
 striped gauze, crossed one over the other upon his breast ; 
 a girdle ornamented with enamel plates was round his 
 waist, and a large gold and enamelled bird with out- 
 stretched wings was suspended by a gold chain from his 
 neck. His head was covered with a tall cap, bearing an 
 enamel plate inscribed with the name of Pharaoh in 
 hieroglyphics ; his beard was enclosed in a casing of red 
 cloth ; and in his hand was a gilt battle-axe, elaborately 
 inlaid with figures of animals and other symbols. On one 
 side of this sumptuous personage was a closely-shorn 
 priest or scribe, habited entirely in white, and holding an 
 inkhorn and some papyrus in his hand ; on the other, 
 in full Syrian armour, was our old friend Hazael. I could 
 not resist a smile as I caught sight of a pile of chains and 
 manacles lying in the boat. 
 
 On the Egyptian officer shouting that he wanted to 
 come on board and speak to me, I gave permission for his 
 boat to come alongside the Ashtoreth, and, followed by his 
 scribe and five of the soldiers, with the greatest arrogance 
 he stepped on deck. Hazael had the discretion to remain 
 behind, where he was. I received the magnate with all 
 courtesy, and saluted him after the fashion of his own 
 country, but instead of acknowledging it in any way, he 
 began v;ith the most overbearing insolence to exclaim : 
 
 " Down, down, you Phoenician thieves, and sue for 
 Pharaoh's mercy!" 
 
 Finding that such was the tone he took, I answered 
 sternly : 
 
 " No thieves are we, nor have we injured Pharaoh ; so
 
 86 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 far from imploring Pharaoh's mercy, we have a right to 
 demand Pharaoh's protection." 
 
 "Out upon your falsehoods!" retorted the enraged 
 Egyptian ; " have you not this very night been attempting 
 your escape ?" 
 
 "No," I said emphatically; "we were cut adrift. The 
 real thieves are amongst you. That rascal Bodmilcar and 
 that vile eunuch stole the royal letters that they brought to 
 you." 
 
 "Silence!" shouted the Egyptian in impetuous fury; 
 "too well we understand your frauds. Out with your 
 hands ! the handcuffs are ready here, and you and the 
 slave that you have stolen must come along to Pharaoh. 
 Never fear but ample justice shall be done !" 
 
 The scribe was opening his inkhorn for the purpose 
 of taking down our names, when I burst out into a roar of 
 laug' ter. 
 
 "Do you take us for fools?" I said; "why on earth 
 should we leave our ships to go and hear a slanderous 
 catalogue of lies alleged against us ? No, no, sire, we 
 remain where we are." 
 
 The Egyptian literally stamped with rage. "Villains! 
 pirates ! thieves!" he cried ; "every one of you shall die a 
 death of torment." 
 
 Throughout this interview I had taken care never for a 
 moment to lose sight of the fleet above-stream ; and seeing 
 that the ships were now in motion, without paying the 
 least regard to the continued ravings of the grand official, I 
 ordered my trumpeter to sound an alarm. The Egyptian, 
 followed closely by his scribe, hurried towards his boat ; 
 his soldiers, to cover his retreat, rapidly crossed their lances. 
 Chamai, Hannibal, and Hanno, mistaking the movement, 
 and supposing they were making an attack on me, fell 
 upon them with drawn swords ; and the huge Jonah, 
 throwing down his trumpet, rushed into the fray, and 
 wresting a lance from one of the soldiers' hands, took him 
 by the shoulders and dashed his head twice or thrice
 
 THE SOLDIERS RAPIDLY CROSSED THEIR LANCES. 
 
 /'.' face f>agt 86 .
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 87 
 
 against the side of the ship. It is a popular belief that the 
 Egyptians are a hard-headed race, but I avow that this 
 fellow's skull cracked like a ripe water-melon. 
 
 Meanwhile, Hannibal had cut the throat of another of the 
 soldiers, and Chamai had plunged his sword into the body 
 of a third. I was struggling to wrench the lance from the 
 grasp of a fourth, when taking alarm at the number of 
 my men, he turned about, and following the example of 
 his sole remaining comrade, sprang overboard and swam 
 like a frog. But they were not to escape so easily ; Bichri, 
 who was standing near the wale of the vessel, hit one of 
 them with an arrow, and the rowers stunned the other by 
 blows with their oars. Thus the whole five were entirely 
 disposed of ; but the real conflict was yet to come. 
 
 As soon as the Egyptians were aware of the fray, one 
 of their galleys from the right bank drew rapidly towards 
 us, and the whole bevy of small boats that had gathered 
 round kept up a continuous flight of arrows, every one of 
 which, however, either stuck in the ship's side or went 
 whistling over our heads. 
 
 A single glance was sufficient to reveal to me the 
 enemy's tactics. Just as I had anticipated, the Melkarth 
 was being towed down the stream towards the right, 
 obviously with the design to pass us and get below, so as 
 to cut off our retreat. Their immediate design was to 
 divert our attention from this manoeuvre, and for this 
 purpose two large ships were ordered to bear down upon 
 us, and a flotilla of small boats was sent to keep up a storm 
 of arrows. Hannibal immediately, by my directions, set 
 his catapults to work, and a volley of stones and pots full 
 of pitch and sulphur was discharged, right over the Cabiros, 
 on to the approaching vessels. I then ordered the Cabiros 
 and the Dagon to move simultaneously, right and left of 
 me, but in opposite directions : the Cabiros northwards to- 
 wards the galleys that were obstructing our way, the Dagon 
 straight down upon the boat that was towing the Melkarth. 
 I could see Bodmilcar upon the prow of the great gaoul,
 
 88 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 wildly endeavouring to make the Egyptians understand 
 their danger, and urging the rowers to get their oars into 
 the water ; but he was too late. Our movements had 
 taken them completely by surprise. The Dagon, cutting 
 her way full speed through the crowd of small boats, 
 crushed or capsized all that came in her course ; the Ask- 
 toreth, liberated by the departure of the Cabiros, effec- 
 tually kept in check the ships that were trying to pass down 
 the stream ; and the Cabiros, that had gone northward, by 
 sending out a number of fire-floats that drifted on in 
 advance, completely discomfited the two galleys that were 
 guarding the mouth of the river. 
 
 Our tactics were a perfect success. One of the Egyptian 
 ships was run into by the Aslitoreth with such violence 
 that it was cut asunder, and sank immediately ; and the 
 other, harassed by the pots of combustibles, and alarmed at 
 the eddy caused by the foundering of its consort, purposely 
 ran aground. The Dagon, after staving in the towing-boat 
 like a piece of rotten wood, had returned to me ; and as we 
 had the satisfaction of seeing Bodmilcar's crew cut their 
 tow-rope, we both turned our attention to the galley which 
 was retiring from the attack and falling back upon the 
 Melkarth. Simultaneously passing it quite close, one on 
 each side, we swept off both its tiers of oars, and hurling 
 down upon it a final shower of arrows, we filed off to join 
 the Cabiros, which was still engaged in discharging its 
 missiles and fire-floats at the other two galleys. 
 
 The contest had been sharp but short. In less than 
 an hour we had rendered the Melkarth incapable of 
 action ; had sunk two Egyptian vessels ; had sent a third 
 aground ' and had crushed or capsized at least fifteen 
 small boats. 
 
 The surface of the water was covered with the debris, 
 and not a few men could be seen drifting along in the 
 current. Thrown into utter confusion by our unlooked-fof 
 attack, the rest of the Egyptian vessels floundered about in 
 each others' way, and totally prevented the Melkarth from
 
 THE ADVENTURES O* CAPTAIN MAGO. 89 
 
 obtaining another tug-boat. Finding, therefore, that those 
 need give me no concern, I gave my attention to the galleys 
 in front, and sent adrift a dozen or more fire-floats, which 
 the crew of the Cabiros sent down-stream with their boat- 
 hooks. The galleys gave way ; and, feeling that there 
 was no immediate impediment, I proceeded towards them 
 calmly to the north, leaving our assailants confounded by 
 their disaster, and Bodmilcar raving furiously on the poop 
 of his helpless ship. Bichri lamented that he could not let 
 fly an arrow at him, but it was utterly useless, as we were 
 already too far away. 
 
 "A drawn battle ! " said the brave archer, coming forward 
 from the stern. 
 
 " Yes," said I ; " the rascal has had bad luck this morning ; 
 but he will watch his opportunity. We haven't done with 
 each other yet." 
 
 "I hope not," said Hanno, vindictively. 
 
 Presently there was a movement among the Egyptian 
 ships, and three of them, having extricated themselves from 
 the maze of confusion, had commenced a pursuit of us, 
 accompanied by a number of little boats. At the same
 
 9O THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 moment I espied a troop of horsemen galloping along the 
 shore; and raising my eyes to the causeway on the top 
 of the dyke, I observed a cloud of dust, from the midst of 
 which broke ever and again the gleam of a row of bronze 
 and gilded chariots. There was no room for doubt ; 
 evidently the King himself was approaching with the inten- 
 tion of being a witness of our capture. 
 
 But the mighty Pharaoh had come too late ! 
 
 Out of forty or fifty fireships which we had set afloat, 
 two at last had run foul of one of the galleys, which was 
 now in flames, and the terrified crew were fain to resort to 
 the usual naval manoeuvre of the Egyptians, and run their 
 ship aground. The vessels that had started in pursuit of 
 us were still at least two stadia in our rear, so that we had 
 ample time to tackle with the single galley that remained 
 ahead to bar our progress. 
 
 "Board her! board her! Let us board her!" shouted 
 Hannibal, Hanno, and Chamai, with unanimous accord. 
 
 " We have no time, and she's not worth the trouble," I 
 replied ; " we will sink her." 
 
 " Down she goes, then, like a stone," cried Himilco. 
 
 The Cabiros, without meeting with any resistance beyond 
 a few chance stones and straggling arrows, now slipped 
 quietly under the very prow of the galley, and with 
 unfurled sail was making off to sea. The Dagon was 
 about to follow her, but at a signal from me, Hasdrubal 
 bore down upon the galley's stern, whilst I simultaneously 
 drove straight against her flank, and between us we literally 
 cut her in two. Down sank the galley in a whirlpool of 
 foam ; and our last obstacle being thus removed, we hoisted 
 our sails and rode out to sea, our trumpets sounding out a 
 flourish of victory. 
 
 Behind us rose a discordant howl of maledictions. We 
 were out of reach. It was utterly impossible for our 
 enemies in their little nut-shells of vessels to follow where 
 our victorious prows were now cleaving the foamy billows ; 
 and when we were fairly out at sea, steering due west, I
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 91 
 
 could see, as I looked along the low flat coast, that the 
 Egyptian masts were quite motionless. It was evident, 
 therefore, that Bodmilcar had advised them to abandon 
 their pursuit. 
 
 Fifteen of our men were wounded, nearly all of them 
 slightly, and two had been killed ; whilst the loss of the 
 enemy, including those slain by the archers, burnt by the 
 fire-ships, or drowned by the waters of their own sacred 
 Nile, must have been nearly three hundred. 
 
 It did not take long to repair whatever damage we had 
 sustained. Some broken oars on board the Ashtoretk, and 
 a few more on board the Dagon, were replaced from the 
 reserves ; the decks were washed down, the stays strength- 
 ened, some broken ropes spliced, and the arrows that had 
 lodged in the rigging and ship's sides removed. All our 
 wounded had been carried below ; and the bodies of the 
 three Egyptians, having been stripped of any spoil of value, 
 were thrown overboard. The bodies of our own two men 
 were also committed to the waves with an invocation on 
 their behalf to Menath, Hokk, and Rhadamath, the judges 
 of the infernal regions. 1 In less than three hours everything 
 was as much in order as though nothing had happened. 
 Chryseis and Abigail, who had all along rendered what 
 assistance they could, were rejoicing in their freedom ; 
 Hanno, whose nerve had never failed him, and Chamai 
 fully sharing in their delight 
 
 I sent for Hasdrubal to come on board, that he might 
 join Himilco and myself in a council of war. When we 
 were alone together, I said : 
 
 " Listen to me. There is no shadow of doubt that we 
 shall be pursued. Ascending the eastern outlet of the 
 river, the Egyptians will come down by the western ; they 
 may come either by the Canopic or Phanitic branch ; and 
 at both Pharos and Canope there is no question but that 
 the King has ships in readiness. They can anticipate us 
 there ; couriers by land can arrive by early morning; we, 
 
 The Minus, Eucus, and Rhadamauthus of the (irccks.
 
 92 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 with our utmost speed, could not arrive till long beyond 
 mid-day. Somewhere or other we must of necessity put in 
 to shore again ; our supply of water is all but gone." 
 
 To Himilco's suggestion that we had wine enough to 
 meet our need, I vouchsafed no other reply than a shrug of 
 the shoulders, and continued : 
 
 " My intention was to take in a fresh supply this very 
 evening, but this skirmish has frustrated everything. Go 
 ashore we must ; and this is the scheme that I propose ; 
 we will re-enter the river by the Sebennitic mouth, which 
 
 is nearest to us now ; they will never suspect us of vcn 
 tuiing on land so soon ; probably they will not be there at 
 all ; if they are, we must use main force ; but water we 
 must have." 
 
 My companions approved my plan, but expressed their 
 anxiety as to what was to happen afterwards. 
 
 " I do not think," I said, " that because we have lost the 
 gaoul that we need at all contemplate abandoning our 
 expedition. Failing to find us at either Canope or Pharos, 
 the Egyptians will watch for us all along the coast ; and at
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 93 
 
 last Bodmilcar, who knows our destination, will get re- 
 inforcements from Pharaoh and will chase us right on to 
 Tarshish. Sooner or later we shall be pretty sure of fall- 
 ing in with him ; but for the present, at least, we can elude 
 him thoroughly. Here is my project. The wind is north- 
 east and favourable ; by steering by the sun in the day- 
 time, and by keeping the Cabiros a little to our left at 
 night, I do not fear but that in five days at most we might 
 reach the shores of the great island, Crete." 
 
 Himilco and Hasdrubal stared at me in mingled admira- 
 tion and surprise. 
 
 " From Egypt to Crete ! Across the open sea ! An 
 unheard-of thing ! Can it be possible ?" 
 
 Such were the exclamations with which they heard my 
 proposition. 
 
 " Aye, harder things than that may be done," I con- 
 tinued ; "the wind isn't likely to change till next new 
 moon ; but even should it change and we happen to miss 
 Crete, we shall only run upon the mainland, or on one of 
 the islands of the Archipelago. Thence we can get round 
 Cape Malea to Sicily, from Sicily to Carthage, from 
 Carthage direct to Tarshish. That's our course, now." 
 
 "By our goddess Ashtoreth, your scheme is beautiful !" 
 cried Hannibal ; "and meanwhile the Egyptian rascals will 
 be floundering about the Syrtes." 
 
 "And rough enough they'll find them," said Himilco. 
 " I was well-nigh drowned there two years back ; and let 
 us hope that Bodmilcar and his Tynan sneaks, bad luck to 
 them ! may come to grief. How I should like to hang 
 them all like a string of fishes, fastened by their gills !" 
 
 We were not long in reaching the little town of Sebennys. 
 The Cabiros was first sent ashore, and returned with the 
 tidings that all was quiet. I paid the customary dues to 
 the Egyptian governor of the place, and despatched a 
 number of our sailors to procure the requisite supply of 
 water ; they took the opportunity of purchasing several 
 baskets of onions and some ood fresh meat. Before the
 
 94 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 end of the day we had turned our backs upon the land, 
 and were making our venturous way north-west. 
 
 "And now, for our dishes and platters," I cried ; " I am 
 frightfully hungry." 
 
 We seated ourselves in the stern, and joined by Chryseis 
 and Abigail, we formed a large and merry group. The 
 sailors and soldiers all were served with a ration of wine 
 in honour of the morning's victory. 
 
 " I see we have changed our course," said Hanno ; " are 
 we making for Crete ?" 
 
 " Yes," I replied ; and added that I supposed it was a 
 place already known to the fair Chryseis. 
 
 Chamai inquired whether it was not the same as Chittim. 
 
 " No, not the same," I answered ; " this island is full of 
 mountains, upon which are goats with spreading horns like 
 those of Arabia ; the people are famous for their skill as 
 archers." 
 
 " Bichri, then, may find his match," said Chamai. " But 
 to what nation do they belong ?" 
 
 " They are Phrygians and Dorians," I told him ; " fair, 
 
 tall men, with handsome faces and well-formed limbs ; they 
 
 ' have built towns in which some of our Sidonian merchants 
 
 . have recently settled, getting there by way of Chittim 
 
 * and Rhodes. Chryseis speaks the same language as the 
 
 Dorians." 
 
 Chamai, ever full of interest in Chryseis, expressed his 
 pleasure at hearing that she was about to go amongst a 
 people kindred to herself, and was inquiring whether they 
 were a martial race, when Chryseis interposed, and with 
 Hanno's assistance explained that the Dorians, like the 
 Tonians of the Isles, and the Achaians on the mainland, 
 were renowned warriors, and that the fame of their con- 
 quests had spread far and wide. 
 
 "How large, how vast the world must be!" exclaimed 
 Hannibal ; " here is a people, famed in war, whose very name 
 I scarcely know. But is it not from Crete that we get our 
 Chalcidian swords?"
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 95 
 
 Smiling at his mistake, I made him understand that 
 Chalcidian swords were made of copper from the island 
 of Chalcis, and that the Phoenicians could not elsewhere 
 procure copper that would take so fine a temper. 
 
 Hannibal went on to ask Hanno to inquire of Chryseis 
 what were the military tactics of the lonians, and how they 
 paid their soldiers. 
 
 " Do you expect us women to know such things as 
 these?" asked Abigail, with a merry laugh; "a woman 
 knows well enough that her countrymen can fight, and 
 she knows how to prize the spoils they bring her from the 
 battle-field ; but what can she know of the art of war ?" 
 
 Chryseis seemed amused at her maid's vivacity, and 
 proceeded to enumerate the most illustrious military leaders 
 of her land. I heard her name Achilles, and Ajax, and 
 a certain king called Agamemnon ; and I understood her 
 to relate that two kings in her country, named Jason 
 and Ulysses, were renowned for the voyages they had 
 made. 
 
 " Voyages !" cried Himilco, scornfully ; " I can guess what 
 their voyages were : creeping along and hugging the shore ; 
 making perhaps a stadium a day ; never looking at a star. 
 And then, what ships they had ! I am glad I haven't to 
 trust myself in one of them from Sidon to Chittim." 
 
 Chryseis owned that, as to ships, she had never seen 
 anything in her own country that could be compared to 
 the ships of the Phoenicians, adding that she thought 
 that the mariners of Phoenicia must be true sea-gods. 
 
 " And you must be their goddess," said Hanno, with 
 enthusiasm. 
 
 "Ah, young man," yawned out Hannibal, "you should 
 put your fine speeches in Ionian ; the lady does not 
 understand you." 
 
 The lady, however, bent her head gracefully, and raised 
 a laugh by saying in good Phoenician that she perfectly 
 understood what had passed.
 
 96 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 " Trust a woman for understanding a compliment," was 
 Hannibal's remark. 
 
 " I should like to see the effect," said Himilco, " of one 
 of Hanno's pretty speeches upon Gisgo's wife ; her Celtic 
 dialect is something like the croaking of Bodmilcar's 
 ravens." 
 
 It was now getting dark, and as he spoke, Himilco moved 
 off to his post upon the prow, and I took up my watch 
 upon the stern. All that night, and all the following day, 
 the wind freshened till it blew a gale ; being all in our 
 favour, its violence caused me no alarm, but well-nigh all 
 on board, conscious of being far away from land, and 
 beholding nothing but sea and sky, were filled with terror ; 
 and as the ship at one moment was carried high upon the 
 crests of the enormous waves, and at another was sunk 
 low in what seemed an unfathomable abyss, they became 
 almost paralysed with alarm ; they lost their appetites 
 entirely, and were incessant in their invocations to their 
 gods. The gale next night increased to a hurricane, and 
 on the morning shifted to the south, driving us to the north 
 at the rate of 1800 stadia in a day. 
 
 Happily, although our ships were thus flying over the 
 sea, they kept well together. Towards evening the wind 
 dropped a little, and on the morning of the fourth day it 
 was comparatively calm ; the sky was very clear, and, to 
 our vast delight, the man on watch at the top of the 
 mast announced that land was in sight. I joined Himilco 
 on the prow, and both of us could plainly distinguish in the 
 sunlight the peaks of some snow-capped mountains. By 
 the afternoon the view of land was plain to every one on 
 board, and before the stars had risen, we were skirting a 
 coast that seemed so rocky as to be inaccessible. 
 
 It was long past midnight before we could discover any 
 anchorage at all ; at last we found a small exposed bay 
 where a river coursing along a bottom of white sand 
 entered the sea. Towards the east, masses of thick woods
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. ^7 
 
 could be made out, with snowy peaks of higher ridges 
 rising up behind them. The Cabiros was hauled up on 
 shore close to the river's mouth, and, the water in the bay 
 being found sufficiently deep, the two galleys were moored 
 to some of the great boulder-stones upon the beach. The 
 coast was quite desolate, and there was no sign of human 
 habitation.
 
 98 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 CRETE AND THE CRETANS. 
 
 No sooner were the ships safely settled in their moorings, 
 than Himilco and I, who had both been up on watch 
 throughout the last four nights, retired to take the rest 
 that we so much needed, and, worn out by fatigue, I did 
 not wake until the sun was high above the horizon. 
 
 The shore was still quite deserted ; the steep rocky 
 mountains appeared for the most part to rise perpen- 
 dicularly from the sea ; and the little valley of the river 
 soon lost itself in a deep gorge, densely wooded with 
 myrtles and holm-oaks. 
 
 My first care was to send a squad of sailors on shore to 
 fill our barrels and goat-skins with a supply of fresh water ; 
 I next ordered a guard of soldiers and archers to be landed 
 ready for any emergency ; and then despatched Bichri, 
 accompanied by half a score of bowmen, up the gorge to 
 explore the mountains. There was abundance of wood 
 about, and I determined to light some fires and cook our 
 morning meal upon the strand. I likewise pitched a 
 couple of tents, in which I laid out some of our merchandise, 
 in case Bichri should fall in with any of the natives of the 
 island. Jonah made himself especially prominent by his 
 services on the occasion ; he carried wood enough on his 
 back to load three ordinary men, and lifted a barrel of 
 water without any assistance, remarking that, if any one 
 would give him wine in it to drink, he would lift a barrel 
 twice the size.
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 99 
 
 About midday Bichri returned, tired with his wanderings, 
 but well pleased with his morning's work. He had come 
 across several of the natives on the mountains ; they fled 
 at his approach, but being an experienced mountaineer he 
 had followed them from rock to rock, and had at length 
 succeeded in capturing one of them. The others had 
 pelted him with stones from a distance, but he had sus- 
 tained no injury, and, in accordance with the orders I had 
 given him, he had acted strictly on the defensive, and had 
 not in any way returned their violence. The prisoner that 
 he brought with him was a great strapping fellow, with 
 a quantity of glossy black hair and a skin as brown as a 
 Midianite's ; his eyes were black and obliquely set ; his 
 face wide, with projecting cheek-bones, and a pointed chin. 
 He had no other covering except the skin of a wild- goat, 
 which was thrown over his shoulders and fastened round 
 his waist by a cord, and on his bare neck and arms were a 
 necklace and bracelets made of shells. A hatchet with 
 which he had defended himself had been wrested from him 
 by Bichri ; it was made of a highly polished stone of a 
 greenish hue, and had a strong wooden handle. 
 
 As soon as the barbarian was brought to me he began 
 with many gesticulations to speak in a language of which I 
 did not understand a word. I restored him his hatchet, 
 made him a present of a piece of red cloth,, and after 
 showing him the goods in the tent, gave him his liberty. 
 He bounded off towards the mountains and disappeared 
 among the trees. 
 
 Two hours afterwards he came back with several other 
 men, half-naked as himself, and armed with lances and 
 rudely-made bows. When within about a hundred paces 
 of us, they stopped and waved some boughs of myrtle. I 
 ordered my men to do the same, and then I advanced to 
 meet them, making Hanno accompany me, and display 
 some pieces of red cloth and strings of glass beads. 
 Gradually the savages gained courage and were induced to 
 approach, and at last to enter our tent There was one
 
 IOO THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 of them who seemed to be a sort of chief, and acted ai 
 spokesman ; he first pointed to the sky and ejaculated, 
 ' Britomartis ;" and then to the mountains, saying " Phala- 
 sarna, Phalasarna." It was evidently not the first time he 
 had come in contact with Phoenicians, for as soon as he 
 caught sight of our ships he cried " Sidon ! Sidon 1" and 
 touching our tunics, he called them "kitons." 
 
 We gave him an old kitonet, and distributed a quantity 
 of glass beads amongst his followers, who brought us in 
 return a couple of wild goats, and some partridges, which 
 they called " hamalla." 
 
 Towards evening another of their number, an old man, 
 came to us ; he wore a kitonet under his goat's skin and 
 had on an old pair of sandals. He could speak a little 
 Phoenician, and succeeded in making us understand that he 
 was of the race of the Cydonians, who had been the original 
 possessors of the island, until the Phrygians and the Leleges 
 had made war upon them and forced them to take refuge, 
 east and west, where the mountains were most inaccessible. 
 The whole of the coast, and the central highland, as well as 
 the fertile valleys of the north and south, were now occu- 
 pied by the conquerors, who had subsequently been joined 
 by a colony of Dorians, so that, altogether, the Cydonians 
 were being gradually exterminated. I now comprehended 
 how it was that I, who had always approached Crete from 
 the north by way of Caria and Rhodes, had never seen 
 any inhabitants except Dorians ; whilst other Phoenician 
 captains who had landed on the eastern extremity of the 
 island where they had discovered some insignificant 
 mines, and opened a small traffic in the ore had always 
 transacted business with the Cydonians. 
 
 The old man likewise informed us that his people had 
 a town, up in the mountains, called Phalasarna ; also that 
 their goddess was Britomartis. which in their language 
 signifies " the gentle virgin." He was delighted with th 
 wine which I gave him ; and on receiving, as a present, 
 a couple of lance-heads and a necklace of enamelled
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. IO1 
 
 earthen beads, he promised to get us next day as much 
 fresh meat as we wanted. 
 
 Upon its growing dark, the barbarians retired to their 
 mountains. Hannibal took the precaution of doubling the 
 number of his sentinels, but we were quite undisturbed 
 throughout the night. 
 
 In the morning the Cydonians returned and brought 
 some goats. They are not in any way an agricultural 
 people, and consequently could not provide us with either 
 corn or vegetables, but they brought us a quantity both 
 of wild fruit and wild honey. I showed them a picture of 
 an ox, and tried to make them know that that was the 
 animal I wanted them to get me, but they explained that 
 they had none of their own upon the mountains, and 
 that such an animal had been quite unknown upon the 
 island until it was introduced by the Phrygians. 
 
 Pointing in the evening to the crescent moon, the bar- 
 barians told me that it was Britomartis, their goddess of 
 the chase. Chryseis said she knew this goddess by the 
 name of Artemis, from which I drew the inference that 
 the Cydonians might have taught her worship to the 
 Dorians, who would have made her known to the lonians. 
 The offerings that are accustomed to be made in her 
 honour are hinds and deer ; and I have heard it said that 
 young men have been sacrificed as victims on her altar ; 
 but this is mere tradition, and I do not pretend to state 
 it as a fact. I feel quite certain, for my own part, tha 
 although this goddess is the moon, she is not identical 
 with our goddess Ashtoreth, otherwise she would not have 
 been content only to encourage them to hunt, but would 
 have taught them the science of navigation. 
 
 The Cydonians are also acquainted with the god of the 
 Phrygian tribes of the Curetes and the Corybantes, who 
 have a city called Cnossus in the island, where they have 
 built a temple. This god is a white bull, although some- 
 times he is known to take the form of a man. The 
 Dorians affirm of him that he is the primitive god of the
 
 IO2 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 country, but the Cydonians protest against this statement, 
 and maintain that he was imported hither by the Curetes. 
 I myself had never heard of the god. I cannot believe 
 that he is either the Apis of the Egyptians or our own 
 great Moloch. Chryseis asserts that she knows him by the 
 name of Zeus, and believes that once upon a time he crossed 
 the strait between the Black Sea and the Sea of Ionia, 
 carrying a fair maiden on his back. He is" said to be a 
 fine and majestic creature, and the Phrygians of Crete 
 honour him with dances, howlings, and the music of tam- 
 bourines : his priests are of the tribe of the Corybantes, 
 the progeny of Corybis. It was mentioned by Chryseis 
 that a bull had once married a queen of the island, named 
 Pasiphae, by whom he had a strange offspring, half-man, 
 half-bull ; but the monster was destroyed, she thought, 
 by some Dorian or Ionian King. I can hardly persuade 
 myself that this bull was Zeus ; and I am rather inclined 
 to suspect that the whole story is a fable, depicting some 
 victory gained by the lonians over the mixed Phrygian 
 tribes that had made good their settlement upon the 
 island. 
 
 I openly avowed my own conviction that this god was 
 not our own god Moloch. Moloch was far more powerful 
 than any god of the lonians ; he was much too mighty to 
 permit foreigners to triumph over his own people. It was 
 quite possible that the Phrygians had not honoured their 
 bull-god Zeus as they were bound, and he, in anger, had 
 abandoned them to their conquerors ; but this was not like 
 Moloch ; no, he was not Moloch. 
 
 " Gods ! gods ! " cried Chamai, who had overheard the 
 tenor of our talk ; " who are all these gods ? There is 
 one only God ; and El is His thrice-holy name. Another 
 name He has, but that we are forbidden to pronounce. 
 In His sight Moloch, Zeus, Artemis, Melkarth, all are 
 nothing. Chemosh could not defend the Moabites against 
 our hosts ; Dagon could not protect the Philistines of Gaza 
 and of Askelon ; Nisroch could not lead the Syrians at
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. IOJ 
 
 Zobah on to victory ; Adrammclech was impotent to gain 
 a triumph at Damascus ; and Baalim could not prevail in 
 behalf of the Amalekites. They all are nothing. It is 
 the Almighty El, the Lord of hosts, the Maker of the 
 heaven and the earth, that is the only God. He has 
 brought us out of Egypt ; He has established us in our 
 goodly lands. He is the God invisible and true, the God 
 of vengeance and of power." 
 
 " However much I may confess," said Hannibal, inter- 
 rupting Chamai's earnest protest, " that your mighty El 
 may be the god of the mountains and the plains, it cannot 
 be denied that our Ashtoreth is the goddess of the ocean. 
 See what glorious victories she has gained for us Sidonians ; 
 she has made us monarchs of the sea ! For Moloch and 
 Melkarth I have no reverence whatever ; but still I think 
 that Baal and the gods of Arvad should be honoured in 
 the countries they have favoured with their care." 
 
 "And don't forget our great Cabin," put in Himilco; 
 " what would all our Tyrian pilots do without their 
 guidance and protection ?" 
 
 " I know nothing about pilots," Chamai said ; adding, 
 " for my part I shall be content to worship El, our Lord 
 Almighty, by land, by sea, and everywhere." 
 
 So ended the discussion ; and every one having made 
 his invocation to his own special divinity, all retired to 
 rest. 
 
 There was little more to be gained from the Cydonians ; 
 accordingly, on the following morning, having made a few 
 trifling purchases, I prepared to start, My own intention 
 was first to round the western limit of the island and to 
 steer full north ; next, having sighted the two Cytheras, to 
 coast along the mainland till we reached the mouth of the 
 Achelous, where I hoped to replenish our supply of water, 
 and to transact some profitable business with the natives ; 
 thence, passing between Zacynthus and Cephallenia, I 
 reckoned I could take our course between the mainland 
 and the island of the Siculi ; once there, I would coast
 
 104 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 along the north of it to Lilybaeum, from which headland 
 the distance was only 380 stadia across to Carthage. Such 
 was my project ; but whether any of the gods had been 
 incensed at our discussion the preceding night, or whether 
 they were disposed to put the capabilities of our vessels to 
 the test, certain it is that they had decreed that our course 
 should be very different. 
 
 The sky was dull and lowering, and Himilco drew my 
 attention to some lurid clouds that were gathering in the 
 south-west 
 
 " No time to lose," I said ; " unless we can get ahead of 
 the hurricane that is brewing down there, we shall run the 
 risk of being dashed on this rugged and unsheltered coast. 
 There is safe anchorage on the northern shore, and thither 
 with all speed we must betake ourselves before the storm 
 shall break." 
 
 The weather was unnaturally calm ; but I knew the 
 necessity of urging the rowers to full speed, and the ships 
 made rapid progress to the west. In the course of twelve 
 hours I calculated we had made about 450 stadia, and had 
 got quite clear of the island ; but by this time the sky had 
 become obscured with low heavy clouds, and there was no 
 room to doubt that the tempest was approaching. I con- 
 tinued to keep well out to sea, and fortunate for us I did 
 so ; for at nightfall, when we were, as I conjectured, about 
 150 stadia from the land, the storm overtook us in its 
 fullest fury. The hurricane blew from the south-west 
 and feeling satisfied that by abandoning ourselves to its 
 violence we should be carried nearly north between Crete 
 and the lesser Cythera, I ordered a sail to be hoisted, and 
 permitted the wind to drive us on before it 
 
 Throughout that night we knew not where we were 
 The rain poured down in torrents ; wave followed wave in 
 quick succession, dashing masses of water on to our decks, 
 and our helmsmen had the utmost difficulty in controlling 
 the vessels so that they should not present their broadsides 
 to the squalls. Ths crash of the thunder was incessant, and
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. IO5 
 
 by the vivid glare of the lightning we could see where the 
 seething foam was rent asunder into black and yawning 
 chasms. 
 
 In spite of the heavy seas that they continually shipped, 
 our vessels, all three, bore up admirably. I made the 
 rowers and the soldiers set to work with scoops to bale out 
 the water, and under the supervision of Hannibal and the 
 oarsman in command, who spared neither fair words nor 
 hard blows to keep them to their task, they worked 
 away with a will. 
 
 In a voice loud enough to be heard above the roar of the 
 tempest, I shouted to Chamai that now was the time to 
 invoke his God. To Bichri's inquiries whether the danger 
 was really great, I answered that I had experienced worse 
 weather in the Syrtes, and had known worse peril on the 
 sea beyond the Straits of Gades, the swell out there being 
 very long ; but here, though rough and strong, the sea was 
 short, and the ships seemed as though they might hold 
 their own. 
 
 Chryseis and Abigail were in their cabin locked in each 
 other's arms. Chamai and Bichri, although quite un- 
 accustomed to the sea, and scarcely able to maintain their 
 footing, kept up their spirits bravely, and to their very 
 utmost assisted the sailors in securing the rigging and 
 making fast the stowage ; but nothing could exceed the 
 terror of the great hulking Jonah, who, in the most abject 
 state of alarm, threw himself down upon the floor of the 
 hold, where, like a big bundle, he was rolled about at every 
 pitch and lurching of the vessel. 
 
 " Oh, oh ! why did I come ? " he groaned, in the agonies 
 of despair ; " why did I come ? why did I leave the village 
 where I had plenty, and more than plenty ? I shall be 
 drowned, drowned in the sea, and the fishes will eat me ! 
 Oh, oh ! " 
 
 "Out of the way, you great camel!" said Hannibal, 
 giving the poor wretch a tremendous kick in the ribs ; 
 '' you will be smashing something if you keep floundering
 
 106 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 about in this way ; you all but threw me down just now. 
 Here, some of you," he called to the sailors, "come and 
 lash this fool to the foot of the mast." 
 
 The unwieldy giant was rolled helplessly along, and 
 bound securely as Hannibal directed. 
 
 Going to the stern, I found Himilco doing his best to 
 instruct the helmsman. He informed me that he had 
 quite lost sight of the Dagon. Just as he spoke, an 
 enormous wave almost dashed the Cabiros against our 
 side, and a vivid flash of lightning revealed Hamilcar and 
 Gisgo gesticulating vehemently to their men. 
 
 "A fine beginning to our voyage ! " shouted Gisgo, as he 
 passed us. 
 
 " Hold on, man ; face it out ! and we shall conquer in 
 the end," I screamed in reply. 
 
 To Hanno, who stood clinging to a rope, gazing out 
 upon the sea, I said : 
 
 " Keep up your courage, Hanno." 
 
 " I have courage enough for Chryseis and for myself as 
 well," he answered, cheerily ; " but I confess," he added, " I 
 have never seen weather so bad as this." 
 
 At this moment we were startled by the voice of Himilco, 
 shouting vehemently : 
 
 " The sail ! the sail ! look to the sail ! " 
 
 The sailors flew to the yard. We were all but capsized ; 
 an immense wave had turned the ship's side to the wind, 
 and the sail was driven tight to the mast A flash of 
 lightning, more dazzling than any that had gone before, 
 threw its vivid glare upon a great round vessel right in 
 front of us. 
 
 " The Melkarth ! Bodmilcar ! " cried Himilco and Hanno 
 the same instant. 
 
 A second flash. There was no mistake ; beyond all 
 doubt there was the Mclkarth, and Bodmilcar, standing 
 erect upon the poop, seemed to be controlling the very 
 winds and waves. 
 
 A third flash gleamed out amidst the continuous crash-
 
 THE MRLKARTH 
 
 Ti fate fiat.
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 1O; 
 
 ing of the thunder, but it revealed nothing except the 
 raging waste of waters ; the Melkarth had vanished in 
 the darkness. 
 
 " Khousor Phtah * is working away up there with his 
 hammer," said Himilco ; "but let him hammer ; he will not 
 harm us ; we have the Cabiri on our side." 
 
 The next hour was a period of intense anxiety. As far 
 as I could judge the tempest was bearing us northwards, 
 but I had no means of knowing for certain whether it was 
 so. Every wave threatened to break upon the ship's side, 
 and the Cabiros, which was quite close to us, appeared 
 sometimes towering high above our heads, and at others 
 gulfed down far below our feet. I was standing with 
 Himilco and the two helmsmen over the stern cabin, when 
 a sea, heavier than any we had yet encountered, swept 
 clean across the deck. I clung to the ship's side, and when 
 I raised myself, half stunned and half blinded by the shock, 
 I found that Himilco and one of the helmsmen had dis- 
 appeared. Fortunately the helm had not been carried 
 away, and by exerting all my strength, I succeeded in 
 pushing the tiller round, and bringing the ship back into the 
 current of the waves ; then confiding the helm to a seaman 
 who had just come up, I leaned over the side, and kept 
 shouting " Himilco ! Himilco ! " 
 
 Day was beginning to dawn, and in the glimmering 
 light I could just distinguish Chamai ; he had cast himself 
 down before the cabin-door, and was imploring the God of 
 Israel to spare the lives of the two women, even though it 
 should please Him to destroy the lives of all beside. 
 
 Noticing the agitation of my voice, Hanno rushed towards 
 me, expressing his alarm that something must have hap- 
 pened to our good pilot. I was telling him how much I 
 feared that he had been washed overboard, when a voice 
 reached me from behind : 
 
 1 The god of subterranean fire and of the hammer. Compare Phtah wit> 
 the Hephaistos of the Greeks..
 
 ro8 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 " All right ; I came down on my head ; " and Himilca 
 emerged from the hold with a goat-skin in his hands. 
 
 His appearance was a great relief, the more so when he 
 explained that he was quite unhurt 
 
 "The water carried me clean over the hatchway," he 
 said ; " and by good luck my head struck against this 
 goat-skin in the hold. Strange to say the goat- skin hasn't 
 burst. Praise to the good Cabiri ! they have been good 
 guardians. But what has become of Cadmus, who was at 
 the helm?" 
 
 I could only point mournfully to the sea. Himilco 
 seemed to comprehend, but he made no reply, and having 
 seated himself upon the poop, began to refresh himself with 
 the contents of the goat-skin he had found. 
 
 All of a sudden Bichri came towards me, and said he 
 should like to speak to me. He began : 
 
 "As I am no sailor, perhaps I ought to apologise for 
 giving an opinion, but my eyesight is very keen ; and I am 
 certain that I can see mountains over there to the right of 
 the poop." 
 
 Himilco started to his feet ; without relinquishing his 
 hold upon the skin of wine, with his single eye he steadily 
 scanned the horizon in the direction in which Bichri was 
 pointing. After a few moments, he said: 
 
 " The archer is right ; my eye seldom deceives me ; we 
 are to leeward of land." 
 
 Notwithstanding the incessant downpour of rain, I could 
 just see enough through the mist to discern that there 
 were mountains behind us to the right. Feeling sure that 
 we had been driving to the north, I had no doubt in my 
 own mind that the land we saw was some promontory on 
 the north coast of Crete ; and so ultimately it proved. 
 
 Our first business now was to get clear of the whirlwind, 
 and to make for the shore. I signalled to this effect to the 
 Cadiros, and doubled the number of the rowers by making 
 a soldier as well as a sailor work at every oar. In the
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. IOQ 
 
 next place I inspected the stowage, and was rejoiced to 
 find how little it had been displaced. 
 
 In a few hours the wind had almost dropped, and shortly 
 afterwards a ray of sunlight darting through the clouds, cast 
 an enlivening gleam upon our course. 
 
 " The Lord has saved us," said Chamai ; " but I confess 
 I was horribly alarmed." 
 
 Himilco wrung out his drenched kitonet, and proposed 
 that, with my permission, he should give Bichri, who had 
 been the first to spy out the land, a draught of wine from 
 the skin which he still retained. I acknowledged that he 
 well deserved it 
 
 The two women were now induced to come from their 
 cabin ; although they were still somewhat tremulous 
 with their recent fright, they had a bright smile upon their 
 faces. 
 
 "Here they are," said Hanno, as he escorted them on 
 to the deck ; " they are like the weather, half smiles, half 
 tears." 
 
 Chamai declared that he would rather contend with ten 
 armed men than with one angry sea ; I told him, however, 
 that he had behaved admirably, considering it was his first 
 squall, but recommended him to be cautious for the future 
 how he spoke irreverently of the gods. 
 
 Emerging from the hold, helmet in one hand, cuirass in 
 the other, Hannibal came up to us, saying : 
 
 " I have had such sharp work all night in keeping those 
 beggarly rowers up to the mark, that I had no time to look 
 to my armour ; I expected to find it battered to bits ; but 
 thanks to your gods, Ashtoreth or any one you like, it is all 
 safe and sound. Happy to see you, ladies ; I hope you 
 have recovered your fright, and regained your appetites. I 
 am hungry enough." 
 
 And as he caught sight of Himilco and Bichri, enjoying 
 themselves over the goat-skill, he hurried off to join them. 
 
 By the afternoon the sun had dispersed the clouds 
 entirely, and the deep blue waters shone brightly in
 
 IIO THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 contrast with the verdant land from which we were distant 
 not more than thirty stadia. I sent the Cabiros on ahead 
 to find a suitable place for anchorage, where we might 
 rest and repair our damages. Whilst we were sitting on 
 the deck of the Ashtoreth, basking in the sunshine, and 
 taking a simple repast of dried figs, unleavened bread, and 
 raw onions, to our great delight we saw the Dagon coming 
 on behind us. She had lost her yard-arm with its sail 
 attached, but drifted along by the tempest, she had sur- 
 
 ^> 
 
 mounted all further perils. Happily we had a good store 
 of spare sails to replace what were lost. We came up 
 with the Cabiros as she was lying off the head of a high 
 promontory, waiting to announce that on the southern 
 slope of the headland there was a fine bay, into which a 
 river debouched from an open and fertile valley. All 
 three vessels accordingly rounded the point, and steering 
 to the south, along the coast, by nightfall had reached the 
 middle of the bay, whence the shore recedes considerably 
 to the east. Here the Dagon and the Aslitorcth were
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. Ill 
 
 brought to anchor, and the Cabiros was drawn up on shore. 
 The anchorage was very good, and the weather continued 
 beautiful ; inland we could see lights gleaming from several 
 villages, and thus feeling secure, with light hearts, though 
 with weary bodies, we laid ourselves down to rest, and 
 slept soundly throughout the night
 
 117 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 CHAPTER VIL 
 
 CHRYSEIS PREFERS HANNO TO A KINO. 
 
 I LOST no time in setting our men to work to restore all 
 damages. The cargo had been too well packed to sustain 
 any material injury, and I had a selection from various 
 bales of merchandise carried out into a field and displayed 
 under the shade of a clump of trees. I took Jonah likewise 
 on shore, bidding him bring his trumpet No sooner did 
 he feel the dry ground beneath his feet, than he began to 
 yell and to jump for joy. 
 
 " Out of reach here, of the jaws of Leviathan ! " he 
 roared triumphantly. "Now I am safe. Here on dry land I 
 care not what monster I face ; and the sooner the better ! " 
 
 I put a check, in some degree, upon his excitement, by 
 ordering him to take his trumpet and to sound it as loud 
 as he could ; and the noise he made had the effect not only 
 of summoning the residents of the neighbouring village, 
 but of collecting a considerable number of the shepherds 
 who were pasturing their flocks upon the adjacent hills. 
 Assured of our peaceful intentions, they all flocked to us 
 with perfect confidence, raising as they came the cry of 
 " Pheaces ! Pheaces!" as an intimation to their companions 
 that some Phoenician merchants had arrived. 
 
 The people were all Dorians ; tall, well-built men, with 
 fair complexions, straight noses, and dark curly hair 
 clustering over lofty foreheads. Nearly all of them came 
 quite unarmed. Some of them were attired in old kitonets, 
 evidently of Phoenician production ; others wore a tasteless
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 imitation of the same, made of coarse cloth of their own 
 manufacture. For the most part they were bare-headed, 
 the exceptions being the few who wore a kind of flat hat 
 of plaited straw. There were some women of the party, 
 and these well-nigh all were much to be admired in 
 face and form ; they were attired in long plain dresses, 
 almost as simple as sacks, with openings at the seams to 
 allow the head and arms to pass through ; but these were 
 covered by short open bodices, coming just below the 
 
 waist, and becomingly slashed on either side. No jewellery 
 nor any ornament whatever was to be seen about their 
 persons. 
 
 Before my visitors arrived, I took the precaution of 
 making an enclosure for my merchandise by driving some 
 strong upright stakes into the ground and running a rope 
 along from one to another, and told Hanno to make the 
 natives understand that they could not be allowed to pass 
 the rope. They readily understood him, and appeared to 
 be altogether very intelligent, although somewhat reserved 
 in their manner.
 
 114 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 One of their number, who carried a long copper-headed 
 staff and wore a cloth band round his head, acted as 
 spokesman. He was evidently a sort of chief, and his 
 companions waited in silence while we listened to what he 
 said. The Dorians appear to be addicted to long speeches, 
 and the chief stepped forward, and scarcely raising his eyes, 
 made us a formal harangue. Hanno interpreted sufficiently 
 well to enable me thoroughly to comprehend the purport 
 of his speech. He began by bidding us welcome, and 
 proceeded to pay us a variety of compliments, addressing 
 us as demi-gods, calling us kinsmen of the tutelary deities 
 of our ships, and concluded by asking that he and his 
 people might be allowed to inspect the wonderful com- 
 modities that we had brought from the divine city of 
 Sidon. 
 
 I was already aware that all the tribes that bear in 
 common the name of Hellenes are accustomed to regard 
 the Phoenicians as being of divine origin. The magnitude 
 of our ships, the length of our voyages, the mysterious 
 remoteness of our cities, all combine to confirm them in 
 their belief, and it was not for our advantage at present to 
 undeceive them ; the time would come when they would 
 be brought into closer relationship with our colonies, and 
 they would find out by experience that we were ordinary 
 mortals like themselves. Meanwhile they regarded us as 
 superior beings, and listened with eager attention to what- 
 ever tales we pleased to pour into their ears. 
 
 By my instructions, Hanno informed the chief that we 
 had brought with us many strange things from Caucasus, 
 the land of giants ; from Cilicia, where the mountains are 
 the open mouths of the infernal world and spit out flames 
 of fire ; from Sidon, the metropolis of the gods ; from 
 Arabia, the land of the devout, where men live for three 
 centuries and more ; and from Egypt, where there are 
 bull-gods, crocodiles, and serpents two stadia long. I made 
 him understand that if his people could bring us ox- 
 hides, Chalcidian copper, woven wool, or goats' horns, we, in
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 11$ 
 
 exchange, could give them coats, glass beads, perfumes, 
 nectar, or nearly anything they liked to ask for ; and 
 without delay, he despatched a number of the men back to 
 the village, to procure such goods as we required. 
 
 " What awful lies ! " said Chamai to me, aside, " didn't 
 you tell them that the Midianites are a devout race ? And 
 didn't you say that the children of Ishmael live three 
 hundred years ? And did I hear aright that you should 
 say there are gods in Egypt ? " 
 
 I only smiled at this outburst of indignation ; but 
 Himilco laughed aloud and said : 
 
 " Never mind, Chamai ; there may be worse lies than 
 these ; they will answer their purpose if they make these 
 folks good buyers." 
 
 The chief had offered to sell me somepilegech, or young 
 female slaves that he had captured in a recent raid upon 
 the mainland ; but I declined to make any purchase of the 
 kind, knowing that there was no market for women-slaves 
 either in our Libyan colonies or in Tarshish. Our word 
 "pilegech" he pronounced pellex. The Dorians manifestly 
 have considerable difficulty in articulating our language ; for 
 example, they say "kiton," for kitonet ; " kephos," for koph, 
 and " kassiteros," for kastira. Sometimes, like other savage 
 nations, they fail to understand the true meaning of a 
 word, and pervert it altogether ; for instance, when speaking 
 of the great sea beyond Gades, instead of calling it the 
 Sea of Og, they describe it as a river named " Oceanos," and 
 believe it to be a god. 
 
 The men that had been sent back by the chief soon 
 returned with a very fair supply of good copper, ox-hides, 
 and goats' horns, some of which were large enough to make 
 good bows. They likewise brought some very excellent 
 woollen cloth which they had themselves imported from 
 the mainland. For all their goods the prices they demanded 
 were singularly moderate. 
 
 It was now necessary, in order to find space and leisure 
 for repairing our ships, that the throng of buyers, which
 
 Il6 THE ADVENTURES OF CAJTAIN MAGO. 
 
 seemed continually increasing, should be drawn away from 
 the neighbourhood of the beach. To effect this, I placed a 
 quantity of the merchandise under the charge of Hadlai, 
 one of the most trustworthy of the sailors, and sent him 
 into the interior of the island to dispose of what he could, 
 instructing him to be sure and return to us in eight- 
 and-forty hours, by which time I expected to complete 
 the repairs. Bichri volunteered to act as an escort ; and 
 Jonah, with whose trumpet the Dorians seemed immensely 
 amused, was sent to summon the natives to the sale. 
 
 In the course of the day I sent eight of my men to cut 
 down an oak from the forest on the valley side, to make a 
 new yard for the Dagon. The Dorians permitted us to take 
 whatever wood we wanted without any charge, deeming it 
 a sufficient compensation to themselves to watch our car- 
 pentering, and to listen to the wonderful tales of such of 
 our sailors as could speak anything of their language. They 
 were most attentive in bringing us firewood, water, and what 
 else we wanted ; and whatever they may be in their bearing 
 to other nations, I can testify that to us Phoenicians they 
 were most courteous and considerate. 
 
 The Dorians plied Chryseis with countless questions 
 about the Pheakes, and made all kinds of inquiries about 
 their country, their cities and their king ; and she, pleased 
 with the sound of a dialect kindred to her own, conversed 
 with them willingly, and made them stare with surprise, as 
 she recounted the glories of our temples, and the magni- 
 ficence of our palaces. They had no clear idea of what 
 Phoenicia really was, but imagined it to be an island, 
 evidently confounding it with our colony of Chittim, or 
 with our settlement at Chalcis, which was considerably 
 nearer to them. They almost seem to think Phoenicians 
 ubiquitous, for they give the name of Phoenicia to the coast 
 of Caria, where our merchants have established some marts. 
 This is really the country of the Carian Leleges, who, 
 together with the Phrygians, were the Dorians' predecessors 
 in the isle of Crete, and the first to drive the Cydonians to
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. Ii; 
 
 the highlands. The Dorians assert that the Leleges and 
 Pelasgians preceded them on the mainland, and that many 
 of them still remain. I can readily understand that the 
 Carians, ^Eolians, and others, whom we drove from their 
 own coasts, succeeded in reaching Crete ; for the Carians 
 were not ignorant of navigation, and at that part of the 
 Archipelago, where the sea is thickly studded with islands, 
 the voyage from the coast of Asia hither, even in small 
 boats, would be by no means difficult. It is a fact, too, 
 that the principal mountain in Crete is known by the 
 Pelasgo-Ionian name of Ida, the same as that borne by 
 the mountain in yEolia, opposite the island of Mitylene ; 
 the evidence, therefore, is very strong that the Pelasgians 
 and Leleges, who were of the same race as the Carians, 
 ^Eolians, Lycians, and Dardanians, must have occupied 
 not only the entire coast from the Straits of Thrace down 
 to the regions opposite Rhodes, but likewise all the mainland 
 and islands between Thrace and Cape Malea. The Cydo- 
 nians must be a remnant of some still earlier inhabitants of 
 quite another race, driven back, first by the Pelasgians and 
 Leleges, and afterwards by the Dorians, lonians, and those 
 others who are now advancing to establish themselves 
 alike upon the coast and in the islands. The accuracy-of 
 this conclusion is borne out by the fact that our ancestors 
 were acquainted with the Pelasgians long before they knew 
 anything of Dorians and lonians, and it is well known that 
 there are still in existence cities large and populous, though 
 badly built and weakly fortified, such as Plakirand Sculake 
 in the Propontis, some distance north of Dardania and the 
 isle of Tenedos. 
 
 I enter into all these details because I consider it part 
 of the duty of a Phoenician mariner to make himself 
 acquainted not only with the configuration of both land 
 and sea, the movements of the heavenly bodies, and the 
 laws of navigation and of commerce, but also with the 
 origin, language, religion, and habits of every nation with 
 whom he may be brought in contact ; and my experience in
 
 t 
 Il8 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 my naval life has taught me that although the knowledge 
 thus acquired is to be very cautiously revealed to strangers 
 and foreigners, yet it cannot be too freely disseminated 
 amongst one's own countrymen. 
 
 The Dorians acknowledge themselves to be a people 
 akin to the lonians, and are, like them, a branch of the 
 great family known by the name of Hellenes, Raeci, or 
 Graeci. These Hellenes, like the children of Israel, are 
 comprised of twelve peoples or tribes ; the Thessalians, 
 the Boeotians, the Dorians, the lonians, the Perrhebians, 
 the Magnetes, the Locrians, the Eteans, the Achaeans, the 
 Phocians, the Dolopes, and the Malians. Their own 
 account of themselves is, that on reaching the south of 
 Thracia they settled in the district known as Hellopia, 
 of which they were still in possession, and whence they 
 spread themselves over the peninsula and the islands. 
 Hellopia is the country traversed by the River Achelous, 
 which empties itself into the channel that divides the island 
 of Cephallenia from the mainland. The two oldest cities 
 in Hellopia are Dodona and Delphi, which are both the 
 abodes of the chief gods. It is from the name of their city 
 that the Hellenes are sometimes called Dodonians, although 
 they are far more frequently referred to by us as the 
 lonians, or sons of Ion or Javan. Amongst themselves, 
 however, they are invariably designated Hellenes, Graii, or 
 Graeci. 
 
 All the Hellenic tribes recognise four special bonds of 
 fraternity : first, they are of one common origin ; secondly, 
 they speak a common tongue ; thirdly, they worship the 
 same gods, and in the same modes and places; and fourthly, 
 they cultivate a general uniformity in manners and dis- 
 position. They all send representative chiefs or elders to 
 Dodona, and I presume to Delphi also, for the purpose of 
 settling any common difference ; and there they take a 
 threefold oath, never to destroy any city that has ever 
 been admitted into covenant with them ; never to intercept 
 the supply of water to any city of their fraternity, and
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 1 19 
 
 always to unite to punish those who should violate their 
 pledge. 
 
 Their principal god dwells at Dodona, and is named 
 Zeus. They believe him to be the same as the Zeus of the 
 Leleges and Pelasgians, whom the Curetes of Crete honour 
 with songs and dances. Like Baal Chamaim, he is the god 
 of the air and sky, and son of the heaven and the earth. 
 He it was who, in the form of a bull, carried off the 
 Phrygian goddess Europa to Crete ; and on the south of 
 the island, in the valley of a little river, Lethe, the Dorians 
 have a city which I have never seen, but which they call 
 Hellotis, where there is a plane-tree, under which Zeus and 
 Europa are said to have reposed. Another town there is 
 in the island, named Cnossus, founded, I believe, by the 
 Phrygians, where Zeus has one of his places of abode. 
 
 Another deity, almost equally powerful, is Apollo, the 
 archer and soothsayer. He is known as the Pythian 
 prophet, and dwells at Delphi, where he is consulted about 
 future events. He is held in especial veneration by the 
 Dorians, whom he is said, under the form of a dolphin, to 
 have conducted across the seas. Probably he may be the 
 same as our Phoenician archer-god, Baal Chillekh, whom 
 we have ourselves taught the Hellenes to worship, and it 
 may be that because he taught them navigation, they 
 represent him as a dolphin. 
 
 The mysterious Hermes, the god of the hidden forces of 
 nature, is likewise an object of their high regard. It is not 
 unlikely that they learnt his worship from the Egyptians ; 
 but whether it be so or not, it is quite certain that he has 
 been known amongst them from a very remote antiquity. 
 
 The Cydonians have made them acquainted with 
 Artemis, and we are ourselves leading them to the know- 
 ledge of Ashtoreth or Astarte, whom they are gradually 
 learning to venerate above all their other divinities. 
 
 Of Beelzebub, Baalpeor, El Adonai, Chemosh, or the 
 Cabiri, the Hellenes know nothing. They are absolutely 
 ignorant of the position of the Cabiri, and have no con-
 
 I2O THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 ception of guiding their course in sailing by the seventh 
 Cabiros or Pole-star : to say the truth, they are very 
 cowardly sailors, rarely venturing to lose sight of the shore. 
 Their boats are large but very badly built, having no decks, 
 ill-contrived rigging, and very defective arrangements for 
 ballast ; consequently they are equally unsteady whether 
 they are impelled by oars or worked by sails. The people 
 have little idea of distance ; they are profoundly ignorant 
 of the shape of the country, and are at once deterred from 
 a voyage by the least stress of weather, or by the most 
 insignificant current 
 
 The towns are built in places that are difficult of access, 
 and are rudely fortified with piles of uncemented stones. 
 The houses are made either of rough stone, or of bricks 
 that have been baked in the sun, and are very little better 
 than cabins. The people are not at all skilful in any 
 handicraft ; and they can scarcely do more than manu- 
 facture their copper lance-heads, hatchets, breast-plates, 
 and helmets, which, although very ill-formed, are covered 
 with ornaments. They have no cavalry and very few 
 archers, and rarely use swords in fighting ; lances are their 
 favourite weapons, and these are used by their chiefs either 
 on foot or from the top of their chariots. In close combat 
 they employ a kind of poignard, which very frequently is 
 seen curved at the point into a kind of hook. By way of 
 pastime, Hannibal and Chamai occasionally made Hanno 
 practise with the sword, and on these occasions they would 
 be surrounded by a group of Dorians, who were struck with 
 wonder and admiration at the variety of the thrusts, passes, 
 and parries of the fencing, as exhibited in the different 
 practices of the Chaldeans, the Philistines, and the Israelites, 
 and the dexterity they all alike required. 
 
 The shields which they use are round, and made of ox- 
 hide, those of the chiefs being faced with copper and 
 ornamented with paintings Before we left the island, the 
 Dorian king of Hellotis came to visit us, and for one of 
 out bucklers of wrought bronze offered me five-and-twenty
 
 ",
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF CAFTATN MAGO. 121 
 
 oxen ; but I allowed him to have it for some agates, to 
 be used in making jewellery, and for an enormous pair of 
 boar's tusks which he had brought from the mainland, and 
 which now adorn the temple of Ashtoreth at Sidon. 
 
 On the third day after our arrival in the island, one of 
 the sailors, who had been struck by an arrow in the 
 Egyptian engagement, died, the wound having gangrened. 
 According to our national custom, I had all the ships hung 
 with black, and made inquiry of the natives for some 
 cavern in the neighbourhood where we could inter the 
 body. They showed me a cave in the mountain side about 
 thirty stadia distant, and were quite ready in any way to 
 assist me, as they are themselves very careful about the 
 burial of their dead ; in fact, there is nothing of which they 
 entertain a greater dread than of being deprived of funeral 
 rites, and this is one great reason that deters them from 
 venturing out far to sea. 
 
 After the corpse had been washed, it was borne to its 
 resting-place, a considerable crowd of Dorians following in 
 the rear, amongst them a large proportion of women, who 
 kept up loud cries of lamentation. The cave in which we 
 laid the body was very deep, but by no means lofty ; in it 
 we left not only the body, but the planks and the two oars 
 which had formed the bier. When the opening had been 
 closed by piling up a heap of large and heavy stones, 
 Hanno, in a solemn voice, made an invocation to Menath, 
 Hokh, and Rhadamath, the judges of the souls in Cheol. 
 
 All these three gods of our nation are known to the 
 Dorians, who call them by the names of Minos, Eacus, and 
 Rhadamanthus. They believe that Minos, previous to his 
 appointment as a judge in the infernal regions, was a king 
 of Crete, and that, being a skilful navigator, he had sailed 
 as far as the mainland to the lonians, who, by way of 
 tribute, gave him a number of buys and girls. With regard 
 to Rhadamanthus, they suppose that he was brought to the 
 island of Chalcis by the Phoenician demigods ; but the truth 
 is, that they have made some strange confusion between
 
 122 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 the god himself and the Sidonian sailors through whom 
 they had become acquainted with his existence. In the 
 same way, I believe, that Europa (the goddess who was 
 carried off by Zeus) and Ariadne (known first to one of the 
 demigods, and then to Dionysus, -the god of rivers) are 
 nothing more than other names for Ashtoreth, surviving 
 from the period when the Phoenicians first imported wine 
 to their shores. From us, too, they have derived their 
 knowledge of Khousor Phtah, the god of the forge, whom 
 they call Phtos or Phaistos ; and in short, whatever fami- 
 liarity they have either with literature, wine, or with the 
 use of metals, all seems to have been derived from the Si- 
 donians. As for our own knowledge, that (according to our 
 'ancestors long, long ago) was obtained from the Egyptians, 
 and the Egyptians derived theirs from the still more ancient 
 Atlantes, who, when the Great Sea was still to the south 
 of Libya, came from lands in the West that have since 
 passed away, traversing Ethiopia in their course. How 
 true it is, that though nation may follow upon nation, the 
 gods are immortal ! 
 
 The Dorian people gave us their word of honour that 
 the cavern in which we had buried our companion should 
 never be desecrated, and we returned to our ships, which 
 remained hung with black for the remainder of the day. 
 
 Towards evening Hadlai and his party made their ap- 
 pearance, bringing a goodly supply of purchases. Jonah, 
 marching along with a consequential air, and encircled by 
 a crowd who had followed him down from the mountains 
 was carrying a calf upon his back. 
 
 " What are you going to do with that calf?" I asked. 
 
 " Eat it," he said ; " I have earned it." 
 
 " How ? by blowing your trumpet ? " 
 
 " No ; not by blowing my trumpet, but by wrestling : 
 they matched their strongest against aie, and I levelled 
 them all ; and so I won my calf. A capital country is 
 this ! I will knock them over, every one, if only they 
 will give me a calf every time."
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 123 
 
 And, catching sight of the King of the Dorians, who had 
 come with a herd of oxen, he shouted to him : 
 
 " Yes, you too ; give me a bullock, and I will knock you 
 down. Give me two, and I will break every bone in your 
 skin." 
 
 " Silence, fool ! " I cried, hoping to bring him to his 
 senses. The King did not understand Phoenician, and 
 asked what the man was saying ; but I did not think it 
 necessary to enlighten him. 
 
 Jonah continued muttering and grumbling to himself: 
 " Why should I not fight them, if they like it ? If I were 
 to challenge a man of the tribe of Dan or Judah, I should 
 soon find a knife in my ribs! But here they like it, and 
 give me a calf. Fine country this ! " 
 
 That evening the wind blew briskly from the north- 
 north-west, but not with violence enough to make us 
 hesitate about taking our departure next morning. The 
 Dorians were full of surprise at our determination to put to 
 sea, and owned that nothing would induce them to face the 
 peril of such a wind. 
 
 " Can it really be," asked one of the chiefs, " that you 
 intend to start upon your voyage with this gale in your 
 very teeth ? " 
 
 Upon my assuring him that I had fully made up my 
 mind, he continued : 
 
 "And that, too, with the recollection so fresh of the 
 terrific storm in which you came ? Truly, you are demi- 
 gods indeed 1 " 
 
 " Aye, yes," I said ; " children of Ashtoreth we are ; and 
 we rode the seas that night in a way that was worthy of 
 our fame 1 " 
 
 " And were not the Cabiri considerate for me ? " inter- 
 posed Himilco ; "the salt sea made me thirsty, and they 
 sent me a goat-skin full of luscious wine." 
 
 Without noticing him, the chief continued : 
 
 " Assuredly the Phoenician deities maintain a careful 
 watch to guard their children. I shall not soon forget how
 
 124 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 I saw their mighty chariot roll above the waves to your 
 assistance." 
 
 It was now Himilco's turn to look astonished. 
 
 " Chariot upon the waters ! " he exclaimed ; " what was it 
 like ?" 
 
 " It was high, and round, and parti-coloured, and had 
 great sea-monsters drawing it over the raging sea." 
 
 He spoke with a kind of awe ; but it struck me that he 
 might perchance have seen Bodmilcar's gaoul, and that 
 the lightning's glare had given it the variegated effect 
 which he had noticed. I suggested this, in an undertone, 
 to Himilco, who only said : 
 
 " If Bodmilcar were the sea-god, I should like to have 
 the chance of getting into the sea-god's chariot and ringing 
 the sea-god's neck." 
 
 While we had been talking, I had observed Hamilcar and 
 several others closely scrutinising something that the waves 
 had cast upon the beach. Curious to see what was interesting 
 them, I joined them, and found some fragments of a ship. 
 
 " This is no Phoenician work," said Hamilcar, pointing to 
 a bolt still hanging to one of the planks. 
 
 " No," I agreed ; " and from the thickness of the wood, 
 and from the bolts being driven in without wedges, I have 
 no doubt that it is an Egyptian craft that has been 
 wrecked." 
 
 "Look here!" cried Himilco; "here is proof positive ; 
 the goose's neck from the prow ! " 
 
 " It may be," I said, " that some Egyptians accompanied 
 Bodmilcar, and have come to grief in the tempest." 
 
 " I hope Bodmilcar has not shared their fate," said Gisgo [ 
 " drowning is too good for him ; I want him to have a stout 
 rope round his neck. And besides, the rascal has three- 
 quarters of our merchandise that I should like to get back." 
 
 " Rather too much to expect, I am afraid," I said ; " how 
 ever, we must now embark. We are bound for Sicily 
 where perhaps you may recover your lost ears." 
 A grim smile passed over the old pilot's face.
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. I2J 
 
 "Until the wind changes," I observed, " we shall have to 
 keep on tacking; " and I moved towards the ships. 
 
 At this moment the Dorian King approached me with 
 the air of having something important to communicate ; he 
 broke out abruptly : 
 
 " You are a Phoenician, a ruler of the sea : I am a 
 Dorian prince, a ruler of my people : so far we are equal. 
 These oxen, these horses, these chariots are all mine ; from 
 my thirty villages I can summon twelve thousand men. I 
 am favoured of the gods. I am mighty." 
 
 I thought he surely was about to make some demand, 
 but a single glance satisfied me that he was not in a position 
 to exact anything by force ; not only were Hanno, Chamai, 
 Bichri and Jonah still on shore, but Hannibal, too, was 
 close at hand, supported by forty of his men, while the 
 King was attended only by about a score and a half of 
 lancers. I made no reply, but waited for him to proceed. 
 
 " Ruler of the Phoenicians," he said, "I want you to sell 
 me your pilegech Chryseis : you have only to name your 
 own price for the Ionian, and that price is yours." 
 
 Hanno made a start forward, but I held him back. 
 
 " King of the Dorians ! " I said, " Chryseis is not designed 
 for sale. However, she is free to answer for herself. To 
 us your kindness and courtesy have been great ; and I am 
 ready to consent, in return, to give the maiden up to you. 
 But this one condition must be fixed ; she must become 
 yours by her own free choice." 
 
 Hanno glanced eagerly at Chryseis, and imploringly at 
 me. 
 
 The King advanced to where the girl was standing, and 
 proffering his hand, said : 
 
 " Daughter of the Helli ! kinswoman of our tribe ! come 
 and be the Queen of the Dorians of Hellotis ! " 
 
 She stood with her eyes fastened on the ground, but 
 made no reply. 
 
 " Zeus and Apollo guide your choice ! " continued the 
 King, " and inspire your answer ! Listen and consent. Nc
 
 126 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 Dorian maid has ever yet made good her hold upon my 
 heart, although there is not one who would not be proud to 
 be the object of my choice. Honours and luxury await my 
 bride. She shall have slaves to surround her, and do her 
 weaving, and obey her slightest wish ; her table shall be 
 spread with the choicest diet, the produce of three hundred 
 goats and fifty cows ; and her home shall be full of all the 
 comforts that wealth can buy." 
 
 He waited for her to speak, but still she made no sign. 
 
 " My house," he went on to plead, " is a house of stone, 
 like the Egyptians', and stored up within it, Chryseis, there 
 are chests, in which are necklaces, and pearls, and golden 
 bodkins for your hair. All shall be yours, and you shall 
 be first ahd noblest of all the women in Crete." 
 
 Chryseis slowly raised her eyes from the ground, and 
 laying her hand upon Hanno's shoulder, in a firm, deli- 
 berate, and yet gentle voice, said : 
 
 " Our holy Zeus has given me to Hanno, and with 
 Hanno I shall remain." 
 
 The Dorian, mortified and excited, literally stamped with 
 rage. 
 
 "What!" he cried, "prefer a Phoenician subject to a 
 king of the Hellenes ? " 
 
 "A Sidonian scribe," said Hanno, "is the equal of any 
 king on earth. I own no superior except my captain and 
 the gods above." 
 
 " Though he were the lowliest sailor in the service,' 
 declared Chryseis, " my heart is his. His goddess 
 Ashtoreth has delivered me in the hour of peril, and Zeus, 
 my god, pronounces that I am his." 
 
 The Dorian could do no more : in vain he pointed to the 
 smiling meadows and the shady forests of the island, and 
 contrasted them with the abode upon the raging water of 
 an angry sea ; Chryseis maintained that the water had 
 charms as many as the land. Unable to prevail with her, 
 he made a final appeal to me ; but finding me firm in my 
 resolve to leave the girl unfettered in her choice, he gave a
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 12? 
 
 growl of anger, and without turning his head, remounted 
 his chariot and drove rapidly away. 
 
 " Mine, henceforth," said Hanno to Chryseis, as he led 
 her to the ship. " You are as a priestess of Ashtoreth, the 
 guardian of us all !" and he drew her closer to his side. 
 
 The sail was soon hoisted, and the rowers settled to their 
 seats. Leaving the shore, we made long tacks to get to 
 windward, and in five hours had passed the northernmost 
 extremity of Crete. In the course of the night we were 
 coasting the rocky land upon the north of the lesser Cythera. 
 
 Two days' safe, though tedious, navigation brought us to 
 the mouth of the Achelous, a stream which from the colour 
 of its water is known to our sailors as the White River. 
 We passed between the fertile and indented shore of the 
 mainland, and the islands of Cythera, Zacynthus, and 
 Cephallenia. In these navigable waters, where land is 
 never out of sight, we perpetually came across Hellenic 
 vessels of every size, engaged in a brisk trade not only 
 in their own native productions, but also in the manufac- 
 tures of the Phoenicians. 
 
 The sea was calm when we reached the mouth of the 
 Achelous, but a fresh breeze sprung up from the north-east, 
 which was just what we wanted to carry us to the Sicilian 
 straits. It is usual, in order to break the length of the 
 sea-passage, to follow the Hellenic coast as far as the island 
 of Corcyra, but under the present favourable circumstances 
 this would have been merely to waste time. We had an 
 ample supply both of provisions and of fresh water ; I there- 
 fore quite abandoned all thought of visiting the metropolis of 
 the Hellenes, and determined to make with the wind across 
 the open sea direct for the southern point of Italy. As 
 we were passing along the channel that divides Cephallenia 
 from the little island of Ithaca we fell in with a Sidonian 
 galley and a couple of gaouls, and hailing them, we found 
 that they were on their way home from the mouth of the 
 Eridanus on the lapygian Sea. Bodachmon, the captain of 
 the galley, proposed that we should lay -to off Ithaca, so
 
 128 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 that we might send any commissions by him to Sidon. 1 
 availed myself of his offer, and went at once on board one 
 of his gaouls. His cargo consisted of a small supply of 
 gold, both in dust and nuggets, but principally of rock- 
 crystal, which the people on the banks of the Eridanus 
 obtain from those who reside on the mountains near its 
 source. Bodachmon agreed to take some of my heavier 
 merchandise for a part of his light freight, and to do any- 
 thing he could to assist me after the loss we had sustained 
 of our own gaoul through Bodmilcar's treachery. His 
 indignation at Bodmilcar's conduct knew no bounds. Such 
 an act of faithlessness, he said, had never happened within 
 his experience ; and he would take good care that not only 
 should it come to King Hiram's ears, but that Bodmilcar 
 should be denounced throughout Phoenicia, so that if the 
 traitor should attempt to land anywhere either in Phoenicia, 
 or in Chittim, or any other of her colonies, he should be 
 visited with the punishment he so justly merited. 
 
 " But now," said Bodachmon, " let us proceed to business. 
 What commodities have you to offer?" 
 
 I answered that I had just obtained goods in Crete, for 
 which he would be sure to find a ready market either it 
 Egypt or at home copper, ox-hides, woollen cloth, and 
 enormous goats' horns ; I told him, moreover, that if he 
 would visit Crete for himself, he would be able to purchase 
 any number of young female slaves at the most reasonable 
 rate. 
 
 He said that he thought he should act upon my advice, 
 and that he was sure we should be able to make exchanges 
 between ourselves which would satisfy us both. He pro- 
 ceeded to inquire whether I could let him have any wine, as 
 his own supply had been exhausted six months ago, and 
 that in his intercourse with the lapyges and Umbrians he 
 had had no opportunity of replenishing it. 
 
 Our own ships were well provisioned, and I was pleased 
 to have the opportunity of inviting him with his two mate* 
 and pilots to come on board the Ashtoreth, and to partake
 
 To fact page 129.
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. I2Q 
 
 of our fresh meat, onions, dried figs, cheese and wine. They 
 all admired the completeness of our arrangements ; and 
 Bodachmon made an inspection of the goods that 1 pro- 
 posed to barter, telling me that he should be able to pay 
 a good price, if I would accept his rock-crystal. 
 
 All of a sudden Bodachmon exclaimed : " By Ashtoreth ! 
 I think I can give you a treat in return for your hospitality. 
 'in Corcyra I took up one of the Hellenes, whom I promised 
 if I could that I would land in Crete. He is an old man and 
 nearly blind, but he seems to know the history of all the 
 world ; neither Sanchoniathon, nor Elhanan the Israelite, 
 could know it better. He sings the exploits of his country's 
 gods and heroes, accompanying his singing on his lute ; he 
 has no other means of paying his passage. You shall hear 
 him." 
 
 The venerable bard was sent for, and was soon con- 
 ducted on board. He had a dignified bearing, and com- 
 manded an involuntary reverence. His long beard was 
 very white, and he carried in his hand a lute made of 
 tortoise-shell. His name was Homer. 
 
 Addressing us, he said : 
 
 " O Pheacians ! ye sea-kings, who explore the marvels of 
 the earth ! may the divine gods protect your ships ! My 
 eyes are dim ; no longer do I discern the meadows with 
 their pasturing herds, nor the warriors with their dazzling 
 armour ; nay, scarce can I perceive the glorious beams of 
 day. But the Muses from their blest abode, beside the 
 Peneus, have endowed me with the gift of harmony and 
 song, so that wherever I may go, I celebrate the achieve- 
 ments both of gods and men." 
 
 I handed the old man a cup of the choicest nectar, and, 
 with invigorated spirit, he began to sing his songs. To me 
 their meaning was barely intelligible ; but Hanno, familiar 
 with the Hellenic tongue, was perfectly enraptured, and 
 made the venerable minstrel a present of his mantle, which 
 was woven of the finest wool of Helbon, and exquisitely 
 embroidered with flowers. 
 
 K
 
 130 
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 "Never have I heard anything to be compared with 
 this," exclaimed the scribe ; " in spite of their ignorance 
 of trade and navigation, these people cannot be quite the 
 barbarians we supposed." 
 
 Hannibal, who had hitherto looked on in silence, now 
 observed : 
 
 " Once, when I was in the city of Our in Naharan, I 
 came across an extraordinary man, of whom this wandering' 
 poet reminds me. He was an Egyptian, travelling about, 
 and singing songs to his own lute, just like Homer here, 
 
 but he was not so old, and the remarkable thing was that 
 he had an ape with him that used to mimic all the events 
 about which he sung. Now when Chryseis sings her 
 war-songs, it is pleasant to listen, although one does not 
 understand a word ; her voice is itself a charm. But 
 this old minstrel's songs are dull ; he ought, I think, to 
 have an ape with him, to act as an interpreter of what 
 he sings." 
 
 Hanno sneered contemptuously, and said : 
 " Hannibal is wonderfully clever. I should fancy ne 
 could play the ape's part to perfection."
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 1^1 
 
 Not discerning the satire, Hannibal replied with the 
 greatest gravity : 
 
 " I don't know about my being more clever than any of 
 my people from Arvad ; but T think that if I could under- 
 stand the old man's tongue, I could perform for him better 
 than au ape."
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 AN AFFAIR WITH THE PHOCIANS. 
 
 HAVING entrusted Bodachmon with various commissions, 
 and especially with the duty of delivering a letter from 
 myself to King Hiram, I took my leave of him and his 
 companions. In the afternoon, the breeze being favour- 
 able, we resumed our voyage to Italy. In order to pass 
 between the islands of Cephallenia and Leucas, it was 
 necessary to deviate somewhat to the north, after which we 
 should have to steer nearly due east for the south of the 
 great lapygian gulf. 
 
 The Cabiros was about ten stadia ahead, and conse- 
 quently so far in advance that she was lost to sight as she 
 rounded the southern cape of Cephallenia ; but she had 
 nardly disappeared beyond the headland, when it struck 
 lie that I could hear her trumpet sounding signals of 
 distress. Having sounded an alarm, I put my men in 
 readiness for any emergency, and it was well I did so ; for 
 when we had rounded the promontory far enough to get 
 her within view, we saw her not only surrounded by nearly 
 twenty large boats of the Hellenes, but the object towards 
 which some fifty other boats were making their way with 
 the greatest speed. 
 
 The fact was, that while we had been coasting along 
 the east of the island the enemy had made their way 
 by the west, and thus the Cabiros, rounding the headland, 
 had found herself unawares in an ambush, which, with her 
 superior sailing power, it would have been quite easy to
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 133 
 
 escape if there had been any previous warning. As it was, 
 she was completely taken by surprise ; and her tonnage- 
 being too light to allow her to carry a copper beak for 
 attaek, she could only avoid being boarded by the expe- 
 dient of rapidly making her way round and round in a 
 circle. 
 
 There was not a moment to be lost. The Dagon put on 
 all speed and made her way direct towards the promis- 
 cuous cluster of boats that was coming up beyond, whilst I 
 hastened to secure the rescue of the imperilled Cabiros. 
 
 The antagonists with which the Dagon had to contend 
 did not appear to be be of a very formidable character. A 
 veiy cursory glance at the unmartial appearance of most 
 of the crews, and at the cargoes, which consisted mainly 
 of agricultural produce and implements, made it evident 
 that we had come into collision with some convoy of 
 emigrants. Hannibal had manifestly come to the same 
 conclusion that there was nothing to cause him any alarm 
 for I noticed that alter having given his men a sign that 
 there was no occasion to draw their bows, he made a con-
 
 154 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 siderable sweep to leeward, and then dashed furiously in 
 upon the crowded craft 
 
 But my more serious attention was demanded in another 
 quarter. The adversaries that I had to face were less 
 numerous, but far more formidable, being all armed men. 
 It was in vain that I hurried forward with all the speed at 
 my command ; before I could get within two stadia of the 
 Cabiros she was already boarded, and the deck of the gallant 
 little ship was becoming the scene of a desperate struggle. 
 From the midst of a whirl of lances I could distinguish 
 Hamilcar, protecting himself with his shield in one hand, 
 and dealing tremendous blows with his sword in the other ; 
 whilst Gisgo stood with his back supported by the top of 
 the poop, and had just raised the battle-axe with which lit 
 had cloven the skull of one of his assailants. To prevent 
 us from rendering any assistance, five or six large boats 
 advanced towards us to obstruct our progress, and I could 
 hear the shrill voices of the warriors on board chanting 
 their exciting war-cry, " lo Poean ! lo Poean ! " A fine- 
 built man, who seemed to be chief in command, was 
 standing at the prow of the highest boat ; he had a crested 
 helmet ; his shield and greaves were faced with copper, 
 and he was brandishing his long lance like a maniac. I 
 was about to point him out to Bichri, but he, ever on the 
 alert, was already upon one knee with his arrow to his bow, 
 watching his opportunity, and no sooner were we within 
 range than the bowstring was up to his car, the arrow 
 whizzed through the air, and the chief, throwing both 
 hands aloft, fell head foremost into the water. 
 
 " Now, men, now's your time !" I shouted ; "down upon 
 the savages ! Down upon them ! Quick !" 
 
 With a tremendous spurt, the Ashtoreth dashed violently 
 into the boat, which sank instantly in an eddy of foam, our 
 magnificent success setting us at liberty to concentrate 
 our attention upon another boat which was harassing us 
 on the right. 
 
 In their eagerness to be ready to climb up into our ship
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 135 
 
 the crew of this boat had inconsiderately crowded altogether 
 to one side. Knowing the unscientific build of the Hellenic 
 boats, and how easily they are overturned when heavily 
 laden, I tacked round suddenly to the opposite side, and 
 putting on full speed, capsized it without the slightest 
 difficulty. 
 
 But the need, meanwhile, was becoming more and more 
 urgent that we should reach the Cabiros, although she was 
 holding out with a vigorous defence. I had to manoeuvre 
 by taking a long semicircular sweep to get beyond the 
 reach of the boats around me, but the delay had its advan- 
 tage in giving Hannibal opportunity to arrange his men. 
 He very judiciously placed the archers in the stern, and 
 divided his remaining force into two companies ; one of 
 them under his own leadership to be prepared to follow 
 him on to the deck of the Cabiros, the other to remain and 
 protect their own ship from being boarded. 
 
 About the Dagon I had little or no anxiety. I could see 
 that she was not only holding her own, but that by dashing 
 backwards and forwards amongst the medley of boats 
 around her, she was crushing or sinking all that she came 
 athwart, and by discharging volleys of arrows and pots of 
 combustibles, she succeeded in distressing the men on 
 board to such a degree that we could hear their howlings 
 of mingled rage and dismay. 
 
 Hannibal's instructions to his soldiers were very brief ; 
 telling those whom he left behind that they were to obey 
 Chamai's orders, and that he trusted them to do their duty, 
 he turned to those under his own command, and said : 
 
 " Soldiers ! the fight before you is a fight hand-to-hand ; 
 no room for lances ! Draw your swords, stand ready at the 
 prow ! " 
 
 I gave orders to the rowers to pull steadily ahead ; but 
 they had scarcely laid themselves out to their work, when 
 we fouled two of the boats which had detached themselves 
 from the others, and were endeavouring to get alongside 
 of us.
 
 136 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 "Quick! to the engines!" I cried ; "and, archers, dra\* 
 your bows!" 
 
 In an instant Bichri's men were at the scorpions, and 
 a perfect torrent of stones, arrows, and combustibles, fell 
 on either hand. Hannibal's men did not stir from their 
 attitude of readiness, and Chamai kept his detachment 
 grouped close around the mast, abiding the time for a 
 charge to be ordered. Bichri's" party laid aside their bows, 
 and drew their knives and swords ; and Jonah, laying his 
 trumpet on the deck, armed himself with the ponderous 
 handspike usually employed for heaving the anchor, and 
 which two ordinary men could scarcely cany. 
 
 " Come on, Dodanim !" he shouted ; " if you can afford a 
 calf for a little shaking, perhaps you will pay better still if 
 I lay this rod across your shoulders. I should like a few 
 bullocks and a good skin of wine. I am quite ready to 
 begin pounding away, like Samson at the mill." 
 
 The time for action had come, and I gave the word of 
 command to push ahead, straight at the foe. A dash and 
 a crash ! and cries of mingled wrath and consternation rose 
 from beneath our prow as it made its way in a vortex of 
 foam. We rushed past the first boat, leaving it hopelessly 
 far astern ; we disabled a second that was designing an 
 attack upon our starboard, and we capsized a third that 
 was coming on our left ; and when our men drew breath 
 after their paroxysm of exertion we were within half a 
 bowshot of the Cabiros. So close we were, that I could 
 see Hamilcar w r ith his head all bleeding, and Gisgo, with 
 
 o ' o ' 
 
 dishevelled hair, laying about him desperately with his 
 hatchet, whilst a dozen sailors who had retreated to the 
 stern, were making a vain effort to repel the invaders, who 
 continued to make their way on board. 
 
 "Help! Mago, help!" shouted Hamilcar, imploringly, 
 as he saw us drawing near. 
 
 "Cheer up, mate!" I replied; "we shall soon be with 
 you." 
 
 I made a rapid survey of our position, and having
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 137 
 
 instructed the helmsman to bear up hard to starboard, I 
 called to the oarsmen : 
 
 " Now, men, once again, a good strong pull with might 
 and main ; then ship vour oars, and we shall be right 
 alongside ! " 
 
 So vehemently did they put forth their strength that our 
 prow was lifted high above the flood, and the impetus given 
 to our speed was so great that another of the opposing 
 boats was cut clean in two. In another minute we had 
 gained the side of the Cabiros. Hannibal seized a rope 
 and sprang upon the deck ; and followed by his men was 
 quickly in the midst of the mortal struggle. 
 
 I had no time to watch the issue of their intrepid venture. 
 They had hardly left our deck when I was startled by the 
 urgent voice of Hanno : 
 
 " Look, captain ! they have us now !" 
 
 And turning round I was face to face with a throng of 
 the Hellenes, who had not only brought their boats into 
 close quarters with the Ashtoretk, but had forced their way 
 on to her stern. Into the breast of the foremost man, who 
 was rushing towards me with uplifted lance, I thrust my 
 sword well-nigh to its hilt ; and Hanno showed how well 
 he had profited by the fencing lessons he had had on 
 board ; he parried a blow with his left hand, and almost in 
 the same instant felled an opponent by driving his weapon 
 into his shoulder with his right Sometimes bending him- 
 self down, sometimes rearing himself to his fullest height, 
 Chamai wielded his sword with the most extraordinary 
 dexterity : three men set upon him at once ; one of them 
 soon reeled and fell heavily at his feet ; a second, grasping 
 his sides in agony, was seen to stagger back amongst his 
 comrades ; whilst the other, putting his head between his 
 hands, cowered clown to the ground, the blood trickling 
 through his fingers. 
 
 Bichri also, single-handed, had to engage quite a little 
 group of antagonists. It seemed a desperate fray ; but, 
 strange to tell, he got the better of them all, and retired
 
 138 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 triumphant, his blood-stained sword in one hand, his daggei 
 in the other. Nor did good fortune fail Himilco ; closely 
 pressed as he was by his adversary, he succeeded in catch- 
 ing him by the throat, and, holding him back firmly 
 against the mast, he thrust his sword into his heart. 
 
 But for rendering effective service no one surpassed the 
 redoubtable Jonah. Such wholesale slaughter was never 
 seen. Skulls were fractured ; limbs smashed ; ribs broken 
 in ; back-bones, breast-bones, collar-bones, shoulder-blades 
 contused, crushed, splintered, as the ponderous handspike, 
 swinging backwards, forwards, upwards, downwards, made 
 the very air reverberate. 
 
 * Room, I want ! give me room !" roared the giant, as he 
 brandished his enormous weapon ; " bring me bullocks, 
 sheep, calves, cakes, wine, anything, and I'll earn my 
 dinner honestly." And striking out more furiously than 
 ever he roared again, " Room, room ! elbow-room, I say ! " 
 
 Three or four of the Hellenes now made a simultaneous 
 attack upon myself. I succeeded in slashing the face of 
 one of them who had knocked my shield out of my hand 
 with his lance, but in a moment I felt myself grasped 
 round the throat by another, who forced me backward, 
 and was about to cut off my head with his scimitar, when 
 Hanno caught him by the wrist and plunged his sword 
 beneath his armpit. The two of them came down heavily 
 upon me, and we were all three rolling on the deck 
 together ; a third man darted forward, and I could see the 
 gleam of a lance as it pointed to Hanno's breast, when 
 Chamai rushed to the rescue, and dealing a powerful blow, 
 sent the fellow staggering back. Hanno rose, and placing 
 his foot upon the dead man's neck found it taxed all his 
 strength to withdraw the sword with which he had slain 
 
 o 
 
 him. As I regained my footing, I caught sight of Chryseia 
 standing near her cabin-door ; her hands were tightly 
 clasped, and her face was deadly j'.de, but she had not lost 
 her self-command. Abigail was close beside her ; like a 
 true daughter of Judah, she had seized a sword which she
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 139 
 
 was pointing defiantly against a soldier who had lost his 
 lance, and who, as though scared at being challenged by a 
 woman, was cowering behind his shield. 
 
 Chamai's keen eye soon discerned what was passing, 
 and followed by Hanno, he rushed like a wild bull through 
 the crush, knocking down friends and foes alike, as he 
 made his way to the protection of the women. 
 
 Meanwhile Himilco and fifteen of the sailors, cutlass and 
 hatchet in hand, forced their way along and grouped them- 
 selves close to me. Telling them that now was their 
 chance, I led them forwards and succeeded in effectually 
 clearing the whole fore-ship, the Hellenes stumbling over 
 ropes and rigging in their precipitous retreat. On reaching 
 the prow I turned, to make the reassuring discovery that 
 Hanno and Chamai had been equally successful in clearing 
 the stern, and that they were closing in towards Bichri 
 and his men at the mast, where they were engaged in 
 repelling a fresh contingent of the enemy. Above tht 
 mass of heads and shields I could see Jonah's handspike 
 swinging to and fro, and above the confusion of cries and 
 yells I could hear his sonorous shout of defiance : 
 
 " Come on, Dodanim ! I am your man. Let me earn 
 my dinner. Come on ! Come on ! " 
 
 With such determination did Bichri and his supporters 
 beat back the assailants, that ere long the middle deck was 
 as clear as prow and stern, and there rose a frantic cheer 
 of triumph. The Ashtorcth was free from her enemies. 
 
 The cry of success was followed by a shout of welcome 
 to the Dagon, which at that moment came dashing up at 
 a prodigious speed, sinking a boat as it approached, and 
 discharging a volley of arrows amongst the boats that still 
 persevered in hanging around us. 
 
 I now signalled to my helmsman to hold himself ready, 
 and sent my rowers down the hatchways to their oars ; 
 they found some Hellenes skulking in the hold, but the}' 
 soon despatched them ; and it was the work of only a few 
 minutes to get clear of the remnant of the attacking boats,
 
 140 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 and to bring the Ashtoreth sharply round until she was in 
 a position on one side of the Cabiros corresponding with 
 that of the Dagon on the other. Hannibal had returned to 
 us, and gave us whatever assistance was in his power. Yet 
 another boat was sunk ; and the crews of two more, over- 
 whelmed in terror, leaped overboard and swam after the 
 fugitives, who, under a shower of arrows, were making their 
 way off. 
 
 No longer called upon to act upon the defensive, we next 
 turned our attention to the main company of the convoys, 
 of which three already had been abandoned by their 
 crews and were drifting helplessly on the waves. As we 
 were steering towards them, I chanced to look astern, and 
 to my surprise I found that the boat we had in tow was 
 crowded with armed men, who had evidently got into it 
 with the design of boarding us, and had not been able 
 to make their escape with their comrades. I made Bichri 
 come on to the poop with a party of his bowmen, and he 
 succeeded in hitting one of the Hellenes in the shoulder 
 just as he was about to sever the tow-rope with his 
 scimitar. 
 
 " Lay down your arms !" I shouted in Ionian. 
 
 But the man was not daunted. He renewed his effort 
 to cut the rope asunder, an attempt in which he was foiled 
 by receiving a second arrow in his throat. 
 
 " Shall we shoot them all ?" asked Bichri. 
 
 "No; wait a bit!" I said; "they look sturdy fellows, 
 and ought to fetch a good price at Carthage ; we may as 
 well do an extra stroke of business." 
 
 Again I called to them to lay down their arms and to 
 surrender, but they made no sign of submission. One of 
 them hurled his lance at me, just grazing my shoulder ; but 
 another, apparently convinced that the case was desperate, 
 jumped overboard, and as we were a long distance out at 
 sea, was probably drowned. 
 
 Fifteen men still remained, and I made Hanno and 
 Chryseis bespeak their attention in their own language
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 141 
 
 and thus succeeded in bringing them to terms. Hanno, by 
 my instruction, promised them that their lives should be 
 spared, and that they should be conveyed to a land where 
 they might earn good pay as soldiers of a king, and have 
 good treatment besides. After a while they yielded, and 
 laid down their arms, which were immediately hauled up 
 on deck ; and then a rope was thrown down, and one by 
 one the men, crestfallen and agitated, climbed on board. 
 
 The remainder of our assailants were now flying in com- 
 plete disorder. Night was coming on, and to them a voyage 
 in the darkness was scarcely less terrible than a second 
 battle. Although some of the boats were quite uninjured, 
 we could see that several of them had sustained so much 
 damage that they could hardly make any progress, and 
 that more than one had been set on fire by the combustibles 
 discharged by the Dagon, From the distant shore we 
 could hear the lamentations of the women bewailing the 
 fate of the drowned and slain. 
 
 Hamilcar and Hasdrubal obtained my leave to go in 
 pursuit of the fugitives, and I told off thirty men under 
 . Bichri and Chamai to go with them. While they were 
 absent I sent some men to take in tcvv the two boats that 
 had been abandoned by their crews, and found that they 
 contained a number of dead bodies, the whole of which I 
 had stripped and thrown into the sea. The two ships 
 returned very shortly, bringing three prizes and twenty-two 
 prisoners. 
 
 I deferred making any detailed examination of the spoils 
 until the morrow, and tired as we were, I should have 
 been glad of repose for myself and my men ; but it was 
 absolutely necessary that we should at once wash the 
 decks, collect the scattered armour,, and do something to 
 repair the disorder inevitable after so hard a conflict. 
 The corpses of the Hellenes who had been killed and 
 about twelve of the wounded were thrown overboard. Of 
 our own men, twenty-three had been wounded and eleven 
 killed ; the bodies of these were wrapped in cloth and laid
 
 142 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 side by side on the fore-deck, that they might be com 
 mitted to the sea in the morning, with the rites and 
 invocations of their religion. 
 
 As the Dagon had sustained less injury than any of our 
 ships, I had all the captives, including my own fifteen, sent 
 on board her and fastened securely in the hold. 
 
 Our losses were very serious. The Cabiros had eight 
 killed and ten wounded ; the Dagon, three killed and 
 seven wounded ; making, with the casualties on my own 
 ship, a total of twenty-three dead, and forty wounded. 
 Here was a melancholy proof that we had been matched 
 with no mean opponents ; and to confess the truth, their 
 courage and energy were such, that if they had had any 
 practical notion of naval tactics, and if their boats had been 
 more manageable, and their weapons not so ill-adapted for 
 this character of warfare, our chances of success would have 
 been very small. 
 
 Both Hamilcar and Gisgo had sustained serious though 
 by no means dangerous wounds. Hanno had a gash 
 across his shoulder, Chamai a lance-cut in the arm, and 
 Himilco a large bruise on the head, but neither of the three 
 was incapacitated from going on with his accustomed 
 duty. Our senior seaman, Hadlai, was among the killed. 
 Jonah had five lance-wounds, which he regarded as mere 
 scratches ; and after he had smeared himself all over with 
 ointment, he declared that the day's proceedings had not 
 only given him a tremendous appetite, but had made him 
 desperately thirsty. 
 
 It was impossible accurately to estimate the losses of 
 the Hellenes ; but they must have amounted to several 
 hundred ; thirty-six dead bodies had been found lying on 
 the deck of the AsJitoreth alone, and the Cabiros had 
 thrown overboard thirty-eight more. 
 
 We contrived to get some brief repose before morning, 
 but it was still quite early when under a fair east wind we 
 started again on our way to Italy. The eight prizes were 
 all taken in tow, and in order to make our progress more
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 143 
 
 easy I sent a few men into each of them, either to put up 
 a sail or to work them with oars. 
 
 Our ships were hung with black in honour of the 
 dead, and the usual invocations were made to the gods of 
 the departed. There were several bullocks amongst the 
 booty we had captured, and I ordered one of them to be 
 hoisted upon each vessel and slain for a sacrifice. On 
 board \heAshtoreth, Hanno recited the prescribed petitions 
 to the goddess, and after the slaughter of our beast, the fat 
 and a portion of the flesh were set apart to be smoked and 
 dried, the rest being allotted to the funeral feast. The 
 children of Israel, meanwhile, after their own fashion, were 
 sacrificing a sheep to their God, El-Adonai. As soon as 
 the sacrifices were finished, I made a distribution of wine ; 
 but before this was allowed to be tasted, the trumpets were 
 sounded, and the bodies of the dead solemnly committed 
 to the deep. The black hangings were then removed ; and 
 we gathered together for the general repast Every one's 
 spirits revived under the influence of food and drink. 
 Weariness and wounds were soon forgotten, and the men, 
 one to the other, were cheerfully recounting their own ex- 
 periences of the fight. 
 
 "Hannibal," I said, "you, as captain of the guard, and 
 your men under you, have acquitted yourselves admirably 
 and, according to the covenants of the charter-party, you 
 are entitled to a share of the spoil." 
 
 " For my part," said Hannibal, " I am quite ready to give 
 up all further claim if I can only have a new set of armour ; 
 my cuirass is terribly battered about, and my helmet has 
 tost both crest and plume. I have no doubt there is a good 
 suit of Lydian armour on board ; let me have that and I 
 shall ask no more." 
 
 " With all my heart ! " I answered : " and in addition 1 
 shall give you a flask of fine Sareptan wine." 
 
 "Aye, a good thought ! " said Himilco ; " I, also, shall be 
 only too happy to dispose of my claim for three skins of 
 Berytos."
 
 144 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 Chamai maintained that he must be entitled at least to 
 a bracelet and a pair of Syrian earrings. " Give them 
 to Abigail," he said, " and I will cry quits for my share." 
 
 " And now, sir scribe," I asked, turning to Hanno, "what 
 shall I do for you ? There are sheep, oxen, armour, wines 
 at your command." 
 
 " By Ashtoreth !" he answered ; "there is nothing I want 
 Take my portion and distribute it amongst the wounded ; 
 they need it more than I." 
 
 Struck by this generosity, Hannibal and Chamai shook 
 him heartily by the hand, and Chryseis showed her approval 
 by the most beaming of smiles. 
 
 One of the pilots came to me, as a deputation from the 
 crew, and requested that I would sell the whole booty in a 
 lump at the first opportunity, and let them have their shares 
 in money : meanwhile they hoped that I should not object 
 to make them an advance of what they might expect. The 
 fact was that the men knew that Phoenician coin was 
 current at Utica, Carthage and Gades, and reckoned upon 
 going ashore and enjoying themselves at all these ports. 
 I saw no reason for refusing the men what they wanted, 
 and accordingly instructed Hanno to draw up a list of all 
 the plunder, to every article of which I appended the price 
 in shekels which I was willing to pay for it. The priced 
 catalogue was affixed to the mast of each ship for the 
 sailors' inspection, and as it gave universal satisfaction, I 
 paid them the amount to which they were severally entitled 
 that very evening. 
 
 Chryseis and Abigail spent the night in administering to 
 the wants of the wounded. 
 
 Next morning, I sent for the prisoners. They had some 
 rations served out to them, and were brought from the 
 Dagon to the Ashtoreth, looking downhearted and full of 
 mistrust. I enlisted the services of Hanno as interpreter, 
 and having selected the most intelligent-looking of the 
 group, had him questioned as to his nationality and his 
 home.
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 145 
 
 "We are Hellenes," he said, " of the tribe of the Phocians. 
 We have no regular home, but we have been in the country 
 round Mount Parnassus. We left our haunts there at the 
 bidding of Apollo, who told us to depart, and to seek for 
 other settlements. With our wives and children we were 
 on our way to join our kinsmen, the lonians, either in 
 Epirus or in Corcyra. We were hoping there to find a 
 happy and a settled residence. " 
 
 Great tears stood in his eyes, and his companions in 
 
 adversity could not suppress their sobs. I assured him 
 that it was far from my wish to aggravate their misery, 
 and that I really pitied them in their misfortune, so that 
 they need not fear any harsh treatment at my hands. 
 
 " If we had been meeting you in regular warfare," he 
 continued, "we should have fought on to the very death, 
 and would have borne disaster and defeat without a mur- 
 mur ; but now who shall blame us, if we weep for our 
 wives and dear ones perished in the waves ? " 
 
 "But why, then, did you attack us? " I inquired
 
 146 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 " Listen, and you shall hear," he answered : " three 
 days ago, we fell in with a great Phoenician ship ; it was 
 not alone, but was accompanied by several others. The 
 captain hailed us and asked us to sell him some provisions : 
 regarding the Phoenicians as all divine, we were all most 
 ready to oblige them ; we sent them oxen, fruit and corn ; 
 my own poor son and many others went besides ; but no 
 sooner had they got the supplies on board, than the pirates 
 hoisted sail and made away. We had no remedy ; there 
 was no hope of recovering our people or our property ; our 
 boats cannot compete with yours in speed. In our fury we 
 swore that we would be avenged, and vowed we would 
 attack the first Phoenicians we should see You were the 
 first. Now you know all." 
 
 "Bodmilcar! by all the gods!" ejaculated Himilco. 
 " It is Bodmilcar that has involved us in this trouble. To 
 him we owe the death of our brave Hadlai, and the loss 
 of all our men ! Ten thousand curses on him ! Moloch's 
 bitterest curse be on his head ! " 
 
 Anxious to learn whether this suspicion was well founded, 
 I made inquiry as to what the Phoenician ship was like, 
 and not only ascertained that it was large and round and 
 high, but that the men on board were quite different to 
 the men upon the smaller boats, who had brown faces, and 
 wore dresses of another shape. These boats, too, carried 
 the figure of a goose's head at every prow. 
 
 " The Melkarth and the Egyptians beyond a doubt ! " I 
 cried. 
 
 The Phocian looked astonished at my agitation. 
 
 I soon recovered my composure, and asked whether 
 there were any men amongst the captives upon whose 
 courage and discretion he could rely. He informed me 
 that his own brother was one, and that five of the others 
 were his cousins ; he added, moreover, that the wife of one 
 of the cousins had been carried off on board the Phoenician 
 ship. 
 
 " Call them forward ! " I said ; and in a few minutes
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 147 
 
 six young men, all apparently strong and active, stood 
 before me. 
 
 " You would like to see your son again ? " 
 
 " My son ! " echoed the man. " Restore my son, and you 
 shall be counted divine indeed." 
 
 I informed him that the Phoenician who had borne him 
 off was my avowed and mortal enemy. " But serve me 
 with fidelity," I added, " and you may recover your son 
 even yet." 
 
 Turning to Hannibal, I ordered him to provide the seven 
 men with kitonets and arms, and to take them into his own 
 force ; the remainder I sent to assist the rowers. It would 
 be easy, I knew, to dispose of them all at Utica or Carthage, 
 where there is a constant demand both for oarsmen and for 
 mercenaries. 
 
 The seven Phocians kissed my hands, and wept for joy ; 
 the remainder went below with lighter hearts than they 
 had brought on board.
 
 148 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 THE LAND OF OXEN. 
 
 ON the third morning after the battle we sighted the 
 mountains of Italy, 1 and having entered the gulf, 2 along 
 the north of which extends the lapygian Peninsula, we soon 
 came to the mouth of a river that meandered along a fine 
 plain, in which the broad pastures were diversified by 
 groves of pines and oleanders. Inland, about a hundred 
 stadia from the shore, rose a range of grey mountains, 
 partially wooded, and crowned by a ridge of ragged peaks. 
 The anchorage was tolerably good, and as we required 
 fresh water and provender for the cattle, I determined to 
 lay to at once. I had all the animals sent on shore. This 
 was a work of some difficulty ; Bichri with a few armed 
 men was put in charge of them, and he was to employ the 
 prisoners to drive them where they could find proper 
 pasturage ; my intention in doing this was that the animals 
 should follow the ships along the coast as far as the Sicilian 
 Straits, where, unless I succeeded meanwhile in disposing of 
 them, they should be re-embarked. 
 
 " Not much chance of selling them here," said Himilco ; 
 "we are in Vitalia, the land of oxen. If we could have 
 brought them some goats now, like those we let the lonians 
 have, we might have found a market. Of cattle such as 
 these they have more than enough already." 
 
 " Probably so," I answered ; " but first of all we must 
 find some inhabited spot amidst all this desolation ; we 
 
 * Italia, from lra\6s, vita/us. * South of the Adriatic.
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 149 
 
 must try and meet with some of these Italians orVitalians, 
 whichever they are called. There must be some lapygians 
 here too in the south, as well as in the north. Do you 
 know the lapygian dialect ? " 
 
 Himilco said that, although he was not acquainted with 
 that dialect, he had some knowledge of the language of the 
 Vitalians, as well as of that which was spoken by the Opsci, 
 the Marsians, the Volscians, the Samnites, the Umbrians, 
 the Sabellians of the eastern coast, and the Latins of the 
 
 
 western. He mentioned also that Gisgo was tolerably 
 familiar with the tongue of the Rasenme, away to :he 
 north-west. 
 
 The spokesman of my seven Phocian prisoners now 
 approached me somewhat timidly, as if lie had something 
 to ask. His name was Aminocles. He be<jan bv ad- 
 
 o 
 
 dressing me : 
 
 " King of the Phoenicians ! " 
 
 I stopped him and told him that my proper appellation 
 was not king but captain.
 
 ISO THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 " Captain of the Phoenicians," he said ; " will you pleast 
 to tell me what country we are in ?" 
 
 " Italy," I answered ; " Italy, the land of herds." 
 
 " But in what part of it ? " he asked. 
 
 " In that part," I replied, " which is inhabited by various 
 tribes of Vitalians ; south and north-east dwell the lapy- 
 gians ; far away to the north are the Rasennae, who build 
 great cities, and have a king in the fertile vales beyond 
 the mountains." 
 
 " We know nothing of them," said Aminocles. 
 
 "Patience!" interposed Himilco ; "perhaps we can 
 refresh his memory. Phocian, listen to me. Have you 
 ever heard of Opsci ?" 
 
 " Of Opici ? yes," he answered ; "our ancestors have left 
 it upon record that long ages back, before we built Dodona, 
 nay, before we settled by the Achelous, while we still were 
 dwelling in the cold regions beyond Thrace, we were in 
 association with a people called the Opici. At that time 
 mainland and islands both were inhabited by Leleees, 
 
 J o 
 
 Pelasgians, giants, dwarfs, and monsters ; but the gods 
 slew them all and made way for us. If your Opsci are the 
 same as those Opici, I suppose I ought to have heard of 
 them before." 
 
 " It is of no use perplexing the man," I said ; "you see 
 he does not understand you." 
 
 " Wait a bit," Himilco remonstrated ; " perhaps I shall 
 succeed even yet. Tell me, Aminocles, did you ever hear 
 of Tyrsenians ? " 
 
 " No," said the Phocian. 
 
 " Strange!" muttered Himilco to himself. "Again and 
 again I have heard the Hellenes speak of Vitalia, and call 
 the natives Tyrsenians or Tyrrhenians ; I must try again. 
 Do you know the Siculians, the Cyclopes, the Loestri- 
 gonians ? " he asked aloud. 
 
 The man's countenance changed in an instant 
 
 " What ! do you mean " he exclaimed, in a vorc<
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. !$! 
 
 agitated with alarm " that we have come to the land of 
 
 O 
 
 such people as those ? " 
 
 " Aye, that we have," said Himilco, with a chuckle of 
 satisfaction ; " this is the country of the Lcestrigonians ; 
 and down there is the island of the Cyclopes, the Siculians, 
 and all the rest of them. We are going to pay them 
 a visit, when we have steered safely between Scylla and 
 Charybdis." 
 
 And he laughed outright when he heard Aminocles, 
 wringing his hands, groan out : 
 
 " Oh ! better, better far to have perished in the fight 
 than to have come to this land of monsters. Oh !" 
 
 We all laughed. The ridiculousness of the fellow's terror 
 was irresistible. 
 
 "Silence, simpleton!" I said; "the Lcestrigonians will 
 not hurt you ; we shall see plenty of them, but they 
 will not eat you up." 
 
 While I was speaking, my attention was directed by the 
 man on watch to a party of about fifty men, who were 
 advancing across the plain. Their attitude was far from 
 confident, and they halted on the edge of a wood, appa- 
 rently in indecision whether they would come on or 
 retreat. At length I took upon myself to encourage them 
 to come forward, and, according to my custom, went alone 
 towards them, making them every sign of good-will. Pre- 
 sently two of them advanced to meet me. They were 
 stout, thick-set men, square-shouldered, and of middle 
 height ; they had light complexions, thick beards, and 
 tVi/./ly hair, that overhung low brows and wide faces. 
 Their legs and arms were quite bare, and their heads 
 uncovered, but they wore a kind of coarse woollen kitonet, 
 with another loose garment thrown crosswise over one 
 shoulder. They were all well armed, having two short 
 copper-headed lances and a poignard ; most uf them 
 carried knives or swords in their girdles, and about a 
 dozen had slings or bows.
 
 152 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 One of the two who had come on in advance shouted in 
 Italian : 
 
 " Who are you ? and what have you come for ? " 
 
 Himilco, who had followed me, shouted back in the same 
 language that we were merchants who had come from dis- 
 tant lands, and that we wanted to open a trade with them. 
 
 " But are you not Rasennae ? and is it not your design 
 to rob us our cattle ? " 
 
 " Nothing of the sort," we answered ; "we are Phoenicians 
 from the east. Come down to the shore, and you shall see 
 our merchandise." 
 
 Both the men retired to their comrades, and appeared 
 to deliberate ; but very shortly they returned, and .one of 
 them called out : 
 
 11 You see these two trees on each side of me ; these 
 must be our boundary." 
 
 And, driving his lance firmly into the ground midway 
 between them, he continued : 
 
 " Tf you advance one step beyond this lance, I take it 
 up, and we declare ourselves your foes." 
 
 Himilco repeated his assurance that we had no wish to 
 do them the slightest injury, and the}- came up close 
 to where we were. The leader told us that they were 
 Sabelline Samnites, and that they wanted to know what 
 payment we were going to make them for the pasturage 
 of our cattle. I made Himilco satisfy them that they 
 should have a proper remuneration. 
 
 It was now my turn to erect a barrier. This I did by 
 driving stakes into the earth, and stretching a cord across, 
 beyond which I made the Samnites understand that I 
 should not permit them to pass. They raised no objection 
 to my measure of precaution, but crowded up to inspect 
 our eoods. their curiositv meanwhile extending- to out 
 
 o * o 
 
 ships, ourselves, and our costume. They were rougher 
 in manners than the Hellenes, and more suspicious, and 
 I had some trouble in inducing them to negotiate with us
 
 TH>; ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 153 
 
 at all ; but after a time I succeeded in securing their 
 confidence to a certain degree, and they informed me that 
 they were not an agricultural people, and had no cereals 
 nor vegetables to bring us, but could supply us with any 
 number of sheep and oxen. They subsequently brought 
 several half-wild pigs, which particularly attracted the at- 
 tention of Chamai and Bichri, neither of whom had seen 
 animals of the kind before. Not understanding the art of 
 making bread, the Samnites ordinarily eat a kind of pulp 
 called " masa ; " but, as they had on previous visits of other 
 Phoenicians tasted some loaves, they were now very anxious 
 to be shown how to make them ; they made a number of 
 inquiries likewise about our wine, but for this they did not 
 seem to care to the same extent as the Hellenes. 
 
 Next morning they came to us again in considerable 
 numbers. I had observed that during the night they 
 had lighted a good many beacon-fires over the land, 
 and naturally conjectured that they were signalling for a 
 gathering of their countrymen, and I accordingly doubled 
 my ordinary guard. I soon found, however, that there 
 was no cause for alarm, and that they had no hostile 
 intentions ; on the contrary, they were quite content to 
 follow my injunctions that they should not approach our 
 boundary line in groups of more than fifty ; they awaited 
 their turn with the utmost patience, and altogether were 
 far less noisy and demonstrative than we had found the 
 Dorians. 
 
 Amongst other things they brought a great quantity of 
 coral, which after rough weather is washed up on their 
 coasts, but which they also procure by diving from 
 frail rafts of their own construction ; for although they 
 are very indifferent navigators, they are for the most part 
 excellent swimmers. The most expert coral-divers are the 
 lapygians, those who dwell amongst the Samnites and the 
 Bretians, as well as the natives of lapygia proper. Some 
 few of them were to be noticed amongst our Samnite 
 visitors ; they were generally tall and wore no beards ; they
 
 154 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 had round heads and brown skins, being in many respects 
 very like the Cydonians : in their manners they were more 
 polished and in their conversation more communicative 
 than the other Italians. They seemed to me to bear a 
 marked resemblance to the Siculians ; and I cannot help 
 thinking that the lapygians, the Siculians, the Cydonians, 
 and the natives discovered by our forefathers in Malta, are 
 the aborigines of their respective countries. Afterwards, 
 from the coast of Asia came the Leleges and the Pelasgians 
 (tribes that bear a strong likeness to the Lydians, Lycians, 
 and Carians), and these settled in Dodanim and the isles, 
 being succeeded by the Hellenes and Italians, who came 
 southward from the confines of Thrace. Of the origin of 
 the Rasennae I am perfectly ignorant : all I know is that 
 Phoenicians who have visited the mountains whence the 
 rock-crystal is obtained, and which lie north of the Eri- 
 danus, at the head of the lapygian Gulf, have reported 
 that they have fallen in with a people who call themselves 
 Rhoetians, and who speak a language in many respects 
 identical with that spoken by the Rasennae. 
 
 Two days were spent in bartering my cumbersome booty 
 for coral, which could be compactly stored away. As the 
 captured boats were emptied, I had all but two of them 
 broken up. I reserved only the planking, which was sure 
 to be useful, and the masts, which might be of service 
 if we should require extra spars. After the spoil had 
 been all exchanged away, I commenced paying for what 
 I purchased with glass-beads, lance-heads, and sword- 
 blades ; the last of these articles were so eagerly coveted, 
 that for four blades, worth about a shekel a-piece, I ob- 
 tained at least four hundred shekels' worth of the finest 
 coral. When I expressed my surprise at the quantity of 
 coral in their possession, they explained that it was the 
 accumulation of a very long time, adding that they had 
 intended disposing of it at one of the emporiums which 
 the Phoenicians had established on the western coast, but 
 that our arrival had saved them the trouble of the journey
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 155 
 
 They told me that they should have been glad if I could 
 supply them with goats, and stated that those which had 
 been brought over by our countrymen, and purchased by 
 the Marsians and Volscians, were rapidly spreading in the 
 mountains of the north. 
 
 The Samnites have no regular towns, but live in small 
 scattered hamlets, consisting generally of a few thatched 
 huts built of boughs of trees cemented with mud. They 
 have very little notion of agriculture, and the Latins of the 
 west coast (especially those of the valley of the Tiber) are 
 far superior husbandmen ; the Latins, however, have a city 
 named Alba, occupying a secure position between a 
 mountain and a lake. Along the coast I know only of 
 a single sea-port, and that belongs to the Rasennae, and is 
 named Populonia. These Rasennae are no contemptible 
 sailors ; that they were bold and unscrupulous pirates, 
 I had long known by hearsay, but here on the Samnite 
 coast I was destined to have a confirmation of the fact 
 from my own experience. 
 
 Having completed all the business that was practicable, 
 I was preparing to renew our voyage, when one of the 
 Samnites came running up to his associates, and shouted 
 something which appeared to throw them into a state of 
 great excitement. 
 
 "What ails the fellows?" said Himilco ; "they seem 
 going mad. Is the cock-head Nergal at their heels ? " 
 
 The commotion was soon explained. 
 
 " Pirates ! Pirates !" shouted a number of the Samnites 
 in a breath. " Quick, Phoenicians, on your guard ! The 
 Tyrrhenians are coming ! They are rounding the point ! 
 they will be on us directly ! Away ! Away to the 
 mountains !" 
 
 Without losing a minute, I made Jonah sound an alarm 
 and summon our men to their ships. Hannibal donned 
 his helmet and marshalled his men, including the seven 
 Phocians ; the overlooker of the rowers, scourge in hand, 
 hurried the oarsmen to their benches, and in a short time
 
 1 56 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 we were three stadia from the shore and ready for actioa 
 Chamai congratulated himself that although his right arm 
 was disabled he was still capable of doing good execution 
 with his left. 
 
 " What new friends are we to have the pleasure of 
 seeing to-day ? " asked Bichri, with a smile, as he fastened 
 on his quiver and strung his bow. 
 
 I told him that they were Tyrrhenians, or Rasennae, 
 from the north-west of Italy, who traded a little, but did a 
 good deal more in the way of privateering along the coast ; 
 and that, although I was not aware of their having ever 
 hitherto come into collision with Phoenicians, I had very 
 little doubt they carried freight enough to make it worth 
 our while to risk an engagement with them. 
 
 " Yes, they are new to me," said Hannibal ; " and perhaps 
 we can give them some new lessons in the art of fighting ; 
 they may like a taste of the Chaldean mace that King 
 David gave me." 
 
 Anxious to understand the true position of things, I 
 sent the Cabiros ahead to reconnoitre, ordering her to keep 
 as close as possible to the shore until she reached the 
 extremity of the headland, whence she could command 
 a view of the whole line of coast ; she returned with the 
 intelligence that there were five ships, which seemed of 
 a long build, advancing leisurely towards us by making 
 short tacks to catch the wind, and that in about half an 
 hour they would be in sight. 
 
 Whilst I was pondering in my mind what line of action 
 I should follow, my eye fell upon the two boats of the 
 Hellenes which had been spared in the general demoli- 
 tion, and it occurred to me that I could make them of 
 service, 
 
 " How about our soundings, Himilco ?" I said. 
 
 "Ten cubits, and a rocky bottom," was the pilot's 
 prompt reply. 
 
 Gisgo was on board the Ashtoreth. He had come 
 to bring the report of the Cabiros.
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 157 
 
 "Tell me, Gisgo," I said, "how much water do those 
 Tyrrhenian privateers draw ? Is it six cubits ?" 
 
 " Aye, six at the very least ; they look low upon the 
 water, but they sink very deep ; it is their excessive weight 
 that keeps them from lurching." 
 
 " Very well ; now go to those two boats, scuttle them, 
 and sink them there, right in front of my ship. There!" 
 I said, pointing with my hand. 
 
 Himilco and Gisgo chuckled again with delight as they 
 went to do as they were ordered, and in the course of 
 twenty minutes the boats were both sunk, and formed a 
 regular stockade about three cubits below the surface of 
 the water. 
 
 My next proceeding was to direct the Cabiros to lower 
 her sail, and to pretend to be dragging herself with diffi- 
 culty towards the headland, as though she had sustained 
 some serious injury. I then made the Dagon sheer off 
 about two stadia out to sea, ordering her to make her way 
 back to the Aslitoreth by short tacks, as if she were coming 
 to her assistance. Meanwhile I gave my ship the appear- 
 ance of being a disabled merchantman ; I lowered my sail, 
 made my rowers struggle with their oars without propelling 
 the vessel, and told all my soldiers to slip their shields, 
 and to lie down flat upon the deck so as not to be seen. 
 
 "What's up now, Captain?" said Chamai raising his 
 head, with a merry grin. 
 
 I told him that I was giving a sprat to catch a mackerel ; 
 and that if he would have patience I hoped he would 
 be satisfied with the haul. 
 
 It was a very short time now before the Rasennae caught 
 sight of us. Immediately one of the five ships bore down 
 directly upon the Cabiros ; two of them started off in 
 pursuit of the Dagon, which was still out to sea, and the 
 remaining two steered for the AshtorctJi, which, as though 
 perfectly helpless, exhibited no sign of resistance. 
 
 When they had come within a stadium of me I had 
 ample opportunity of examining the details of their boats
 
 158 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 and equipments. Although the boats were long, they were 
 very ill-constructed ; they had only a single deck, and 
 were each manned by thirty rowers ; the stern was some- 
 what raised, but the deck was almost level with the sea ; 
 on the prow was painted a pair of huge red and white eyes 
 which seemed to stare fixedly at the waves. The men on 
 board were very tall ; they had large heads, wide flat faces, 
 reddish complexions and thin beards ; although their 
 limbs were muscular and well-developed, their gait was 
 very awkward. They were armed with ponderous lances, 
 hatchets, bucklers, and round helmets which had no crests ; 
 whilst their legs were protected either by sandals or by 
 pointed gaiters. Most of them wore tunics of some dark 
 colour, which, though longer than our kitonets, were 
 shorter than those worn by the Syrians. On their arms 
 and throats was a profusion of bracelets and necklaces, and 
 their girdles, which were very wide, were ornamented with 
 plates of polished bronze. After looking at them steadily 
 for a time, Abigail declared that she would rather die than 
 fall into the hands of such revolting creatures. 
 
 Coming within hail, the Rasennae began shouting furiously 
 at us, but we took no heed. Finding that their challenge 
 was unanswered, they sent one of their boats in front of me, 
 whilst the other passed round the stern intending to cut 
 me off from the shore ; but they reckoned without their 
 host. The former boat dashed itself violently against the 
 stockade of concealed boats, and after two or three ineffec- 
 tual efforts to disengage herself, heeled over on her side, 
 and remained with her stern considerably sunk below 
 the sea. 
 
 My trumpet sounded, my oars dipped, my warriors 
 started to their feet, and a shout of triumph rang through 
 the air. 
 
 Thoroughly taken aback by our sudden revival, the other 
 boat endeavoured to tack about to get out of our way ; but 
 so clumsily did she set about the manoeuvre, that she only 
 succeeded in running her stern aground, and being thus
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 159 
 
 entirely at my mercy, I poured into her such a shower 
 of missiles as probably her commander and crew had 
 never before conceived possible. 
 
 " Here, Tyrrhenians, Rasennae, or whatever you call 
 yourselves," shouted Hannibal, as he worked away at his 
 scorpions ; " here is a heavenly shower of manna for you ! 
 If these arrows and Cretan pebbles are not to your taste, 
 we can find you a nice little lot of spiked stakes." 
 
 Bichri, too, was quite in his element. With such an 
 immovable mark within bowshot, he selected his victims 
 just as he pleased, and was careful to choose those who 
 wore any article of apparel or any ornament that parti- 
 cularly struck his fancy. 
 
 " Look at that fellow," I heard him say, " with the 
 necklace of gold beads inlaid with blue and enamelled 
 with white : I must have him ; but I must hit him on the 
 head, or I shall be spoiling that charming bit of embroidery 
 he is wearing." 
 
 As our deck was several cubits higher than that of our 
 antagonists, their archers were comparatively powerless ; 
 and in order to protect themselves under the incessant 
 discharge of our missiles, they took refuge in their hold. 
 Observing their retreat, Hannibal, Chamai and Bichri, with 
 a few followers, leaped down upon their deck ; Jonah, in 
 his impetuous haste to go after them, came sprawling down 
 headlong with a tremendous thud, but rising rapidly to his 
 feet, caught hold of the heels of an unhappy Tyrrhenian 
 who had not had time to make his escape, twirled him 
 round and round in the air like a sling, and dashed out his 
 brains against the side of the vessel. Short work was made 
 with the few who still remained above boaid, and in a few 
 minutes more, our people, who had forced their way down 
 the hatchway, reappeared, bringing with them twenty men, 
 of whom, to my surprise I found that no less than eleven 
 were Phoenicians. Their costume and physiognomy revealed 
 this at a glance. 
 
 Free now to turn my attention from the shore to the
 
 160 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 sea, I found that the Dagon had already sunk one of the 
 privateers, and in concert with the Cabiros was driving the 
 remaining two fast inland. I joined in the pursuit, and 
 after a short chase, one of the boats, overwhelmed by the 
 volleys of stones which we threw from our engines, found 
 all further resistance useless, and made signs of surrender. 
 The capture of this vessel cost us the lives of two of our 
 men, and while we were engaged in securing our prize, the 
 remaining boat took advantage of our occupation to effect 
 an escape. 
 
 We lost as little time as possible in making our way 
 back to the coast towards the prizes we had left there. We 
 were only just in time. The Samnites had been watching 
 the issue of the contest, and were hastening down from the 
 heights to pillage the abandoned vessels ; but as I sent 
 some detachments of men to keep guard, they had for the 
 present to keep their distance, and to be content to bide 
 their time before they could enjoy the crumbs of the 
 expected feast. 
 
 Our first business now was to empty the boat that had 
 struck upon the sunken stockade ; it had already nearly 
 two cubits of water in its hold, and was consequently liable 
 to sink at any moment. There were no prisoners to be 
 made here ; during our engagement with the other vessels 
 some of the men had escaped in a small boat, and the rest 
 had swum to shore, but only to be captured by the Sam- 
 nites. The Cabiros and Dagon, however, had thirty-three 
 prisoners, making, with the nine I had myself taken, a total 
 of forty-two, who were first stripped of everything of any 
 value that was found belonging to them, and then distri- 
 buted amongst our three crews, who would be entitled to 
 dispose of them to our colonists on the coast of Libya, 
 where no doubt they would be in demand either for soldiers 
 or artisans. 
 
 The eleven Phoenicians were highly delighted at what 
 had befallen them ; their capture was really a deliverance 
 They told me that they had formed part of the crew of a
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. l6l 
 
 Sidonian gaoul which had been wrecked off the coast of 
 Sardinia, and that they had escaped in one of the small 
 boats. They had attempted to reach one of our settlements 
 in the island, but tempestuous weather had frustrated their 
 plan, and they had been carried out to sea, and finally 
 drifted to the mainland. They had next tried to make their 
 way northward to one of the Phoenician marts, established 
 on the coast ; and it was more than a week ago since they 
 had fallen into the hands of the Rasennae, who had sent 
 them to serve on board their privateers. All of them were 
 ragged, and more than half-starved ; and their rejoicing 
 seemed unbounded, when I not only provided them with 
 clothes and food, but allowed them to enter my service on 
 an equal footing with the rest of my crews. Amongst them 
 was an experienced helmsman and a master mariner ; so 
 that all our losses were to a great extent replaced, especially 
 as the whole of the wounded were in a fair way of recovery. 
 
 Stripping the dead, collecting the booty, conveying 
 it on board, and making lists of it all, occupied us till 
 the close of the day, and it was past sunset before we 
 were at liberty to avail ourselves of the wind, which was 
 quite favourable for our coasting along towards the Straits 
 of Sicily. We left the captured boats, and whatever plunder 
 was too heavy or too valueless to be worth carrying away, 
 to the Samnitcs, who, with shouts of joy, rushed forward to 
 take possession of their unexpected prize. 
 
 The evening meal was merry. Our successful negotiations, 
 our victorious skirmish, our release of our countrymen, our 
 valuable booty, were all topics of mutual congratulation. 
 Hannibal was loud in his praises of my stratagem of the 
 stockade. 
 
 'Ah! that's an old trick," said Himilco ; "we once 
 played it off upon the Carians of Rhodes, and took eleven 
 of their ships and no end of plunder. Old Tarshish 
 mariners are adepts at schemes of that sort." 
 
 Chamai held up a pair of twisted bracelets, and a necklace 
 of a similar pattern, ornamented with a large flat crescent. 
 
 M
 
 1 62 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 " Are these solid gold, captain ? " he asked me. 
 
 " Aye, and of the finest sort," I answered ; " it is the gold 
 they get from the Eridanus and the Rhone ; you are to be 
 congratulated on your lucky prize." 
 
 " Not one man did I either kill or catch," said Hanno ; 
 " and I suppose I shall have to be content with my share- 
 and-share-alike portion of the plunder ; but I confess I 
 should be very pleased if I might have a vase which I dis- 
 covered amongst the captured goods ; it is exquisitely 
 painted, and I have no doubt that these Rasennse, ugly as 
 they are themselves, are highly-skilled as artists." 
 
 I told him that I saw no difficulty in yielding to his 
 wish, and requested him to submit to me his inventory of 
 the spoil. Casting my eye at it, I was not surprised to find 
 that the articles made of gold were considerably larger in 
 number than those made of silver. I knew that the Tyrrhe- 
 nians had little or no communication with Tarshish and 
 the other silver-producing countries, whilst they have free 
 access to the sands of the Eridanus, and that by the road 
 made by the Ligurian convicts they could cross the moun- 
 tains to the Rhone. There were a good many articles 
 of copper which came from Lower Vitalia, and amongst 
 them some figures, which were evidently images of 
 gods. 
 
 I sent for Gisgo to come on board and interrogate the 
 prisoners in their own language. In their peculiar muffled 
 accent they informed us that they had come from Populonia, 
 and were subjects of King Tarchnas, who ruled over twenty 
 Tyrrhenian cities. Populonia, they said, was their only 
 sea-port, and thence they always set sail upon their 
 cruises, their ships being manned with Ligurians as oars- 
 men and sailors, whilst their fighting men were nearly all 
 Rascnnae. Two of their chiefs they mentioned as having 
 been killed in the fight, whose names were Vivenna and 
 Spurinna ; Himilco gave it as his opinion that these names 
 were identical with the Vitalian Vibius and Spurius. 
 
 Upon being shown the copper images of the gods which
 
 CI.OSK TO ETNA.
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 163 
 
 had been found amongst the plunder, the prisoners 
 recognised them at once, and told us the names. There 
 were Turms, the Hermes of the Hellenes ; Turan, whom I 
 believed to be our Ashtoreth ; Sethlans, the same as our 
 Khousor Phtah ; Fouflouns the Dionysus of the Hellenes ; 
 and another called Menvra, of whom I had never heard, but 
 whom Himilco declared .to the Vitalian goddess Minerva. 
 
 The Tyrrhenians went on to say that they were allies 
 of the Latins and of the Opsci, or Occi, a name which in 
 our language signifies "workmen;" and that the semi- 
 barbarous Samnites, although of the same race and 
 speaking the same tongue as the Opsci, had committed 
 depredations against them on the river Volturnus, or " the 
 rolling stream ;" and had likewise attacked the Latin settle- 
 ment of Novla, or "the new city." In defence of their 
 allies, the Rasennae had declared war against the Samnites, 
 and were on their way to attack them when they en- 
 countered us, and fell into our power. This was all the 
 information they had to give me, and I sent the men back 
 to the care of the crew, and we all retired to rest. 
 
 The day had hardly dawned when I rose, and looking a 
 little to the left, I could see behind us the light, the flames, 
 and the lurid smoke that issued from the crater of Mount 
 Etna. The two women and all the men, who had never 
 before seen such a spectacle, looked on, some in astonish- 
 ment, some in downright terror. Hannibal was as surprised 
 as anyone, and declared that except he knew to the con- 
 trary, he should have taken it for the mouth of hell ; adding, 
 that he thought it a great pity that all that mighty force 
 of fire could not be utilised ; it would make a splendid 
 apparatus for reducing an obstinate city in a siege. To my 
 inquiry whether he had never seen the burning mountain in 
 Cilicia, he replied that, although he had passed several 
 times, it had never been his good fortune to be there at the 
 time of an eruption. 
 
 We passed sufficiently close to Etna to be able most 
 distinctly to hear its roar. The women, really alarmed,
 
 1 64 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 betook themselves to their cabin. Hanno asked what was 
 the distance of the volcano from us. 
 
 "Sixty stadia at least," I answered; "you seem sur- 
 prised at our seeing it so plainly, but in the broad -daylight 
 it will not be nearly so conspicuous, although it is very 
 lofty. My own reason for coming so close to it now is 
 that we may the more directly steer into the Straits of 
 Sicily." 
 
 Jonah, who at first had been terribly alarmed, did not 
 disguise his satisfaction that we were not going any closer 
 to the mountain. " All very well in the distance," he said ; 
 " it is the kitchen of Nergal, the old cock, whose head is up 
 in the sky and his feet here on earth. Yes, it is his kitchen ; 
 where he roasts his behemoths and leviathans ; his smallest 
 platter is a good deal bigger than this deck. But the time 
 is coming when El-Adonai shall demolish him, and the 
 children of Israel shall feast upon him and his dainties !" 
 
 " Hold your tongue, you fool !" said Chamai. " None of 
 your idiot stories of Dan, and your fables of the drunken 
 Ephraimites !" 
 
 " Neither stories nor fables ! " retorted Jonah ; " have you 
 not a proof before your eyes that it is all true ? What will 
 the people of Eltekeh say when I tell them I have seen 
 Nergal's kitchen ? " 
 
 " Hush ! I say! Shut up!" And as Chamai spoke, he 
 gave the giant a violent blow across his mouth with his 
 open hand. 
 
 "Humph!" he growled; "I must hold my tongue, 
 must I ? " 
 
 We now made rapid headway towards the north, and as 
 we approached the strait, Himilco and his sailors amused 
 themselves by working up Aminocles and the other 
 Phocians to the highest pitch of terror. 
 
 " That is the mountain of the Cyclopes that you have 
 been looking at," he said to them ; " now's your time to 
 look out sharp to the right and left, and you shall see 
 Scylla and Charybdis. You know who they are. They
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. l6$ 
 
 arc the ravenous monsters that swallow up whole ships and 
 all their crews. Listen ! you can hear them roaring now ; 
 they seem desperately hungry." 
 
 " I remember," said one of the sailors, " seeing Charybdis 
 suck in three gaouls and two galleys at one draught, just 
 as easily as I could drain a cup of wine." 
 
 " And would you believe," interposed the man who was 
 at the helm, " that I have seen the heads of Scylla shatter 
 a whole fleet with such violence that the admiral was 
 pitched clean over there into the jaws of the volcano ?" 
 
 Himilco, of course, could not allow himself to be outdone 
 by the men, and proceeded to Say : 
 
 " I have been nearer to Scylla than any of you. One 
 cloudy night I was at the prow, vainly endeavouring to 
 make out the Cabiri, when all at once I felt her foamy 
 mouth open gently, close behind me, and snap off my cap 
 lucky it wasn't my head too and before 1 could turn 
 round, Charybdis had swallowed a whole bottle of my best 
 Berytos and three whole cheeses !" 
 
 Jonah, who was looking on intensely interested, said : 
 
 "And what did you do, pilot? I know what I should 
 have done. I should have given her a good crack across 
 her muzzle." 
 
 " O, it was no good my saying anything to her ; she 
 wouldn't have understood me ; the only language she can 
 comprehend is that of the Loestrigonians." 
 
 He could hardly speak for laughing ; but Aminocles 
 cowered down upon the deck, and covered his head with 
 his loose tunic, the other six Phocians scampering off in 
 dismay to secrete themselves in the hold.
 
 166 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 GISGO THE EARLESS RECOVERS HIS EARS. 
 
 NOTWITHSTANDING the strong and rapid current which 
 bears down upon the promontory to the right, and which 
 has given rise to the marvellous stories with which sailors 
 delight to awaken the fears of the inexperienced, we passed 
 through the strait without the slightest difficulty ; and so 
 well did I know the channel, and so manageable were our 
 ships, that we had no necessity to diminish our ordinary 
 speed. The coast on either hand was covered with fine 
 wooded hills, surmounted by jagged grey rocks, rising up 
 almost perpendicularly, like the battlements of a fortress ; 
 there was good anchorage everywhere, and more especially 
 in the bay on the side of the island in the strait itself. I 
 did not, however, lay to, but hastened on with as much 
 speed as possible, in order that before nightfall I might 
 reach the roadstead in front of the promontory of Lily- 
 boeum, to which our countrymen are accustomed to pay 
 periodical visits for the purpose of purchasing sulphur and 
 lava-stones. The Siculians have a few cabins on the 
 margin of the roadstead, and are on the whole less savage 
 than their countrymen in the south and west of the island, 
 more frequent intercourse with strangers having tended to 
 soften their manners ; but the ever-increasing immigration 
 of the Latins is so continuously overwhelming their num- 
 bers, that in my opinion they will before long have entirely 
 disappeared. 
 
 Rounding the cape, I steered due west along the shore
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. l6j 
 
 of the island, leaving the ^Eolian peaks to our right, and by 
 evening had reached the anchorage upon which I had 
 settled, and where I found good moorings about two bow- 
 shots from the beach. I did not feel altogether sure of my 
 quarters, so that I would not land any of my merchandise 
 that night, and I resolved, moreover, to hold no communi- 
 
 o ' 
 
 cation of any kind with the natives till the morning. Some 
 men came with torches to the water's edge and made signs 
 of friendly intentions, but I merely told them that they 
 might bring what sulphur, coral, or mother-of-pearl they 
 could on the next day ; and finding that I was resolute in 
 my refusal to negotiate with them then, they went away. 
 
 They had not been gone very long, when Himilco 
 pointed out to me some shoals of tunny-fish within reach, 
 and asked permission to try and catch some. As it was 
 some time since our men had tasted fresh fish, I could not 
 refuse, but allowed him to make up a party of the most 
 experienced fishermen he could select. A lot of harpoons 
 and tridents were lowered into a boat, into which got Bichri 
 and two archers, carrying some lines to be attached to the 
 harpoons to haul up the fish that were hit. Jonah, ever on 
 the alert when food was in question, asked permission to 
 join the party, and was allowed to go under condition that 
 he brought his trumpet and some torches to attract the 
 fish. It had been ascertained that Aminocles was a skilful 
 hand at this pursuit ; and as soon as he was satisfied that 
 there was no fear of his encountering any of the monsters 
 of which he had heard so much, he was induced to accom- 
 pany them. 
 
 " How was it," he said to Himilco, "that we escaped 
 Scylla and Charybdis so completely ? I looked out once 
 or twice, but I saw nothing alarming." 
 
 " Neither did I," said Himilco, gravely. "The truth is, 
 the old monster does not show herself every day, or, may- 
 be, something scared her ; perhaps Hannibal's red crest, or 
 perhaps Jonah's big trumpet. Anyhow, there's no ac 
 counting for the freaks of these monsters."
 
 1 68 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 " She was quite right in keeping out of my way," said 
 Jonah ; " now I have seen Nergal's kitchen, I have courage 
 enough for anything." 
 
 Aminocles was still not quite easy in his mind, and with 
 reference to the volcanoes, asked whether we were quite 
 out of the reach of the flames. 
 
 " Out of reach ! " repeated Himilco ; " why, the flames 
 are six hundred stadia away from where you saw them ; 
 you only saw the reflection in the clouds." 
 
 " Nergal's kitchens, all of them ! " said Jonah ; " plenty 
 of them ! nice and hot ! He can fry and he can bake ! 
 He's a capital cook ! " 
 
 The sailors were immensely amused at all this talk ; and 
 when Himilco, with imperturbable seriousness, proceeded 
 to interpret Jonah's remarks to the credulous and timid 
 Aminocles, their laughter became perfectly uproarious. 
 
 The fishing was a great success. Several good hauls 
 were made ; and before daylight the boat returned, and 
 the men retired to their well-earned rest. 
 
 In good time next morning the natives whom we had
 
 TEE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 169 
 
 seen the previous evening, came with a considerable in- 
 crease in their number, and one of them swam boldly out 
 from the shore, and was received on board the Ashtoreth. 
 He was a man that might be regarded as a fair type of 
 the Siculians ; tall, with a low forehead, thin nose and 
 lips, beardless chin, and copper-coloured complexion. He 
 addressed us in the Latin tongue, and was eager to tell 
 us that the Latins were now in possession of the eastern 
 portion of the island, and were the bitterest enemies of 
 the Siculians. I replied that I was a Phoenician, and that 
 Italian Latins, or. Italian Samnites, Umbrians, or Sabellians 
 were all the same to me ; what I wanted was coral, sulphur, 
 and lava; and if the Siculians could bring me these, they 
 should have a liberal price in return. He replied : 
 
 " We are subjects of King Morgesh, who will only permit 
 us to transact business inland. Come with us to yonder 
 mountains ; we have plenty of the commodities you want. 
 There we may make our exchanges." 
 
 The persistency with which he urged our going on 
 shore with our goods aroused my suspicions ; but without 
 exhibiting any sign of mistrust I pretended to acquiesce 
 in his proposal, and at once proceeded to land my bales 
 of merchandise and sixty armed men, taking the precaution, 
 moreover, of placing all my archers on board the Cabiros, 
 which, with her machines ready for action, was moored 
 within a few cubits of the shore. 
 
 "What need to bring so many men ?** asked the Siculian, 
 when we had landed ; " we can carry your packages to the 
 mountains." 
 
 When I replied that I did not intend to go inland at 
 all, and that if they wanted to effect any bartering with 
 as they must bring their own merchandise down to the 
 beach, the man was evidently very much disconcerted, 
 and went away to consult his companions. While he was 
 absent, I availed myself of the opportunity of replenishing 
 all our water-casks from the copious brook that flowed into 
 the bay.
 
 I/O THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 On the man's return, he was accompanied by two of his 
 colleagues. 
 
 " Do not be afraid of the fatigue of ascending the 
 mountain," they urged ; " we will not only convey your 
 property, but we will carry all of you too, if you like. 
 Only come." 
 
 And with repeated solicitations, they assured me I 
 should be pleased with the bargains I should be able 
 to make. 
 
 I represented the impossibility of my yielding to their 
 wishes. It was my determination to set sail again that 
 very evening ; consequently there was no leisure for us to 
 quit the shore. While I was talking, I made my people 
 unfold to the view of the savages some specimens of my 
 wares glass beads and trinkets, bottles and bright caldrons, 
 and some parti-coloured stuffs. These proved too much for 
 their cupidity, and unable to stand out any longer, and 
 convinced of my inflexible purpose of remaining where I 
 was, they hurried off to fetch their own commodities. 
 
 Rough and brutal in their manners, they haggled over 
 every item ; and whenever they saw anything that espe- 
 cially attracted their fancy, they tried to snatch it from our 
 hands ; or, if small enough, they would endeavour slyly to 
 pilfer it ; but we kept a sharp look-out, and as fast as I 
 completed my purchases, I despatched them either to the 
 Dagon or to my own ship. The throng of the Siculians 
 gradually grew larger and larger, and in proportion as their 
 numbers increased, their demands became more and more 
 encroaching ; so much so, that fearing some outbreak of 
 violence, I thought it prudent to send for Chamai, Bichri, 
 Himilco, and a score of men to supplement my body- 
 guard. 
 
 All at once, Gisgo, who had been sitting quietly on the 
 beach watching the proceedings, started to his feet, and 
 touching Himilco's shoulder, drew his attention to a sudden 
 stir that had begun amongst the Siculians in the rear 
 Following with my eye the direction of his finger, I per-
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 171 
 
 ceived in a moment that some king or chief was passing 
 through the throng, which was falling tack to allow him a 
 passage. Before him was carried a number of rods, all 
 painted red, and ornamented with coral, mother-of-pearl, 
 and other glittering substances. From the end of the longest 
 rf th^se rods dangled some ill-defined objects, which to 
 my unpractised eye looked like nothing so much as strings 
 of faded leaves. But Gisgo was better informed. 
 
 Pointing to the rods, and with a voice almost choked 
 with excitement, he said : 
 
 " Captain, there are my ears !" 
 
 " Your ears ! What do you mean ?" 
 
 " There, there ! on that stick ! strung together ! I know 
 what they are well enough." 
 
 And he muttered to himself: "A man knows his own 
 ears." 
 
 It was all in vain that I strained my eyes to see which of 
 the shapeless and withered cartilages Gisgo maintained 
 were his : I could make out nothing to distinguish one pair 
 of ears from another. 
 
 " Never mind," said Gisgo ; " I recognise them ; and I 
 recognise something else ; that chief is the blackguard who 
 cut them off." 
 
 The impropriator of my pilot's ears had now advanced to 
 me, and commenced negotiating in person. He sold me a 
 quantity of sulphur, and appeared to be conducting his 
 transaction in a friendly and equitable manner ; but just as 
 I was about, as usual, to embark my purchase, he declared 
 that in addition to the stipulated price, he must have a 
 cuirass like Hannibal's. I told him peremptorily that he 
 could not have anything beyond the contract, whereupon 
 he caught hold of the cuirass that Hannibal was wearing, 
 and tried to drag it from him by main force. Hannibal, 
 however, was too strong for him, and repelled him with a 
 blow so violent that he stumbled and fell to the ground. 
 In a moment, doubtless at a preconcerted signal, we were 
 assailed by a shower of stones and lances. I was quite pre-
 
 1/2 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 pared ; my measures of defence had all been arranged, and 
 at a sign from me, the Cabiros set her catapults at work, 
 and discharged a volley of missiles over our head into the 
 throng of the enemy, whilst Hannibal and Chamai, each 
 with his own troop, charged right and left. 
 
 But Gisgo was beforehand with any of us. Before the 
 chief could regain his feet, the pilot rushed at him, and with 
 the help of Himilco (who drew his sword, and hurried to 
 his assistance) he had split open the chief's skull, and laid 
 two of his staff-bearers dead, or as good as dead, by his 
 side. 
 
 My fighting-men meanwhile succeeded in driving back 
 the foremost Siculians half a stadium from the water's edge, 
 and as soon as our boats were loaded and ready to start, I 
 sounded the signal for retreat. Finding themselves no 
 longer pursued, the Siculians faced about and followed us 
 back at a safe distance, trying to harass us by stones and 
 javelins; but I made my people embark a few at a time, 
 and when there were only about fifteen of us remaining, 
 just enough for one boat's load, I was congratulating myself 
 that we had been so little molested ; but at that very 
 instant a large party of the Siculians made a dash towards 
 us, and if it had not been that the Cabiros skilfully protected 
 us by her engines, we must inevitably have fallen into their 
 hands. As it was, we all managed to embark ; and 
 although they pursued us with hideous yells as far as they 
 could into the water, we got right away, the Cabiros 
 slipping her moorings and following us without sustaining 
 any injury. 
 
 One of our Phocians had been killed, and another seriously 
 wounded, and eight of our own people had received slight 
 cuts and contusions ; but we had obtained fifteen hundred 
 shekels of coral, mother-of-pearl, and sulphur, so that on 
 the whole I considered we had come out of the affair 
 without much to regret. I rejoiced that my prudence and 
 resolution had spared us from falling into any ambush of 
 the treacherous foe.
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 173 
 
 Gisgo was in high spirits ; he considered himself amply 
 avenged, and came on board the Ashtoreth t3 show me his 
 trophies ; he brought two rods that he had captured, to each 
 of which he had affixed a pair of bleeding ears, freshly cut 
 from the skulls of his fallen adversaries. With regard to 
 his own ears, nothing could convince him but that he had 
 found them amongst the string of others, and the pair he 
 selected was ever afterwards preserved most carefully in his 
 leather purse. 
 
 During the night we passed through the group of the 
 ^Egades, which lie off Lilyboeum, and where the Phoenicians 
 have established a naval station. After hailing one of the 
 guard-ships, we directed our course south-west, hoping that 
 we might, with a calm sea and a light wind from the east, 
 succeed by the following afternoon in reaching the fine 
 bay which encloses, on the one hand, the roadstead of 
 Utica, the metropolis and arsenal of our Libyan settle- 
 ments, and on the other the harbour of Bozrah, its newly- 
 built rival. 
 
 Eager to catch sight of the first important place at which 
 they were to rest awhile, my people next morning were up 
 betimes. Hannibal was especially interested ; he had long 
 wished to visit both Utica and Carthage, and asked me if 
 it were true that Carthage had formerly been called Bozrah, 
 and had not been known as Carthage for more than twenty 
 years. 
 
 I replied that his impression about Carthage was quite 
 correct; it had originally been Bozrah, which means " the 
 citadel ;" but Utica had been in existence for more than a 
 century. He would find it a noble city ; its Coth6n, or 
 war-port, contained sixty dry-docks, above each of which 
 was erected a magazine, and the whole place landwards 
 was rendered impregnable by a triple wall. 
 
 Before disembarking, I satisfied myself that my prisoners 
 were all in good condition, and after they had been well 
 washed I ordered them to be supplied with double rations. 
 The Rasemue generally are very superstitious, and my
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 captives were no exceptions. My proceedings with regard 
 to them caused them much misgiving ; they imagined that 
 the extra food and cleansing implied that their last hour 
 was come, and that they were about to be offered in 
 sacrifice to the gods. Every moment in the dim light of 
 the hold they fancied they could hear the winged Turms 
 coming to conduct their souls to the shades, and they even 
 went so far as to persuade themselves and each other that 
 they could make out the shrieks of the tortured who were 
 being scourged below. I was glad to relieve them of their 
 fears. When I made them aware that the object of my 
 preparations was to make them ready for sale in a fine 
 city, where they would be employed according to their 
 abilities ; would be well fed and well clothed ; and where, if 
 they conducted themselves meritoriously, they would have 
 a claim to the spoils of war, they were full of glee, and fell 
 to their double portions of meat with a double relish. One 
 only regret they acknowledged ; they mourned their 
 removal from their Hestia, or hearth-goddess, but they 
 soon consoled themselves with the reflection that as the 
 gods are everywhere, they might fairly hope to find a 
 Hestia in their new country. 
 
 The Phocians had carried off the body of their comrade 
 who had been killed by the Siculians and had conveyed it 
 on board. I promised to try and procure them a piece of 
 ground where they might bury him according to their own 
 rites ; and so gratified were they by my endeavour to meet 
 their wishes in this respect, that they declared they would 
 encounter any perils by sea now that they found it did not 
 deprive them of their rites of sepulture. Another circum- 
 stance which had some little effect of reconciling them to 
 their position was that Himilco, although he had great 
 difficulty in bringing them to believe what he said, ex- 
 plained to them that the Siculians, with whom they had 
 just had an engagement, were really the Lcestrigonians 
 that they had so much dreaded.
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 CHAPTER XI. 
 
 OUR HEADS ARE IN PERIL. 
 
 WHEN I returned to the deck, the promontory of Utica 
 (or, as the point on the Libyan coast facing Sicily is some- 
 times called, the Cape of Hermes) was clearly visible. 
 
 In honour of our arrival at so important a city we all 
 took extra pains in dressing ourselves. I put on my best 
 kitonet and my embroidered cap ; and Hannibal donned 
 his plumed helmet, and wore a handsome tunic under his 
 cuirass. 
 
 We could ere long see not only the cape but the city 
 of Utica itself; and further south, at the other extremity of 
 the bay, a confused white mass, which unquestionably was 
 Carthage. Leaving this on our left, we steered due west 
 right into the bay, and having rounded the headland, 
 coasted for some miles along the low-lying shore that 
 continued all the way to the city, which seemed to rise 
 in gentle gradations from the deep blue waters to where the 
 " bozrah " formed its lofty crown. The red and brown 
 domes of the buildings and the battlements of the citadel 
 stood out in sharp relief against the azure sky ; and the 
 masses of verdure all around the city formed a fitting back- 
 ground for the dazzling whiteness of its lime-washed walls. 
 
 Having passed a number of imposing edifices on the 
 island, which is separated from the mainland by a canal 
 that forms the trade-harbour, we entered the war-port, in 
 the centre of which, high above the crowds of shipping, 
 rose the massive walls and towers of the Admiralty p^Jace.
 
 176 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 I found that there was room for my ships on the left-hand 
 quay, where I had them laid to, and then in company with 
 Hanno I got into a small boat and rowed across the harbour 
 to a jetty, wide and paved, that led from the Admiralty to 
 the mainland, and which, being in connection with all the 
 surrounding quays, is always thronged with passengers 
 going to and fro upon business at the Admiralty offices. 
 
 From the jetty we passed through a high vaulted gate- 
 way, flanked on either side by a tower, into an outer court- 
 yard. Here the sentinels asked our names, and sent us on 
 through another lofty gateway, across a hall hung with red 
 and yellow tapestry into a long dark lobby, at the end of 
 which was a half-open gate leading into the large inner 
 court. We crossed this court, and entered another lobby 
 exactly like the one we had just quitted ; and leaving this, 
 we found ourselves in a low square room with a vaulted 
 roof, whence we passed, by a side door, into a gloomy room 
 with a circular dome. We had, however, still farther to go : 
 after ascending three long and very narrow staircases \ve 
 entered an apartment with a lofty dome on the second floor 
 of one of the towers ; but even yet we had not reached our 
 destination. We had now to descend a few steps and pass 
 along a corridor, from which we ascended another staircase, 
 and finally reached a spacious apartment, circular in shape, 
 well lighted by loop-holes in the wall, and having a hand- 
 some vaulted ceiling. 
 
 I could observe that we had thus made our way to the 
 left-hand tower of the four which are ranged along the 
 north front of the palace, one at each end of the building, 
 and one at each side of the gateway, this one commanding 
 a view of the Admiral's private basin, beyond which I 
 could see my own vessels lying in the Cothon. 
 
 The apartment was hung with strips of tapestry alter- 
 nately red and yellow, and the paved floor was covered 
 with mats. The guards who had ushered us all the way 
 from the outer courtyard remained standing at the door, and 
 having given us permission to enter, Hanno and I advanced
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 177 
 
 alone towards a window, where, seated in a chair of painted 
 wood, I recognised old Adonibal, the naval suffes, or suffect. 
 
 Nearly every one is aware that our Libyan cities are 
 subject to a government in many respects similar to that 
 which existed among the children of Israel before the time 
 of King Saul ; that is, they are ruled by suffects, whose 
 office corresponds very nearly to that of the "judges." A 
 council, all eligible as suffects, are nominated by the people, 
 and these from their own number elect two (whom, how- 
 ever, the people reserve to themselves the power of dis- 
 placing), one to be " naval suffect," entrusted with the control 
 of all maritime matters ; the other, popularly called the 
 " sacred suffect," to have the superintendence of all inland 
 affairs. But it is not so generally known that for the last 
 ten years the Libyan suffects have been appointed without 
 any sanction either of the Kings of Tyre or Sidon. The 
 representatives are chosen independently, subject only to 
 the condition that no Tyrians are admitted to the office at 
 Utica, which is essentially a Sidonian colony, and no Sido- 
 nian can be elected for Carthage, where it is the Tyrians 
 who have been rearing the new city around the ancient 
 Bozrah. 
 
 At the time of our visit, Adonibal, the son of Adoniram, 
 had been for eight years the naval suffect, and it was uni- 
 versally acknowledged that he wielded his magistracy with 
 a resolute and steady hand. After many years of adven- 
 ture both by sea ?nd land, he had settled at Utica, where 
 he had carried on his affairs, both in trade and warfare, 
 with great success. He had led the forces of the city 
 against the Libyans, had made incursions upon the coast of 
 Tarshish, and in a great measure had contributed to the 
 establishment of Massalia, the city of the Salians, at the 
 mouth of the Rhone, in the land of the Celts. In return 
 for his services, and as a proof of the confidence they had 
 in his judgment and experience, the people of Utica elected 
 him their naval suffect, and the way in which the city 
 and its dependencies prospered under his rule convinced 
 
 N
 
 178 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 them that their choice could not have fallen on a bettei 
 man. 
 
 In the course of my many voyages I had at various 
 times been brought into contact with Adonibal, and although 
 I was quite aware that he had been a daring freebooter, I 
 knew him to be a brave sailor and a clever merchant. It 
 was therefore with much pleasure that I advanced towards 
 the chair in which the hale old man was seated. Although 
 he had a flowing white beard, his upper lip was shorn per- 
 fectly smooth in the old Chittim fashion ; he wore his 
 mariner's cap pressed closely over his ears ; and his nose, 
 slightly redder than of yore, betokened that he had more 
 than a slight acquaintance with the luscious produce of 
 Helbon and Berytos. 
 
 I bowed, and congratulated him that I found him looking 
 so well. 
 
 "Ah !" he said, speaking in a sort of facetious way that 
 had become habitual to him, " here's Mago, the Sidonian, 
 the r cutest captain that ever took cedar ship to Tarshish ! 
 And who is this young man with you ?" 
 
 I introduced Hanno as my scribe and fellow-townsman. 
 
 "And the brave fellows that were with you when you 
 came here before ; how are they all ?" continued Adonibal, 
 stroking his beard ; " Himilco with his one eye, and Gisgo 
 who had lost his cars, how are they ? And what has become 
 of the notable Gadita ? " 
 
 Flattered by the accuracy with which he retained me and 
 my people in his memory, I replied that they were all well 
 and with me, and that he had only to turn his head to the 
 window and he would see all my ships in the harbour, 
 amongst them the Gadita, whose name had been altered to 
 the Cabiros. 
 
 The old man laughed significantly. 
 
 " I shall see your ships quite soon enough for your liking," 
 he said ; " I shall not lose much time in making my official 
 inspection of them. The Melkarth left here only three 
 days since."
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 179 
 
 "The Melkarthl" I exclaimed in astonishment. 
 
 Seeing my amazement he began to jeer me. " An old 
 stager like you ! you surprise me very much by trusting 
 yourself here so soon after Bodmilcar." 
 
 " Bodmilcar !" I repeated ; "surely you must be unaware 
 of how Bodmilcar has acted ! " 
 
 " I am only aware of this," he said, his eye twinkling as 
 he spoke ; " you and your scribe must lay down your swords 
 and be trotted off to the dungeons, and the rest of your 
 people will very soon be trotted after you." 
 
 I stood dumb with bewilderment ; but Ilanno, with whom 
 neither patience nor reticence were prevailing virtues, laid 
 his hand upon the hilt of his sword, and said : 
 
 "This sword was given me by Melek David, and 
 whoever demands its surrender shall first know the feel of 
 its point in his bosom." 
 
 White with passion, the old man started to his feet. In 
 an instant a couple of guards had laid their hands upon the 
 shoulders of my impetuous scribe. 
 
 " Let him alone !" he bawled ; " I can defend myself."
 
 180 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 Then suddenly controlling his fury, he said very slowly, 
 addressing us both : 
 
 "Lay down your swords at once, or by Baal-Peor! 
 within a quarter of an hour your heads shall be swinging 
 from the highest battlement of this very tower!" 
 
 I knew that Adonibal was not a man to swear lightly by 
 his god, and I knew, moreover, that a few heads more or 
 less were a matter of no moment to him. Seeing, there- 
 fore, that he was somewhat calmer, I summoned all my 
 courage, and said as firmly as I could : 
 
 " My lord suffect, you are bound to show justice to all 
 mariners alike ; you would not, I am sure, commit a Sido- 
 nian captain to the dungeons without giving him a fair 
 hearing." 
 
 He had recovered his equanimity sufficiently to resume 
 his bantering tone : 
 
 " They have gone for the handcuffs : they will soon be 
 back ; but perhaps you will have time to tell me what you 
 want, while they are fetching them. And, really, I am 
 curious to know what defence you can possibly make for 
 your treachery to Bodmilcar, under whose command, as I 
 see by his letters, you were placed by King Hiram." 
 
 " I have but one question to ask," I said ; " and if the 
 answer convicts me, why then you may behead me, hang 
 me, or crucify me, as you like. Have you any documents 
 bearing Bodmilcar's seal and signature ?" 
 
 From a bag that was hanging beside him he drew out a 
 papyrus-roll, which he opened and laid before me. 
 
 "There," he said, "is Bodmilcar's deposition, written, 
 signed, and sealed by himself. That convicts you plainly 
 enough, I should think." 
 
 "Just the contrary," I replied calmly; "Bodmilcar is 
 caught in his own trap. Here is our charter-party." And 
 taking the deed from the hands of Hanno, I showed it to 
 the suffect. 
 
 " Yes," I continued, " that is the indenture which sets 
 forth the contract, and you need only glance at it to see
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. l8l 
 
 that Bodmilcar covenanted to sail under my command. 
 Why, the very seal with which he ratified his deposition 
 was bought with the few coins I gave him to rescue him 
 from starvation at Tyre ! Let me ask you now, who is the 
 traitor?" 
 
 Adonibal perused the document carefully, and seemed 
 much distressed. In a few moments he rose and said : 
 
 " Mago, my friend, I have manifestly misjudged you. 
 Nothing could be more completely demonstrated than 
 Bodmilcar's faithlessness. Forgive me my too hasty con- 
 clusion. I ought to have known that neither you nor your 
 brave companions could ever have been guilty of such 
 treachery." 
 
 He went on to say that he should be interested in hear- 
 ing our whole story, and that he should be only too ready 
 to do us justice. As I detailed the particulars of Bod- 
 milcar's conduct, he could hardly restrain his indignation. 
 
 " By Baal-Peor of Bcrytos !" he said, " if ever Bodmilcar 
 and his crew come within reach of my clutches, they shall 
 all be crucified within an hour." 
 
 He then addressed himself to Hanno : 
 
 " You, sir scribe, seem to have a spirit of your own, not- 
 withstanding your tender years." 
 
 " My lord," replied Hanno, " I should not have been so 
 presumptuous if Mago had not already told me how re- 
 nowned you were for discrimination and for justice. I felt 
 that there could be nothing to fear from one who knows so 
 well how to unmask the truth." 
 
 " You have a sharp fellow here, Mago," said Adonibal to 
 me, smiling as he spoke; "but, come now, we must all 
 drink wine together. I have much to tell about Bodmilcar, 
 and presently I shall hope to see as many of your people 
 as you please, seated at my own table." 
 
 Thanking him for his hospitable offer, I made Hanno 
 write down a list of my officers, which was delivered to one 
 of the guards. Wine, meanwhile, had been brought in, and 
 Adonibal himself handed us each an ivory goblet with a
 
 1 82 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 rim of Tarshish silver. While we were drinking, he ob- 
 served that he took it for granted we had not come to 
 Utica empty-handed. 
 
 " I am quite aware," he said, " that the bulk of your 
 cargo is for King David ; but I reckon that you are rather 
 too old a sailor not to be doing a little business on your 
 own account. What have you got to dispose of?" 
 
 I told him that I had brought some sulphur and lava- 
 stones, articles which always used to command a ready 
 sale in Libya. 
 
 " And so they do now," he said ; " you will be sure to 
 get a good price for them. But what else have you ?" 
 
 " Well, my lord suffect, you know I have been in three 
 little skirmishes off Ionia and Sicily. You must naturally 
 suppose I have managed to pick up a trifle or two." 
 
 "Ha ! ha!" he laughed ; "you are a genuine Sidonian. 
 Out with it, man ! how many have you got ?" 
 
 " Sixty-one," I answered ; "and fine sturdy fellows they 
 are as fine a lot as one could wish to see. Perhaps the 
 council might like to purchase them. I would take any 
 reasonable sum, and should prefer selling them in bulk 
 rather than in separate parcels. I hope the republic may 
 be induced to take them off my hands." 
 
 " Good good, my friend," said Adonibal ; " it is worth 
 consideration. We have had some rough encounters lately 
 with the Libyans, and must replace our soldiers. Your 
 Hellenes may be a good investment. Under Phoenician 
 generals they often do very well in the forts, and if they 
 get killed, the loss is not very serious. I think I can 
 arrange to take the lot. I can put them with a batch of 
 Egyptians that I bought of Bodmilcar, and send them off 
 in divisions ; some into garrison, some to the works, and 
 some to fell trees. The Egyptians are good hands at 
 building." 
 
 "Do I understand you aright?" I asked, "have you pur- 
 chased Egyptians r rom Bodmilcar ? There seems no limit 
 to the scoundrel's treachery. Those Egyptians were lent
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 183 
 
 him by Pharaoh to go in pursuit of us. Some of their ships 
 were wrecked off Crete." 
 
 " He sold them to me, ships and all," said the Admiralty- 
 lord. " They made a pretty good howling at first ; but a 
 day or two in the dungeons, and a little low diet, corrected 
 all that, and to-day they are as quiet as lambs." 
 
 I could not help smiling as I realised the adroitness witn 
 which Bodmilcar had taken advantage of his allies. 
 
 " You may laugh ;" said Adonibal, half-amused and half- 
 vexed ; "the rascal has bamboozled the Egyptians, and 
 outwitted you, crafty old salt as you are. Perhaps it may 
 entertain you to learn that he has gone off with two of my 
 galleys and three hundred Phoenicians." 
 
 " Good Ashtoreth ! " I exclaimed ; " how has he managed 
 that ? " 
 
 He emptied his wine-cup and went on : 
 
 " Three hundred criminals sentenced to transportation in 
 the mother-country had been landed here. My prisons 
 were already full, and I resolved at the first opportunity to 
 forward them to the mines at Tarshish. Bodmilcar arrived ; 
 I gave him the commission. I lent him two galleys, and 
 furnished him with written credentials from myself But 
 what did the knave do ? the curse of Khousor Phtah be on 
 him ! he saw that they were a sturdy set, gave them their 
 freedom, put arms in their hands, and enlisted them into 
 his service. And now they are ready to attack you with 
 my galleys as soon as you will give them a chance." 
 
 " No doubt," I said ; " but never mind ; I daresay we 
 shall be a match for them." 
 
 We were interrupted by the arrival of Hannibal and the 
 rest of my officers, who had received the suffect's invitation. 
 
 "Welcome, friends! welcome to you all!" he said; "I 
 ought to recognise some old laces. Aye, there's Hamilcar ! 
 I remember him when he was a cabin-boy on board my ship. 
 And here, too, here's Himilco, learned in the stars ! and if 
 my memory fails me not, no bad judge of a good cup of 
 Helbon. It is so still, Himilco?"
 
 184 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 My pilot professed that he retained his taste both for the 
 astronomy and the wine. 
 
 "And you, Gisgo, did you ever find your ears again ?" 
 
 " Aye, that I did," was the prompt reply ; "and here they 
 are, safe in my purse. And not only my own, but those of 
 the brute who cut them off" And to the amusement of the 
 suffect, Gisgo gave a graphic description of his splitting 
 the skull of the Siculian chief. 
 
 Adonibal had a kind word for all my men, and promised 
 that he would visit them on board their ships, at which he 
 said that he had been looking from his window, and had 
 already formed a favourable opinion of them. 
 
 Bread and meat were now laid before us ; and while we 
 were sitting at table I asked Adonibal whether amongst 
 the Egyptians that Bodmilcar had sold him there were not 
 some Hellenes. 
 
 " Certainly," he said ; " a dozen Phocians." 
 
 " A woman and a boy ? " 
 
 " Yes ; both a woman and a boy ; but as I had no use 
 for them, Bodmilcar kept them ; he had an eunuch to take 
 care of them." 
 
 " You saw the eunuch, then ? " 
 
 " Yes ; and a great lubberly Syrian he was." 
 
 " What did he talk about ? " 
 
 " Why, he seemed to say nothing except to ask how he 
 could get from here to Tyre." 
 
 " Is he going back ? " 
 
 " No ; Bodmilcar has him, and I do not think he will let 
 him go in a hurry." 
 
 When we had finished our repast, some slaves appeared 
 with torches to attend us to our ships. We did not quit 
 the palace the same way as we had entered, but after 
 descending the staircase to the next lower floor of the 
 tower, we passed through a door into the sloping gallery of 
 what is called a " curtain ; " into this the quarters of the 
 soldiers opened, the chambers themselves being built in the 
 thickness of the outer wall ; we then passed into a vaulted
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. I0 3 
 
 hall, whence a corridor brought us to the gate of the palace 
 adjacent to the Admiralty-basin. A private barque was 
 waiting to convey us to our ships, where we found the 
 sailors, who by my orders had not been allowed to leave 
 their posts, making all manner of plans for the next day. 
 
 The trumpets on the various vessels were soon heard 
 summoning the crews for the night, and the countless lights 
 in every direction testified to the crowded condition of the 
 harbour ; over these, high and bright, were the lights in the 
 city, while in the east the flickerings from the loopholes of 
 the Admiralty made the building look more sombre and 
 massive than ever. 
 
 In the morning I had everything put in readiness for the 
 admiral's promised visit, and before noon I saw his twelve- 
 oar issuing from his- private quay. As soon as he had 
 mounted the deck of the Ashtoreth, he turned and glanced 
 impatiently towards the top of the palace. 
 
 " Idiots ! " he muttered ; " how long they are ! when I 
 was young an order was executed in half the time." 
 
 He had not finished speaking before several men appeared 
 at the summit of one of the towers and fastened a score of 
 heads along the battlementcd parapet. 
 
 " Right at last ! " he said ; " it ought to have been done a 
 quarter of an hour ago ! " 
 
 Finding his equanimity restored, I proceeded to show 
 him my cargo, and had the captives brought forward for him 
 to see. Without any haggling (for Adonibal was really a 
 generous and large-hearted man) he agreed to pay a liberal 
 price, alike for the sulphur, the lava, and the slaves. 
 
 He next made a complete inspection of my ships, and 
 expressed himself much pleased with their construction 
 and arrangements. Eager to make amends for his rough 
 reception of us on our arrival, he promised me that I 
 should be allowed to put my ships into a dry dock, free 
 of dues, saying that this would give me an opportunity of 
 examining the copper sheathing. He then gave orders for 
 his purchases to be embarked, and for the slaves to be
 
 1 86 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 properly guarded, adding that he himself was going across 
 the bay to settle some disputes that had arisen amongst 
 the Tyrians. He summoned his officers to accompany him 
 with their ropes and scourges, and said to me : 
 
 " Farewell, for the present, Mago ; I see that your men 
 are all longing to get ashore. I was young myself once, 
 and I have not forgotten what it is to have some shekels 
 burning holes in your pocket" 
 
 He made a sign to his attendants, and preceded by his 
 scribe and officers, re-entered his boat and departed. 
 
 Having thus disposed so satisfactorily of my property, 
 I no longer delayed giving the men the permission that 
 they were anticipating, to go on shore ; and with the ex- 
 ception of the few who were of necessity told off to take 
 charge of the ships, they lost no time in availing themselves 
 of their liberty. 
 
 The Phocians had wrapped their dead comrade in a 
 winding-sheet, and proposed to carry him to a cemetery 
 of which one of my sailors had told them. Before they 
 started, I presented Aminocles, as a token of my appre- 
 ciation of his services, with a couple of silver shekels. He 
 stared at them, quite bewildered. 
 
 " Ah ! " said I, " I forgot that you barbarians do not 
 know anything about coined money ; but never mind the 
 sailors who are going with you will show you what to do 
 with them. Trust them for that" 
 
 Accompanied by Hanno, Hannibal, Chamai, and Bichri, 
 and taking the two women. I landed on the principal 
 quay, Himilco and his friend Gisgo, with Hasdrubal and 
 Hamilcar, preferring to go in another direction. We all 
 had well-filled purses, and those who had never before seen 
 the famous city, were impatient to inspect its wonders. 
 
 Our first resort was to the temple of Ashtoreth. This 
 was at the basement of one of the forts that protect the 
 entrance to the harbour, and was at a very little distance 
 from the place where our ships were lying ; and as neither 
 Bichri, Chamai, nor Abigail wished to make any offering
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. iBj 
 
 to the goddess, they waited for us upon the quay, enter- 
 tained, they said, in watching the numerous vessels going 
 in and out both of the Cothdn and of the trade-harbour, 
 of which the outer basin was visible from this point. 
 
 Being built in a fort, the construction of the temple is 
 necessarily very simple. Eight unornamented pillars sup- 
 port the roof, and, like the walls, are stuccoed with yellow 
 ochre ; at the further end was a recumbent figure of the 
 goddess, with a golden crescent on her head. From the 
 tariff of sacrifices which was posted up at the entrance I 
 made my own selection, paying the sum of five shekels ; 
 and having made my offering, I obtained permission from 
 the governor of the fort, who was an old acquaintance, to 
 take my party on to the terrace upon the roof, whence there 
 was a fine view of the city. Chamai, Bichri, and Abigail 
 joined us there. Looking towards the sea, we had on our 
 left the Cothon and the Admiralty palace, and on our right 
 the island which had been the original nucleus of the 
 colony, and the trade-harbour which separated it from the 
 mainland. Landwards rose the white buildings and terraces 
 of the city, threaded by dark winding streets, and studded 
 with domes painted red and brown, and culminating to- 
 wards the south in the massive citadel, the residence of the 
 sacred suffect. A double line of fortifications encircled the 
 whole city both by land and sea, and outside this a moat 
 and palisade, that followed the undulations of the soil, 
 formed a third advanced line of defence ; beyond this 
 again stretched the country with its rich foliage and 
 yellow crops, amongst which lay imbedded the snow- 
 white terraces and brown domes of the country-houses, 
 farms, and cisterns.* 
 
 The Cothon at Utica, although not to be compared 
 with the harbours at Tyre and Sidon, is still the finest 
 of any that have yet been constructed in our western 
 settlements, and is well adapted to the climate. It is 480 
 
 1 The description of Utica is from M. Daux's admirable book, Fouille? 
 executes dans le Zeuyis et Byzaciuin.'
 
 1 88 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 cubits, or nearly three-quarters of a stadium square, and is 
 capable of holding as many as four hundred ships of war ; 
 a small dry basin is annexed to it, having a passage 
 flanked by two lofty columns, and leading into the great 
 harbour of the arsenal. On three sides it is bounded by 
 paved quays, twelve cubits wide, which are very little 
 above the level of the water ; the fourth side being formed 
 by a strong mole. Behind the quays rises a wall of rubble- 
 work faced with Maltese stone, in which at regular in- 
 tervals are pierced the arched openings that form the 
 entrances to the dry docks. The dry docks, as I had 
 told Hannibal, are sixty in number ; they are sixteen 
 cubits high, but as they are only forty cubits long by 
 twelve broad, they will only hold small vessels like the 
 Cabiros, larger ships being sent for repairs into the basin 
 in front of the arsenal. The docks are covered in by a 
 flat pavement which forms a second quay as wide as the 
 lower one ; upon this, over the docks, and partitioned 
 symmetrically with them, stands the range of magazines 
 and storehouses, fourteen cubits high, of which the flat 
 roofs form a third terrace, which is on a level with the 
 city. The whole of these fine edifices are built upon 
 cisterns. 
 
 On the innermost side of the harbour the lowest quay 
 is broken in the middle by the jetty which maintains 
 the same level, and connects the quay with that of the 
 Admiralty ; the shore end of it breaks the line of maga- 
 zines, and is a wide open space, generally thronged with 
 busy crowds ; it terminates in a flight of paved steps that 
 leads up to the second and third terraces, from the upper- 
 most of which, through openings in the embattled wall that 
 encloses the whole, there is direct access into the city. 
 
 The entrance to the Cothon is defended on one side by 
 the fortress containing the temple, and on the other by two 
 more forts connected by a curtain, and these form the 
 boundary of the mole. The channel, at the mouth, is 
 considerably encroached upon by the towing-quays, which
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 189 
 
 are so broad as only to allow a passage thirty cubits in 
 width. The outer basin of the arsenal is defended in a 
 similar manner by two forts, one of them being at the 
 other extremity of the mole ; and other forts have been 
 erected, one at each end of the interior side of the Coth6n, 
 the lower storey of one of them being appropriated as 
 another temple. A solid embattled wall starts from the 
 mole, and after running round the arsenal and its outer 
 basin, joins the city wall at the left-hand fort, while a 
 corresponding wall, pierced by a lofty square opening, 
 flanked by loop-holes, separates the basin from the arsenal. 
 As a connoisseur in such matters, Hannibal pronounced the 
 whole to be wonderfully well devised, and expressed his 
 conviction that, protected as they were by their forts and 
 by the wall that was connected with the city wall, the 
 Cothdn and arsenal were capable of resisting the most 
 determined assault. 
 
 The mole itself is a remarkably fine structure. It is 
 built upon piles, and extends the whole length from the 
 arsenal-basin to the entrance ; it is no less than twenty- 
 four cubits thick, and its massive substance of rubble is 
 pierced by slanting apertures or air-holes, the effect of 
 which is to rebut the waves and very materially to 
 diminish their shock. The noble work does great credit 
 to Adonibal, under whose supervision it was constructed. 
 
 The Admiralty palace in the centre is a handsome edifice, 
 consisting of a main building flanked by six circular towers 
 and four bastions. It is a large irregular parallelogram, 
 with one of the round towers at each exterior angle, and 
 having an open court in the middle, upon which open 
 all the apartments of the palace, and around which runs a 
 gallery on pillars, supporting two tiers of arches. The two 
 other round towers are on the sides of the gateway on the 
 north front of the palace, which opens on the naval suffect's 
 private landing-place ; there is likewise a gateway on the 
 south front, which is protected by walls pierced with loop- 
 holes and built into the sides of the palace. It was through
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 this gateway that I had myself passed into the outer court- 
 yard, and from which I had been conducted up one of the 
 two interior towers, of which only the tops were visible 
 from the spot where we were now standing. 
 
 After leaving the temple, I conducted my party along the 
 quay to the open space at the end of the jetty, and then 
 mounting the steps, we passed through the arches in the en- 
 ceinte of the Cothdn, thus making our way towards the 
 city. We passed the baths, and taking a turning to the 
 left, wound our path upwards in the direction of the Bozrah ; 
 there, at the base of the plateau on which the citadel is 
 built, is a large square, the common resort of the sailors ; 
 under the shadow of the trees was a number of stalls for the 
 sale of food and drink ; there was likewise music as well as 
 amusements of various kinds ; and at the farther end was a 
 market for the disposal of wild animals, ivory, slaves, and 
 whatever else was the produce of the interior of Libya. 
 For many hours of the day the place is thronged by people 
 of every rank ; and musicians, acrobats, men with monkeys, 
 dancers of both sexes, hawkers of caps and sandals, singers, 
 vendors of cakes, fruit, and cooling drinks, all press upon 
 the sailor fresh from his voyage, and endeavour to attract 
 for themselves a share of the shekels which he is sure to 
 have brought on shore. It had not been my intention 
 to come to this spot, but early association made me almost 
 involuntarily turn my steps in this direction. 
 
 Everybody seemed bent on pleasure, and it was not long 
 before I saw several groups of my own men laughing, 
 shouting, singing and pushing along in true sailor fashion, 
 jostling their neighbours, and buying wine and other drinks 
 from every hawker that they met. 
 
 Hannibal was breaking out into loud admiration of the 
 life and gaiety of the place, when Hanno drew his attention 
 to a row of heads that, by order of the sacred suffect, had 
 been ranged along the battlements above the gate of the 
 Bozrah. Hannibal paid but little heed to the ghastly sight, 
 scarcely turning his eyes to look, but proceeded to rhapsodise
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 191 
 
 over the difficulty of scaling such fortifications, and to expa- 
 tiate upon the impregnability of the position, until he was 
 recalled by an exclamation of surprise made simultaneously 
 by Bichri, Chamai, and the two women. A huge elephant 
 was being led past by some Libyans. 
 
 " What monster have we here ?" cried Hannibal, equally 
 astonished. 
 
 " Heavens ! " exclaimed Bichri; " how many arrows would 
 it take to slay such a brute as that ? " 
 
 " It must be the Behemoth, of which we have heard so 
 much," said Chamai, gazing in amazement. 
 
 I explained to them that the animal which had so much 
 excited their wonder was an elephant ; that the great teeth 
 projecting from its jaws were ivory ; and that the rope-like 
 appendage to its head, which it wielded so adroitly, was its 
 trunk. 
 
 " What a line a herd of those creatures would make on 
 a field of battle ! " said Hannibal, his thoughts turning as 
 usual to military tactics ; " I cannot imagine how any in- 
 fantry could hold their ground against them ; the only 
 thing would be to open their ranks, let the brutes pass 
 through, and then attack them from behind." 
 
 ' You are not the first soldier, Hannibal," I answered, 
 " who has had the same idea. Some of these animals have 
 already been tamed, and trained to carry on their backs a 
 tower full of archers. They are brought from the banks of 
 the Upper Bagradas, and from the forests in the borders 
 of Tritonis, a lake in the interior of Libya." 
 
 Besides the elephant, we saw a hippopotamus, or river 
 horse, and a couple of rhinoceroses, with their big horns. 
 The whole of these were a portion of the tribute (consisting 
 of ivory, tame elephants, and other animals), which had 
 been imposed by the sacred suffect upon the subjugated 
 Libyans on the Bagradas, and which happened now to be 
 on its transit to the Bozrah. 
 
 A well-known voice, harsh and sonorous, at this instant 
 caught my ear, and turning round, I saw Jonah towering
 
 192 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 head and shoulders above the crowd, and encircled by 
 a group of my sailors, all in roars of laughter. 
 
 " Now, at last," the trumpeter was saying, " I am where I 
 wanted to be ! Now I am in the land of strange beasts ! 
 This is the first animal I ever saw in my life with two tails, 
 one behind and one at the end of his nose ! I wonder how 
 many onions it would take to season the carcase of such 
 a brute as that ! I wonder, too, how long it would take a 
 fellow to eat it ! " 
 
 Leaving the sailors to their diversions, we bent our steps 
 towards the market, where red-skinned Libyans, with 
 aquiline noses and long plaited hair, were being offered for 
 sale. Entering a tent where provisions of all kinds were 
 sold, I ordered some refreshments for myself and my party, 
 and a Syrian slave, who was serving instead of the owner, 
 brought us two guinea-fowls, some stewed beans and onions, 
 some olives, bread, and very fair Helbon wine. Hannibal 
 seated himself near the stove to feast his eyes upon the 
 wheat-and-honey cakes that were being fried upon the top. 
 
 We had not long been in the refreshment-booth before 
 Himilco and Gisgo made their appearance ; they were 
 followed by a dancing-girl and three other girls, one 
 playing the flute, and two the tambourine. The dancing- 
 girl was one of the western Moors ; she had a copper- 
 coloured complexion, and her hair twisted in coils like so 
 many serpents ; her nails and eyebrows were dyed red ; 
 her face was tattooed with three parallel stripes in regular 
 Mahouarin fashion ; and on her wrists and ankles she wore 
 rattles that clanked again as she moved. The flute-player 
 was a native of Barbary, with a fair skin and light hair, 
 parted over a high, narrow forehead. Both girls were 
 dressed alike in gay skirts, open as high as the knees ; in 
 their hair they had bodkins, of which the heads were 
 grotesque figures ; their necklaces and girdles were of glass 
 and enamel ; and their earrings were great crosses. The 
 tambourine-players were inconceivably ugly ; one of them 
 appeared to belong to the Rasennae, and the other had her
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 193 
 
 face so daubed with red and blue paint, and made such 
 hideous grimaces, that it was idle to speculate upon her 
 nationality. 
 
 Himilco was in high spirits ; he came up to me and said 
 that he and Gisgo had been spending the morning in 
 going from tavern to tavern, and that they had engaged 
 the orchestra, which we now saw, to accompany them for 
 the day wherever they went, and to entertain them while 
 they regaled themselves. 
 
 " Poor girls ! " said Abigail ; " arc they obliged to perform 
 for all the sailors alike ? " 
 
 " No, indeed," I replied ; " they take good care never to 
 perform unless they are well paid, and I suppose there is 
 not much hardship in that." 
 
 The Libyan had now commenced her performance. We 
 stayed for a few minutes watching her contortions, and then 
 left the tent. 
 
 The first person we met in the square was Hamilcar, 
 carrying a monkey. 
 
 " Hamilcar with a monkey!" cried Hannibal. "Where 
 did you get it ? The very thing I want myself. I want to 
 teach it to fight." 
 
 " I should like to have a monkey," said Hanno ; " I would 
 teach it to dance." 
 
 Bichri said he was sure he could make it learn the use of 
 the bow ; and Chamai declared it would be capital fun 
 to teach it to make grimaces, and to mimic the mighty 
 Jonah. 
 
 On all hands it was agreed that we must have a monkey 
 on board the Asktoreth. 
 
 Hamilcar told them that they would have to go do\vn 
 towards the trade-harbour, through the square where the 
 rich merchant Hamoun resides ; and at the corner of the 
 street which leads to the temple of Moloch they would 
 find a dealer who had a whole cargo to dispose of. 
 
 " You will have a choice there," he said ; " there are apes 
 of all sorts, all sizes, and all colours. You may have them 
 
 O
 
 194 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 brown, or red, or grey, or black, or green ; with tails or with- 
 out tails ; with long hair, short hair, or no hair ; wild or 
 tame ; only ask for what you want, and you will be sure to 
 get it." 
 
 On our way down towards the trade-harbour we met 
 Aminocles, quite drunk. He was being dragged along by 
 a couple of sailors, singing at the top of their voices. He 
 had learnt only too soon what was the use, or abuse, of the 
 silver shekels. 
 
 We had no trouble in finding the monkey-dealer's, and 
 Hanno, who had taken it upon himself to select the most 
 intelligent monkey he could see, chose one which appeared 
 to meet with general approval. 
 
 "And now what are we to call it?" said Hannibal, who 
 liked everything to have a name. 
 
 "Don't you think," said Hanno, "that it has a very 
 striking resemblance to old Gebal, the judge at Sidon ? 
 Look at it now. Isn't it like him when he rolls his eyes 
 and scratches his poll, just before giving sentence ? " 
 
 " Exactly !" said Hannibal, " the very facsimile ! and 
 Judge Gebal he shall be called !" 
 
 We now made our way with our new purchase down to 
 the quay, whence a small boat carried us across the trade- 
 harbour to the opposite island, on which are built the hand- 
 some residences of the more wealthy inhabitants of the 
 city ; for during the last ten years many of the merchants 
 have amassed considerable fortunes, and abandoning sea- 
 life, have settled down in homes replete with luxury. We 
 walked to the extremity of the island, and after leaving 
 the two women at the noble bath-room at the top of the 
 wall above the small basin in which the pleasure-boats of 
 the rich inhabitants are kept, we betook ourselves to the 
 men's baths, and enjoyed the refreshment of a wash and a 
 shave. Rejoined by the women, we rowed across to the 
 nearest point of the Coth6n, and paid a visit to the signal- 
 tower ; thence we went on foot to the magnificent gardens 
 that lie between the citadel and the lower town. Here I
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 19$ 
 
 showed my party the temple of Achmon, and took them to 
 see the public fountains, the constant resort of both sexes 
 for lounging and gossip. 
 
 Night coming on, we returned to $R& Ashtoreth, on which 
 the lamps were already lighted. Going on board, I found 
 the slave of the man who had entertained me during my 
 former visit to Utica waiting for me with an invitation 
 from his master to dine with him next day, and I sent 
 a message that we should be pleased to avail ourselves 
 of his hospitality. During our day's absence my cook had 
 prepared a sumptuous repast, which we all thoroughly 
 enjoyed. 
 
 The trumpets now sounded the signal for calling in the 
 sailors. They came dropping in two or three at a time, 
 all more or less tipsy, and some of them inclined to be 
 noisy ; but so strong was their habit of submission to dis- 
 cipline, that no sooner had they stepped on board than they 
 relapsed into their wonted silence, and retired quietly to 
 their berths. Himilco was among the last to return, and 
 to his credit I feel bound to record that he was quite able 
 to walk across the deck without any assistance from his 
 friend Gisgo.
 
 196 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 I CONSULT THE ORACLE. 
 
 I MADE it my first business on the following morning to 
 go to the great market-place, near the trade-harbour and 
 the temple of Achmon. It is surrounded by lofty houses 
 upon an arcade, under which are the retail shops of the 
 tradespeople, their warehouses being in courts at the back. 
 In these shops every variety of Libyan merchandise was 
 exhibited for sale. There were hides, dressed and un- 
 dressed ; stones prepared for engraving; Numidian copper; 
 lion-skins from Mount Atlas ; thongs of hippopotamus- 
 hide from Lake Tritonis ; elephants' tusks from the Macar; 
 corn from Zeugis and Byzatium, and wool from the land of 
 the Garamantines. I spent a considerable time in making 
 purchases of ivory, and procured a good supply at a very 
 fair price ; and later in the day went with Hannibal and 
 Hamilcar to fulfil the engagement I had made on the 
 previous night. Hanno and Chamai preferred escorting 
 Chryseis and Abigail about the city ; and Bichri went for 
 an evening's diversion with Gisgo, Hasdrubal, and Himilco. 
 Barca, our host, one of the richest shipowners in the 
 colony, had prepared us an elegant entertainment in a 
 handsome tent pitched upon the terrace of his house. As 
 soon as the meal was ended, wine was brought in, and musi- 
 cians and dancing-girls performed for our amusement ; and 
 one of Barca's slaves, an old Libyan, who was well versed 
 in the songs and traditions of his people, repeated his tales 
 about the mystery and wonders of their origin.
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 19; 
 
 According to his account, there had formerly, south of 
 Libya, been an extensive sea, which received the water of 
 several rivers, and to the south of which again lay the land 
 of the negroes, who had faces like monkeys. This sea was 
 the original Lake Tritonis, or Pallas, and the chain of lakes, 
 at the foot of the Atlas Mountains, extending from the 
 vicinity of Gades to Karth, 1 in Byzatium (now known to us 
 as the Tritons), are either marshes formed by the overflow 
 of two great rivers from the south, whose waters have been 
 diverted by Mount Atlas, or, when salt, are probably the 
 remains of the same great sea. There are then, he repre- 
 sented, two mountainous ridges, the more southernly of 
 which outpours its streams as far as the Tritonis and Mount 
 Atlas, and the other sends its rivers, the Macar and the 
 Kagradas, into our own Great Sea. Further west, issuing 
 also from Mount Atlas, are other important rivers, which 
 lose themselves in the sands. These, however, long cen- 
 turies back, had an outlet into the inland branch of the 
 great Atlantic Ocean, which, at that remote period, was the 
 southern boundary of Libya, and extending eastwards 
 towards the confines of Egypt, ultimately joined the Syrtes. 
 Libya was thus a great peninsula, connected with the main- 
 land only by a narrow isthmus, now the Straits of Gades, 
 and enclosed on every other coast by water ; on the north 
 and east by the Syrtes, by which it was separated from 
 Egypt ; on the south by the inland sea that covered the 
 present sandy desert ; and on the west by the ocean 
 itself. 
 
 But as time went on great changes were evolved. His 
 face beaming with intelligence as he spoke, the old man 
 told of might}' convulsions of the earth, and how they 
 changed the isthmus of Gades into a strait, and how the 
 waters were swept back by the shock, so that the whole 
 Hood of the ocean rushed through to the Great Sea, and 
 the Great Sea receded and yielded to the upheaving of the 
 land. 
 
 ' Kai th, the tuwn ; lute: Cirtha, the actual Constaatine.
 
 198 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 I listened with increasing interest. I knew already 
 how the sea could overwhelm the land. I was also 
 aware how the Siculians maintain that long ages back a 
 neck of solid land had joined their country to the con- 
 tinent of the Vitalians. Many times, too, I had heard 
 amongst Phoenicians how a deluge had detached the isle 
 of Chittim from the mainland. And now I was hearing 
 the wondrous tale of how the sea had retreated from the 
 south of Libya. 
 
 He went on to say that when the waters rolled away 
 they submerged an immense number of islands, leaving the 
 Fortunate Islands 1 (of which I shall have to speak hereafter) 
 as the sole representatives of what had previously been a 
 vast archipelago, that had made communication easy, even 
 in small boats, not only with the land of the Atlantides, 
 but with that other great country that lies still further to 
 the west. Now, however, that Atlantis has disappeared, all 
 intercourse has been dropped with that remote land, from 
 which both the red and white Libyans assert that they 
 originally came, arid whence migrating eastwards they 
 founded cities as they advanced, became the first settlers 
 in Egypt, and spread far and wide the knowledge of 
 their gods, which were really the Dionysus and Minerva 
 of the Hellenes and Vitalians, and Zeus, known among 
 us Phoenicians as Baal-Hamon. According to their own 
 account (which is confirmed by the Hellenes), the Pe- 
 lasgians, under the leadership of Melkarth-Ouso, came 
 into Libya, but afterwards retreated to the east. Then 
 came the great convulsion when the land was upheaved 
 and the waters receded, and the earth subsided into its 
 present configuration ; then, too, the Sidonians, protected 
 by their gods, began to assert their sovereignty on the sea, 
 and sending forth ships to every region of the world, 
 opened emporiums of commerce, discovered mines, founded 
 cities, taught the art of writing, and disseminated knowledge 
 of every kind. 
 
 1 The Canariea.
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 199 
 
 More and more as the aged Libyan recited his ancient 
 legends had we become rapt in attention. Hannibal sat 
 with his eyes wide open, and from time to time gave vent 
 to ejaculations of astonishment ; and I, though less sur- 
 prised, for I had already speculated very much on these 
 matters, was nevertheless deeply impressed with the clear- 
 ness with which they had been laid before us. I retired 
 that night with my brain agitated by excitement, and 
 dreamed that I was commanding a magnificent fleet, and 
 that we discovered the land beyond Atlantis ; and when I 
 woke in the morning, I made a vow in my mind that no 
 sooner should my present expedition to Tarshish be com- 
 pleted, than I would set out on a voyage of discovery to 
 the west. 
 
 We had been in Utica three days when Adonibal sent 
 me a message that he wished to speak to me. Without 
 loss of time I presented myself at the palace, and was 
 conducted to the apartment from which the admiral can at 
 once overlook the city, the harbour, and the sea. To his 
 enquiry how long it would be before I took my departure, 
 I replied that having taken in my cargo I hoped to sail 
 in two days. 
 
 " Here, then," he said, " are letters for the suffects of 
 Rusadir and Gades ; and I intend to give you ten 
 seamen to supply the places of those you have lost. I 
 am sure there ought not to be any deficiency in your 
 numbers in the event of your coming into collision with 
 Bodmilcar." 
 
 I was proceeding to thank him for his liberality, but he 
 stopped me, and said that he should have to trouble me for 
 fifty shekels that I owed him. 
 
 I professed myself quite ready to pay anything that was 
 due, but said that I was very much amazed to learn that I 
 was in his debt. 
 
 " It is a mere trifle," said Adonibal, in his usual facetious 
 way ; " it will not ruin you. I should not mention it at all, 
 only you know it is a matter of principle with a true
 
 20O THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 Phoenician to keep his accounts straight. The truth is, it is 
 a little fine. Some of your men have been half-killing a 
 couple of my Ligurians. The knaves are down in the 
 dungeon sleeping off the effects of their drinking-bout ; but 
 just pay their fines, and I will give you an order for their 
 release, and, if you like, you may go yourself and fetch 
 them out." 
 
 " Ah," said I, laughing, " you wanted to show off the 
 efficiency of your police." 
 
 I could not help asking him whether the circumstance 
 did not remind him of the time when I was his helmsman, 
 and he had himself come to liberate me from the prison 
 in Chittim, where I had been locked up for smashing the 
 skull of the grand merchant from Seir. 
 
 "You mean when I was captain of the Achmon and a 
 noble ship she was," said Adonibal. " Yes, to be sure 
 I remember it perfectly : we were both of us younger 
 then than we are now. When I was a youngster I was 
 always getting into scrapes as often as I went on shore 
 with a purse-full cf money ; now I am only a poor hulk, 
 dismasted and stranded here on the shore. Such is life ! 
 while we are young we entertain ourselves with breaking 
 each other's heads, and when we are old we busy ourselves 
 with cutting them off." 
 
 " But, seriously, how have my men been committing 
 themselves ?" I asked. 
 
 "As far as I understand the matter," replied the suffect, 
 " they took it into their heads to play pranks with one of the 
 priests of Dionysos ; they treated him to some wine, made 
 him perfectly tipsy, smeared his face all over with red 
 and blue paint, and then insisted upon making him dance. 
 Some of my Ligurian soldiers, seeing what was going on, 
 tried to protect the priest an interference that your men 
 were not in the mood to allow. They had tripped up two of 
 the soldiers, when the Admiralty-guard came to the rescue, 
 and quietly walked off four of your drunken fellows to me. 
 I sent them to the dungeon, but I have not had them
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 2O1 
 
 flogged ; I am generally as indulgent as possible in the 
 case of a sailor's spree. I am an admiral now, and old in 
 the service, but I do not forget that I was once a young 
 pilot." 
 
 The subterranean vaults to which I now descended were 
 very dark : most of them were used as armouries or store- 
 houses, but a few were set apart for prisons. The turnkey 
 opened the door of one of these, and by the light of his 
 torch I could distinguish Bichri and three of my sailors, 
 all looking very sheepish, and I had some difficulty in 
 repressing my inclination to laugh. However, I assumed 
 a serious air, gave them a severe reprimand, and sent them 
 out with a notice that they were not to quit their ships. 
 They did not wait for any second bidding to be off; the 
 Admiralty dungeons are no enviable quarters, and those 
 who find their way into them rarely leave except for the 
 cross or the gallows. 
 
 Returning to the quay, I passed along the subterranean 
 passage to the arsenal, and spent the remainder of the day 
 in directing the repairs of my ships. By the evening 
 everything was finished ; and I was so gratified by the 
 rapidity with which the work had been done, that in my 
 good humour I not only forgave my four men who were in 
 disgrace, but allowed them, on promise of good behaviour, 
 to have another holiday on the following day. 
 
 For myself, I resolved to spend that day in an expedi- 
 tion to a small temple of Baal-Hamon, a short distance 
 from the city, and to take with me no companion whatever 
 except my friend Barca's old Libyan slave. 
 
 This temple is situated in the gloomy recesses of a 
 forest ; it is oblong in shape, and has neither door nor 
 window ; its only external aperture is a hole in the roof to 
 allow an escape for the smoke of the sacrifices ; and it is 
 entered by an underground passage, the mouth of which 
 is closed by a large stone concealed by the brushwood. 
 Three old and half-naked Libyans were waiting outside, and 
 afte- a brief consultation, in whispers, with the slave I had
 
 2O2 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 brought with me, quietly raised the stone and pointed to 
 the orifice. I entered the passage, followed by the men, 
 and in a short time found myself in a small dim chamber, 
 in the further wall of which was a flat stone, which turned 
 on a hinge and formed a door, just affording room to pass, 
 and opening into a second chamber, that was at once 
 misty and red with the glare of two smoking lamps. Let 
 into the wall of this compartment was another flat stone 
 with a hole in its centre, which one of the men turned 
 slightly round upon its pivot, allowing me to peep into a 
 third chamber, which was a mere cell, containing a niche, 
 where a shapeless notched stone was deposited, which my 
 guide informed me was the god himself. In obedience to 
 the directions that were given me, I prostrated myself 
 three times before the deity, and remained waiting where 
 I was. After a time, a black sheep that I had brought 
 with me was conducted into the cell, and slaughtered 
 before the niche in such a way that its blood flowed into 
 a hollowed stone let into the ground to receive it. When 
 the sacrifice was finished, the stone was turned back, 
 shutting the god with his newly-slain victim into the inner 
 cell. I was told to apply my ear to the hole in the 
 stone, and to listen for the voice of the deity. The lamps 
 were then extinguished, and I was left in silence and in 
 total darkness. 
 
 Presently a deep muffled voice, that seemed to issue 
 from the abysses of the earth, came to my ear : 
 
 " Phoenician mariner, what wouldst thou ask of me ?" 
 
 Awestruck, I could scarcely speak, but making an effort 
 to reply, I said : 
 
 " Oracle of Hamon ! I would know whether it be possible 
 to sail westward beyond the Straits of Gades, and whether 
 there is land." 
 
 " There is land," the voice repeated. 
 
 "Is it to be found north, west, or south ?" I inquired. 
 
 " There is land to the north, there is land to the west 
 there is land to the south," the oracle replied.
 
 I PROSTRATED MYSEI.K THREE TIMES.
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 2Oj 
 
 Emboldened by the answers I obtained, I asked again : 
 
 " And the proper route is it by the sacred promontory, 
 or must I sight the head of Gades ?" 
 
 " Mortal ! " the voice declared, " you ask more than it is 
 permitted mortal to know. Go ; I tell no more." 
 
 The stone doorway turned on its hinge, and we groped 
 our way back through the gloom out into the open air. 
 I recompensed the attendants liberally, and returned to 
 the city perplexed, it is true, but confirmed in my reso- 
 lution to explore the ocean and seek for land, far or near, 
 beyond the Straits of Gades. 
 
 In the course of our walk back, I inquired of my com- 
 panion whether there were many of these subterranean 
 temples in Zeugis and Byzatium. He told me that in the 
 interior there were several very m'uch more elaborate, with 
 arches and domes, but they were not nearly so ancient ; the 
 true temples of the Atlantides were all like the one which 
 we had just left. Some there were, indeed, that were still 
 more simple, consisting only of three stones, flat and un- 
 hewn, of which two were placed upright on their ends, 
 and the third laid horizontally across them ; others were 
 formed of stones arranged in a long covered avenue. Of 
 these, some were in the open air and some concealed under 
 mounds of earth, at the top of which several stones were 
 reared, while round the base circles of still larger stones 
 were grouped symmetrically. No doubt some of these 
 erections were not temples, but tombs, and were occasion- 
 ally found in such numbers as to cover a large extent of 
 ground, and were laid out in set figures, representing men, 
 serpents, eggs, and scorpions. 
 
 Such was the Libyan's account of his religious edifices. 
 When, however, I began to question him about their sig- 
 nification, and why some were underground and some 
 above, and what was the design of their peculiar construc- 
 tion, I could elicit nothing from him but that it was the 
 result of magic, of which his people had inherited the great 
 secret from their forefathers.
 
 204 TH E ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 Early the following morning, with the suffect's per 
 mission, I set to work to take in a supply of fresh water 
 from the fine cisterns on the quays. Each cistern is 
 divided into two compartments ; one to collect the rain- 
 water in its turbid condition from the paved streets, the 
 other to receive the same water when it has undergone 
 the process of filtration ; the two tanks being connected 
 by square-headed cocks turned by a wooden key. All 
 the private houses, as well as the public buildings, in the 
 towns, are provided with cisterns of a similar construction, 
 the country villages being supplied with water from open 
 tanks formed by two circular compartments, of which one 
 acts as a receptacle and the other as a reservoir. 
 
 Hannibal, who had been paying a visit to the ramparts, 
 returned highly gratified with what he had seen. He in- 
 formed me that all the forts were built upon cisterns, and 
 that the rubble-work of the walls was twenty-four cubits 
 thick at their base, and eighteen at their top ; that the 
 soldiers' quarters were on the second and third storeys, 
 out of the reach of the battering rams, and built in the 
 thickness of the walls ; also that about three-quarters of a 
 bowshot in advance of the inner line there was a wall half 
 the height, and outside this again a strong palisade, with a 
 moat and intrenchment. He thought, however, that his 
 eye had been keen enough to discover one weak point to 
 the right of the city, where the arsenal was overlooked 
 by an adjacent hill, and I concurred in his opinion that 
 another fort ought to be built upon the wall to cover any 
 attack from the eminence. 
 
 The sundial on the Admiralty palace marked the hour of 
 noon when, having made my roll-call, and satisfied myself 
 that my men were all on board, I went to take leave of 
 Adonibal. The aged suffect bade me a kind farewell, and 
 wished me a prosperous voyage. I lost no time in giving 
 the signal for departure, and as we left the harbour we 
 raised a hearty cheer for the admiral, who was watching us 
 from his balcony. Four other vessels, heavily freighted
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 2O C 
 
 and bound for Massalia, at the mouth of the Rhone, left 
 Utica immediately after us. 
 
 The distance from Utica to the Straits of Gades is 8800 
 stadia, and by fast vessels can be accomplished in about a 
 week. A strong west wind, however, had made the sea so 
 turbulent that all navigation was very difficult, and it was 
 not until after four days that we sighted the Cabiri (or the 
 Seven Capes), a point which is usually reached in two ; 
 and even then, in order to clear the promontory, we were 
 obliged to make such long tacks that we quite lost sight 
 
 of land, and were carried far towards the north. But at 
 length, on the seventh day, I recognised the first great 
 cape 1 on the mainland, south of the Pityusai Islands. 
 
 " Tarshish ! " shouted Himilco, who had been so fully 
 occupied that he had scarcely spoken before. " Tarshish at 
 last ! " 
 
 There was a rush to the deck ; but so blinding were the 
 rain and the spray, that it was impossible to distinguish 
 anything on shore. 
 
 1 Now Cape Palos.
 
 2C>6 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 I had taken in enough water to last us for a fortnight, 
 and it was well that I had done so, for we found our- 
 selves experiencing the difficulty, not at all infrequent, of 
 approaching this dangerous coast, and had to continue to 
 make very long tacks. 
 
 After three days' perpetual struggle with the elements we 
 were still off the Libyan coast, but the wind then moderated, 
 and the rain gave place to sunshine. In the course of the 
 next night Himilco and I, whilst well-nigh every one was 
 asleep, recognised the tall perpendicular peaks of Calpe and 
 Abyla, and soon afterwards we passed under the wall of 
 rock that forms the southern limit of Tarshish ; by the 
 morning we were within sight of the level tongue of land 
 south of the magnificent bay of Gades All along the 
 headland rose the white domes and terraces of the town, 
 imbedded in luxuriant foliage ; high above all was the 
 semaphore beside the temple of Ashtoreth. As we entered 
 the basin of what serves equally for trade-harbour and war- 
 port, our trumpets were sounded, and we saluted the town 
 with three ringing cheers. 
 
 We had reached our goal, and were in Tarshish at last
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 2O; 
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 THE SILVER MINKS OF TARSHISH. 
 
 THE town of Gades, though not large, is neat and trimly 
 built, and in the well-kept gardens in the environs, pome- 
 granates, oranges, and lemons, which have all been in- 
 troduced by the Phoenicians, flourish in great abundance. 
 About the centre of the town, and in direct communication 
 with the harbour, is the market, the emporium not only for 
 the wedges of silver brought from the mines in the interior, 
 but for barrels of the salted murenae that are caught on the 
 neighbouring shore ; for Tarshish cats, 1 to be used in rabbit- 
 hunting ; for iron, which is obtained in small quantities 
 from the north ; and for the promiscuous curiosities in which 
 the strange and remote region abounds. The market-place 
 is surrounded by the offices of the rich merchants and 
 money-changers, who, as proprietors of the mines, were 
 ready to exchange their silver for copper, manufactured 
 articles, and fancy goods. I was not long in making my 
 way thither. 
 
 Having seen my ships properly moored in the places 
 assigned them at the quay, handed their pay to my seamen 
 and soldiers, and notified my arrival to the naval suffect, I 
 turned into the thoroughfare that leads to the town, and had 
 no difficult}- in finding the office of Balshaz/ar, the rich 
 merchant with whom I had had man}- business transactions 
 during my previous visit. Balshazzar was dead, but Ziba, 
 his widow, was carrying on the business in partnership with 
 1 The ancient name of ferrets.
 
 208 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 several other merchants. She received me very cordially, 
 and insisted that I should send for the two v/omen, and for 
 my sub-captains and pilots, to come and take refreshment 
 at her house. She provided a handsome entertainment, 
 during which I had the opportunity of explaining to her 
 the object of my voyage, and of asking her advice as to the 
 best means of obtaining silver, either in lumps or ingots. I 
 found that, according to her statement, the current price of 
 silver was just then very low, so that I might hope to 
 purchase on favourable terms, either in the town, or by 
 going inland and bartering with the savages. Some large 
 mines, she informed me, had quite recently been discovered 
 on the River Boetis, 1 about four days' march up the country, 
 and the only reason why they had not been opened and 
 worked was the scarcity of labour ; the great bulk of the 
 population of the town being either merchants or mariners. 
 
 " We ought," she concluded, " to have plenty of soldiers 
 stationed here." 
 
 " Beyond a question," exclaimed Hannibal, warmly, " the 
 prosperity of a country is to be measured by the number of 
 soldiers it maintains." 
 
 Ziba's long residence in the colonies had rendered her 
 quite unaccustomed to the ideas and manners of military 
 men, and she looked at him in some amazement. 
 
 "Yes," she said, "we do require a large number of slaves, 
 soldiers, and transported felons here." 
 
 It was now Hannibal's turn to look amazed. 
 
 " Soldiers and felons ! What do you mean ? Do you 
 suppose that soldiers are to be associated with slaves and 
 malefactors ? " 
 
 In explanation of her remark, she said that in order to 
 establish a firm footing in the silver-producing districts, she 
 thought that the merchants ought to club together, and either 
 buy or hire soldiers to drive back the native barbarians. 
 The prisoners they took ought to be sent to the mines, and 
 to these there should be added as many slaves as could 
 
 1 The Guadalquivir.
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 2CXJ 
 
 be bought, and any number of transported criminals who 
 would cost nothing but their keep. 
 
 Seeing that Hannibal was about to make some indignant 
 rejoinder, I interposed by asking her whether it was possible 
 to obtain slaves here, and whether the natives were hostile 
 or well-disposed. 
 
 " Not a slave will you find in the market," she said ; 
 "they have been purchased as fast as they have been 
 brought to us. As to the savages, they have hitherto 
 been tolerably peaceable ; but, aware of the value we set 
 upon their silver, they demand most exorbitant wages for 
 their labour." 
 
 " Peaceable you call them, do you ?" broke in Himilco ; 
 and pointing to the empty socket of his eye, said, " Yes ; 
 perhaps if using their lances to scoop out people's eyes 
 is a proof of peaceableness, the Iberians of Tarshish are 
 supremely peaceable ; but I confess I don't quite see it." 
 
 Ziba smiled. Although she was a thorough woman of 
 business, she had a keen appreciation of a joke. 
 
 "Yes, pilot," she replied; "I very well recollect your 
 misfortune when you were here before ; indeed, it was I 
 myself who dressed your wounds with oil and rosemary. 
 But you may take my word for it that the tribes on the 
 Boetis are far more anxious to take your goods than to do 
 you any bodily injury. In time, I have no doubt, they 
 will become perfectly submissive to our rule." 
 
 " And then," I exclaimed, " Tarshish, like Zeugis, will 
 be one of the brightest jewels in the crown of our glorious 
 Siclon." 
 
 And every one, as I spoke, filled and drained his wine- 
 cup to the honour of our noble city. 
 
 "But to return to business," said Ziba; "I think that 
 the best plan for you will be to come with me to the naval 
 suffect, who may probably suggest some plan by which 
 you can get labour to open some fresh mines. The Boetis 
 is quite wide enough to allow your ships to ascend within 
 a day's march of the best districts, and your soldiers and 
 
 F
 
 210 
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 sailors ought to be quite enough to protect you from any 
 hostilities on the part of the Iberians." 
 
 I readily acquiesced in her proposal ; and the widow, 
 having put on a veil, mounted a richly-caparisoned mule 
 led by two well-dressed slaves, and preceded by a running 
 footman carrying a long staff She went in front, and we 
 all sallied forth after her to the Admiralty palace. The 
 suffect received us in the large hall, where he was seated in 
 his painted chair ; and when I had explained the object of 
 my visit, he said : 
 
 " Had you come four days sooner, you might have 
 arranged to accompany a Tyrian merchant who passed 
 through this port on his way to the mines." 
 
 The suspicion flashed instantly on my mind, and I said . 
 
 "You mean Bodmilcar?" 
 
 " Yes," replied the suffect, " Bodmilcar ; and a rare 
 rough-looking set he had with him. We are not generally 
 very particular in looking into the character of men who 
 go to the diggings, but I confess I never set eyes upon a 
 worse-looking lot. They looked like thieves and assassins."
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 211 
 
 "Just what they were," I said ; "and their leader is no 
 better than themselves. You have only to read this, and 
 you will learn what he really is ;" and I handed him 
 Adonibal's letter. 
 
 " By Ashtoreth ! " he swore, " what a scoundrel the 
 fellow is ! " 
 
 After pondering a few minutes, he continued : 
 
 " I will tell you what I can do. I will lend you fifty 
 armed men to help you to improve the villain off the face 
 of the earth. I would, if I could, lend you more, as I 
 know how advisable it is for expeditions into the interior 
 to be well guarded ; all kinds of people are at work in the 
 mines, and nothing is easier for them than to conspire to 
 overpower a new comer. But I really cannot spare any 
 more. The time will come, I hope, when we shall have 
 reinforcements enough here to make our authority properly 
 felt in the mining districts." 
 
 Ziba now mentioned that she had made a contract with 
 one of the Iberian chiefs, named Aitz, by which he had 
 engaged to find porters and labourers to assist the twelve 
 hundred slaves which she had provided to excavate the 
 soil of a new mine ; and having explained that she had 
 erected a fortress in which were stationed a hundred 
 soldiers, and put up a residence for an overseer of the 
 works, she said that she was perfectly willing to hand 
 over the contract to me under certain conditions. She 
 was ready to surrender her sole interest, to give me an 
 introduction to her overseer, and to allow me the pro- 
 tection of her little garrison, if I would stipulate to pay 
 her a fifth part of the gross profits. 
 
 The suffect seemed to think that the proposal was 
 reasonable ; but I demurred to the proportion of the 
 profits which she demanded, and insisted upon her ac- 
 cepting a sixth instead of a fifth. 
 
 After a short debate, which ended in Ziba's yielding to 
 my terms, I made ITanno draw out two copies of th- 1 
 agreement which we mutually signed, and then all ad-
 
 212 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 journed to the temple of Ashtoreth, where we offered a 
 sacrifice to the goddess, and made a vow to remain 
 faithful to the various covenants of the contract. 
 
 The time of the year was very favourable, and I was 
 anxious to lose no time in starting. Accordingly, four 
 days did not elapse after our arrival at Gades before our 
 ships were again on the sea, making way towards the 
 mouth of the Boetis, which we reached after two days' easy 
 sailing. 
 
 Beyond the Straits of Gades the sea is subject to tides 
 which are even more considerable than those in the Jam 
 Souph, and it was necessary to wait until high-water before 
 we could pass the bar of the river. As soon, however, as 
 the bar was passable, the river presented a very animated 
 scene, and vessels of every description got into motion, 
 both ascending and descending the stream ; Phoenician 
 craft, from the ponderous gaoul to the slim fishing-smack ; 
 Iberian piroques, carrying their great brown or black sails 
 of woven bark ; and the long Celtic coracles, composed of 
 hide. Of all these, none were empty ; whatever provisions 
 are consumed in the mining regions have ail to be brought 
 from Gades, and the same ships that convey the supplies 
 into the interior always return laden with the ore. 
 
 Having crossed the bar, as there was no wind and the 
 current was strong, I lowered my sails and rowed up 
 the river. The yellow waters of the river flow rapidly be- 
 tween banks that are sometimes wooded and sometimes 
 barren flats. The country on both sides is mountainous 
 and wild, and only at long intervals are to be seen any 
 of the Iberian villages, which, consisting of hovels made of 
 mud and branches of trees, are most frequently nothing 
 more than roofs to holes which have been dug in the 
 ground. The miners' villages are very similar, the chief 
 difference being that the huts are higher and more com- 
 modious, and in the centie of each community there is a 
 palisade enclosing a redoubt, or embattled fortress built of 
 brick.
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 " Not particularly lively here," said Hanno ; " the getting 
 of silver seems rather a more dreary business than the 
 spending of it." 
 
 Hannibal remarked that all the villages seemed to 
 occupy positions that were naturally very strong, observ- 
 ing that the Boetis itself formed a good line of defence, 
 and that there might be a great deal of hard fighting in 
 such a country. 
 
 "I can answer for that," said Himilco; "I know that 
 these Tarshish barbarians would sooner pluck out a man's 
 eye than give him a cup of wine. Here come some of the 
 rascals. Look at them." 
 
 Every one looked where Himilco was pointing, and there, 
 walking, or rather shambling, along the bank were rather 
 more than a score of savage-looking creatures evidently 
 watching our ships. They were almost naked, their only 
 covering being a strip of woven bark around their loins, 
 and a sort of turban of the same material on their heads ; 
 they had sunburnt skins, black hair, and small black- 
 eyes, obliquely set ; they were of moderate height, and ap- 
 peared to be extremely agile. But we observed that some 
 of them seemed to be quite of a distinct race, being very 
 tall and thin, with thick shaggy beards and very revolting 
 countenances. All were armed with long shields, and 
 carried either bludgeons, slings, or strong lances pointed 
 with flint or bone. 
 
 I shouted to them, but they made no sign, and continued 
 skulking along the bank. 
 
 " Bichri !" cried Himilco, to the archer, who was sitting 
 on the poop with Jonah, both of them playing with the 
 monkey, " Bichri, just put an arrow into one of those scara- 
 mouches, will you ? they pretend they cannot hear the 
 captain." 
 
 He started to his feet, and was in the act of raising his 
 bow, when I interposed : 
 
 " Leave them alone ; time enough to attack them when 
 thev attack us."
 
 214 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 Bichri lowered his hand at once. 
 
 " Well then," he said, " I may as well go on amusing 
 myself with the monkey ; what an entertaining brute it is i 
 he pulls my hair and scratches my face a bit ; but I bear 
 it all because he's so clever." 
 
 " Aye, aye, go back to your plaything ; he's about as 
 good-looking as the Iberians," said Hanno, laughing. 
 
 My brave young archer was not much more than eighteen 
 years of age, and in light-heartedness and love of frolic 
 was like a boy of twelve. The monkey, the only creature 
 on board more restless than himself, had taken his fancy 
 immensely, and they were continually vying with one 
 another in feats of agility, trying which could climb the 
 mast the faster, or which could swing the higher at the 
 end of a rope. Another of Judge Gebal's warm admirers 
 was Jonah. The giant seemed to have lost his concern 
 about the land of strange beasts, and to be engrossed with 
 the monkey, which he had admitted into his close friend- 
 ship, and whose antics he was always rewarding with the 
 choicest tit-bits on which he could lay hands. One of the 
 creature's great delights was to mount the trumpeter's 
 shoulder and clamber by his shaggy hair to the top of 
 his head, where from its elevated perch it would make 
 grimaces, scratch its pate, and grin and gnash its teeth 
 at every one. Bichri, Jonah, and the monkey, thus formed 
 an amicable trio, of which a little rough treatment all 
 round, and a few cuffs and scratches, did not mar the 
 general concord. 
 
 Towards evening by my orders we came to a standstill, 
 opposite a miners' village. The overseer came out from 
 his hut to speak to us. He was a coarse, ill-spoken man, 
 rarely opening his mouth without an oath. He was a 
 native of Arvad, and consequently an old acquaintance of 
 Hannibal's. 
 
 " By all the infernal gods ! " he began, " this is a wee'< of 
 visitors ! " 
 
 " How so ? " I asked.
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 21$ 
 
 "Confound me, if we hadn't another Tyrian here five 
 days ago ! Bodrnilcar was his name ; and a rascally set of 
 scamps he brought. Drunken beasts they were ; they 
 sacked some houses in the village here, and, by Khousor 
 Phtah ! I vow they would have murdered us every one if 
 we had not pounced upon them pretty hard. I have seen 
 blackguards in my time, but never the like of those. And 
 if any one can succeed in swinging up Bodmilcar himself 
 at a rope's end, he will do the world a service." 
 
 " Where is he now ? " I asked ; " can you tell me that ? 
 I have a score of my own to settle with him." 
 
 "By the gods! you will have some distance to go. He 
 has taken a swarm of Iberians with him into the interior. 
 You had better be careful how you meddle with them : 
 they are dangerous folks to touch ; and they are a pretty 
 strong force altogether." 
 
 " Never mind their force," said Chamai ; "numbers don't 
 matter ; only let us get them within reach of our swords." 
 
 " All very fine for you, young fellow, to be so cocksure of 
 your game," replied the overseer ; and turning to me, he 
 added, civilly enough: "But I see you are determined to 
 risk the consequences. Give me a drink of wine, and by 
 the gods ! I will give you some hints that may be useful to 
 you. Silver is silver, you know." 
 
 " Yes, and wine is wine," muttered Himilco, always keenly 
 interested upon that topic. 
 
 I ordered a skin of good wine to be produced, that he 
 might drink while we talked over our scheme ; but the over- 
 seer had no wish to be outdone on the score of hospitality ; 
 and accordingly he clapped his hands sharply, and when 
 the manager of his slaves appeared in answer to the 
 summons, he gave instructions for one of his finest calves 
 to be killed, and a feast to be laid out for us under an 
 adjacent clump of trees. 
 
 After we had given each other the latest news of 
 Phoenicia and Tarshish, the overseer said in his own 
 abrupt way :
 
 2l6 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 " You seem brave enough ; but I have a great respect for 
 numbers. Your wine is good stuff, and I like it. I am 
 glad to meet a fellow-townsman. Now, in return for the 
 wine, curse me if I don't do the best I can to help you." 
 
 After all, he had not much to tell. He informed us that 
 in the territory adjacent to that of Aitz, who had made his 
 compact with Ziba, there were some exceedingly rich veins 
 of silver ; and that, although the Iberians in possession were 
 decidedly disposed to be hostile, they might readily be 
 bought over by some trumpery merchandise, or without 
 difficulty might be subdued by our arms. 
 
 " And how near to them can we take our ships ? " I 
 asked. 
 
 " Within three days' march," he answered " It is not so 
 much that the distance is great as that there are no roads ; 
 and after the ships are left there is no further communication 
 with the river. You have to go through forests, and you 
 have to go on foot. No horses can go ; no mules." 
 
 " Nice marching that ! " said Hannibal, sententiously ; 
 " and you say we have to take our own provisions ? " 
 
 "As to that, I daresay you can get Ziba's overseer to 
 lend you some Iberians ; they make capital beasts of 
 burden." 
 
 "Very good," said Himilco ; "and I think I can under- 
 take to make them trot along at a good pace. Give me a 
 stick, and I will write a few words of their Iberian tongue 
 upon their backs in a way they will perhaps remember." 
 
 The overseer seemed to enjoy Himilco's spiteful jest, for 
 he laughed aloud. We emptied our wine-cups, and broke 
 up our meeting. 
 
 Betimes next morning we were again on our voyage up 
 the river, and in less than a day had reached Ziba's territory. 
 Her overseer, a native of Utica, lent me two hundred slaves 
 as porters and miners, and I divided them into gangs, which 
 I put under the supervision of my officers. The ships, with 
 just a sufficient portion of their crews, were left under the 
 charge of Hasdrubal ; the Dagon and the Ashtoreth
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 2i; 
 
 descending the river for a short distance to get a better 
 anchorage ; the Cabiros, as drawing less water, being left 
 under orders to cruise about, and to keep on collecting a 
 supply of provisions. We had been provided with a guide ; 
 and everything being arranged, I set out upon my ex- 
 ploration of the new territory. 
 
 We started across an extensive plateau, and having 
 traversed several woods and deep ravines, made our encamp- 
 ment for the night. Very monotonous were the journeys of 
 the following days, over gloomy hills and across deep valleys, 
 and it was not until the middle of the fourth day after 
 leaving the banks of the Bcetis, that we caught sight of an 
 Iberian village. The people were all under arms when we 
 arrived, and inclined to take a defiant attitude, but a few 
 presents had the effect of conciliating the chiefs, and in- 
 ducing them to give us permission to encamp on a barren 
 knoll, about three stadia off their cluster of huts. Under 
 Hannibal's superintendence we surrounded the encampment 
 with a trench and a palisade, and in two days were ready 
 to commence our digging operations, in which we were 
 directed by an experienced man, who had been sent with us 
 for the purpose. 
 
 We were beginning an arduous task. For three long 
 months did our labours proceed without intermission. The 
 Iberians were always distrustful, but never committed any 
 overt act of hostility. Yet, thanks to the favour of Ashtoreth, 
 though our work was long, our success was great. Excava- 
 tion after excavation turned out prolific, and as the result 
 of our mining, I obtained no less than two thousand shekels 
 of silver. Some of this I refined on the spot, and retained 
 in my own keeping, the rest of the ore being periodically 
 despatched by hired slaves to the AsJitorctJi, whence I 
 received back a written acknowledgment of each consign- 
 ment as it was delivered on board. 
 
 At length I felt it was time to re-organise my caravan to 
 return ; and under the direction of an Iberian guide, over 
 whom a strict surveillance was kept, we set out upon ou
 
 218 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 way back to the ships, rejoicing to quit the desolation in 
 which we had been sojourning so long. 
 
 No sooner were our backs turned upon the encampment 
 than the Iberians rushed towards it, tore down the palisade,, 
 and scrambled furiously for any article, however worthless, 
 that we happened to have left behind.
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 AN AMBUSCADE. 
 
 FOR twc days we continued our return march without any 
 interruption, and reached the base of the steep ascent that 
 leads to the plateau overlooking the river. 
 
 The mounting of this height was a matter of no little 
 difficulty. We had to climb like goats, clinging to rocks 
 and tufts of brushwood, trampling down branches and 
 dry grass, and hardly succeeded, after all, in following the 
 track which the head of the caravan had opened. 
 
 Suddenly, about half-way up the* slope, the ground sank 
 abruptly, forming a deep ravine that had to be crossed 
 before continuing the ascent. We paused at its brink to 
 recover our breath. Behind us the long line of our sailors 
 and porters was slowly filing through the thicket ; in front, 
 yawned the precipitous ravine itself; and opposite to us 
 rose the mountain-side, to its very summit a mass of 
 sombre woods ; several eagles were wheeling round above 
 the chasm. 
 
 " A fine place for an ambush ! " said Hannibal, wiping 
 the perspiration from his forehead, and little dreaming what 
 was in store for us. 
 
 Himilco took a draught from the goat-skin that he 
 carried at his side, and heaved a long-drawn sigh : 
 
 "Ah!" he said, "it was in just such a plaguy hole as 
 this that I lost my eye ten years ago. I hope the hand 
 that thrust the lance has been rotten long since." 
 
 My own experience of the dangers of the land of Tarshish
 
 220 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 made me very cautious, and with the approval of my two 
 military subordinates, I despatched Hanno and Jonah to 
 the rear to call together the stragglers, and to collect any 
 that might have lost their way in the woods ; Bichri and 
 his ten Benjamite archers, and Aminocles with his five 
 companion Phocians, I sent on in front to make their way 
 rapidly across the ravine, and to explore the forest on the 
 opposite side. 
 
 Jonah's trumpet was soon heard sounding its call, and 
 very shortly afterwards Bichri and Aminocles were seen 
 entering the wood beyond the hollow. Without suspecting 
 that there was any cause for alarm, I ordered the guide 
 (who was still being watched narrowly by my sailois) to 
 advance, and we began our descent. Some of us had 
 already reached the bottom, and the main body were 
 making their way as best they could down the trouble- 
 some incline, when the guide came to a sudden halt. He 
 was about fifty paces ahead, just beginning tore-ascend the 
 hollow. As soon as he stopped, a whistle was distinctly 
 heard from the woods in front, and Himilco called out : 
 
 " Look out, captain look out ! there's mischief brewing." 
 
 I shouted with all my might to the guide to move on 
 more briskly, and the sailor who had been put in charge of 
 him was in the act of pushing him forward, when the 
 savage made a sudden dive, felled the sailor to the ground, 
 in two or three bounds cleared the intervening space, and 
 disappeared in the adjoining thicket. 
 
 " I told you so," said Himilco ; " I knew well enough 
 that the Iberian scoundrels would be at their old games 
 again." 
 
 While he spoke, Jonah's trumpet sounding an alarm told 
 only too plainly that the column was being attacked in the 
 rear, and in front a frightful chorus of yells and war-cries 
 was followed instantaneously by an avalanche of stones 
 One of my poor sailors fell at my side with his skuli 
 smashed, and all the native bearers who had entered the 
 ravine threw down their loads and fled precipitately.
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 221 
 
 "Form a line!" shouted Hannibal to his men; and in 
 spite of the storm of stones that was falling around him, 
 the intrepid leader mounted a projecting rock, and brand- 
 ishing his sword, vigorously rallied his force. A party of 
 sailors made a body-guard about the two women, and 
 Chamai, pale v/ith rage and excitement, rushed with his 
 sword drawn to Hannibal's side. 
 
 "What do you think of this?" said Himilco to me, 
 pathetically, as he picked up a great stone that had fallen 
 within a hand's breadth of his side ; " these Tarshish 
 almonds seem to be falling pretty thick." 
 
 And as if in answer to his words, a second storm yet 
 heavier than the first came pelting down amongst us, and 
 knocked over several of our men ; but this time it came 
 from behind, from the quarter of the ravine that we had 
 just quitted, and showed us that we were assailed as much 
 in our rear as in front. 
 
 ' O, if only we had some cavalry and some chariots," 
 began Hannibal ; " how easy to turn both flanks like the 
 
 o ' * 
 
 Khetas l did with the Assyrians. 3 We would send our 
 cavalry to the right, and our chariots to the left, and a 
 free passage for our own centre should soon be forced." 
 
 " But considering we have no cavalry and no chariots," 
 I said, interrupting him, "we must defend ourselves how 
 we can." 
 
 Without taking any notice of what I had said, he was 
 proceeding to expatiate upon the advantages and dis- 
 advantages of our position, when a huge stone struck his 
 helmet, knocking off the crest and battering in the head- 
 piece, and enforced upon him more effectually than I 
 had done the necessity of abandoning theory for practice. 
 For an instant he staggered with the shock, but quickly 
 recovering himself, he roared out : 
 
 " By Nergal ! this won't do. Holy El-Adonai ! this is 
 
 1 The Hittites of the Bible. Kheta was the general name given by the 
 litiyptians to che Semitic tribes. 
 
 2 B.C. JO7O
 
 222 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 too much. They must pay the penalty for this. Archers ' 
 quick ! up the slopes ! shoot every one who attempts tc 
 enter the ravine ! " 
 
 And turning to me, he cried : 
 
 " Captain, will you take your sailors back again up the 
 very path by which you came down, and sweep round to 
 those vagabonds who are harassing our rear ?" 
 
 " Men of Judah," he continued, " follow Chamai. Chamai, 
 lead them yonder to the left. And now, my men, to the 
 right with me. Forward !" 
 
 "Forward to the left! long live the King!" shouted 
 Chamai at the full pitch of his lungs, as he obeyed orders, 
 and led off his company in the direction contrary to 
 Hannibal. 
 
 The archers under Hamilcar formed a circle round the 
 women and the baggage, and were a guard for the bottom 
 of the ravine ; Himilco and Gisgo, with my party, regained 
 the ridge we had so recently quitted ; and thus on every 
 side we presented a front to the enemy. 
 
 No sooner had we scaled the side of the ridge, than my 
 men, cutlass in hand, began to lay about them vigorously. 
 The half-naked men of Tarshish, armed only with clumsy 
 bludgeons or wooden-pointed lances , could make no stand 
 against our sharp weapons, and fell in numbers beneath 
 our blows ; and although crowds of them disappeared 
 behind the thickets, we did not break our compact mass 
 to go in pursuit, but pushed on straight ahead. Concealed 
 and protected by the underwood, many of the foe con- 
 tinued to follow us, and to hurl javelins at us from piles 
 that had been secreted ready for the purpose. When, 
 however, we came to any open patch, clear of trees, a 
 detachment of our men would make a dash into the brush- 
 wood in the hope of capturing some of the stragglers ; but 
 the savages were generally much too fleet of foot to allow 
 themselves to be caught, and only about fifteen altogether 
 were secured in this way. To these no quarter was given. 
 
 Although \vc had advanced two stadia, we found nr
 
 NO Ql'ARTKK.
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 221 
 
 traces of Hanno and Jonah. I did not consider it ad- 
 visable to go further, and made my men halt and form a 
 circle round a large oak that stood alone in a little glade ; 
 but Himilco, whose vengeance seemed insatiable, ventured on 
 for about another stadium, with Gisgo and fifteen sailors. It 
 was somewhat more than an hour before they returned. They 
 had caught and killed two of the Iberians, but what created 
 a far greater interest for us, they had found Hanno's writing- 
 case all covered with blood, lying in a copse with the dead 
 bodies of nine or ten of our adversaries, and the mutilated 
 corpse of one of our own sailors. The trampled soil, the 
 pools of blood, and the carcases of the savages strewn all 
 
 about rendered it only too probable that after a desperate 
 struggle the scribe and poor Jonah had succumbed to 
 numbers, and that they had not only been massacred, but 
 their bodies had been carried away. 
 
 It was with saddened hearts that we made our way back 
 to the spot where we had been first surprised, repelling our 
 enemies all along as they persisted in harassing us. As 
 soon as I reached the ridge, and had satisfied myself that 
 the women and the troop around them were all safe, I closed 
 in my ranks and told up my losses. Six of my men had 
 fallen. Meanwhile I was beginning to feel very uneasy 
 about both Hannibal and Chamai, but my anxiety was of 
 no long duration ; they soon appeared together on the
 
 224 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 opposite height of the chasm : Bichri, too, was with them, 
 and the troops were in good order. They had nearly forty 
 prisoners ; and in the midst of the ranks I could see 
 Aminocles marching along with a child in his arms, whilst 
 amongst the captives I could distinguish a woman, two 
 men wearing kitonets, and another dressed in a long 
 Syrian robe. Hannibal was in front, and no sooner did he 
 catch sight of me than he waved his sword over his head 
 with a triumphant gesture, while Chamai, still more excited, 
 with his head bare and his forehead covered with blood, 
 began running rapidly towards me. I made pretence of 
 looking another way as he stopped to kiss Abigail in 
 passing, but in a minute or two he was at my side, his 
 countenance beaming with joy. All out of breath, he ex- 
 claimed : 
 
 " Close quarters ! but we have pretty well done for them 
 now ! " 
 
 Seeing the deep gash in his forehead and his blood- 
 stained sword, I observed that he bore evident traces of a 
 smartish tussle with the Iberians. 
 
 " Iberians ! " he said, contemptuously ; " who cares for 
 Iberians ? No ; it is our Tyrians that have done the mis- 
 chief. However, we have nabbed the scoundrel Hazael ; 
 and Aminocles has recovered his boy ; he was only just in 
 time to save the child's life." 
 
 " And Bodmilcar ? what of him ?" I asked, all excitement 
 at the information. 
 
 "Ah ! we have just missed him," he said ; " Hannibal got 
 near enough to slice him pretty sharply in the ribs, and if 
 it had not been for this unlucky wound of mine, we should 
 have had him here now ; but his people contrived to rescue 
 him, and to carry him off to the wood." 
 
 Half-frantic with agitation, and impatient to exact ven- 
 geance on my hated adversary, I forgot all about our 
 perilous position, my scattered ingots, and the fate of my 
 unfortunate scribe, and declared to Chamai that without 
 the loss of an hour we must go in pursuit, and get Bod-
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 225 
 
 milcar dead or alive. Across the ravine, off I started* 
 bidding who would to follow. 
 
 Himilco had shown Chryseis the writing-case, stained as 
 it was with blood, and a very few words had sufficed to 
 make her realise what were the fears we entertained upon 
 the scribe's behalf. She said nothing, but while Abigail 
 grasped her waist and wept tears of sympathy, she walked 
 steadily along, her hands tightly clenched, and giving no 
 other outward sign of emotion than a slight convulsive 
 movement of the shoulders. Chamai, whom I had omitted 
 
 to inform of the too likely fate of Hanno and Jonah, hur- 
 riedly asked Himilco what had become of them, but the 
 pijot only answered by a significant shake of the head, 
 and by pointing to the woods behind. 
 
 As I drew near to Hannibal, he advanced rapidly to 
 greet me. He seemed in high spirits, and although he \va.s 
 evidently affected by the intelligence we gave him about 
 Hanno, he endeavoured to disguise his feelings by saying 
 that we must all submit to the chances of war. 
 
 " Put what 's to be done next ? " he added, quickly.
 
 226 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 I told him that I was determined at all hazards to go ir 
 pursuit of Bodmilcar, who must not be suffered to escape. 
 
 " Easier said than done," replied Hannibal. " Bodmilcai 
 not only had a large force of Phoenician criminals and de- 
 serters, but when he attacked us he had a regular swarm of 
 savages, all armed either with clubs or javelins. At any 
 rate, he can keep his distance. I know not whether he is 
 alive or dead ; but I know this, that the fellows have found 
 out that it is not to their advantage to tackle us in close 
 quarters. However, we are too few to surround them, and 
 to pursue them is only to expose ourselves to another 
 ambush." 
 
 " What is to be done, then ? " I asked, gnashing my teeth 
 with vexation. 
 
 " You must get to the top of the hill before night," he 
 answered, decidedly ; " you must reach the open plain ; you 
 must not run the risk of another surprise. Once on the 
 plateau you are secure ; you can rest your men and give 
 them food ; they are knocked up. And you will have time 
 to interrogate your prisoners." 
 
 Chagrined as I was, I could not resist the conviction that 
 Hannibal's advice was judicious, and, however reluctantly, 
 gave up all thought of immediate pursuit I directed that 
 the prisoners should be fastened together by a rope passed 
 round their necks, and that forty men should be told off 
 under Himilco for a guard, with orders to kill the first man 
 that showed the least sign of resistance. 
 
 " You may trust me for that," said the pilot, with a vin- 
 dictive grin ; " they have only left me one eye, but that is 
 a sharp one." 
 
 When the captives had been securely bound, I had all 
 the packages and silver collected that had been left strewn 
 about by the runaway porters. 
 
 " There will be a double load for each of these scoundrels 
 to carry," I remarked ; " I shall take good care not to trust 
 Iberians -vith my property again till I have seen them weli 
 fettered."
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 22/ 
 
 The baggage was gathered without the occurrence of any 
 renewed attack, and Gisgo returned from the wood bran- 
 dishing a stout cudgel that he had cut from the bough of 
 an oak. 
 
 " Here's something to make them stir their legs a bit 1 " 
 he said, as he saw the men loaded with their burdens. 
 
 " Now then, get on, you brutes!" Himilco screamed in 
 Iberian ; " and the first rogue that shirks his work is a dead 
 man ! " 
 
 Placing the prisoners in the middle, we proceeded 
 cautiously to continue our ascent ; ancj while we were 
 prosecuting our toilsome march, I asked Bichri to give me 
 full particulars about the encounter with Bodmilcar. 
 
 " As accurately as I can," he said, " I will. On leaving 
 you we advanced without obstruction some hundred paces 
 into the wood, when in a moment we found ourselves 
 with a host of Iberians in our front, and as many in our 
 rear, pelting us with stones and darts. We ran full speed 
 to a spot where the trees were not so thick, and planting 
 our backs against a projecting rock, we stood on our defence ; 
 but almost directly afterwards we espied a troop of soldiers 
 dashing down towards us. They were Bodmilcar and his 
 miscreants. There seemed no hope for us : in a few minutes 
 \ve must have been overpowered ; but, happily, Hannibal 
 and Chamai made their appearance, and a desperate fray 
 ensued. I saw Bodmilcar fall to the ground ; Chamai had 
 all but secured him, when he was cut down by a cutlass, 
 and the Tyrians seized their opportunity to carry off their 
 chief, the barbarians covering their retreat, and hurling an 
 incessant shower of missiles. But we were rescued." 
 
 I had listened with eager attention to Bichri's story, and 
 as he came to a pause, I asked : 
 
 " But how about Hazael, and the woman and the 
 child?" 
 
 " Patience, and you shall hear," he said. "We resolved 
 to go in pursuit of our foe, who, we had no doubt, was 
 seriously wounded, and we had got into the thick of the
 
 228 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO 
 
 forest, when we came upon a pile of wood with a child lying 
 bound on the top of it. Fourteen or fifteen soldiers were 
 standing round, and Hazael, with a long knife in his hand 
 was on the very point of slaying the child, while two men 
 were forcibly dragging off a woman, who had evidently 
 thrown herself across its body. The very instant that 
 Aminocles caught sight of the victim, he shrieked aloud 
 ' My son, my son ! ' and dashed like a madman into the 
 group ; we all rushed after him, and Hazael, seeing that he 
 was in danger, made a lunge at the child with his knife and 
 took to his heels. However, I was too quick for him, and 
 soon had him back again. Meanwhile Aminocles and my 
 archers had made short work with the other men, and the 
 boy, who had fainted, was set free by cutting the cords that 
 fastened him, and was found to have sustained no very 
 serious injury. The woman, too, who had been endeavouring 
 to ward off the blow of the knife, was recognised by one of 
 the Phocians as the wife whom he had lost. Altogether, 
 considering we have captured the eunuch, saved the child, 
 and restored a man his wife, I do not know that we have 
 done a bad day's work." 
 
 But changing his tone, Kichri added, mournfully : 
 
 " And yet how it saddens all to think about poor 
 Hanno and our big friend Jonah. I loved them both, poor 
 fellows ! I wonder what has become of old Gebal. Is he 
 gone too ?" 
 
 I said that I had very little doubt the monkey had been 
 on his usual perch upon the trumpeter's shoulder, and so 
 most probably had shared his fate. Bichri drew a long 
 sigh, which seemed to convey the impression that he was 
 almost as much concerned at the loss of the monkey as he 
 was moved by the fate of his comrades. 
 
 We had now reached the plateau. It was a dreary plain, 
 dotted at rare intervals with a few trees and tufts of thistles, 
 and as far as I could estimate, about twelve stadia from the 
 "Boetis. Our supply of fresh water being nearly exhausted, 
 we were obliged to be veiy frugal with it at our evening
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 229 
 
 meal ; but as soon as this was finished, and Hannibal had 
 posted his sentinels and had all lights extinguished, I 
 summoned Hazael before me. I took my seat, supported 
 on either side by my officers and pilots, making Bichri. 
 Aminocles and his son, and the Phocian with his wife, 
 likewise be present. 
 
 The prisoner was brought forward, pale and trembling ,- 
 his hands were tied behind his back, and his embroidered 
 robe was torn and soiled with dust and blood. 
 
 "You know me ? " I roared out to him as he approached. 
 
 " Yes, my lord," he faltered out in a quivering voice, 
 without lifting his eyes from the ground. 
 
 " And you know your conduct towards me ? " I roared 
 again. 
 
 The culprh made no answer. 
 
 " Do you suppose I took you with me that you should 
 plot against me in Egypt, at Utica, at Gades ? " 
 
 He still gave no reply. 
 
 "What made you dare to try and kill that child?" I 
 said. 
 
 " I was under orders," he whined out ; " Bodmilcar made 
 me. He wanted to sacrifice to Moloch to secure his favour. 
 I dared not disobey him ; he has had me in his power all 
 along. It is not I, it is Bodmilcar that has wronged 
 you." 
 
 " O, that matters not," I answered. " Curses on Bod- 
 milcar! Would you save your life? One way, one only 
 way is open to you still." 
 
 The despicable Syrian prostrated himself till his face 
 was on the earth, and groaned out : 
 
 "Spare me ! spare my life! ask what you will ! trample 
 on my neck ! make me your slave for ever ! but spare my 
 life!" 
 
 Chamai, who was standing beside me with a bandage on 
 his forehead, turned his head away in disgust. 
 
 "Spare your life !" I repeated ; "why, if I did my duty 
 I should make your life a sacrifice this very minute to
 
 23O THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 the souls of the brave heroes who have lost their lives 
 through you ! " And after a pause, I said : " But, listen to 
 me ! do what I require, and I will give you more than your 
 life ; when we are back at Gades, I will give you your 
 liberty." 
 
 " O, I will do anything ; but swear, swear that you will 
 spare my life ! " implored the abject wretch, still grovelling 
 with his forehead in the dust. 
 
 " Yes, hearken ! " I ejaculated. " By Ashtoreth ! goddess 
 of heaven, I swear it ! " 
 
 Relieved of his immediate terror, the pusillanimous 
 craven started to his feet, and in a tone quite brisk in con- 
 trast with his previous whinings began to ask what it was 
 that I required him to do. 
 
 "You must first inform us of the strength of BodmilcarV. 
 force." 
 
 " One hundred and sixty Phoenicians. Six hundred 01 
 perhaps seven hundred Iberians." 
 
 " You must next tell us the place of rendezvous he had 
 appointed, in case his attack should fail." 
 
 Hazael hesitated. Chamai said that if he revealed this, 
 he would deserve a score of hangings for his treachery. 
 Without noticing the interruption, I said again : 
 
 " You must tell us his place of rendezvous." 
 
 Again no answer. 
 
 " Except you tell, you shall be hanged this very minute." 
 
 And to show him that I was in earnest I called for a 
 rope. Himilco produced a strong cable-end that he always 
 wore round his waist under his kitonet. Hazael quivered 
 and turned pale. 
 
 " Stop, stop ! don't hang me ! I will tell 1 " 
 
 " Out with it, then ; quick ! " 
 
 " At the Wolfs knoll." 
 
 " So far, so good. But where is that ? " 
 
 " In the wood, two stadia off." 
 
 " But which way ? " 
 
 " Behind us ; over there ; there to the right."
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 231 
 
 " Well then, come and show us the way." 
 
 And weary as I was, almost worn out by fatigue, I could 
 not resist the desire to go upon the simplest chance 01 
 meeting the adversary that I hated so bitterly. I called 
 out to my men that I wanted fifty volunteers to go with 
 me and hunt out Bodmilcar from his lurking-place. Many 
 more than I had called answered to my appeal, eager to 
 offer their services, and I could only request Hannibal to 
 select those best fitted for the expedition, and bid the 
 others take good care of the women and the, baggage, and 
 see that the captives were well secured. 
 
 Aminocles begged for permission to remain behind with his 
 little son, and asked that his countryman Demaretes might 
 likewise be allowed to stay with his newly-rescued wife ; 
 he acknowledged that they were indebted to me for the 
 recovery of their dear ones, promised that they would fight 
 doubly hard another time, but pleaded that they might be 
 excused now. Of course I had no hesitation in yielding 
 to his request 
 
 Before setting out I said, incidentally, that we might 
 perchance be fortunate enough to recover the bodies either 
 of Hanno or Jonah, or both. Chryseis rose instantly 
 to her feet, and, pale with agitation, placed herself at my 
 side. To my inquiry whither she was going, she replied in 
 a steady voice : 
 
 " To seek the body of my betrothed. If it be the will ot 
 the gods, I will consign it to a tomb." 
 
 " Come, then, you shall," I said, deeply affected by her 
 sorrow, her resignation, and her courage ; ' and may Ash- 
 toreth protect us all ! " 
 
 Hannibal gave the order to march. Bichri, ever indefati- 
 gable, went to the head of the column, leading Hazael by the 
 cord which bound his wrists ; Gisgo, with his hatchet on his 
 shoulder, kept close to the eunuch on the other side ; and 
 Himilco, with his s\vord drawn, followed on behind. We 
 advanced in silence towards the woods, choosing such 
 hollows in the ground as the moonlight left in shadow,
 
 232 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 and in a short time were within sight of the dark masses 
 of foliage that bounded the moonlit plain. Making oui 
 way as stealthily as we could through the thickets, we came 
 to a mound near the edge of the steep that we had scaled 
 in the morning. It was an abrupt elevation of the soil, 
 and was described 'to us by Hazael as being the place 
 known as the Wolfs knoll, and which Bodmilcar had fixed 
 as the rally-point of .his people. When we halted there 
 was not a light to be seen, not a sound to be heard, nothing 
 to break the gloom or the stillness of the forest. 
 
 " Before we give the signal for attack," said Hannibal, 
 under his breath, " we ought to know what they are 
 doing." 
 
 "I know my way," said the eunuch; "let me go and 
 look, that I may bring you word." 
 
 "Thanks," said Himilco ; "you are very good we will 
 not trouble you." 
 
 After this sarcastic rebuff to his very transparent pretext 
 for eluding us, Hazael was relapsing into his former silence, 
 when Bichri suggested that he should himself take the 
 eunuch and go and ascertain the actual position of affairs, 
 adding that if he made a movement to escape, he would 
 plunge his knife hilt-deep into his body. 
 
 Hannibal gave his consent, and the two disappeared in 
 the thicket, Bichri pushing on his prisoner before him. In 
 less than half an hour there was a crushing of the brush- 
 wood, and they were before us again. 
 
 " What news ?" we asked. 
 
 " The rascal has deceived us," said Bichri ; " we went all 
 round the mound, not a man, however, was to be seen." 
 
 " No, no, no !" sobbed the eunuch ; " I have not deceived 
 you. I swear I heard Bodmilcar say, ' Wolfs knoll.' Cut 
 out my tongue if I lie ! I swear it." 
 
 "Stop your oaths, liar!" I exclaimed impatiently. 
 " Lucky for you I pledged you your life ; but be on your 
 "uard or, by Ashtoreth, another time " 
 
 a 
 
 It may be," saiu Hannibal, "the villains have been
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 233 
 
 lurking about, and, having discovered your approach, have 
 decamped. The eunuch may have told the truth. Any- 
 how, nothing can be done. I am dead-beat." 
 
 Himilco and Hamilcar both declared that they, too, 
 were quite knocked up, so that I determined to make oui 
 way back, and seek the repose of which we were so much 
 in need.
 
 234 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 
 JUDGE GEBAL DISTINGUISHES HIMSELF. 
 
 ON arriving within a comparatively few paces of our en- 
 campment, we were challenged by the sentinels, who were 
 keeping a sharp look-out. As soon as we had entered the 
 lines, Aminocles came running towards us with excited 
 gestures, and, hardly allowing me time to inquire what had 
 occurred, told me in broken Phoenician that during our 
 absence " the little man " had been and gone, and was now 
 in a clump of trees hard by. 
 
 For the moment I was puzzled ; but Bichri, comprehend- 
 ing more quickly what the man meant, exclaimed, " Gebal ! 
 Judge Gebal !" and dashing off in the direction indicated, 
 began to whistle his accustomed call-note. In a few 
 minutes he returned, his countenance beaming with glee. 
 The monkey was seated on his shoulder, and greeted us 
 with hideous yells and grimaces. Ugly as the creature 
 was, I confess I was glad to have it again amongst us ; 
 nearly every one came to look at it, and although it pulled 
 Hannibal's beard, scratched Himilco's face, and bit Gisgo's 
 nose, nothing was set down to spitefulness, but all was 
 taken in good part, until the beast tried to claw Chamai's 
 hand, upon which Chamai, never very patient either with 
 man or brute, struck it a violent blow which sent it howling 
 back to Bichri. As it sprang away it dropped something 
 that looked like the strap of a sandal. After picking it 
 up and examining it by the light of a torch, Chamai 
 exclaimed :
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 235 
 
 "By all that's good, there is something written here! it 
 is written in Phoenician." 
 
 I snatched the strap away from him in my eagerness, 
 and discerned in a moment that it was covered with 
 characters apparently traced in blood. Without waiting 
 to read it all, I cried out : 
 
 " Hanno is alive ! old Gebal has brought us the news. 
 Hanno has written to us himself." 
 
 After I had deciphered the writing carefully, I said : 
 
 " Now, listen, my friends this is what he says : ' We are 
 prisoners, alive and well : Jonah's trumpet saved us ; 
 savages would not give us up to Bodmilcar ; their chief 
 wanted a Phoenician trumpeter. Another chief wants a 
 trumpeter before he will give his daughter in marriage to 
 this chief. I am spared as well. We are to be sent off at 
 once to the northern chief. Keep up your spirits. We 
 will soon escape. Beware of Bodmilcar ; he is laying an 
 ambush. He means to cut you off from the river.' There, 
 my men, that's what he says. We will hope to see him 
 yet." 
 
 As I ceased to read, Chryseis threw herself into Abigail's 
 arms, and wept for joy ; Gisgo flung his cap into the air ; 
 Himilco took a liberal draught from his goat-skin ; and 
 Hannibal manifested his emotion by sneezing seven times 
 in succession. As for Bichri, he took the monkey in his 
 arms, and fairly hugged it, a piece of attention which 
 Gebal acknowledged by plucking out a handful of his 
 hair. 
 
 " O, Gebal, shame upon you ! would you be pulling out 
 my hair when you know how much I love you ? Brave old 
 Gebal ! I was only congratulating you on distinguishing 
 yourself so well." 
 
 The others were all equally anxious to pet the creature, 
 and gave it quantities of almonds and raisins, which it took 
 without leaving its perch upon Bichri's shoulder. 
 
 "Come, come!" I said, "no time for this trifling. 
 Our water is gone ; we must get to the river ; we must be
 
 236 
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 beforehand with Bodmilcar. But there is one piece ol 
 business that we must settle first. Bring Hazael here." 
 
 The eunuch \vas brought before me, and addressing him 
 very sternly, I said : 
 
 " Hazael, you have heard this letter. It proves you a 
 liar and a traitor. Your villainy has cost us much trouble ; 
 there is no reprieve this time ; you must be sent forthwith 
 to another tribunal. Menath, Hokk, and Rhadamath must 
 be your judges. You must die." 
 
 Flinging himself prostrate at my feet, the abject wretch 
 broke out into the must piteous supplications ; he implored 
 for mercy, but I was inexorable. Two sailors raised him 
 to his feet, and Himilco having made a running noose in 
 his rope, slipped it round the Syrian's neck. 
 
 " Choose your own tree, my good man," said Himilco ; 
 "for my part I should recommend a sturdy holm." 
 
 Hazael made no reply, but struggled so violently that he 
 had to be dragged forcibly along. 
 
 " Don't be a fool ! " cried Gisgo. " What objection can 
 you have to be hanged ? it will save your shoe-leather."
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 237 
 
 " Now then," said Himilco, as soon as they had placed 
 the eunuch under the tree, " haul away, tackle him up to 
 the standing-rigging ; there ! his navigation has come 
 to an end ! " 
 
 And almost as he spoke, Hazael was dangling in the 
 moonlight. 
 
 " One traitor gone to his last account," I said. 
 
 " And the other, I hope, soon to follow," Hannibal replied. 
 
 Brief and scanty was our rest that night ; and when in 
 the morning the sun rose in a cloudless sky, so unrefreshed 
 were we after our fighting and toiling, that it was with the 
 utmost difficulty that we could drag ourselves across the 
 hot and dusty plain. My own throat was parched, and my 
 stomach cramped with those terrible sensations known only 
 too well by those who have suffered the tortures of exces- 
 sive thirst. Himilco had drained his last drop of wine, and 
 went feebly along through lack of stimulant ; Hannibal 
 removed his helmet, and carried it slung from his girdle ; 
 and all were too worn and weary to utter a syllable as we 
 marched. Bichri was the only one of us who exhibited no 
 symptom of fatigue, his wiry frame being capable of un- 
 limited endurance. 
 
 About the middle of the afternoon a light mist, indicat- 
 ing the course of the river, revived our flagging energies by 
 making us aware that fresh water was not far off. I took 
 Bichri and a number of men carrying gourds and goit-skins, 
 and hurried on to obtain, without loss of time, son>e drink 
 for my thirsty host ; but when I had got within half a 
 stadium of the river-bank I was seized with such violent 
 pain and nausea that I could hardly stand. I persevered, 
 however, till we were hardly more than twenty paces from 
 the water's edge, when suddenly there was a rustling in the 
 bushes, and a score or more of lances came whizzing about 
 us, and we were startled by the shrill war-cry of the 
 Iberians. Surprised, but not intimidated by the attack, we 
 kept steadily on our way, and were close upon the river- 
 bank, when some thirty or forty savages emerged from the
 
 238 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 rushes and confronted us with their lances, whilst as many 
 again, with hideous yells, ran to assail the flank of our main 
 body. Hannibal and Chamai soon dispersed their adver- 
 saries, but I with my party in advance did not fare so 
 well, for notwithstanding that Bichri struck down more 
 than one of the foremost of the barbarians, they succeeded 
 in entirely surrounding us. One of the sailors had his arm 
 pierced by a javelin Bichri had a cut in the calf of his 
 leg, and my own movements were completely paralysed by a 
 lance having got tightly fixed in my shield and shoulder-belt. 
 I confess I thought it was all up with us, but at the critical 
 moment the well-known sound of the Phoenician trumpet 
 broke upon us, followed by the animating cry, " Courage, 
 courage, we are here !" and a change passed upon the scene. 
 Like a flock of startled birds the savages were off in scared 
 retreat ; an advancing troop, doubtless Bodmilcar's own, 
 wheeled rapidly about and took to flight ; they had descried 
 Hasdrubal who, from the river-bank, was bringing up a 
 company to our rescue. Never did a friend receive a 
 warmer welcome. To my inquiry how it was that he had 
 arrived so opportunely, he told me he had been watching 
 the enemy's movements all the morning ; they had been too 
 engrossed with their own schemes to observe him, but he 
 was so convinced they were designing mischief that he 
 lowered the mast of the Cabiros and brought her up to 
 the side-arm of the river, whence he had led his men 
 forward just in time to render us good service. 
 
 Thus happily relieved from the threatened peril, our force 
 hastened onwards to slake their thirst, and I think it was 
 for the first time in my life that I saw Himilco gulp down 
 (and that with evident satisfaction) a draught of pure water. 
 Another hour and we were descending the Boetis, and 
 joyously recounting our adventures. 
 
 That night, which was spent on board the Cabiros, was a 
 night of well-earned rest. Next morning we started early 
 for the spot where the Dagon and the Ashtoreth had been 
 moored.
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 239 
 
 I gave my sailors five shekels apiece, and a triple ration 
 of wine, and conscious that they had been overworked, I 
 granted them twenty-four hours' release from labour before 
 finally recommencing our voyage. They spent their holi- 
 day according to their own taste ; they drank, they shouted, 
 they sang, they danced, and occasionally they diversified 
 their amusement by a little fighting ; yet, notwithstanding 
 the obstreperousness of their proceedings, when evening 
 came they calmed down quietly enough to their ordinary 
 discipline. 
 
 The next day found us once more on the open sea, 
 and for myself I felt an indescribable satisfaction in again 
 looking upon its green and restless face, and in hearing 
 its waves plash against the sides of my ship. 
 
 In two days we had reached Gades, and I settled all the 
 business I had to transact with Ziba. 
 
 And now the time had come for me to announce to my 
 officers and crew a purpose that I had long been con- 
 templating. Accordingly I invited them all to an enter- 
 tainment in a tent at some public gardens beyond the 
 town, and when the repast was over I rose and told them 
 why I had gathered them together. 
 
 " My friends," I began, " our mission is accomplished. 
 King David's demands are met ; King Hiram's orders are 
 fulfilled. King David's subjects are at liberty to return to 
 Palestine, and I have brought them here to bid them all 
 fare well." 
 
 Chamai started to his feet impatiently, and looking at me 
 with a keen and earnest scrutiny, asked what I meant. 
 
 " What I mean," I continued, " is soon told. I propose 
 to put all my silver on board the Dagon, and to place her 
 under the command of Hasdrubal. In the Dagon you, too, 
 can return. Hasdrubal shall have orders to land you and 
 Abigail and Hannibal, and whoever else may choose to 
 accompany you, at Joppa." 
 
 Upon hearing this, Hannibal, in a voice agitated with 
 emotion, called out :
 
 240 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 "And you? What about yourself? And are not 
 Ilimilco, Hamilcar, and Gisgo to go back with us ?" 
 
 " Not one of them," I answered ; " we have other work 
 to do." 
 
 A blank silence fell upon them all. Hannibal gazed at 
 me in bewilderment, big tears gathering in his eyes ; 
 Chamai broke his reverie by bringing his fist down so 
 violently upon a chair that it broke under the blow ; and 
 after a space, Bichri began softly to whistle one of the 
 
 melodies of his tribe, his usual way of trying to ex- 
 hibit a contemptuous indifference. 
 
 Chamai was the first to speak. 
 
 " By our holy God ! captain, I could never have believed 
 you capable of this," he blurted out. 
 
 " Yes, indeed, by all that's holy !" said Hannibal, finding 
 his voice, "what have we done that merits treatment of 
 this kind ?" 
 
 " I am doing you no wrong," I answered ; " friends we 
 have been hitherto ; friends let us part. You can surely
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 2.} I 
 
 ask no more than that I should remit you to your homes tc 
 pass the rest of your lives in ease and affluence." 
 
 " But why not return yourself?" they asked. 
 
 " I have invited you here, to tell you why. It is the 
 resolve of myself and of the Sidonians that are with me 
 to make a voyage of discovery. I have set my hear* on 
 rinding out what lands there are, whether they be isles 
 or continents, lying to the north. I am determined, if I 
 can, to settle whether it be possible, by sailing round 
 Tarshish to the west, to reach the Celtic shores. These 
 are the problems that I seek to solve." 
 
 " And do you think," said Chamai, " that we shall be 
 content to enjoy our repose while you are braving all 
 the perils of the unknown sea ? No, no ; not quite so un- 
 grateful as that ! " 
 
 " Desert our colours in the middle of the fight ? nay, 
 that will never do," cried Hannibal: "return home, who 
 will ; my post is with you, captain." 
 
 Ch: mai echoed his words, and Abigail averred her inten- 
 tion of not being parted from her lover. 
 
 I was quite overcome by the attachment of my people, 
 and grasped them all in turns by the hand. 
 
 " The gods reward your courage and fidelity," I 
 exclaimed. " But surely some of you will wish to return ? 
 Aminocles, what say you? do you not want to take your 
 son back to his home ? And you, Chryseis, you will 
 hardly think of facing the perils of the untried sea ? " 
 
 Aminocles replied that he could not desire his son to 
 have a better home than the society of warriors offered ; and 
 Chryseis avowed that she was bound to me by a perpetual 
 debt of gratitude : I had liberated her from slavery, and it 
 might be, if she continued with me still, that her missing 
 lovrr would be restored to her. 
 
 Turning to Bichri, who was still whistling some national 
 air in a lackadaisical manner, I said to him : 
 
 " As yet, young man, we have not heard your decision. 
 Have you nothing to say ?" 
 
 R
 
 242 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 " Not much," he answered ; " I planted a patch ol 
 Ziba's land with a lot of vine-slips. I think I shall go 
 north with you, and look in here at Tarshi.sh on my way 
 back, just to see how my plantation prospers." 
 
 "Well done, Bichri!" cried Himilco ; "you have set a 
 young vineyard going, have you ? You will have a long 
 generation of tipplers never ceasing to bless the day you 
 came to Gades. May the gods smile on you and your 
 vines ! " 
 
 Bichri did not vouchsafe Himilco any answer, but went 
 on, as though talking to himself: 
 
 "With old Gebal, and little Dionysos, I think I can be 
 happy enough. I shall miss poor Jonah, though." 
 
 I had thus learnt to my great surprise that there was 
 not one of my companions who was disposed to leave me. 
 I took measures, therefore, for consigning the charge of my 
 cargo, including the silver, to a Sidonian captain who was 
 about returning home, and then, without loss of time, laid 
 in an ample store of provisions for my voyage over the 
 untraversed waters of the West. 
 
 On the morning of my departure I went to take my 
 leave of the naval suffect and of Ziba. As I passed along 
 the quay by the entrance of the harbour, I found a great 
 concourse of people gathered together for the purpose of 
 witnessing the erection of two great pillars, one of which 
 bore a figure of the sun, and the other a statue of our god 
 Melkarth. I was naturally curious to ascertain the meaning 
 of the columns, and was informed that they indicated the 
 limits of the habitable world, and that beyond them there 
 was nothing but ocean. But the response of the oracle was 
 still echoing in my memory : the world for me had wider 
 bounds, I smiled, and went my way with a hopeful heart
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 243 
 
 CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 PERILS OF THE OCEAN. 
 
 FOR a whole week I followed the coast steadily to the 
 north, and having rounded a lofty promontory, bore 
 towards the east. In all my previous navigation I had 
 never experienced such difficult sailing, nor seen waves 
 more angry than those which dashed against the cliffs 
 that formed the shore. One headland there was which 
 took us little short of four days to double, and it was not 
 until we had been battling for more than a fortnight with 
 continual tempest that we found ourselves in calmer waters 
 and off a flat coast, of which, after the mountains had come 
 to their limit, the direction was again northwards. We 
 were all greatly fatigued. 
 
 Before we had proceeded much further we came to a 
 river with a mouth so wide that at first I imagined it to be 
 a gulf; the shores on either hand were wooded and un- 
 dulating, and the general aspect of the country was so 
 inviting that I determined to lay to, and had no difficulty 
 in finding excellent anchorage about half-way up the 
 estuary. 
 
 "By all that's good!" exclaimed Gisgo, "I recognise 
 those cabins. That's a Celtic village ;" and he pointed to 
 a cluster of huts, with conical roofs made of thatched reeds, 
 and without more ado made four rowers pull him ashore in 
 a boat to pay a visit to his former acquaintances. 
 
 He was not mistaken. In half an hour our vessels were 
 surrounded by the ill-made coracles of the inquisitive Celts
 
 244 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 some of whom were so eager to scrutinise us that they 
 swam out all the way from the shore ; and our decks were 
 soon invaded by numbers of them, who, with loud laughter 
 and much gesticulating, began talking all at once in a 
 language which was anything but euphonious. They ap- 
 peared perfectly friendly, and were far less barbarous in 
 their manners than the people of Tarshish. They were 
 dressed in very short tunics, made of coarse material 
 woven by themselves, and their legs were covered with 
 trousers that came to the ankles ; their faces were round, 
 and generally bore a good-humoured expression; their 
 eyes were bright, and for the most part blue ; their hair 
 light brown, and occasionally quite flaxen. Some of them 
 had bronze weapons and jewellery, which had found their 
 way from Phoenicia along the Rhone by means of the 
 Salians ; the majority of them, however, still retained 
 their wooden, stone, or bone implements, many of which 
 were very well made. 
 
 The "Celts, as I learnt on visiting one of their villages 
 ouilt upon piles in the water, are very expert fishermen. 
 I bought some gold dust of them in exchange for some of 
 my goods, which they seemed glad to obtain. They all 
 agreed in affirming that they had come from the north- 
 east, and had been established for nearly a century in 
 their present localities, whence they had driven out some 
 people resembling the Iberians and Ligurians ; and they 
 said that in the regions behind them there were some 
 other tribes of Celts, whom they called Gauls and Cymri. 
 
 After leaving their " mas," as they termed their village, 
 I returned to the ships, and we resumed our northward 
 course. Eight days' moderate sailing brought us into a 
 labyrinth of rocky shoals and islands. On the mainland 
 we found some more Celts, who told us that the name of 
 the country was Ar-Mor, that is to say, " the land of the 
 sea ;" and relying on their statement that north of their 
 own country there was a large island both rich and fertile, 
 I resolved to prosecute my voyage in that direction.
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 245 
 
 Two days later we were overtaken by a tremendous 
 tempest, and the sea being at the same time overhung by 
 a dense fog, which my people called " the lungs of the 
 ocean," we were tossed about by the foaming waves, and 
 seemed for several succeeding days to be wandering in the 
 gloomy realms of the dead. By the evening of the fifth 
 day we had lost all reckoning of our position, and were 
 drifting helplessly at the mercy of the wind and waves. 
 Towards midnight, overcome with fatigue, I was dozing at 
 the foot of the mast, when I was aroused by Himilco's 
 stentorian shout, "Breakers ahead!" 
 
 In an instant I was upon my feet, and at the helmsman's 
 side. 
 
 " Backwater ! " I shouted, "and signal the other ships." 
 
 All hastened to light the torches and lamps ; but it 
 was too late a long cry of distress made us aware that 
 the Dagon had already stranded,. and as I tacked about to 
 effect a retreat, I witnessed the heart-breaking spectacle 
 of the Cabiros completely heeled over, and lying in the 
 very midst of the breakers. 
 
 - The Asktoreth, although she was hitherto uninjured, was 
 environed by reefs which were level with the surface of the 
 water. The current was so strong that all my efforts to 
 get back to the channel by which we had entered were 
 unavailing, and after ah hour's struggle I still found myself 
 near enough to hear the surf curling over the peaks of the 
 rocks. For nearly the twentieth time I gave the order to 
 tack, when a sudden and ominous crash revealed the 
 appalling fact that we had struck the shoal, and were 
 aground ; and all through that pitch-black night we had 
 to endure the torture of believing that all our vessels were 
 irretrievably lost. 
 
 The wind dropped with the first streak of da\vn, and 
 beyond the breakers I could distinguish that the sea was 
 calm, and that we were not much more than half a stadium 
 from the shore. Shipwrecked though we might be, our 
 lives were spared, and our situation was not altogether so
 
 246 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 desperate as we had imagined. The Cabiros was safe, in 
 spite of her disaster, and had been hauled up on shore ; 
 but the Dagon, it was only too evident, was in a very 
 critical position. I ordered all my men to abandon the 
 ships and make for land. Some of them hung back, un- 
 willing to leave me ; Chamai being so reluctant to go that 
 he had to be sent ashore by main force, and Hamilcar 
 Hasdrubal, Gisgo, and Himilco all pleading so earnestl} 
 to remain with me that I was forced to consent. My own 
 resolution, of course, was to abide, while the planks held 
 together, with the ship that had carried us so far in safety. 
 
 As the day advanced the swell gradually abated, and the 
 pale-blue sky was broken by fleecy clouds ; not far away 
 we could see the green shore, where our people were 
 standing on the water's edge waving signs of encourage- 
 ment, and very soon Bichri and Dionysos managed to 
 clamber over the rocks and to come aboard our vessel. 
 
 At low tide I made a careful examination of the keels, 
 and found that not only was the keel of the Ashtoretk 
 very little injured, but that her stern was wedged so tightly 
 between the two rocks that her position was secure ; at the 
 same time she had not been jammed in so violently but 
 that I hoped a high tide might float her again. With the 
 Dagon, however, the case was unfortunately very different ; 
 she had been dashed so hopelessly against the jutting crags 
 that she must inevitably go to pieces, and I lost no time in 
 beginning to unload her. 
 
 Our people had discovered a stream of fresh water, and 3 
 neighbouring wood afforded fuel, so that the spot was very 
 favourable for a camp, the whole arrangement of which I 
 deputed to Hannibal, who immediately enclosed the site 
 witli an intrenchment. Having completed the task of un- 
 loading both ships, we took down the mast of the Ashtoreth, 
 and rescued from the Dagon as much planking and as many 
 fittings as we could, as well as the best part of her copper 
 sheathing. Lightened by the removal of her cargo and 
 rigging, the Ashtoreth, under the influence of a stiffish breeze,
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 247 
 
 was set afloat on the third day amidst general acclamation 
 and so admirably was she managed by Hiinilco, that she 
 was soon brought to land, and laid high and dry upon 
 the shore. 
 
 I did what I could to console Hasdrubal for the loss of 
 his ship, but he wept tears of bitter sorrow as he saw his 
 ill-fated Dagon break up before his eyes. 
 
 For some days we had seen no trace of any natives, and 
 were in want of provisions. I was preparing to send out 
 two boats on a fishing excursion, when we caught sight of a 
 long coracle rounding the point that sheltered our position. 
 It was made of hides stretched out upon a wooden frame, 
 and was paddled by four men, half-naked. On ncaring us 
 they hesitated, but we made signs to them of our friendly 
 intentions, and they came on and landed. Gisgo, recognising 
 them as Celts, both by their physiognomy and general 
 aspect, began to address them in their own language, and 
 they answered him very volubly, making many gesticulations 
 all the time they were speaking. So delighted did they 
 profess themselves at meeting with people who understood 
 their tongue, that they insisted on kissing us ; and not- 
 withstanding the smell of their long hair, which was reeking 
 with rancid grease, we were obliged to submit to their 
 embraces. 
 
 Gisgo told us that although they spoke a language similat 
 to that of the southern and central Celts, they were really 
 the Cymri, a kindred tribe from the north, where they 
 inhabited an island which they called Prydhayn ; they 
 seemed restless and inquisitive, overwhelming us with all 
 manner of questions ; they were tall and handsome, and 
 had pink and \vhite complexions, eyes of a/.ure blue, 
 and hair of the colour of ripe corn. 
 
 " Fine soldiers these fellows would make," said 1 lannibal ; 
 " I should like to have a thousand of them to drill ; I would 
 soon be more than a match for Bodmilcar." 
 
 To Bichri's remark that they seemed to have no bows, 
 Gisgo replied that he had seen them with bows occasionally,
 
 248 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 but that their ordinary weapons were lances and hatchets, 
 of which the stone tips and blades were always sharp and 
 often beautifully made. 
 
 I had the men questioned as to whether they had any 
 previous knowledge of the Phoenicians. They said that 
 their kinsmen, the Cymri of the north, had often spoken ol 
 strangers with dark skins and black hair, who came in large 
 ships and brought beautiful merchandise, but that they 
 themselves had never been thrown into contact with them. 
 
 I made them a number of presents, and much to Himilco's 
 annoyance (for he knew our supply was rapidly diminishing), 
 I gave them some wine. This exhilarated them very much 
 for a time, although their shouting and screaming ended in 
 some bickerings amongst themselves ; to us, however, they 
 were civil, and in spite of a little roughness, we found their 
 manners so kind, that it was impossible to be in any way 
 alarmed at them. When they went away they promised to 
 return in the evening, and bring their whole population and 
 some goods in return for our presents, but we saw nothing 
 more of them until the next morning, when they came 
 followed by a whole retinue of men, women, and children, 
 but all of them quite empty-handed. Rushing into the 
 camp with great excitement, they overwhelmed us with 
 their embraces, and asked such countless questions that I 
 was quite bewildered ; they insisted upon helping us to 
 arrange our camp, but introduced disorder wherever they 
 went : loud in their praises of what they saw, they were 
 scrupulously honest, and did not attempt to purloin the 
 smallest article, but their inquisitiveness and their meddling 
 rendered them a perpetual nuisance. They tried Hannibal's 
 temper sorely, by handling his cuirass and helmet ; the 
 more he pushed them off the more they laughed and enjoyed 
 his annoyance. Chryseis and Abigail had a hard matter to 
 keep them from stripping them, in their curiosity to examine 
 their clothes. Judge Gebal did not fail to provide them 
 boundless amusement, and they roared with laughter as 
 Bichri and Dionysos made their mischievous little quadruped
 
 Jl'lHiK GEHAL. 
 
 To fait fuse 248.
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 249 
 
 show off his antics. Some of my people regretted that 
 we had lost the attraction of Jonah's trumpet, but there- 
 was a sufficient variety of objects without that to give them 
 abundance of diversion. 
 
 Amidst all this, however, I did not suffer myself to 
 forget either of the two grand objects of my voyage, the 
 diseovery of new lands and the acquisition of rare commo- 
 dities ; and accordingly I took much pains to examine the 
 people about the situation and configuration, both of their 
 own islands and of the land we had just left. They seemed 
 a very intelligent race, and I found that they were adven- 
 turous, frequently accomplishing long distances in their 
 canoes of hide. According to their information we were 
 now on the largest and most important of a group of twelve 
 small islands, 1 but that the great island Prydhayn was so 
 larp'e that it took them no less than two months to circum- 
 
 o 
 
 navigate it in their canoes, from which I drew the inference 
 that it must be as large as Tarshish. I requested the men 
 to bring me whatever food they had for sale, and they never 
 failed subsequently in keeping me well supplied with fish 
 and venison. Seeing at once that they were not an agricul- 
 tural people, I made no demands for corn and vegetables ; 
 but as some time afterwards a small quantity of barley and 
 some other edible grain arrived from Prydhayn, I conjec- 
 tured that some of the natives are beginning to have some 
 notion of husbandry. 
 
 I was much struck by the number of trinkets that the 
 Cymri wore about their persons ; and observing that the 
 metal of which many of them were made was singularly 
 white, I was curious to know what it was and where it 
 could be procured. To my surprise, and I may add to my 
 delight, I was informed that the island on which we were 
 encamped yielded it in great abundance, and I lost no time 
 in investigating the veins of ore. Accompanied by a few 
 men, I set out upon a search which was rewarded by the 
 discovery that the entire island was one vast mine of tin. 
 
 ' The Scilly Islands, the Cassiterides, or Tin islands of the ancients.
 
 250 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 A scheme suggested itself to my mind which I resolved 
 to carry out. With the wood obtained either here or from 
 the neighbouring large island, I determined to build a new 
 ship to replace the shattered Dagon ; and during the time 
 that it was being constructed I purposed gathering such a 
 store of metal as would form a cargo far surpassing any- 
 thing of the kind which Phoenicia had witnessed before. 
 Every one around me most heartily approved of my 
 project. 
 
 In return for a few trifling knick-knacks, and for some 
 fragments of the old copper sheathing of the Dagon, 
 the natives willingly acquiesced in our working their mines, 
 and in letting us portions of their territory for as long 
 as we pleased to retain it ; in fact, they seemed to wish 
 that we would settle permanently amongst them ; they 
 volunteered their assistance in every way, and our camp 
 was quite over-stocked with the produce of their hunting 
 and fishing, whilst for the presents we made them they 
 were profuse in their expressions of pleasure and gra- 
 titude. In spite of their restlessness, inquisitiveness, and 
 love of talking, I have no hesitation in pronouncing them 
 the most favourable specimens of savages we had hitherto 
 seen. 
 
 Our arrangements were soon made. Hamilcar, with 
 Bichri and twenty archers, started on board the Cahiros 
 to explore the islands and the coast of Prydhayn ; Has- 
 drubal and Gisgo undertook the supervision of the working 
 of the mines ; I remained with Himilco in the camp to 
 devote myself to the construction of our new ship ; and, 
 first of all, in order to protect our men against the rainy 
 and rigorous climate, I had some substantial huts erected, 
 as being more suitable than the tents. For Hannibal and 
 Chamai there was no definite employment, and they spent 
 most of their time in hunting and fishing, and in joining 
 in the sports of the islanders, whom they began to in- 
 struct in military drill ; and never had they found more 
 apt or devoted learners.
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 251 
 
 One day Hannibal and Chamai made their appearance 
 among us with their chins closely shorn, and no hair left 
 on the face except a moustache on the upper lip ; they had 
 fraternised so far with the savages as to conform to their 
 fashion. 
 
 "You cut fine figures," I said, laughing ; "go and paint 
 your faces, and you will make capital Cymri." 
 
 Hannibal tried by very elaborate reasoning to justify 
 his proceeding, alleging that one ought to conform to 
 national customs, and that as the warriors here had their 
 faces shorn, it was right that he as a warrior amongst war- 
 riors should do the same. 
 
 " And Abigail," said Chamai, " thinks the change is very 
 becoming to me." 
 
 This argument beine^ unanswerable, I had not another 
 
 o j 
 
 word to say. 
 
 Days, weeks and months glided on whilst we continued 
 our active though somewhat monotonous labours. 
 
 When Hamilcar returned from his cruise, he informed us 
 that he had not only made his way along the west coast of 
 the great island, but that, still farther to the west, he had 
 discovered a somewhat smaller island which he had com- 
 pletely circumnavigated ; the natives, he said, called it 
 Erin, or " the green isle," from its remarkable verdnre, and 
 I retained the name. 
 
 The winter cam-: on, cold and drear. I have no power 
 to describe the consternation of those ot our part}' who had 
 never before seen frost or snow ; nothing but the sternest
 
 252 
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 necessity could induce them ever to leave their huts. The 
 poor monkey suffered excessively. Bichri and Dionysos 
 alone seemed unaffected by the fall of temperature ; they 
 were always ready to join the young Cymri in games of 
 snowballing, and would glide along the frozen surface of 
 the water until their faces glowed again with the exertion. 
 
 Under Bichri's tuition the little Phocian boy was be* 
 coming an adept in the use both of the sling and of the 
 bow ; he seemed always delighted to be bringing back from 
 his hunting excursions fresh trophies of his skill. 
 
 The most hipped of all the party was Himilco ; not that 
 the sturdy pilot had more dread than the rest of mists and 
 frosts, but because he was much disconcerted at the rapid 
 diminution in our stock of wine. 
 
 " Ah me !" he would sigh, as each goat-skin was drained ; 
 " another gone ! we shall have nothing but water with 
 which to greet the advent of spring. Ah, yes ! it is time 
 we were back again in Phoenicia ; it would do one good to 
 see the vines on the hill-side of Berytos." 
 
 In his forebodings Himilco found a genuine sympathiser
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 253 
 
 in Hannibal, who (although I should not like to say that 
 there was one amongst us who would not be sorry for all 
 our wine to be exhausted) was the only one who openly 
 shared the regret of our thirsty pilot. 
 
 At length the days grew longer and brighter, and the 
 sea, which had been almost always angry and restless, 
 settled down into something of a calm. Our new ship was 
 finished. We launched it on our feast of navigation, and 
 not only did the Cymri come to assist, but in honour of 
 the occasion their priests and priestesses stripped them- 
 selves of their clothes, and stained their bodies with blue 
 and black paint. In the evening we had a banquet of fish, 
 venison, barley, and some of the esculents of the country. 
 We also finished the last drop of our wine. 
 
 " Let us drink to our prosperous return," said Himilco. 
 
 " It is much too soon to speak about that," I rejoined ; 
 "our voyage as yet is far from its end." 
 
 Every one looked at me in bewilderment ; it had never 
 occurred to them that we could be bound elsewhere than 
 for Sidon. Chamai asked whether we were going to have 
 a little further benefit of " the lungs of the sea." 
 
 " You are perfectly at liberty to go home," I answered 
 him. " This new ship has been built, and I am quite 
 prepared to let her return with her cargo and as many of 
 you as are no longer disposed to encounter the cold and 
 mists." 
 
 Chamai started to his feet, and said impulsively : 
 
 -" Surely, captain, you did not suppose I was in earnest ; 
 you cannot believe I was thinking of leaving you. I 
 profess I do not like this chill and dreary climate ; but you 
 may rely on this, wherever you go, I shall go also." 
 
 I gave him my hand, assuring him that I had every 
 confidence in his fidelity, and then proceeded to explain 
 the motive that induced me to extend my voyage. I 
 showed them a fragment of a transparent yellow substance, 
 which appeared to be comparable to some of the jewels of 
 our own land. The Celt who had <jiven it me called it
 
 254 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 amber, and told me that thirty days' sailing to the easl 
 would bring me to the shore of a large continent where it 
 was washed up in great abundance. Here truly was a gift 
 from Ashtoreth ! 
 
 " And who knows," I continued, " whether the vast 
 ocean which is united to the Great Sea at the Straits of 
 Gades may not again be united to it in the east ? Hitherto 
 we have learnt nothing about the "northern shores of the 
 Black Sea, and who can tell whether we shall not be able 
 to return to Sidon by way of Caria and Chittim ?" 
 
 The familiar sound of these names rekindled the courage 
 of my people, who one and all avowed their intention of 
 accompanying me eastwards to the amber-coast. 
 
 "Yes," said Himilco, "although the wine is all gone." 
 
 Our new vessel (which was called the Adonibal, after the 
 naval suffect at Utica) was well freighted with our cargo 
 of tin ; like the other ships, she took in a good supply of 
 water and a quantity of dry salted meat, as well as some 
 grain and some of the sour native fruits. 
 
 After bidding farewell to the kindly-disposed Cymri, 
 who had contributed so much to our comfort during our 
 long sojourn among them, we put out to sea. The 
 islanders accompanied us for some distance in their canoes, 
 but we soon outstripped them and left them out of sight as 
 we doubled the western extremity of Prydhayn. 
 
 Six days' rough sailing brought us to the eastern 
 extremity of the island ; thence steering due east I came 
 to a low flat coast, along which I continued to advance very 
 cautiously. This took us a week, at the end of which we 
 found ourselves in a wide estuary, on the far side of which 
 the coast resumed its northerly direction. In spite of the 
 violent wind and angry sea I persisted in following the coast 
 for yet five days more, seeking a passage towards the east, 
 holding no communication with the natives, although the 
 glow of the fires inland demonstrated that the country 
 was inhabited. But at last the state of our provisions and 
 the continuance of rough weather compelled us to abandon
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 255 
 
 all hope of discovering a passage, even if one existed, 
 which probably after all was not the case, and we turned 
 back, meeting on our way four large Cynirian canoes 
 coming back from the continent, where their crews had 
 been collecting amber. They assured us we should find 
 unlimited quantities on the eastern shore, and I was 
 preparing to proceed thitherwards when we were enveloped 
 in a fog so dense, that we were forced to lay to. We sent 
 some boats out to reconnoitre ; these had some difficulty 
 in getting to the shore, but considerably more in getting 
 back again to the ships, although I had lighted a number 
 of torches and lamps as beacons. 
 
 When the fog lifted a little we made our way very 
 gradually until we came to what looked like land. This 
 was the amber country. 
 
 " Since there is nothing to be found at sea," I said, " let 
 us disembark." 
 
 But disembarkment was no easy matter. We had entered, 
 without knowing it, into what seemed to be the estuary of a 
 river ; but we were literally imbedded in mire, and it was 
 next to impossible to define the boundary between the 
 muddy water and the slimy shore ; in the gloomy at- 
 mosphere, earth, air, sky, seemed all to be blended into one. 
 After four or five hours' toil the Ashtoreth was moored in a 
 small creek, and the other vessels were drawn up on what 
 was the nearest approach to dry land that the sodden sands 
 afforded. It took the rest of the day to dig a trench round 
 the ships, and to make a kind of encampment for ourselves ; 
 the fog again became extremely dense, and the gloomy day 
 yielded only to a gloomier night. 
 
 Bichri, who with twenty men had started on a foraging 
 expedition, returned shivering with cold ; he brought some 
 good faggots, which, though they were damp, were very 
 resinous, and burnt well. We lighted as many fires as we 
 could, and heedless of the volumes of smoke which they 
 emitted, we crouched closely around then: a? we cooked 
 our supper.
 
 256 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 Chamai, who had wrapped himself tightly in his mantle, 
 was the first to break the depressing silence. 
 
 " Frightful, odious country !" he exclaimed . "can human 
 creatures exist in such a desolation as this ? It is a place 
 for monsters, not for men ! " 
 
 " It would just suit old Jonah, then," said Hannibal, with 
 a sigh ; " it would cheer us up, too, if Hanno were here to 
 entertain us with a sprinkling of his wit." 
 
 " I do not think we need have much fear on their account," 
 1 said ; " by this time, I should hope, they are pacing the 
 sunny streets of Sidon, or enjoying the fragrant heights of 
 Libanus." 
 
 "Yes; I daresay," Himilco assented; "and no doubt 
 they have plenty of good wine to drink ; wine, rich as 
 nectar, from Helbon, Byblos, and Sarepta ! " 
 
 " There now, enough of that," cried Hannibal ; " cease 
 your talking, or you will be making me as much a wine- 
 bibber as yourself." 
 
 " Call me a wine-bibber ? " groaned Hannibal, holding up 
 a goblet of turbid water ; " do you think this is the kind of 
 stuff to get tipsy on ? " 
 
 The dull mist grew more and more chilling, and every 
 one appeared quite benumbed. Gebal was wrapped up in 
 folds of woollen cloth, which Bichri had provided for him, 
 but was almost too paralysed to make a grimace. We 
 crouched down still closer to our fires, and obtained what 
 unrefreshing sleep we could. 
 
 The morning dawned, grey, and almost as gloomy as ever, 
 without one streak of sunlight. Red with anger was Chamai 
 as he exclaimed impatiently : 
 
 " I suppose the sun does not shine in these cursed 
 regions ! " 
 
 " Oh yes ! " replied Gisgo, "he does come now and then, 
 but he finds everything so confoundedly ugly, that he is 
 glad to get back again to the Great Sea, and to his own 
 dear Phoenicia," 
 
 Aminocles once again became subject to his nervous
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 257 
 
 fancies ; he was sure that we must have entered Hades, 
 and implored us to lose no time in offering a sacrifice to 
 propitiate the gods of the lower world. Naturally enough 
 we ridiculed his fears, but it cannot be denied that the 
 influence of the climate is most depressing, and conducing 
 to hypochondria. 
 
 I urged upon my companions the importance of our 
 seeking communication if possible with the natives, and as 
 soon as we had taken our morning meal we arranged to set 
 out and explore the river. Bichri and twenty men went 
 forward as an advanced guard ; I followed with Hannibal 
 and the main body of the fighting force ; Hamilcar, with 
 about thirty more, brought up the rear. Hasdrubal and 
 fifty men were told off to keep guard over the ships and 
 encampment during our absence. Just as he was setting 
 out Bichri remarked that he wished he had Jonah with his 
 trumpet to attract the attention of the inhabitants, but I 
 bade him not to indulge just then in unavailing regrets. 
 
 After wading through such desperate quagmires that we 
 could hardly determine whether we were going by land or 
 by water, we arrived at some forests consisting of black firs, 
 and some other trees that were remarkable for their slim- 
 ness and scanty grey foliage. The soil everywhere was 
 marshy, and often broken by large pools. Although we did 
 not come across a human being, we observed many vestiges 
 which showed that the place was by no means untrodden 
 by the foot of man. In four places we passed some ruined 
 reed-huts, surrounded by piles of ashes, numbers of shells, 
 and some gnawed bones that bore the marks of fire. But 
 if men were wanting, animals abounded. At every turn we 
 noticed prints, large and small, of cloven hoofs, betokening 
 that we were traversing the haunt both of bullocks and 
 deer, some of the impressions being obviously those of very 
 enormous creatures. Bichri, who followed one of the tracks 
 for some distance into the wood, remarked that branches 
 had been broken off the trees by the animals' horns at so 
 a height from the ground, that he was convinced if 
 
 S
 
 258 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 had been done by a beast several hands taller than the 
 largest horse. On our way back to the camp we saw two 
 deer of a smaller species ; Gisgo recognised them as the 
 same he had seen in the country of the Celts, who call 
 them renns or reindeer ; they took to flight immediately 
 they caught sight of us, a circumstance that convinced me 
 that the inhabitants were accustomed to hunt them ; Bichri 
 and Dionysos, however, not only contrived to get within 
 bowshot of them, but brought them both down, a great 
 boon to us all, as we were in much need of fresh meat. 
 The renns were about the size of a donkey ; they had very 
 slender legs, large hoofs, thick grey hair, a white spot 
 upon their breasts, and large branching horns. 
 
 Next day I sent Hamilcar with two boats to cruise along 
 the coast, and taking nearly all the rest of my people and 
 thirty archers with me, went myself to make a more 
 thorough exploration of the country. We were met by 
 a herd of wild bulls. We attacked them as vigorously as 
 we could, but at the first touch of our arrows the brutes 
 charged down upon us so furiously that we were obliged 
 to take refuge behind the trees. One poor soldier who 
 could not succeed in getting out of the way was trampled 
 under the animals' feet, and another was tossed into the 
 air so violently that his back was broken by the fall. Three 
 of the bullocks were killed, and after being cut in pieces, 
 their flesh was conveyed to the camp. 
 
 On our way back Bichri wounded a gigantic stag, which 
 Chamai succeeded in killing by stabbing it just below the 
 shoulder-blade. It was of a kind which Gisgo said was not 
 often seen by the Celts, and he called it an elenn or eland. 
 Elenns are considerably larger than horses, and as a general 
 rule feed upon the lower branches of trees, their necks 
 being so short and rigid that unless they can graze upon 
 soft soil into which they can sink nearly to their knees, 
 they cannot get their heads down sufficiently low to reach 
 the grass ; they have very formidable antlers, which do 
 not stand high, but branch out very wide on both sides;
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 255 
 
 their strength is enormous, and, unlike the rest of the deer 
 tribe, they do not exhibit terror when attacked, but boldly 
 front the hunter. They are consequently animals which it 
 is by no means prudent to assail in close quarters, as we 
 subsequently learnt by our own experience. 
 
 Hamilcar returned, bringing a fair supply of amber that 
 he had collected along the coast. 
 
 We remained in our quarters here for more than a 
 fortnight, spending our time in gathering amber, and 
 subsisting upon whatever renns, elenns, or wild bulls we 
 were able to kill. 
 
 The poor fellow who had been killed was buried where 
 he had fallen. Over his grave was placed a stone engraved 
 >'ith his name and an invocation to the gods.
 
 360 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 CHAPTER XVII. 
 
 JONO, THE GOD OF THE SUOMI. 
 
 AFTER sixteen days' sojourn, finding the amber beginning 
 to run short, and the game getting very wild, I resolved to 
 proceed, and sailed eastwards for five days, until the lack 
 of provisions, no less than the desire of exploring, induced 
 me to enter the mouth of the great river we had pre- 
 viously seen. The aspect of the place was scarcely more 
 inviting than where we had landed before, but we hauled 
 up our ships, and made an encampment as near to them 
 as we could. 
 
 On setting out next morning to explore, we had pro- 
 ceeded but a little way before we came upon traces 
 proving beyond a question that human beings had been 
 in the neighbourhood quite recently. We entered nearly 
 a dozen of the conical huts that we came to, in one of 
 them finding a fire still burning, and in several of the 
 others a variety of arms and implements, consisting of 
 weapons made of polished stone, hatchets, and some copper 
 caldrons. Examining them with greater minuteness, we 
 ascertained that the huts had been abandoned in great 
 haste ; not only were there fragments of partially-con- 
 sumed meat and fish, but one of the litters of reeds 
 covered with moss was still warm from being lately 
 occupied. I felt convinced that the natives must have 
 evacuated their tenements in alarm at our approach, and 
 suspecting that they were still lurking about, I ordered 
 some red cloth, some beads, some bracelets and necklaces,
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 26) 
 
 and other things which I thought might attract their in- 
 terest, to be displayed in one of the most spacious of the 
 huts. I next made my people retire about three hundred 
 paces, and waited to see the result of my device. 
 
 Before long the savages returned, and seeing us stand 
 quietly, without any apparent wish to molest them, they 
 allowed themselves to be seen, and came nearer to us. I 
 took Gisgo and advanced to meet them ; but when he 
 addressed them in the Celtic tongue, I found that they 
 did not understand a word he said, but replied in a 
 language that neither of us had ever heard before. Point- 
 ing first to a neighbouring marsh, they cried, " Suom, 
 Suom," and then pointing to their own breasts, they said, 
 " Suomi, Suomi," from which I conjectured that they called 
 a marsh "suom," and that they were themselves "people 
 of the marshes." When they showed us their stone 
 weapons, they pointed to the north-east and said " Gothi ;" 
 and what struck me as remarkable, they used the same 
 word when they spoke of their articles of Tibarenian 
 bronze. I had never before heard of a people of that 
 name, but could not help wondering whether these " Gothi " 
 could by any possibility be Caucasians. 
 
 I had seen many savages in my time, but I had 
 never seen savages so frightfully ugly as these ; their 
 huge heads, flat faces, small eyes, enormous mouths, sallow 
 complexions, made up a physiognomy that was simply 
 hideous ; their short, thin legs appeared scarcely able to 
 support their clumsy bodies. They made us understand 
 by their gestures that their friends the " Gothi '' were 
 taller either than themselves or us. 
 
 Besides being ugly, their appearance was most sordid. 
 None of the ornaments so frequently worn by savage 
 tribes adorned them, but their bodies were scantily pro- 
 tected by fragments of skins, and their weapons, for the 
 most part, were clumsy bludgeons, stone lances, and a kind 
 of harpoon tipped with bone. One alone wore a necklace 
 made of shells and pieces of uncut amber. He appeared
 
 262 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 to be a sort of chieftain, and as a token of his good-will he 
 held out a wild bull's horn full of some yellowish fluid ; I 
 was on the point of taking the horn into my hand, when 
 Himilco, ever ready to guzzle, raised it to his lips ; but no 
 sooner had he tasted the contents than he dashed it to 
 the ground, and began spitting and spluttering with every 
 expression of disgust. 
 
 "Ugh! the vile stuff!" he said, as soon as he could 
 speak ; " it's nothing in the world but beastly fish-oil ! 
 Ugh!" 
 
 We all roared with laughter ; but the chief, highly offended 
 at the way in which we received his preferred attention, 
 assumed a threatening attitude, and in spite of my attempts 
 to pacify him, withdrew with his followers to the woods. 
 
 Poor Himilco looked very penitent when he saw the 
 mischief he had done. 
 
 "What a besotted idiot I am!" he exclaimed; "I 
 declare I deserve nothing less than to be swung up to the 
 nearest oak. But who was to know that what looked so 
 tempting was nothing but stinking oil ?" 
 
 " Well, well," I said ; " never mind, you will have better 
 luck another time. I don't fear but that we shall soon have 
 another opportunity of improving our acquaintance with 
 these barbarians." 
 
 As we proceeded up the river we met occasional groups 
 of the people, who were always full of gesticulations ; they 
 snatched greedily at any gifts we offered them, but took 
 themselves off directly we attempted to open any nego- 
 tiations. 
 
 A clearance in the wood made us suspect we were 
 approaching a larger settlement, and we soon came to a 
 large sheet of water, in the middle of which was an island 
 crowded with conical huts, that in the centre being much 
 higher than the rest. The island had been connected with 
 the land by a narrow causeway, which the natives made 
 us understand we were not to cross ; but they were not 
 altogether indisposed to transact business with us, and
 
 HE DASHED IT TO THE GROUND. 
 
 To face f>agt 262.
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 263 
 
 parted with some amber at a very low rate. But although 
 they attached so little value to their amber, it was far 
 otherwise with their weapons ; we could not induce them 
 to part with one of their clumsy lances nor one of their 
 smallest bone hooks for any article that we could offer 
 them. They showed us various implements of polished 
 stone, and appeared to be desirous of getting more like 
 them, exhibiting some surprise that we had none to 
 exchange away. Bronze they had seen before, and they 
 were acquainted with the use of bows and arrows ; they 
 
 pointed to the birds upon the trees, as an indication that 
 they wanted Bichri to shoot some ; a desire on their part 
 which he was more than ready to gratify. 
 
 Not thinking it prudent to remain all night in our 
 present position, I gave orders for making our way back 
 to the ships, yielding, however, to the wish expressed by 
 several of the Suomi to accompany us ; but so dark was 
 the night, and so bad were the roads, that we utterly 
 lost our way amidst the quagmires. We wandered about 
 till near daybreak, when six of us Hannibal, Chamai, 
 Himilco, Bichri, one of the sailors, and myself found
 
 264 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 ourselves up to our waists in a swamp. After extricating 
 ourselves with much difficulty, we discovered that the rest 
 of our party was out of sight, and although we shouted 
 with all the strength of our lungs, we failed in making our- 
 selves heard. Terrible as our situation was, there was a 
 still greater dilemma in store. While we were anxiously 
 endeavouring to find some waymarks to guide us, we were all 
 at once surrounded by nearly two hundred of the savages, 
 all stoutly armed. Resistance would have been useless even 
 if it had been possible. The men had started, as if called 
 
 by an incantation, from the tufted brushwood around, and 
 before we could lay our hands upon our swords, they had 
 felled us to the ground and pinioned our arms, yelling and 
 dancing all the time. They did not allow us time to regain 
 our feet, but pounced down upon us. Two men seized 
 me by the arms, two by the feet, and a fifth, after taking 
 away my sword, my cap, and my shoulder-belt, came 
 dancing along behind, every now and then leaning close 
 over me to peer into my face. They had all evidently 
 tricked themselves out for their adventure ; their hair was
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 265 
 
 dyed red, and their faces were tattooed blue and black 
 with war-paints. 
 
 After about an hour we were made to cross the causeway 
 from which we had been repelled the day before, and 
 alternately pushed and pulled, we were thrust into one of 
 the huts. Hideous women and still more hideous children 
 followed us in groups until we reached our destination, 
 where a matting was fastened closely over the doorway, 
 and we were left upon the cold damp ground in complete 
 darkness, pillaged, bruised, and bound. There was the 
 sound of retreating footsteps, and soon the noisy yells 
 lapsed into perfect silence. 
 
 If we had been pinioned with rope we might perhaps 
 have contrived to extricate ourselves, but we had been tied 
 with a tough twist made of bark, which lacerated our wrists 
 every time we made an attempt to release them. Chamai 
 groaned aloud with agony. 
 
 "Who's groaning?" asked Hannibal, his voice being at 
 once recognised in the darkness. 
 
 " I cannot slip these cursed cords," said Chamai. 
 
 "No," said Himilco, "you might as well try to break a 
 ship's cable ;" and remembering that he had not heard 
 either me or Bichri speak, he asked whether we were there. 
 
 Bichri replied : 
 
 " Here we are, both of us ; and I only wish old Judge 
 Gobal was with us ; he would haVe got us out of this 
 dilemma." 
 
 " What do you mean ?" I said. " I don't understand 
 what good the monkey could do. Anyhow, we must 
 now help ourselves ; and that doesn't seem a very easy 
 business." 
 
 " If Hamilcar and Hasdrubal do not come to our rescue, 
 I shall think them the vilest cowards on the face of the 
 earth," said Hannibal. 
 
 ' Ah, you must not judge too hastily," I answered ; " I 
 do not doubt but that they will do all in their power, but 
 it is only too likely they have been attacked, and are in the
 
 266 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 same plight as ourselves. Besides, I hardly see how the) 
 are to get across that causeway." 
 
 " No difficulty there," said the general, warming into 
 enthusiasm ; " archers, right and left ; fighting men in a 
 column, four abreast ; sound your trumpets and " 
 
 He stopped abruptly ; the clang of a trumpet had caught 
 his ears. 
 
 " They come ! they come !" cried Chamai, all excitement ; 
 " The Lord of hosts be with them ! " 
 
 Another blast. 
 
 Hannibal continued to expatiate very scientifically about 
 columns of four and columns of eight, and bewailed his 
 fate that he was not in command ; Bichri, less calm, fancied 
 himself at the head of his troop. 
 
 The notes of the trumpet seemed more and more 
 distinct. 
 
 "I cannot make out that trumpet," said Himilco ; "it 
 does not sound like one of ours." 
 
 " Whose else should it be ? " replied Hannibal, testily. 
 " Savages do not blow trumpets." 
 
 The pilot now insisted that the sound did not come 
 across the water at all, but from the very centre of the huts. 
 
 "And yet," he said, "if it means an attack, I wonder 
 we do not hear the war-cry." 
 
 We were all bewildered, and no less so when we heard 
 three loud shouts rend the air, and the trumpet notes which 
 had been going on at intervals for a quarter of an hour 
 come to an end with a prolonged and thrilling flourish. 
 
 " I never knew but one pair of lungs that could make a 
 clarion ring out like that," said Hirnilco. 
 
 The name of Jonah rose simultaneously to the lips of us 
 all, and Bichri said he should like to see Gebal come in and 
 confirm our impression. 
 
 ' Nonsense," I said, " why indulge these foolish fancies ? 
 we must be practical. If we are rescued by our troops, 
 well and good ; otherwise we shall either have to buy our 
 selves off by a ransom or invent some ruse to escape."
 
 I
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 267 
 
 The sailor who was with us, speaking now for the first 
 time, reminded us that there were several canoes moored to 
 the causeway, and Himilco recollected having noticed them. 
 This set us speculating whether we could devise any means 
 of getting at the canoes, and using them to facilitate our 
 escape. Hannibal declared that we should still be in the 
 clutches of the savages, even if we got to land ; but Bichri 
 and Chamai maintained that once free they could take good 
 care of themselves. 
 
 I interrupted them to inquire whether any one amongst 
 them had a knife, but it proved, as might have been ex- 
 pected, that the savages had not left us anything of the 
 sort. 
 
 "Then roll yourself over here, Bichri," I said, "and see 
 whether you cannot gnaw this twisted stuff off my hands." 
 
 " I have pretty good teeth," replied the youth, " and I 
 will try." 
 
 Silence fell upon us all as we listened to him shuffling 
 along the ground and panting with his exertions. I cannot 
 tell how long it was before I felt his warm breath upon my 
 hands, but it seemed to me at least half an hour. He 
 nibbled indefatigably at the cord, giving my flesh an 
 occasional grip in the process, until the material was re- 
 duced to the substance of twine, when by a slight effort of 
 my own I burst it asunder, and I was free. An exclama- 
 tion of delight broke from my lips, and I was about to 
 liberate the others, when Himilco, who was lying across the 
 doorway, said : 
 
 " Hush ! some one comes !" 
 
 In an instant I twisted the broken cord around my wrists, 
 but only just before a party of several of the savages 
 entered the hut. One of them having fastened back the 
 covering at the door, took a long pole and pushed up a 
 kind of trap that had closed the aperture at the top that 
 served the purpose of a chimney, and the gleams of light 
 afforded by these two openings allowed us to inspect our 
 place of confinement.
 
 268 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 The hut was perfectly empty, without an article of furni 
 ture ; the walls were grimed with soot and smoke ; upon 
 the clay floor three rude stones formed a kind of fire-place 
 which was filled with ashes and the refuse of some victuals. 
 A cold drizzling rain penetrated the hole in the roof, and 
 pattered down upon the ground below. 
 
 The men that had entered were elaborately covered with 
 their war-paint. One of them had the head and skin of a 
 bear drawn over his face like a mask, in the way that I 
 have seen done by the Assyrians ; another wore upon his 
 shoulders the head and horns of an elk. A third, who 
 carried a stick in his hand, ushered the other two into the 
 middle of the hut, where they began dancing and making 
 the strangest of contortions, but all without uttering a 
 word. After this had gone on for some time, one of the 
 two, who wore a necklace made of the teeth of wild animals, 
 and who apparently was the chief, walked up to me, and 
 stood gazing in my face. I noticed that he had my own 
 sword in his hand. He began a long harangue of which 
 I could not understand a word, but observed that he re- 
 peatedly said " Jono," and as often as he did so, all the 
 others gave a loud shout. When his oration came to an 
 end, the savage sprinkled us with some stinking liquor, 
 which he poured from a horn ; and having in chorus muttered 
 some kind of refrain that ended in "Jono," they all quitted 
 the hut, fastening the doorway securely behind them. 
 
 " No chance of making terms with such brutes as these," 
 I indignantly exclaimed, when we were again alone. 
 
 " Patience !" said Hannibal ; " only let me get my hands 
 at liberty, and I'll guarantee to floor half-a-dozen of them, 
 unarmed as I am." 
 
 Himilco avowed that he was burning for a chance to 
 avenge himself for the filthy fish-oil ; and Chamai protested 
 that though the brutes should be as countless as the palms 
 of Jericho or the fleas at Sheehem, he would outwit them 
 yet, and find his way back to Abigail. 
 
 While they had been talking in this strain, I had dis-
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 269 
 
 engaged my hands, and very soon succeeded in freeing 
 Bichri, who assisted me in liberating all the rest. Once 
 again upon their feet, they stretched their stiff and weary 
 limbs, and Hannibal, Chamai, and Himilco each armed 
 themselves with one of the stones that formed the fire- 
 place. 
 
 " Here's something that may smash a skull or two," said 
 Chamai, as he poised his stone aloft. 
 
 " Not altogether a military -looking weapon," was 
 Hannibal's remark, whilst he examined the cumbersome 
 missile ; " but our forefathers have done good execution 
 with worse." 
 
 Picking up a few fragments of stone, Bichri was be- 
 ginning to lament that he had not a sling, when Himilco 
 in a moment produced the rope which he invariably wore, 
 and tore off a piece of the goat-skin that had carried his 
 wine, and with these materials the young archer was not 
 long in putting together a sling which he hoped might do 
 him good service. 
 
 Night closed in. It was still raining ; the wind blew 
 furiously. Everything seemed to favour our escape. 
 
 "Now's your time, my men!" I said. "Make your 
 prayer to your gods, and we will be off at once." 
 
 It was agreed that if we should find more than one 
 sentinel, we should fight our way through and make for 
 the canoes, and that if we failed in that attempt, we should 
 take to the water, and swim to the far end of the cause- 
 way. Our watch-word should be three raven-croaks. 
 
 " Now, invoke your gods," I repeated. 
 
 There was silence in the hut, and I noticed that Himilco 
 raised his single eye to the aperture in the roof, as though 
 looking for the Cabiri, but there was nothing to be seen 
 except the pitchy blackness of the night. 
 
 I was about to lead the way, when, on peering out, I not 
 only heard the sound of footsteps, but saw the glimmer of 
 a torch. My heart beat fast, and I made my companions 
 arrange themselves on either side of the doorway, so as to
 
 2/O THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 guard the entrance. It seemed to me that there were 
 not more than one or two approaching. Chamai pressed 
 his back against the wall, ready to brain the first savagft 
 that came within reach ; but whoever they were that were 
 coming, it was evident that they were not hurrying them- 
 selves : they paused in quiet conversation outside, and 
 at intervals we could again catch the mysterious word 
 " Jono." 
 
 " I wonder whether they are going to give us any more 
 of their beastly sprinkling," said Himilco. 
 
 " I have something here," muttered Hannibal, "that may 
 give them a sprinkling they don't expect." 
 
 Breaking the silence of the night, we now heard the 
 ringing notes of the trumpet, followed by yells and voci- 
 ferations. The clamour was obviously a signal, for at the 
 same moment the covering at the door was raised, and a 
 man carrying a torch entered the hut, and closed the 
 entrance behind him. But scarcely had he advanced a 
 step, when four strong arms arrested him. Chamai's hand 
 was across the intruder's mouth, effectually stopping any 
 outcry he might raise ; I took possession of his torch ; and 
 Himilco, having lifted the stone above his head, was about 
 to hurl it on his victim, when he let it fall to the ground, 
 and ejaculated : 
 
 "Merciful Cabiri !" 
 
 I raised the torch to the visitor's face, and in a moment 
 had thrown myself upon his neck. It was Hanno. 
 
 The sailor picked up the torch that I had dropped in 
 my excitement, and enabled Hanno in his turn to re- 
 cognise us. 
 
 We were speechless. 
 
 For some moments we could do nothing but grasp each 
 other's hands and embrace our long-lost friend. 
 
 Hanno himself was the first to speak. 
 
 " Don't strangle me quite. What a joyful surprise is this !" 
 
 "Out with a joke, Hanno!" cried Hannibal, "or I shaU 
 never believe it's you 1 "
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 2?1 
 
 Hanno did not smile, but inquired anxiously about 
 Chryseis. Hearing from me that she was safe and well, 
 his eyes filled with tears, and he murmured : 
 
 " Ashtoreth be praised !" 
 
 A violent thumping outside brought us back to a sense 
 of our real position, and when the thumping was renewed 
 Hanno went to the door, and having addressed some one 
 with a few guttural words, which were received with a half- 
 approving grunt, he returned to us. 
 
 " And now," he said, his voice assuming its old tone of 
 vivacity, " perhaps you would like to know what brings 
 me here. I am come to conduct you to the grand temple 
 of the Suomi ; and a fine structure you will see it is, built 
 of reeds and fish-bones in tip-top style. You are there to 
 be sacrificed to the great god Jono." 
 
 " So then Jono is a god, is he ? " I said ; " but if you are 
 his high priest I presume we need not give ourselves much 
 alarm." 
 
 liimilco said that if this Jono were the god of fish-oil 
 he most heartily wished that he might be sent some 
 hundred fathoms down below the sea. 
 
 " Gently, gently, good pilot ! " said Hanno, with mock- 
 solemnity ; "you must not speak disparagingly of the great 
 divinity. I can, however, tell you one thing. Jono has no 
 more liking for fish-oil than you have yourself. No one 
 loves a draught of good wine better. And I may as well 
 tell you at once who he is. He is none other than our friend 
 Jonah of Eltekeh ! our incomparable trumpeter, Jonah ! " 
 
 "Ah! didn't I say," cried Himilco, "that no one but 
 Jonah could bring out such a flourish as that ? " 
 
 Hanno went on to tell us that the people were already 
 assembled in the temple awaiting the arrival of ourselves, 
 their destined victims, and in reply to Chamai, who suggested 
 that we should rise up and attack them bodily, informed us 
 that there were more than three thousand of them, so that 
 any resistance on our part would not only be useless, but 
 must result in our immediate destruction.
 
 2/2 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGJ. 
 
 " No ; " he continued ; " you have no alternative but 
 to trust yourselves implicitly to the influence of the mighty 
 Jono and of his high priest Hono, your humble servant. 
 My first proceeding will be to acquaint the assemblj 
 that I have released you from your bonds, and that by 
 the agency of magic I have rendered you quite mild and 
 submissive." 
 
 " Allow me to interrupt you for a moment," I said ; " but 
 I am intensely anxious to learn whether you know any- 
 thing of our comrades ? " 
 
 " They are now on their way hither," replied Hanno ; 
 " and the very object with which the Suomi propose to 
 sacrifice you is to propitiate their god, so that he may 
 vouchsafe them the victory." 
 
 Hannibal burst out enthusiastically : 
 
 " I knew our fellows would come to our defence ; brave 
 souls they are ! we'll conquer yet ! " 
 
 "Not so fast," was the reply; "you must be content to 
 leave everything to me. I will send a message to Hamilcar 
 and Hasdrubal. See now ; I have my writing materials 
 ready ; I made myself a calamus from the marsh-reeds ; 
 my ink is some of the Suomi war-paint ; and for papyrus 
 I have a piece of deer-skin." 
 
 Hanno wrote and talked at once ; and as soon as he had 
 finished he turned to us : 
 
 " Now then, follow me to the temple. You need be under 
 no apprehension yet. I will take care that the god shall 
 declare that he does not require your lives at present. 
 This will give some hours' respite. In the interval I shall 
 be able, I trust, to send my letter to our friends. Let us 
 go : but one more word of caution ; you must be careful 
 above all things not to laugh at any of our proceedings.'' 
 
 "You will have to conjure pretty cleverly," I said, "if 
 you are going to conjure us out of this dilemma." 
 
 " Well, you know," he said with a smile, " I have had 
 some education in this line. I have learnt a bit of the craft 
 of a priest and a magician ; though I acknowledge I did not
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 2/3 
 
 anticipate that I should have to practise under the present 
 circumstances." 
 
 Taking his torch, he led the way ; and with downcast 
 eyes, and much to the amazement of some savages who 
 were waiting outside, we filed demurely after him. 
 
 The island which we proceeded to cross was considerably 
 larger than it had at first sight appeared. The huts were 
 arranged in irregular clusters, each group surrounded by its 
 own palisade. The road was very dark, and we had to ford 
 a number of pools of water, while the rain splashed heavily 
 down upon our bare heads. After winding through the 
 labyrinth of huts, we reached an open place in the heart of 
 the village, lighted with torches, and thronged with a crowd 
 of Suomi, armed and coloured with their paint. The central 
 hut into which we were conducted was much larger than 
 the others, and served the purpose of a temple ; it was 
 circular, and had the appearance of a gigantic beehjve. 
 The interior was lighted with torches, and with pans of oil, 
 furnished with flaming wicks, which had been made of bark ; 
 it \\as crowded with the savages, and what with the fumes 
 of the torches, the vile odour of the burning oil, and the 
 stench of the grease with which the savages had smeared 
 their bodies, the atmosphere of the place was positively 
 sickening. 
 
 On first entering the assembly the mist was so thick, and 
 the confusion from the noise of the savages, who were 
 raving like maniacs, was so great, that I could not dis- 
 tinguish the venerated deity ; but as I gradually got 
 accustomed to the smoky glare and the boisterous hubbub, 
 I made out that there was a kind of dais or altar piled up 
 with every conceivable variety of natural products, skins 
 of beasts, intestines of fishes, bladders of sea-calves, 
 feathers of birds mounted upon which, daubed with blue 
 and crimson, and adorned with bulls' horns and sea-calves 
 tusks, was the god himself. Not a feature could I dis- 
 tinguish ; one only object seemed familiar ; in one of his 
 crimson hands the god held the very trumpet which I had 
 
 T
 
 2/4 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 purchased for twelve silver shekels of Khelesh-baal the 
 merchant of Tyre. 
 
 The savages did more than make room for us to pass ; 
 they thrust us forward till we were close in front of the 
 altar-shrine. Hanno placed himself at the side of the god, 
 who, at a given signal, raised his trumpet to his mouth and 
 blew a deafening blast. A few words from Hanno made 
 the entire assembly, except ourselves, prostrate themselves 
 with their faces to the very ground, and thus left standing 
 conspicuously above the rest, the god could not fail to 
 recognise us. 
 
 No words of mine can describe Jonah's amazement. 
 Eyes, nose, and mouth, were all distended until the very 
 paint broke in scales upon his face. He was dumbfounded 
 for the time, and only after a long stare of astonishment, 
 exclaimed : 
 
 " Baal Chamaim ! lord of the heavens ! " 
 
 A sensation of terror thrilled through the prostrate wor 
 shippers. The mighty Jono had spoken ! 
 
 " Hold your tongue, you fool ! " exclaimed Hannibal, 
 with sonorous solemnity, but in plain Phoenician. The god 
 started, and said no more. 
 
 The crowd of worshippers shivered with awe. 
 
 All at once a piercing shriek echoed through the temple. 
 A black-haired object, ill-defined, had made a tremendous 
 bound, and perching upon the head of the divinity himself, 
 began tearing his hair, scratching his face, and hugging 
 and caressing him with wild delight. The savages started 
 to their feet in consternation, and some of them fled at 
 once ; but when they saw their god drop his trumpet and 
 take the apparition in his arms, and heard him say to it, 
 " Gebal, Gebal ! dear little man ! and have you found out 
 your poor old Jonah ?" their terror knew no bounds, and 
 they rushed frantically out, leaving us absolutely by our- 
 selves. 
 
 Chamai on one side gave the god a good dig in his ribs, 
 while Hanno on the other kicked him pretty sharply on the
 
 THE GOD JONO.
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 2/5 
 
 leg, but neither of these attentions seemed to disconcert 
 him in th? least ; he came forward and said : 
 
 " Delighted to see you all, my friends ; an unexpected 
 pleasure : you know I am a god now ; what shall I order 
 for you to eat ?" 
 
 "Back to your seat, jackanapes !" cried Hanno, severely, 
 " and don't speak another word until I give you leave." 
 
 For a moment Jonah's dignity seemed somewhat wounded, 
 and he hesitated about complying ; but upon my promising 
 him a good skin of wine, he returned to his shrine without 
 further murmuring. Hanno re-arranged the trumpery 
 jewellery with which the god was bedecked, and Bichri 
 whistled the monkey back to his own shoulder. 
 
 " Here's a messenger," said Hanno, " that I think will 
 answer my purpose- very well." 
 
 And turning to the creature, who was making the oddest 
 grimaces, he said : 
 
 " Now, Gebal, take this to Hamilcar, quick ; and you 
 shall have some cake." 
 
 The monkey appeared perfectly to comprehend what 
 was wanted, snatched the piece of skin that was held out 
 to it, gnashed its teeth, and on three legs hopped rapidly 
 out of the temple. A buzz of mingled surprise and fright 
 made us aware that the animal had passed through the 
 crowd outside. 
 
 " So far, so good," said Hanno ; " now for the next scene. 
 You must all prostrate yourselves to the ground before 
 Jonah. I am going to recal the Suomi." 
 
 Jonah was taken aback, and modestly remonstrated 
 against this humiliation on our part ; but Chamai, by way 
 of enforcing obedience to Hanno's injunction of silence, 
 gave him a sharp blow across his mouth, and then came 
 and took up with the rest of us his posture of outward 
 reverence and awe. 
 
 Standing at the doorway in the character of Hono the 
 priest, Hanno encouraged the people to re-enter their temple. 
 Gradually the more courageous were induced to return.
 
 2/6 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 and ultimately about fifty, still tren ulous with their recent 
 alarm, were assembled in front of the shrine. Jono once 
 again made the building ring with a tremendous blast, and 
 Hanno delivered a brief oration, which seemed to have a 
 soothing effect. The Suomi quietly retired, and we could 
 hear them placing sentinels outside to prevent any one 
 from entering. 
 
 Finding that we were not likely to be disturbed again, 
 Hanno extinguished all the lights except two torches, 
 and led us into the darkest corner of the temple, whither 
 Jonah, after flinging off all his gew-gaws, was only toe 
 delighted to follow us.
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 277 
 
 CHAPTER XVIII. 
 
 JONAH WAXES AMBITIOUS. 
 
 ; ' WHERE'S my wine ?" was Jonah's first inquiry. 
 
 " Coming in good time," I answered ; " but you must have 
 patience to wait, it may be a few months." 
 
 The giant looked aghast and stupefied, until he was re- 
 called to himself by a friendly poke from Chamai. 
 
 " Glad to see you amongst us again, old tippler!" 
 
 "And I am glad too," he said ; "but what am I to do 
 next ? " 
 
 " Whatever else you do, you must obey Hanno," I said ; 
 "he is trying to accomplish our escape to our ships." 
 
 What I informed him seemed to have the effect of 
 plunging him into a deep reverie ; he knitted his forehead 
 till a layer of red paint peeled off, and at last roused him- 
 self to ask if he should have to accompany us. 
 
 " Certainly," I replied ; " unless you prefer remaining 
 with these barbarians." 
 
 " And with their revolting fish-oil," put in Himilco. 
 
 "But here I am a god," said the trumpeter, slowly, as if 
 pondering the matter. " On board ship, Chamai knocks me 
 about, and Hannibal kicks me, and every one calls me a 
 lubber : but here it is all different ; instead of being thumped, 
 I may thump whom I please ; I gave the god of the savages 
 in the north such a thrashing that he died an hour 
 afterwards. At home too, in Eltekeh, the little children 
 used to call me a blockhead, and the men used to make me 
 carry olive-baskets on my head and sacks of corn on my
 
 2/8 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 back, and scant measure of wine did I ever get ; but here, 
 I blow my trumpet, and in there comes no end of good 
 things, meat and venison and fish, more than I can eat. 
 It's no bad thing to be a god." 
 
 We all stared in amazement. He had never been known 
 to make such a long speech before, far less to arrive so logi- 
 cally at any conclusion ; at any rate, his deification had 
 expanded his ideas, and inspired him with a new ambition. 
 
 "So then," I said, "you do not mean to go back 
 with us." 
 
 He hesitated ; but soon said that where Hanno went he 
 should go too. 
 
 Himilco began to jeer him : 
 
 " O ! you mean that you like Suomi fish-oil better than 
 Helbon wine ? and you prefer the chilly fogs of the 
 marshes to the olive-yards of Dan ? and you like slices of 
 rein-deer more than wheat and honey cakes ?" 
 
 A tear stood trembling in the giant's eye. 
 
 " I think," he said, " I would rather go with you." 
 
 " And surely," added Hanno, " you would wish to go 
 back to Eltekeh ; you must want to tell them all about the 
 leviathans, and the behemoths, and Nergal's kitchen, and 
 how you have been a god yourself." 
 
 " They would'nt believe me !" 
 
 " And think," said Bichri, " we shall have old Gebal with 
 us to show the men of Dan !" 
 
 This last appeal was too much for Jonah, and fairly 
 bursting out into tears, he sobbed out : 
 
 " Yes, I must go ; I must go with you and Gebal." 
 
 Hannibal laughed outright at what he called Jonah's 
 calf's tears, but declared that he was really very pleased to 
 have his trumpeter back again, and pulling out two silver 
 shekels from his purse, which he had contrived to retain, he 
 said : 
 
 " There, man, take these ; they will pay somebody to 
 give you a good wash when you get on board." 
 
 Hanno now proceeded to explain his scheme. The
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MA1O. 279 
 
 written message he had sent to Hamilcar was to the 
 effect that he should parley with the Suomi until he heard 
 the sound of Jonah's trumpet, and should then answer the 
 signal by his own trumpet. 
 
 " I shall pretend to the savages," he continued, " that 
 their god has ordered them to lead out their victims for 
 sacrifice, and if by this stratagem we can once get over the 
 causeway and within reach of our own people, everything 
 is easy." 
 
 Approving of his plan, I merely observed that there 
 might be some difficulty in knowing when our comrades 
 were holding their parley ; but Hanno at once assured me 
 that the savages would not do anything without consulting 
 him as their priest, so that he should be fully informed of 
 everything that transpired. 
 
 V/e had now been twenty-four hours without food, and 
 were suffering from fatigue and hunger. Hannibal ventured 
 to ask whether some provisions were not to be had, and in 
 an instant Hanno went to the door and uttered a few 
 syllables that sounded something like the croaking of an 
 old crow. 
 
 " I have told them," he said, " that Jono wants some- 
 thing to eat. They know what his appetite is ; I dare- 
 say they will bring enough for you all." 
 
 Very shortly there .was a knocking at the entrance of the 
 temple ; some savages had brought platters of boiled fish 
 and roast venison, and several large horns full of drink, the 
 whole of which Hanno took from their hands at the door 
 and passed on to us. Half-famished as we were, we made 
 short work with the dishes, the god appropriating as his 
 own modest share a fish half as large as a tunny, and a 
 reindeer-steak. Hanno joined us, and asked innumerable 
 questions all the time we were eating Both he and Jonah 
 drank freely from the horns, which had been placed with 
 their small ends on the ground ; but Himilcoand Hannibal 
 could not conceal their disgust at seeing them swallow 
 what they supposed to be rancid oil. Hanno, however,
 
 28O THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 soon explained that the contents of the horns was a liquid 
 made of fermented barley and some vegetable juice, and 
 that it was the common beverage, not only of the Suomi 
 and Cymri, but of the Celts of the west, the Gothi of the 
 east, and the Germani of the south. 
 
 " I should not think of saying that it is in any way equal 
 to the juice of the grape," he said; "but it is really not 
 unpalatable ; you may safely taste it." 
 
 Hannibal looked doubtful. Himilco said that he had 
 heard Gisgo speak of some preparation of the kind before, 
 and that he was not sure he had not himself tasted it 
 at the mouth of the Rhone ; he raised one of the horns 
 cautiously to his lips, sipped, and said nothing. 
 
 We all in turn followed his example. Bichri pronounced 
 it very acid ; Chamai declared it was detestably bitter ; the 
 sailor and I both recognised it as very like what we had 
 tasted elsewhere. 
 
 "Not good for much!" said Hannibal, after he had 
 taken a good draught ; "is it intoxicating?" 
 
 " Most assuredly it is," replied Hanno. 
 
 "The most villainous stuff I ever tasted," said Himilco, 
 the last to pass an opinion. " However, I think I will have 
 a little more." 
 
 And he drained another horn. 
 
 "Disgusting!" he sputtered out; but he seemed so 
 thoroughly to have reconciled himself to the flavour of 
 what he abused, that I was only fearful that he would take 
 more than was good for him. 
 
 By the time we had finished our refreshment, day was 
 beginning to dawn, and Hanno was summoned outside ; 
 he returned almost immediately, ordered Jonah to sound 
 his trumpet, and bade us all be prepared to start. 
 
 Jonah went to the doorway and delivered a ringing 
 blast. 
 
 Himilco hastily emptied every one of the horns, pro- 
 testing all the while that it was odious stuff, sickening to 
 the palate, and almost as vile a drink as plain water.
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 28l 
 
 In answer to Jonah's signal we soon heard the rever- 
 beration of our Phoenician trumpets, and without loss oi 
 time, Jonah and Hanno at our head, we marched out 
 of the temple. The crowd outside, regarding us with a 
 superstitious reverence, allowed us to pass freely through 
 them, and to proceed onwards without hindrance, so that 
 in the course of half-an-hour we were in the midst of our 
 friends, Hanno clasping Chryseis in his arms, Jonah 
 hugging Judge Gebal, and Chamai so engaged with 
 Abigail, that he did not notice how Hannibal, Himilco, 
 
 itlsff^ 
 
 and Bichri had been mercilessly thrashing a group of the 
 nearest savages. 
 
 Our reception by our party had the immediate effect of 
 opening the eyes of the barbarians to the terrestrial nature 
 >f their supposed god ; and they no sooner became aware 
 how we had escaped their clutches than they began to 
 assail us with showers of stones and lances, so that our 
 retreat to the ships was a matter of considerable peril. 
 No one, however, was seriously injured ; there were many 
 slight contusions, and Jonah's nose was ignominiously 
 bruised by a stone hurled at him by one of his late 
 worshippers. 
 
 Once safely on board, we made no delay in turning ouf
 
 282 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 backs upon this inhospitable shore, and steering west 
 wards, made towards the island of Prydhayn. 
 
 With a calm sea and a favourable wind, our progress 
 was easy ; and anxious to learn all that had befallen 
 Hanno and Jonah since we had lost them, we assembled 
 on the stern of the Ashtoreth expressly to hear theii 
 story. Jonah, who had been well washed, insisted upon 
 being dressed in Phoenician costume, and took his seat, 
 with the monkey upon his shoulder, by the side of the 
 scribe, who proceeded to recount their adventures. 
 
 " It is now, you know, more than a year since the day 
 when we were caught in the ambush of the men of Tar- 
 shish. When we were first captured our lives were in the 
 greatest jeopardy, for according to what we were told by 
 a Phoenician I met, we were at once to be handed over to 
 Bodmilcar, who was close at hand. Negotiations to this 
 effect were going on, when it transpired that one of the 
 Iberian chiefs had been so fascinated by Jonah's trumpet 
 that we were to be retained, and not given over to the 
 Tyrian, who was reported to be wounded. During this 
 respite I contrived, by means of a stick and some blood 
 from a wound of my own, to write a message for you on 
 my sandal-strap ; I had no doubt that the instinct of 
 Gebal would take him back to Bichri, and accordingly I 
 resolved to make him my messenger." 
 
 " Yes ; and your message came that night," I said. 
 
 " I conjectured so," he continued, " by the monkey not 
 returning. We were soon sent off towards the north, 
 under the guardianship of a troop of Iberians, who did not 
 by any means treat us badly, and after a toilsome journey 
 came to a region where the mountains were so high that 
 they were all covered with snow ; they separated the land 
 of Tarshish from the land of the Celts, and were called the 
 Pyrenees. Here we were handed over to the chief of the 
 Guipuzcoa, for whom we were destined. These Guipuzcoa 
 are sometimes known as Bascons ; they are a warlike 
 people, perpetually engaged in hostilities with the Aitzcoa,
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 283 
 
 or "men of the rocks," on the north-west, and with other 
 Iberians on the south. We remained for more than two 
 months before any opportunity of escape occurred ; but at 
 last, during one of the forays, we were left behind in the 
 village, which was built upon piles at the mouth of a small 
 river. We got possession of a canoe, and having filled it 
 as far as we could with provisions, we ventured out to sea, 
 and contrived to reach the shores of the Celts, from whom, 
 in answer to many inquiries, I ascertained that some ships 
 had recently passed along their coast, and, from various 
 
 articles that they showed me, I had little doubt they were the 
 Asktoreth, the Dagon, and the Cabiros. Making out from 
 the Celts that you had gone northwards, we left our canoe, 
 and took passage in one of their ships that was on the 
 point of sailing for Ar-Mor ; but upon our arrival we found 
 the people engaged in war with the Cymri of the Island of 
 Prydhayn, so that we could not get transported there. For 
 two months 1 sojourned in various parts of the islands of 
 Ar-Mor, and picked up some knowledge of Celtic ; but all 
 the time I was trying to devise some plan of following you
 
 284 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 in the direction I felt sure you had taken. At length it 
 chanced that I found a tribe of Cymri who were not at war 
 with the people of Prydhayn, and embarked in one of their 
 boats ; but a tremendous storm arose, and we were driven 
 far away to the east." 
 
 " Talk of storms," said Jonah, putting in his word ; " was 
 not that a storm ? I saw leviathans spouting water from 
 their noses as high as your mast, and we were tossed about 
 the waters like a log. For three days we had nothing 
 to eat or to drink." 
 
 " Jonah is right," continued Hanno ; " the tempest was 
 really frightful, and we were dashed upon the muddy 
 swamps of the coast. The Cymri drowned themselves 
 in sheer desperation, and we, more dead than alive, existed 
 for more than a week upon roots and wild fruit from the 
 wood." 
 
 " And what did you find to drink ?" asked Himilco. 
 
 " Nothing but muddy water." 
 
 The good pilot's sympathy was deeply moved, and he 
 said : 
 
 " Sorry drink that, as I know by experience. " 
 
 After this interruption, Hanno went on : 
 
 "Jonah persisted in blowing his trumpet perpetually, 
 resolved if possible to attract attention, and at length 
 succeeded in making himself heard by a troop of Suomi 
 who were migrating eastwards in consequence of the 
 aggressions of the Cymri and the Germani, who were 
 appropriating territory after territory to themselves. Not 
 only did Jonah's enormous trumpet excite the wonder of 
 the Suomi, but I could observe at once that his huge and 
 imposing stature, and his abundant growth of shaggy hair 
 impressed this diminutive, smooth-faced people with super- 
 stitious awe, a sentiment which I resolved to encourage, with 
 the object of turuing it to our own advantage. We accom- 
 panied them in their migration to their new settlement, 
 where we witnessed the erection of the village in which 
 you found us, and my representations prevailed so com-
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 2&5 
 
 pletely that they recognised Jonah Jono, as they called 
 him as their presiding deity, regarding me as his high 
 priest. For some time, then, you see we have been in the 
 lap of luxury ; but nothing has ever led me for a moment 
 to forget you or your ships, or to cease to long for the 
 Great Sea and our noble Sidon." 
 
 "And Sidon ere long you shall see!" said I, when he 
 had finished his narrative ; " we are now on our way back ; 
 it is impossible to penetrate farther, and we are homeward 
 bound." 
 
 "Sidon for ever! and long live the King!" shouted 
 Chamai ; " we shall see the sun again." 
 
 " And get some wine !" cried Himilco, tossing his cap in 
 the air. 
 
 " And some new clothes !" chimed in Hannibal ; "beggars 
 in rags are our soldiers now." 
 
 In the midst of the general hilarity Jonah sat silent and 
 full of thought. 
 
 "What ails you, trumpeter?" I asked; "cannot you 
 quite make up your mind to go back ?" 
 
 " It is no good my going back," he half blubbered out ; 
 "they will never believe me ; they will only laugh when I 
 tell them I have been to Nergal's kitchen and seen behe- 
 moths by dozens ; and if I were to say I have been 
 worshipped for a god, and had dinners brought me every 
 day, big enough for a month, they will declare I'm stark 
 mad." 
 
 "Never mind, old fellow," said Chamai; "we'll back 
 you up ; we will testify to the truth of your stories ; and 
 what's more, you shall be presented to the King, and he 
 shall hear you blow your trumpet." 
 
 Overcome by Chamai's good-natured encouragement, 
 and his own prospective honours, he fairly burst into tears. 
 
 "Do you really mean it? and will the King see Gebal 
 too?" 
 
 "Aye, that he will ; and we must teach old Gebal to 
 act the courtier, and to make a bow."
 
 286 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 Hannibal declared that he thought Jonah ought to be 
 court-trumpeter, and to wear a scarlet tunic ; and I 
 pledged myself to use any influence I could to secure him 
 the appointment, promising that if I succeeded I would 
 make him a present of his first uniform. 
 
 Jonah chuckled aloud with delight. 
 
 " And shall I wear a scarlet tunic ? and shall I play 
 before the King ? What will they say at Eltekeh ? Happ) 
 day that made me come to Tarshish ! Long live the 
 King!" 
 
 With ejaculations such as these he withdrew to the 
 extreme limit of the prow, and relapsing into silence, 
 mused in solitude upon the dignity that awaited him. 
 
 From that day forward, Jonah was another man.
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MACK). 287 
 
 CHAPTER XIX. 
 
 BODMILCAR AGAIN. 
 
 SOME easy sailing carried us past both the eastern and 
 western limits of Prydhayn and the Tin Islands, and 
 brought us off the rocky shores of the archipelago o 
 Ar-Mor, with its islands all perforated and undermined 
 by the action of the waves. Hanno recognised nearly 
 every locality. 
 
 "There," he said, pointing out one spot after another, 
 " there is the island where I learnt to croak my little bit of 
 Celtic ; and that is the rock from which Jonah and I used 
 to fish with bone-hooks ; and over there is the island where 
 the priestesses paint their faces blue and black for their 
 religious mysteries. Whilst we were with them they 
 wanted us to shave all our hair off our faces, with razors 
 made of shells." 
 
 "They gave the same advice," said Himilco, "on the 
 Tin Islands to Hannibal and Chamai, who came back to us 
 one day with their beards gone and their chins as smooth 
 as pebbles." 
 
 " I only wish," remarked Hannibal, "that they would do 
 for Bodmilcar what we did for ourselves ; only instead of a 
 shell I should like to have a good sharp sword put across 
 his throat." 
 
 The mention of Bodmilcar's name led Hanno to inquire 
 whether we knew anything of him ; and this led Hannibal 
 to tell him how on the day of the ambush he had given him 
 i\ thrust in his side, which had been, no doubt, severely 
 wounded, but his people had succeeded in carrying him off
 
 288 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAUO. 
 
 " Never mind," exclaimed Chamai ; '" we are sure tt 
 have another chance." 
 
 " And then I trust," said Hanno, " it will fall to my lot 
 to deal with him after his deserts." 
 
 " Unless I am beforehand with an arrow from my good 
 bow," said a voice from the yard-arm high up in the air. 
 Bichri and Dionysos were up there, playing with the 
 monkey. Hanno laughed, and said that Bichri had been 
 associated so long with the monkey that he was becoming 
 a monkey himself, and was making Dionysos just as 
 volatile. Without leaving his perch Bichri asked : 
 
 " Why should I not teach the boy the use of his limbs ? 
 and why should I not drill him to use a bow ?" 
 
 "And why," added Hanno, "should you not teach him 
 to read ?" 
 
 " How can I," he said, " when I have never learnt 
 myself ? besides, reading will not help him to climb moun- 
 tains, hunt wild goats, or put an arrow in a mark." 
 
 " You may learn some day," rejoined the scribe, " that a 
 pen may be a surer and a sharper weapon than an arrow. 
 Would you and Dionysos like to learn to read ?" 
 
 Startled by the suggestion, the archer caught hold of 
 a rope, and in an instant had slid down to Hanno's feet. 
 Dionysos followed. The monkey flew up to the mast- 
 head. 
 
 "To learn to read, did you say ?" 
 
 " Yes," replied Hanno. " Let us make a compact ; you 
 shall teach me to shoot, and I will teach you both to 
 read." 
 
 " Agreed !" cried Bichri, enthusiastically ; " and I'll war- 
 rant that in a month you shall hit a mark no bigger than 
 my hand at the ship's length." 
 
 And so the days passed on. Hanno taught Bichri and 
 the young Phocian the alphabet. Himilco, as he piloted 
 the vessel, kept up a perpetual howling over his compulsory 
 abstinence ; Chamai and Hannibal, when they were not 
 yawning in idle listlessness, were generally playing at
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 280 
 
 knuckle-bones ; the two women gossipped contentedly in 
 their cabin ; and Jonah confided to Judge Gebal his dreams 
 of future greatness. 
 
 In something more than six weeks we sighted the pillars 
 of Melkarth, and shortly afterwards entered the harbour of 
 Gades. The suffect, Ziba, and all our acquaintances had 
 imagined that we had long since been drowned, and were 
 loud in their congratulations on seeing us back again safe 
 and well, and were full of surprise when I exhibited my 
 magnificent cargo of tin and amber. 
 
 I inquired eagerly about Bodmilcar, but could only gather 
 from the surfect's account that fragments of what were sup- 
 posed to be his vessels had been picked up at the mouth of 
 the Illiturgis, but that nothing whatever had been seen 
 of his gaoul, so that the most probable conjecture I could 
 form was that the scoundrel had been massacred in the 
 interior of the country. 
 
 It cannot be denied that we had all been looking forward 
 with much impatience for the opportunity of obtaining 
 some decent food and drink. Himilco was really getting 
 exhausted with his subsistence for so many months on a 
 water diet ; so that on reaching land I took the very earliest 
 chance of allowing my men to go ashore, where, doubtless, 
 they directed their steps only too quickly to the wine- 
 shops. Before Jonah left the ship I observed that he had 
 some shekels in his hand, and asked him if he would not 
 put them in his purse. 
 
 " No," he said ; " they will never be quite safe until I have 
 changed them for wine, and put them into my inside." 
 
 Hanno, Chamai, and their sweethearts went with me to 
 dinner at Ziba's house ; Bichri and Dionysos wandered 
 about the streets and gardens of the city ; while Hannibal, 
 who said that now that we had come to a civilised country 
 he should wish his trumpeter to be a credit to his troop, 
 carried off Jonah to buy him a proper tunic. 
 
 We had given up two days to recreation when, returning 
 to the Ashtoreth, I met Himilco and Gisgo, both extremely 
 
 U
 
 2QO THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 excited, in company with a Phoenician sailor who was a 
 stranger to me. 
 
 "Good news, captain !" shouted Himilco, as ^oon as he 
 was within hearing ; " good news ! tidings of Bodmilcar !" 
 
 "Tell me, quick!" I answered impatiently. 
 
 "Well, you must know," said Himilco, who was anything 
 but steady upon his legs, " we met this good man ; he was 
 thirsty and we were thirsty, and I treated him to a cup at 
 a tavern, where he told us that he had escaped from Bod- 
 milcar's ship." 
 
 " Leave your plagued thirst," I said ; " go on, tell me 
 what you know." 
 
 " Leave my thirst ? no, no ; it's my thirst will not leave 
 me." 
 
 "Curse you!" I said, half-frantic with irritation; "tell 
 me at once ! " 
 
 " Give me time and I will tell you all that he told us in 
 the t;ivern." 
 
 "Where's Bodmilcar? you drunken fool!" I roared, 
 stamping with rage ; and turning in despair to the sailor, 
 said : " Tell me, my good man, where have you come 
 from ?" 
 
 '' Come from ? " echoed the irrepressible pilot ; " why he 
 hci s come with us ; he has come from where we have been 
 dr nking." 
 
 "My patience was exhausted, and I struck him a sharpish 
 bl-'nv across the mouth, a hint that he took that he had 
 better keep quiet. 
 
 According to what I could make out from the sailor's 
 version of things, he had come from an unfrequented bay 
 some 150 stadia to the south-east ; that Bodmilcar had 
 been there, at first with one gaoul, the Melkarth, but after- 
 wards he had three galleys besides ; that he had forced a 
 number of the natives of Tarshish into his service ; and that 
 by some means he had collected a great body of criminals 
 and deserters. He had himself, he said, been kidnapped by 
 Bodmilcar, but had contrived to ^scape, and having made
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO 29! 
 
 his way on foot along the coast, was now going to make 
 his deposition before the naval suffect at Gades. 
 
 I inquired how long it was since he had run away from 
 Bodmilcar, and whether he knew anything of Bodmilcar'a 
 movements. He replied that it was a week since he effected 
 his escape, and that he knew that it was the Tyrian's inten- 
 tion to make for the country of the Rasennae, and thence 
 to proceed to Ionia. 
 
 Telling the man that I was returning to Tyre, I offered 
 him a passage with me, if he liked, as one of my crew, to 
 which he agreed with apparent pleasure ; he not only 
 assured me of his fidelity, but declared that nothing would 
 gratify him more than to be able to avenge himself upon 
 Bodmilcar. 
 
 On the third day after this, having thoroughly revictualled 
 the ships, we set sail with our hearts all elated at the pro- 
 spect of seeing our native shores. We sighted Calpe and 
 Abyla, but the wind having freshened, we were obliged to 
 beat to windward to enter the strait. Next evening I 
 noticed a large galley sailing in the direction opposite to 
 ourselves, and tried to hail her ; but as the weather did 
 not permit us to get near, I made Himilco take half-a-dozen 
 sailors in one of the boats and row towards her ; a circum- 
 stance that struck me was the extreme readiness with which 
 the new sailor volunteered to take an oar. 
 
 The boat had not long pushed off before one of the crew 
 rushed up to me with consternation written fn his face, and 
 exclaimed : 
 
 " Captain, we have sprung a leak ! " 
 
 I lit a lamp, and in a minute was making my way down 
 into the hold. Two sailors and one of the helmsmen fol- 
 lowed. My heart sunk within me at what I saw. The 
 water had not only got into the hold, but it was already 
 knee-deep ; worst of all, it was still rising rapidly. The 
 sea was rough, and the ship was labouring hard against the 
 wind. Unless the evil could be remedied, another quarter 
 of an hour would see us at the bottom. Almost beside
 
 292 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 myself with agitation, I caught hold of a handspike and 
 plunged it wildly about in every direction ; the ill-tidings 
 soon ran through the ship, and there was a general rush 
 towards the hold, but I drove every one back, and suffered 
 nobody to remain except the three men who had first come 
 down with me, and young Dionysos, who had slipped in 
 unobserved, and was paddling about in the water, which 
 was up to his shoulders. 
 
 In the midst of my frantic endeavours to ascertain the 
 position of the leak, my attention was arrested by voices 
 above speaking hurriedly in a tone that indicated alarm, 
 and I distinctly caught the names of Bodmilcar and the 
 Melkarth. Almost at the same moment the man standing 
 on the ladder to hold the lamp moved on one side to 
 allow by-way for some one who flew, rather than ran, 
 into the hold. The light was not so dim but that I re- 
 cognised Himilco, his head bare, his hair dishevelled, and 
 his cutlass in his hand. Before I had time to speak to 
 him a trumpet was sounding overhead, and Hannibal's 
 stentorian voice was shouting : 
 
 " Make ready the scorpions ! Archers, to your ranks !" 
 
 "Good gods!" I exclaimed at last, "what does this 
 mean ?" 
 
 "Soon told," said Himilco ; "the man we took on board 
 was Bodmilcar's agent, bent on mischief. I have managed 
 to get my boat back, but the Melkarth and her galleys 
 will be upon us in a moment." 
 
 lie had hardly time to finish speaking, when the com- 
 motion above made it manifest that the struggle was 
 already beginning. 
 
 " Then we are lost," I cried, in absolute despair at our 
 twofold peril : " that infernal rascal has scuttled the ship." 
 
 Himilco groaned aloud in dismay. 
 
 A shrill cry of distress at this very moment rose from 
 Dionysos, calling for help : 
 
 " Save me ! save me ! I am in a hole ; I am sinking !" 
 
 The lad's head had already disappeared, when Himilco,
 
 THE CHILD HAD l-'UUMJ THE LEAK. 
 
 To fa.it flag* 293.
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 295 
 
 sticking his cutlass into the ladder, and shouting that the 
 child had found the leak, made a dive and brought hin? 
 back half-fainting from the water, and delivered him to the 
 sailors, who carried him on deck. Not a moment was lost. 
 Carpenters and sailors were summoned to the task, and a 
 heavy wave making the ship lurch so that the leak was 
 actually seen, we put forth all our energies, and notwith- 
 standing the combat that was being waged above our 
 heads, succeeded all praise to our gracious Ashtoreth ! 
 in temporarily stopping the hole. 
 
 Meanwhile the clamour of the fighting had given place 
 to silence. On remounting the deck I found several dead 
 bodies, and pools of blood in various places ; I saw that 
 the Adonibal and the Cabiros were lying alongside right 
 and left, but Bodmilcar's vessels had vanished in the 
 twilight. 
 
 Hannibal and Chamai were furious at their escape, and 
 could hardly find words strong enough to express their 
 contempt of a cowardice that had shirked a fair fight. 
 Hanno, with his bow still in his hand, avowed that 
 nothing else than the gathering gloom of night had saved 
 Bodmilcar; if he could have recognised him, he would 
 have been a dead man. 
 
 " When I was attacked in the boat," said Himilco, " I 
 recognised the villain who took my eye out of my head ; 
 and if there had not been some thousand of them 
 peppering away at us all at once " 
 
 " How many, do you say ?" asked Hannibal, with a 
 smile. 
 
 " Well, then, I am sure there were six or eight ; but 
 never mind, many or few, there was one man I knew only 
 too well, and while I was down there looking after that 
 leak, no one knows how my heart was burning for a chance 
 of getting him by the throat." 
 
 All this time the wind was rising, and after a while it 
 blew a hurricane. There was every cause for apprehen- 
 sion ; the leak was stopped so insufficiently that it might
 
 294 
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 break open again at any moment, and the waves were 
 playing with our ship like a ball. 
 
 There was no sleep that night. The men, in relays, had 
 to toil with all their might at scooping out the water ; and 
 after that had been reduced below the level of the leakage, 
 it took more than five hours to strengthen and caulk the 
 fresh planking that had repaired the gap. All danger, 
 however, from that source was averted. 
 
 Daylight came, but the tempest was more violent than 
 ever. I hardly recollect so furious a wind ; the pigeons that 
 I let loose were unable to withstand the hurricane, and 
 fluttered back helplessly on to the deck. All control over 
 tlie ship was lost, and there was no alternative but to 
 allow her to drift we knew not whither.
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 295 
 
 CHAPTER XX. 
 
 THE WORLD UPSIDE DOWN. 
 
 l^OR eight days did the tempest rage, when, at the end oi 
 that time, the wind dropped and the sky cleared, I found 
 that we were quite close to the shore, and off a headland 
 beyond which the coast stretched away indefinitely to the 
 south. Continuing our course in that direction, we came 
 in sight of a mountainous island, richly wooded and ex- 
 tremely picturesque. The glowing sun and the genial 
 temperature reminded us of our beloved Phoenicia ; and 
 so tempting was the aspect of the place, that I resolved 
 to disembark, not merely as a matter of pleasure, but to 
 look to the ships, which, after their strain, required some 
 examination. 
 
 We anchored in a charming bay, and were soon sur- 
 rounded by canoes full of savages, of whom the first 
 characteristic that I noticed was their low foreheads and 
 yet elongated skulls. To my surprise, they addressed us 
 in the Libyan tongue, and proved to be the true Garaman- 
 tine or red Libyans. We were the first Orientals they had 
 ever seen on their shores ; but one of their old men stated 
 that he had been to Rusadir, and had seen Phoenicians 
 there. They received us very kindly, and told us that 
 their island was one of a group that was situated to the 
 west of Libya. Ignorant of navigation, they could give 
 me no information about distance ; and all that I could 
 make out was that the coast of Libya extended far to the 
 south, and was inhabited by people of the same race as
 
 296 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 themselves ; and that still farther south there was a region 
 where the men were like animals, and perfectly black. 
 
 " That's a country worth seeing ; I should like to catch a 
 black man," said Bichri. 
 
 The residents, I observed, wore bracelets, necklaces, and 
 earrings, which were, I found, made of gold ; and in reply 
 to my inquiry whether the gold was found in the island, 
 they told me that they obtained it both in nuggets and 
 in dust from the Garamantines of the mainland, who col- 
 lected it by means of fleeces at the mouths of their 
 rivers. 
 
 The people did not attach any great value to their gold, 
 and were quite ready to barter it away very freely for 
 many things we had to offer them ; for instance, for some 
 glass trinkets they gave me as much gold dust as I could 
 hold in the hollow of my hand, while for such things as 
 knives, lance-heads, or swords, they would give an equal 
 weight in gold. The delight of my people was un- 
 bounded, and I had the utmost difficulty in preventing 
 them from bartering away all their weapons. Hannibal 
 sold his helmet, crest and all ; and Jonah even parted with 
 his trumpet, boasting that he could now have one of pure 
 gold, with which to play before the King ; but so enchanted 
 was he with the country, that if the inhabitants would have 
 accepted him for their god he would have been quite ready 
 to reside permanently amongst them. 
 
 I spent a fortnight in purchasing gold and repairing the 
 ships, and an interesting period we all found it. The 
 fertile soil was productive of some of the finest fruits I had 
 ever seen ; one fruit in particular with a scaly covering was 
 very delicious. The valleys were full of orange-trees of 
 the growth of centuries, and the mountains were clothed 
 with magnificent woods, in which beautiful little birds 
 with yellow plumage were fluttering about, and singing 
 exquisitely. Bichri, who did not care about purchasing 
 more than just enough gold to ornament his belt and 
 quiver, spent several whole days in these woods with
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MACK). 
 
 29; 
 
 Dionysos, and succeeded in catching some of the bright 
 little songsters, which he secured in a cage ; but his trouble 
 was of little avail, as they all died upon their passage. 
 
 As for Judge Gebal, he manifested such a keen appre- 
 ciation of the charms of the scenery that we had to keep 
 him tied up to prevent his running away ; but the time for 
 our departure necessarily arrived, and, after the repairs 
 were all completed, we reluctantly bade farewell to the 
 lovely archipelago, upon which I bestowed the name of 
 the Fortunate Islands. 
 
 Once more at sea, I had no difficulty in determining my 
 course. All my party were eager to visit the wonderful 
 gold-countries, and Bichri persisted in saying that he 
 should like to catch sight of the black men ; Himilco just 
 at first protested against going in a direction where wine 
 would not be forthcoming, but his objection was soon 
 overruled, and he was contented with our resolution to sail 
 southward. What caused us much bewilderment ns we 
 advanced, was, that not only did the sun rise higher over 
 our heads, but the Cabiri descended lower towards the
 
 298 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 horizon. Himilco complained that we were sailing out ol 
 reach of the protection of the gods ; I pondered the matter, 
 but kept my thoughts to myself. 
 
 After running some distance to the east, the coast 
 resumed its southerly direction ; and then it was that the 
 sun, which day by day had gradually risen higher in the 
 heavens, stood vertically over our heads, and then began to 
 change its position, shining at last upon my left hand 
 instead of upon my right. Evening after evening, too, 
 brought into view constellations that were quite unknown 
 to us ; and so great was the amazement of all on board, 
 that I resolved upon holding a general consultation of 
 officers and pilots, and the more intelligent of the sailors, 
 in order to discover a solution of the mystery. 
 
 Hamilcar gave it as his opinion that the gods must have 
 been making some alterations in the face of the heavens ; 
 Hasdrubal suggested that perhaps we had passed the 
 bounds of our own world and entered upon another ; whilst 
 Himilco avowed his suspicion that unless something of 
 that kind had occurred, the world must be round, and we 
 were on the other side of it. Absurd and outrageous 
 as Himilco's conjecture appeared to every one else, I 
 confess it chimed in to a certain degree with my own 
 speculations, and set me reflecting that if it were so it 
 must be the sun and the stars that were standing still, and 
 the world that was moving round them. But, after all, 
 Himilco was much more inclined to believe in a prodigy 
 than to entertain any of these fanciful theories. 
 
 Pressed with inquiries as to what I intended to do, I 
 announced my resolution of continuing my course to the 
 south ; if ultimately the coast should incline to the west 
 (or what I presumed to be the west), I should return to the 
 Fortunate Islands ; but if, as I anticipated, it turned to 
 the east, I should go on following it, under the expectation 
 of getting to the north at last, and reaching Egypt by 
 way of the Sea of Reeds. This scheme of circumnavigating 
 the entire land of Libya commended itself entirely to the
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 299 
 
 judgment of my pilots, but it quite baffled the compre- 
 hension of Hannibal and all the landsmen. 
 
 When I spoke to Hannibal about arriving at Egypt, he 
 looked quite aghast, and exclaimed : 
 
 " Egypt ! here are we sailing farther and farther away 
 from the Straits of Gades ; and yet you talk about getting 
 this way to Egypt. Impossible!" 
 
 " Patience !" I said ; " perhaps we may find you a short 
 cut even yet !" 
 
 He shook his head dubiously ; and even Hanno observed 
 that the mysteries of navigation were very abstruse, and 
 that the studies which he had pursued at Sidon did not 
 enable him to solve these enigmas. 
 
 " Ah ! you should have travelled more, young man," 
 said Himilco ; " and you should have learned to know the 
 stars." 
 
 " I should think this voyage is travelling enough for any 
 one," replied Hanno. 
 
 Chamai merely remarked that he was quite sure that 
 they might all rely with perfect confidence in my judg- 
 ment. And thus the consultation was brought to a close. 
 
 Many times did we approach the coast with the in- 
 tention of landing ; but either it was utterly desolate, or it 
 was so crowded with black men, who yelled and assumed 
 such a threatening attitude, that we always postponed any 
 attempt to go ashore. One night in particular, as we were 
 passing under a promontory that I had named " the chariot 
 of the gods," the noises we heard seemed of so threatening 
 a character that I deemed it prudent to put out a little 
 further to sea ; but at length our provisions began to run 
 short, and there was nothing to be done but to venture on 
 land. Bichri, patient and enduring as he ever was, com- 
 plained of living on salt fish ; Jonah murmured that there 
 was short allowance for ourselves, and no fruit for Gebal ; 
 and Hannibal regretted that we were losing our chance of 
 picking up gold. I was accordingly induced to lay to as 
 soon as I found a convenient opportunity.
 
 30O THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 Our anchorage was the estuary of a river apparently as 
 large as the Egyptian Nile; its banks were covered with 
 thick woods ; numbers of crocodiles and hippopotamuses 
 were visible in the water by its shore ; and great birds, 
 uttering shrill and piercing cries, whirled around above our 
 heads. 
 
 For four days we wandered about without finding any 
 sign of human being ; we obtained, however, an abundance 
 of wild fruit, and shot several buffaloes and antelopes, of 
 which a great portion of the flesh was carried on board 
 and salted. On returning from one of the foraging excur- 
 sions, Bichri came running to me, looking utterly woe- 
 begone ; he was followed by Dionysos, weeping bitterly, 
 and Jonah, gesticulating vehemently, and apparently as 
 much agitated as himself. 
 
 " What's the matter, Bichri ?" I asked. 
 
 " Gebal has gone !" he exclaimed ; " he has been carried 
 off by Bodmilcar's monkeys." 
 
 I burst out laughing. In his indignation he looked as if 
 he could have annihilated me. 
 
 " I am sure they were Bodmilcar's !" he insisted ; "crea- 
 tures with long tails ; they took him away ; he never would 
 have gone with them of his own accord." 
 
 Nothing I could do served to calm him ; he would not 
 be pacified until I allowed him to take some men and go 
 out again in search of his lost favourite; but in the evening 
 they all returned worn out with fatigue, only to announce, 
 as might have been expected, that their search had been 
 fruitless. There was no doubt the monkey had been 
 delighted to join the troop of his own tribe that was 
 gambolling in the woods. Bichri was very inadequately 
 consoled for his loss by bringing back a great black mon- 
 ster, which, after he had wounded it, the men that were with 
 him, in spite of the huge brute's desperate defence, had 
 succeeded in despatching with their pikes. It certainly 
 was a most formidable-looking creature, and I subse- 
 quently had it stuffed, and it may now be seen in the
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 30! 
 
 temple of Ashtoreth in Sidon. Bichri told us that after it 
 had six or seven arrows in its body it snapped a pike-staff 
 in two as easily as if it had been a reed ; upon which Han- 
 nibal remarked that the strength that could break asunder 
 a pike-handle made of oak of Bashan must be prodigious. 
 
 We were obliged to depart without finding any vestige 
 of Gebal. After sailing on for about a fortnight, our sup- 
 plies again ran short, and as we were discussing what steps 
 we should take in consequence, Hannibal interrupted us 
 by shouting : 
 
 "A gaoul ahead!" 
 
 Every eye was bent in the direction to which we were 
 pointed, and sure enough there was a gaoul of Phoenician 
 build ; but on farther scrutiny it was evident that it was 
 all dismantled, and drifting at the mercy of the waves. 
 
 " May be a ruse .of Bodmilcar's," suggested Himilco. 
 
 Taking his hint, we approached very cautiously, and it 
 was not until we had thoroughly satisfied ourselves that 
 there was no one on board to answer our signals that we 
 ventured close alongside. It was perfectly deserted. 
 
 Gisgo said that he remembered having once abandoned 
 his ship off the Pityusai Islands, and that probably this 
 was a similar case ; but he could not understand what 
 current could have borne the gaoul to this distant shore. 
 
 " Never mind where she comes from," I answered ; " let 
 us hope she may prove a godsend." 
 
 Hannibal and Himilco, who went on board, brought back 
 the welcome intelligence that the hold was well freighted 
 with corn and wine, the whole of which we joyfully trans- 
 ferred to our own vessels, leaving the empty hull again to 
 the wind and waves. In the evening I caused an offering 
 to be made to Ashtoreth in acknowledgment of her mani- 
 fest interference on our behalf. 
 
 Next day we hove in sight of a lofty promontory, the 
 top of which was as flat as a table. A strong gale was 
 springing up. 
 
 " Never mind the wind." cried Jonah. ' What do T care
 
 302 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 for the wind now ? I've a purse full of gold ; plenty tc 
 to eat ; plenty to drink ; and a red tunic before long 
 Tempests be hanged ! Long live the King ! " 
 
 The gale for some days increased in violence, and all 
 attempts at steering were quite useless. When, after eight 
 days, the sea became calmer, I could make out that the 
 land was lying to our left. This was according to my 
 prognostications, and I followed the coast to the north 
 with renewed confidence, day by day becoming more and 
 more convinced that the sun was again rising in the 
 heavens ; and one lovely night, about a fortnight after- 
 wards, Himilco suddenly seized my arm, and making 
 me point to the northern horizon, exclaimed in a voice 
 trembling with excitement : 
 
 " See, the Cabiri !" 
 
 " Yes ; true enough ; there are the Cabiri/' I answered, 
 as full of delight as he was himself. " We have accom- 
 plished an unheard-of thing," I added ; " we have circum- 
 navigated Libya." 
 
 " And to-morrow," he said, " we shall have the sun once 
 more on our right ; we are on our way to the Sea of 
 Reeds." 
 
 " Aye, to the Sea of Reeds ! and to Sidon, our own 
 Sidon ! Sidon the glorious, Sidon the incomparable !" 
 
 There was none to witness ; the crew were sleeping in 
 their berths ; and in the fervour of our enthusiasm we 
 threw ourselves into each other's arms. 
 
 A month later, as we were taking in fresh water at the 
 mouth of a river, we fell in with some black men, who bore 
 a marked resemblance to the Ethiopians, who are often 
 seen in Egypt. One of them could spjak a little Egyptian ; 
 he told me lie had learnt it in Ethiopia, which is subject to 
 Pharaoh. His own country, he stated, was six months' 
 journey below the southernmost limit of Ethiopia ; but he 
 could give no information whatever about its distance by 
 sea. These negroes called themselves Kouch, and having 
 never seen any Phoenicians, took us for Egyptians ; but as
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 30 J 
 
 soon as we explained that so far from being subjects of 
 Pharaoh we were enemies of the Misraim, they welcomed 
 us as friends, and treated us with the utmost cordiality. 
 They had evidently a great abhorrence of the Egyptians 
 on account of the cruel ravages that had been committed 
 on their northern boundaries. 
 
 For the next three months we never found a favourable 
 wind to speed us on our way. We employed our time 
 in transacting business with the Kouch, and in making 
 hunting-expeditions into the interior of the country. In 
 the way of exchanges we procured gold, ivory, pearls, and 
 skins ; and an immense success attended our hunting- 
 excursions in a region that was found to abound in 
 elephants, rhinoceros, and giraffes, as well as in smaller 
 game. There was not one of us who had not some trophy 
 of our good fortune or our skill to exhibit. Bichri killed a 
 lion, with the skin of which he made himself a mantle, and 
 even little Dionysos brought down a panther. 
 
 At length the opportunity for which we had watched so 
 eagerly arrived, and we set sail once more. Ten days 
 after our departure, while a stiffish breeze was blowing 
 from the north-east, I noticed not very far ahead of us 
 a large Phoenician gaoul, which appeared to have sus- 
 tained some damage, and to be drifting along under the 
 action of the wind. In answer to my signals, she gave me 
 to understand that she had lost some oars and her yard- 
 arm, and that she was in need of help. Always anxious 
 to render assistance to a vessel in distress, but yet fearful 
 of treachery I immediately ordered out my men, but 
 meanwhile instructed Hannibal to have the catapults in 
 readiness ; and thus prepared, the AshtoretJi approached 
 the gaoul on one side, and the Adonibal on the other, the 
 Ctibi) ^ following in the rear. 
 
 There was no need for any apprehension on my part. 
 As soon as we were fairly within view of each other, the 
 captain, standing on the stern, raised his arms and shouted ; 
 
 " By Baal Chamaim ! it's Mago!"
 
 304 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 " By Ashtoreth and all that's holy !" I exclaimed ; " it is 
 my cousin Ethbaal ! " 
 
 The recognition was a mutual pleasure ; our ships were 
 soon alongside, and we were grasping each other's hands. 
 
 "How rejoiced I am to see you, Mago!" he repeated 
 over and over again ; " Phoenicia has given you up in 
 despair ; every one mourned you as lost. By Ashtoreth ! 
 you must have been saved by a miracle !" 
 
 And he put his hands upon my shoulders and long and 
 keenly scrutinised my face. 
 
 " Tell me two things," I said ; " where am I ? and what 
 has brought you here ?" 
 
 Ethbaal seemed full of surprise ; but said : 
 
 " Come, come ; you are laughing at me. You must know 
 well enough where you are." 
 
 I assured him that I was in earnest in what I said, and 
 repeated my assertion that I was by no means aware of 
 where I was ; and when Himilco informed him that we had 
 come from a place where the Cabiri could not be seen at 
 all, and where the sun shone on the wrong side of us, he 
 looked as if he thought we had taken leave of our senses. 
 Nor did he appear to understand much better when 
 Himilco went on to expatiate upon having once drunk fish- 
 oil, and having had no wine for many months together. 
 
 "Mysterious!" muttered Ethbaal to himself; "here is 
 Mago, close to the entrance of the Sea of Reeds, only 
 six days' voyage from Ophir, and yet he comes from the 
 south, after sailing four years ago westward to Tarshish ! 
 Strange !" 
 
 He pondered awhile, and then addressed himself to me 
 
 " Yes ; you arc close to the Sea of Reeds." 
 
 I uttered an exclamation of delight, and turning to my 
 people cried triumphantly : 
 
 " Was I not right ? Did I not tell you that we were 
 on our way to Egypt ? Lucky we did not not turn back 
 from the Fortunate Islands : 
 
 Ethbaal appeared to be confirmed in his suspicion that J
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 305 
 
 must be mad, and declared his total ignorance of the 
 Fortunate Islands : 
 
 " I have never heard of them !" 
 
 " No, nor yet of the Tin Islands ; nor yet of Prydhayn ; 
 nor yet of the river of the Suomi ; nor yet of the chariot 
 of the gods," exclaimed Himilco. " Compared with us you 
 are mere coasters, loafing about in cockle-shells." 
 
 Genuine Sidonian as he was, my cousin could not brook 
 any insinuation against his seamanship, and colouring 
 deeply at the slight which he conceived was offered to him, 
 he said in a tone of anger : 
 
 "Out upon your insolence! do you call a man a coaster 
 who has made the voyage to Ophir ? do you call my gaoul 
 a cockle-shell ? Are you mad, or are you drunk, you one- 
 eyed fool ?" 
 
 Himilco, recalled to a sense of propriety, changed his 
 banter into cajolery : 
 
 " Now then, my dear fellow, you can do a great deal 
 better than bully me. Haven't you a little wine on board ? 
 It would be a great boon to give us a skin ; we haven't 
 tasted a drop this two months." 
 
 I interceded with Ethbaal, asking him to overlook what 
 might seem to be rudeness on the part of Himilco, and 
 assured him that our adventures had been so extraordinary 
 that he must really pardon a little bragging. He not only 
 took my mediation in a good spirit, but sent for a goat- 
 skin of wine, which he himself handed to Himilco, in token 
 of forgiveness. Saying that he should make an offering 
 with it to the Cabiri, the pilot emptied so large a share of 
 the contents down his throat that his companions began 
 to wonder when his draught was coming to an end, and 
 almost despaired of the wine lasting out till it should come 
 to their turn to partake of it. 
 
 "Glorious wine! wine of Arvad, Hannibal," he said, 
 smacking his lips as he removed the goatskin from his 
 mouth, and passed it to the rest. 
 
 X
 
 306 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 Gisgo and Hannibal clutched at the bottle together. 
 
 " Nay, nay, my friends," cried Ethbaal ; " do not be 
 fighting for the wine. I have plenty more. My cargo is 
 all wine which I am carrying to Ophir." 
 
 "Could you not take me with you?" asked Himilco, 
 eagerly ; " my services are quite at your disposal"
 
 CHAPTER XXI. 
 
 THE QUEKN OF SHEBA. 
 
 As soon as the wind dropped, we submitted ourselves tc 
 Kthbaal's instructions as to the direction in which we 
 ought to steer, and taking his gaoul into tow, we pro- 
 ceeded on our course to Ophir. 
 
 When evening came we found that by Ethbaal's orders 
 a true Phoenician banquet had been prepared on the stern 
 of the Ashtoreth : cheese, olives, figs, raisins, and a double 
 allowance of wine were served out to the men ; and we 
 ourselves took our seats upon brilliant carpets that had 
 replaced the worn-out rags with svhich we had been so 
 long familiar, and for the first time for months, nay, years, 
 enjoyed the viands of Tyre and Sidon, and quaffed the 
 wines of Byblos and Arvad. 
 
 Our spirits rose to the occasion, and I should hesitate 
 to say how many times I filled and re-filled my wine-cup 
 before I began to recount the adventures which Ethbaal 
 was anxious to hear. 
 
 My story lasted far on into the night. 
 
 When I had finished, Ethbaal, who had never flagged 
 for one moment in his attention, raised his hands to the 
 stars in the heavens above, and swore by all the gods that 
 my chronicle ought to be registered in letters of gold. 
 He went on to tell me that the cargo I had sent from 
 Gades and all my messages had been duly received at 
 Tyre ; that everyone had come to the conclusion we must 
 all have been drowned in the ocean ; and that notliin^ had
 
 308 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 been heard about Bodmilcar, who, it was taken for granted, 
 had been punished for his treachery by the direct visitation 
 of the gods. 
 
 I offered Ethbaal a present of some very fine pearls ; he 
 at first refused to take any acknowledgment at all of his 
 attention to us, but I induced him ultimately to accept the 
 gift. The damages to his gaonl were only to the rigging, 
 and did not affect the hull ; and as we had taken it into 
 tow, there was nothing to cause us any anxiety, or to 
 prevent us from retiring to rest. 
 
 Next morning, in the course of conversation with Ethbaal, 
 Himilco asked : 
 
 " Have you had any fighting, captain, since you have 
 been out ?" 
 
 " Fighting ? no, why ?" he replied. 
 
 " Because if you continue in our company you will soon 
 find that fighting is our destiny. We are always fighting ; 
 if we are not fighting men, and that we are doing pretty 
 frequently, we are fighting the beasts of the earth ; and if 
 we are not fighting beasts, we are fighting against wind 
 and waves. Go where we will we attract the fightings, 
 just like a headland attracts the storms. Fighting is 
 our luck ; so I just warn you, you had better be on the 
 look-out." 
 
 Fthbaal laughed. He said he hoped that we had come 
 to the end of our adventures in that way, and that we 
 should have a prosperous voyage to Ophir ; then turning 
 to me, he asked what I expected to procure at Ophir, as I 
 had already a large supply of gold, which was the com- 
 modity ordinarily obtained there. 
 
 I reminded him that I had a much larger quantity of 
 amber than I really wanted, and that in return for a por- 
 tion of it I intended to lay in a stock of sandal-wood and 
 spices, peacocks and apes, and anything else that the 
 country could offer. 
 
 The Arabian coast was rocky, but we sailed along it 
 without difficulty for six days, at the end of which we
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 309 
 
 arrived at Havilah, the principal city of the kingdom of 
 Ophir and Sheba. Unlike the Phoenician seaports, it has 
 no quays, fortresses, nor arsenals, but it is well-sheltered, 
 and forms a commodious trade-harbour ; the town rises 
 like an amphitheatre upon the surrounding heights, and 
 the white terraces, with their brown and red domes, broken 
 by clusters of palm-trees, stand out in pleasing contrast to 
 the deep-blue sky, while the domes of the temples are of 
 gilded bronze, and glitter with dazzling brightness in the 
 sunlight. Although the people are indifferent seamen, yet 
 it is to the sea that they owe their prosperity, their city 
 forming the mart between our own country and the distant 
 Indies. 
 
 The Queen herself takes a keen interest in all matters 
 connected with navigation, and her palace is situated close 
 to the sea-shore. It is built of cedar, and ornamented with 
 trellis-work and open balconies ; the walls are all adorned 
 with paintings, inlaid with precious stones, or hung with 
 curtains of variegated stuffs. 
 
 I was very anxious to secure the Queen's favour, and to 
 make her an offering worthy of her acceptance. With 
 this object, I placed some of my finest pieces of amber in 
 a casket made of Tarshish silver, and carrying my gift 
 in my hand, I presented myself with Ethbaal and most of 
 my officers at the entrance of the palace, and sounded the 
 great drum by which it is the custom to demand admit- 
 tance to the royal presence. 
 
 Ordinarily the Queen occupies a tapestried tent that 
 overlooks the sea ; she had consequently been aware of 
 our entrance into the harbour, and when we presented our- 
 selves at the gateway of the palace she gave immediate 
 orders that we should be conducted before her. We were 
 taken to her pavilion across a garden of surpassing beauty. 
 There were countless plants, wonderful alike in their blos- 
 soms and their foliage, grouped in exquisite order around 
 sparkling fountains ; there were sumptuous tents of every 
 hue pitched amongst the rare and graceful trees, to the
 
 310 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 boughs of which monkeys were attached by golden 
 chains ; Indian birds with gayest plumage fluttered over- 
 head ; and peacocks, displaying their gorgeous tails, were 
 strutting along the avenues. Every thing we saw seemed 
 worthy of the stateliest empire in tl.e world. 
 
 We prostrated ourselves before the Queen, who at once 
 bade us rise. She was young and very fascinating ; and 
 although she was surrounded by ladies in waiting and 
 maids of honour, she was conspicuous among them all for 
 grace and beauty. Her attire, redolent of perfume, was 
 alike sumptuous and elegant ; in her hair and round her 
 neck were jewels valuable enough not only to equip a 
 fleet, but to maintain it as well ; a long robe, embroidered 
 in gold with figures of men, beasts, and birds, was thrown 
 over her, but opened to display the richness of the dress 
 below ; her sleeves were loose to the elbows, and on 
 her wrists were bracelets that must have been all but 
 priceless. 
 
 We were dazzled into silence as we first gazed upon 
 her beauty and magnificence ; but Hanno almost imme- 
 diately advanced, and ventured to recite some verses of 
 an Arab ode : 
 
 " Fairer than moons are thy beaming eyes, 
 Nay, they are radiant suns : 
 Forth from the l>o\v of thine arched brow 
 Shoot the arrows that pierce man's heart : 
 Be it thy justice prevails far and wide, 
 The universe yields to thy charms. 
 What are thy favours ? Say I not true ? 
 Fetters they are that bind the soul ; 
 What are thy fingers ? What do I kiss? 
 Keys of a heavenly joy." 
 
 The language spoken in Ophir is very similar to our 
 own, and the Queen, who understands Phoenician well, 
 expressed herself as being highly gratified at Hanno's 
 courtier-like address. She then deigned to examine the 
 presents I had brought, and requested me to give her a 
 brief outline of my travels and adventures ; then rising
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. $11 
 
 from her seat, and bidding us follow her, she went out, 
 acompanied by her retinue, into the garden, and moving 
 with all the grace and dignity of a goddess, herself con- 
 ducted us to every point of interest in her paradise. Before 
 we took leave of her she desired me to visit her again on 
 the eve of our departure, that I might receive some instruc- 
 tions that she wished to give me. 
 
 f-L 
 
 The same evening the munificent lady sent us a store 
 of provisions for our ships, and various presents for our- 
 selves, amongst which I should especially note several 
 embroidered robes for the women, and a scarlet tunic, a 
 hyacinth-coloured girdle, and a gold-embroidered shoulder- 
 belt for Hanno. 
 
 We remained a week at Havilah, making exchanges, 
 and inspecting all that was worth seeing in the place. 
 Representatives of nearly every nation seemed to be con- 
 gregated in the town ; men from India and Taprobane, 
 from Ethiopia, and the mouth of the Euphrates. The 
 people of Sheba themselves bear a strong resemblance to 
 the Jews, Phoenicians, and Arabians, the p-incipal differ - 
 enoe being that they are of smaller stature and darkef
 
 312 
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 complexion. The queen, however, is remarkably fair 
 The gold and the tin that we procured here, as well as 
 the peacocks, tortoise-shell, and ivory, are all imported 
 from India ; but the spices, stuffs, and vases of opaque 
 glass, are brought through India from a still more distant 
 land, to which hitherto no one has ever sailed, and which 
 could not be reached in less than a two years' voyage. 
 
 On the day of my departure I presented myself again 
 before the Queen. 
 
 " I have to inform you, Captain Mago," she said, " that 
 the old King David who sent you to Tarshish died a year 
 and a half ago, and has been succeeded by his son 
 Solomon, of whose power, but especially of whose wisdom, 
 I hear a wonderful report. His dominions extend as far 
 as the Gulf of Elam on the Sea of Reeds, where he holds 
 the port of Ezion-Geber. I am eager to enter into a treaty 
 with him, and I commission you, on my behalf, to convey 
 to this august monarch a present that shall be worthy of 
 himself and me." 
 
 " Your will, O Queen, is my law," I replied, as I made 
 my obeisance.
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 313 
 
 "But first of all, captain," she continued, "tell me 
 whether you and your companions in toil are too worn out 
 with the fatigues that you have already endured to under- 
 take another voyage in my service. Information has 
 reached me that the King of Babylon, Assur, and Accad 
 is on his way, with a powerful army, to the mouth of the 
 Euphrates to put down an insurrection. No one so well as 
 yourself can fulfil what I desire. I want you, if you will, 
 to convey him some messages from me, and to be the 
 bearer of presents that I shall send." 
 
 I did not hesitate to comply ; not only did I express 
 my willingness to go, but assured her that the voyage 
 would be neither difficult nor long. 
 
 " Go then, brave mariner," said the Queen, with a 
 beaming smile, " and I shall not fail to recompense you 
 royally." 
 
 I prostrated myself once again before her, and with- 
 drew. 
 
 An hour later I had taken leave of Ethbaal, who was 
 returning to Sidon by way of Ezion-Geber and the canal 
 of Pharaoh, and, with all my people, I was embarking for 
 yet another voyage.
 
 314 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 CHAPTER XXII. 
 
 BELESYS FINDS BICHRI SOMEWHAT HEAVY. 
 
 IT did not take us much more than a month to sail to the 
 mouth of the Euphrates, although during the time we 
 made one sojourn with the Arabians, and another with the 
 fish-eating Gedrosians on the opposite coast. 
 
 On receiving the announcement from me of the aged 
 King David's death, Chamai and his fellow-countrymen 
 observed a week's mourning, fasted, rent their clothes, 
 and combed neither their hair nor their beards ; but at 
 the end of the week they made plentiful ablutions, and 
 held a festival in honour of Solomon, the King's son and 
 successor. 
 
 It was early in the morning that we reached the river- 
 mouth, and having entered it, proceeded till we came to a 
 little town dedicated to the god Cannes. There is no 
 stone found in the country, and the place, like all the 
 other towns on the Euphrates, is built entirely of bricks, 
 the fortifications being circular walls constructed of bricks, 
 baked and unbaked, cemented with layers of bitumen. On 
 the right were the remains of vast forests, which, according 
 to the statements of the learned, were, three hundred 
 years ago, the haunts of the elephant. On the other side, 
 extending as far as the eye could reach, was a long stretch 
 of meadow-lands and corn-fields. Looking up the river, 
 eve could count some hundreds of tents pitched among the 
 crops or sheltered by the forest, the fires of the encamp- 
 ment sending up columns of smoke, and groups of horses
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 315 
 
 being picketed everywhere amongst them A few boats 
 and two large ships of Phoenician build were moored to 
 the shore ; but what struck us most of all was the swarms 
 of soldiers, many of them with swords drawn and lance in 
 hand, who were posted everywhere alike on the river-bank, 
 in the pastures, among the crops, and along the skirts of 
 the forest. 
 
 " The army of the Assyrians ! " cried Himilco. 
 
 "The gods be praised ! " said Hannibal, in an ecstasy of 
 delight ; " now shall I set eyes upon something like an 
 army once again. See, how admirable their position ! how 
 skilful their groupings ! I must make the acquaintance of 
 their officers." 
 
 He was stopped short in his panegyric by the shouts of 
 a troop of horsemen who were galloping towards us, and 
 ordering us, in Chaldean, to bring our ships immediately 
 to a stand-still, and to tell them who we were From the 
 stern of my ship I answered the officer in command as 
 courteously as I could, and he, in reply, ordered me to 
 remain where I was whilst he reported my statement to 
 his superior. In about a quarter of an hour he returned 
 from the camp whither he had gone, and brought with 
 him a troop of cavalry, at the head of which rode a burly 
 fellow armed in a complete suit of mail, and carrying a 
 lance. 
 
 Hannibal again began to praise the order and accoutre- 
 ments of the troop and their leader to Chamai, who, while 
 admitting the superiority of Assyrian cavalry, contended 
 that the infantry of Judah was second to none ; but before 
 they had finished their military discussion, the Chaldean 
 had halted just opposite our ships, and was calling out 
 that our principal officers must come ashore and state our 
 demands in the presence of Belcsys, the King's commander- 
 in-chief. 
 
 Hanno knew enough of Chaldean to remember that the 
 word " belesys " in that language signified "terrible," and 
 muttered that it was a formidable name for a man to have.
 
 3l6 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 Taking the Queen of Sheba's letters, and followed by 
 eight sailors carrying her presents to the King, and es- 
 corted by my own officers, I went on shore. The Chaldean 
 was tall and stout ; he had a wide face, with a strong jaw 
 and great deep-set eyes ; his beard was thick and frizzled 
 like the rest of his company, and his manners were ex- 
 tremely coarse and insolent. 
 
 " Come, now, you sailor fellows, stir yourselves a little 
 briskly, will you ?" he cried ; "I'm not fond of walking my 
 horse." 
 
 He conducted us first of all through an enclosure filled 
 with war-chariots, and then past an encampment of in- 
 fantry, composed of Mesopotamians armed with maces 
 and spears, and in physiognomy bearing a striking likeness 
 to the people of Judaea. A little removed from us was 
 a regiment of Medes, the representatives of a nation re- 
 cently subjugated, but whose ancestors had given Nineveh 
 her line of kings. They were thickset, and had round 
 heads, scanty beards, and obliquely-set eyes. Their fierce 
 expression of countenance attracted our notice, and armed 
 with their swords and short, strong bows, they must be 
 very formidable in battle. As we passed, we were near 
 enough to hear that they were making coarse jokes upon 
 us in their own tongue. A noisy band of half-naked Arabs 
 next caught our attention. These, with their camels, 
 always form part of the contingent of the King of Assyria, 
 and mingling with them I recognised some Midianite 
 slave-dealers and some Phoenician merchants, who act as 
 purveyors to the army, but make their chief profits by 
 purchasing slaves and plunder from the soldiers. 
 
 We proceeded to the cavalry encampment, and when we 
 were about in the middle ot it, we were ordered to halt 
 We found ourselves in front of a large circular tent made 
 of rieh hangings, the entrance of which was guarded 
 by Karclook infantry carrying maces, and equipped with 
 breastplates, greaves, crested helmets, and round shields 
 This was the tent of Belesys, the terrible.
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 317 
 
 " Enter," said the officer who had been conducting us, 
 adding in a jeering tone : " I hope the general will give 
 you a handsome reception ; perhaps he will put on a good 
 temper for the occasion." 
 
 He burst into a roar of laughter and galloped off. 
 
 "Stop!" cried Chamai, wrathfully ; "is that the way 
 you speak to a Phoenician captain ?" 
 
 But his words were wasted. The Chaldean was out of 
 hearing, far away. 
 
 The Kardook guards scrutinised us narrowly, and con- 
 sulted each other in an undertone. They appeared 
 especially attracted by the dress of Hanno, who had 
 arrayed himself in the costly presents of the Queen of 
 Sheba. Turning to him, one of them said : 
 
 "Are you captain ?" 
 
 " No," replied Hanno, pointing to me ; " there is our 
 captain." 
 
 The Kardooks stared in astonishment. 
 
 I was dressed in my ordinary naval attire ; but as the 
 Assyrians always associate dignity of place with costliness 
 of apparel, they could only account for my appearance by 
 conjecturing that I was in disguise. 
 
 "You wish to see Belesys ?" said the guard ; and having 
 entered the tent, returned again immediately with per- 
 mission for us to be admitted. 
 
 The Assyrian commander-in-chief was at the farther ex- 
 tremity of the tent, surrounded by a number of officers and 
 slaves, and was reclining, or rather lolling, upon a luxurious 
 couch ; he was superbly dressed, but wore no armour. 
 Armed men stood on both sides of him, and two cup- 
 bearers were in attendance holding goblets of wine, of 
 which, however, he was in no need, as he was already very 
 drunk. 
 
 With the exception of Bichri, we all made a low bow on 
 entering the ter* ; but the young archer, who was not 
 always in a conciliating mood, did not feel disposed on 
 this occasion to exhibit any sign of courtesy.
 
 3l8 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 Pushing aside one of the cup-bearers who was obstructing 
 his view, Belesys stared straight at us. He was a tall man, 
 with a great frizzled beard, thick lips, and a heavy jaw, 
 and his hair was glossy with perfumed ointment. A heavy 
 mace which lay by his side was surmounted by the fig .ire 
 of a bull's head. As he gazed at us, he shook his head, 
 screwed up his eyes, and, indeed, distorted all his features ; 
 while his attendants, as if to flatter him by imitation, did 
 precisely the same. We waited some time for him to 
 speak, and at last, in a tone that quite confirmed our 
 suspicion that he was intoxicated, he roared out : 
 
 " You see those two big fellows ? and you see that 
 youngster with the bow ? Take them, and give them five- 
 and-twenty lashes apiece ; and then put them amongst my 
 archers. I don't dislike the look of them." 
 
 Utterly astounded, I held my tongue. Taking no notice 
 of Hanno's clenched fist and gleaming eye, he went on, 
 hiccupping as he spoke : 
 
 "That young man with the gold shoulder-belt, strip him 
 to the skin, and pack him off to the slaves. I don't care 
 for the other old scarecrows ; do as you like with them ; 
 there's an ugly one-eyed rascal among them ; hang him or 
 behead him as you please, the sooner the better." 
 
 " What ?" shrieked Himilco, in ungovernable rarre ; 
 
 o o ) 
 
 " what ? do you call me a one-eyed rascal ? and our 
 captain, a Phoenician admiral, do you call him a scare- 
 crow ? By all the gods !"- 
 
 Belesys burst into a roar of laughter, repeated his orders 
 that we should be put under arrest, and taking a cup from 
 the nearest cup-bearer, drained it at a gulp and fl ing it 
 back into the man's face. 
 
 " Handcuff them, I say ! " he bawled again. 
 
 Several of his men approached to execute his bidding, 
 but I shook off the hands of the Chaldean who ventured 
 near me ; Hannibal floored the- man who was about to 
 assail him, by planting his fist heavily in the fellow's eyes 
 after the Cymri fashion in Prydhayn; Chamai, in genuine
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. Jig 
 
 Celtic style, knocked down another by butting at him with 
 his head in the middle of the stomach ; but Bichri, the 
 most agile of us all, took a much more determined 
 measure. Bounding like a cat upon the couch, he fixed 
 his knee firmly upon the general's breast, and with one 
 hand caught hold of his beard, while with the other he helc 
 the point of his knife close enough to his throat to be 
 felt. 
 
 " Capital, Bichri ! well done!" shouted Hannibal, draw- 
 ing his sword. 
 
 "Keep your hold, Bichri, and long live the King!" cried 
 Chamai, following Hannibal's example. 
 
 Hanno and myself, resolved to act on the defensive, 
 also drew our swords ; Himilco tripped up another of the 
 Chaldeans by one of those adroit turns of the hand with 
 which a sailor knows so well how to take a landsman by 
 surprise ; and all my own sailors, seeing the aspect of 
 affairs, in a moment set down their packages and un- 
 sheathed their cutlasses. 
 
 "Shall I cut his throat ?" asked Bichri, coolly, appealing 
 to me. 
 
 " No ; wait a little," I answered ; " let me talk to him a 
 bit first." 
 
 Approaching near enough for him to hear me distinctly, 
 I said : 
 
 " Belesys, you have only to cry out or make the least 
 resistance, and in one instant that knife severs your head 
 from your body. " 
 
 " Soldiers," I continued, turning myself to his guard, 
 "the moment you call for assistance or lift up your hands 
 to attack us, that moment, mark me, your general is a dead 
 man." 
 
 The proximity of Bichri's knife to the general's gullet 
 seemed to have a sobering influence upon him, and in 
 a voice very much subdued, he implored his soldiers and 
 slaves to keep perfectly quiet, and at his wish they retreated 
 to the sides of the tent.
 
 320 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 Bichri began to whistle one of his Benjamite airs, and 
 deliberately brought up his other knee on to the general's 
 chest. 
 
 " You are stifling me, young man ; let me breathe, let me 
 breathe." 
 
 " O nonsense, I know better than that," replied Bichri, 
 without stirring an inch ; " I am a very light weight." 
 
 " Let me go," gasped Belesys. " Believe me, I was only 
 joking ; let me free, and I will recompense you liberally." 
 
 "As to letting you free, that's not my concern; that 
 depends upon Captain Mago ; no one but the captain gives 
 orders ; you should sue to him." 
 
 At a hint from me that he should allow the Assyrian 
 room to breathe, Bichri removed his feet to the ground, 
 but without relaxing his hold upon his beard or lifting the 
 knife from his throat. Belesys was breathing heavily ; 
 his face was pale ; his forehead moist with a cold sweat ; 
 there was no doubt about his being sober now ; and he 
 piteously asked for our captain to speak to him. Without 
 waiting for me, Himilco began to jeer him. 
 
 " Ah ! you would like to see the old scarecrow, would 
 you ? and here am I, too, the one-eyed rascal ; it is a long 
 way to come, all round Libya, to cut your throat, but it is 
 quite worth the trouble if it teaches you that you shouldn't 
 get drunk all by yourself." 
 
 And snatching the goblet from one of the cup-bearers 
 he drained it off, and pitched the empty cup at the nose of 
 the general. 
 
 " Gently," I said, and laid my hand upon the irascible 
 pilot. " Belesys is mistaken altogether ; he did not under- 
 stand that we were conveying presents to his King." 
 
 The Assyrian gave so violent a start that his neck was 
 actually grazed by Bichri's knife. He was beginning to 
 bawl out something about his illustrious sovereign He- 
 lochus II., when I admonished him that he had better 
 not speak so loud, a warning that Bichri enforced by 
 tightening his grasp upon his throat.
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 321 
 
 " I was but jesting ; you should take a joke," he gasped 
 " Only tell your young man to loose his hold upon my 
 throat, and I swear by the almighty Nisroch, I will not 
 hurt a hair of your heads. Can you not trust me now?" 
 
 " Not quite," I answered, smiling. 
 
 It was now my turn to assume the tone of irony, and 
 with mock reverence I turned to him and said : 
 
 " And now, most valiant Belesys, servant of the mighty 
 Belochus, will you condescend to do me the favour of 
 visiting our ships ?" 
 
 " By all means. I am ready ; I will come at once." 
 
 " We will take our time," I continued. " Just attend to 
 me : you must have, you know, every proper mark of 
 respect ; on your way to the vessels you shall walk between 
 Hannibal and Chamai ; they shall show their respect by 
 drawing their swords, and Bichri shall walk close behind 
 you ; that will be another sign of respect ; and when you 
 get on board you shall remain on board until I have had 
 an interview with the King. On board ship, you have 
 heard, it is the captain who gives orders." 
 
 ' I think I understand your terms," he replied. " T am 
 to go with you ; if I cry out you will murder me ; and 
 when I am on your ship I am to be kept as a hostage," 
 
 " Precisely so," I said. 
 
 The incorrigible Himilco renewed his jeering, and asked 
 whether he could not produce a little more wine, but the 
 general made no reply, and closed his eyes as if he were 
 in deep thought. Bichri took his seat upon the breast of 
 his prisoner, who, in spite of the indignity he was receiving, 
 seemed to be so much struck with admiration for the young 
 man, that he promised to make his fortune if he would 
 enter his service. 
 
 " But get up, get up, I entreat you," he begged him, in 
 an imploring tone. " I assure you that you are a great deaJ 
 heavier than you seem to imagine." 
 
 Bichri made no answer, but whistled an air, and jolted 
 himself up and down upon his seat 
 
 T
 
 322 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 Himilco, meanwhile, filched a flask of wine from one ol 
 the cupbearers, whom he rewarded by some good hard 
 knocks, and then professed that he was enjoying himself 
 extremely. 
 
 " Come now, general," I said at length ; " we can't spend 
 all day waiting here ; we shall have some one coming in 
 Is your mind made up ?" 
 
 He made an ambiguous movement. Bichri frowned, and 
 jerked his knife. 
 
 " Yes, I will come," he said, abruptly. " After all, I was 
 in fault." 
 
 We now arranged our party as I had proposed. Assum- 
 ing all the appearance of respect, Hannibal and Chamai 
 placed themselves one on each side of Belesys, and Bichri, 
 still whistling gently to himself, followed alone behind. I 
 followed with Hanno and Himilco, and the sailors, taking 
 up their packages, brought up the rear. 
 
 As we passed along the ranks, the soldiers all prostrated 
 themselves in honour of their general, and I could scarcely 
 suppress a smile at their ignorance of the true state of 
 things. Belesys did not utter a word or make a sign, and 
 in half an hour's time he was on board the AshtoretJi, wit- 
 nessing the respectful salute with which my own people 
 always acknowledged my return. 
 
 "To your posts, men !" I cried, cheerily; "here is the 
 noble commander-in-chief of the Assyrian army ; he does 
 us the honour to inspect our ships." 
 
 "And he intends," said Himilco, "to treat you to a 
 double ration of wine." 
 
 "Long live the King of Assyria! long live his illustiious 
 general !" rose in acclamation from a chorus of voices. 
 
 Belesys, who was stili rather pale, smiled uneasily, bnt 
 with a forced hilarity professed himself ready not only 
 to give my brave men the double allowance of wine, but to 
 provide them with some sheep and oxen besides. Once 
 again a general cheer was raised, and Hannibal made him 
 a. militaiy salute. Chamai merely shrugged his shoulders.
 
 Til
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 323 
 
 and Bichri could not help confiding to Dionysos that the 
 man before them was nothing but a drunken coward, who 
 ruled the 50,000 men under his command by blows and 
 lashes. 
 
 " They are not Hellenes, then," said the young Phocian, 
 proudly ; "no Hellenes submit to blows !" 
 
 Belesys bit his lip ; he had overheard what was said, 
 and it mortified him ; he tried to conceal his annoyance, 
 and remarked to me that he had thought Phoenicians were 
 too much engrossed by commerce to have any concern in 
 the affairs of states. Hannibal was on the point of quoting 
 the case of Adonibal, the naval sufifect of Utica, as an 
 instance to the contrary, when our attention was arrested 
 by the transit of a section of the Assyrian army from one 
 bank of the river to the other. The water was covered 
 with boats and with large rafts, on which were placed all 
 the war-chariots, and at the stern of every one of them was 
 a group of men holding the heads of the horses that were 
 swimming behind. The passage of the infantry was made 
 on inflated goatskins. The utmost confusion prevailed ; 
 several poor fellows were drowned, but that seemed a 
 matter of utter indifference to the officers that stood upon 
 the bank lashing the men with whips to make them 
 quicken their movements. At one place we observed that 
 a large bevy of prisoners was being conducted before an 
 official who was seated on a kind of open air tribunal, sur- 
 rounded by guards. Some town had evidently been lately 
 captured. All the gods, and a quantity of booty, were 
 first laid at the officer's feet, and then the prisoners men, 
 women, and children were brought before him. They were 
 a wretched, dejected set, many of the men fettered with 
 heavy bronze chains, and nearly all with their hands bound 
 behind their backs, the whole of them being compelled 
 to prostrate themselves in turn before the officer, who placed 
 his foot upon their necks. In a few cases a respite was 
 granted and life was spared ; but as a general rule the 
 captives were forthwith hanged or beheaded in the pre-
 
 324 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 sence of their fellow-sufferers. I observed that out of the 
 number of miserable objects, four were selected and sent 
 off to be tied to stakes that were driven into the ground 
 on an adjacent eminence. 
 
 It was truly a heartrending spectacle. Chamai and 
 Hannibal had seen something of the kind before in the 
 course of the warfare in their own land ; but to Aminocles 
 and his countrymen, with their Hellenic ideal of liberty, 
 the sight was intolerably shocking, and they were loud in 
 their asseverations that they would die before they would 
 incur the risk of any such utter degradation. 
 
 While we were looking on at this humiliating exhibition, 
 a messenger arrived from the King to ascertain the. object 
 of my coming. I stated it as briefly as possible, and in 
 another hour the man came again to summon us into the 
 presence of Belochus. I took no one with me except 
 Hanno, and the sailors to carry the Queen's gifts. As we 
 walked along Hanno was silent, evidently preparing some 
 graceful compliment ; but his painstaking in this way was 
 of no avail, as we were only permitted to view the splen- 
 dour of the Assyrian sovereign from a distance. At about 
 a hundred paces from the throne we were commanded to 
 halt, and prostrate ourselves to the ground. 
 
 Belochus II. was seated beneath a group of trees, sur- 
 rounded so closely by guards, cupbearers, attendants with 
 fans and parasols, and slaves with fly-whisks, that for a 
 long time I could see nothing of him except his tiara, 
 which was very dazzling, his robes, which were very elabo- 
 rate, and his unshod feet sparkling with gems. But at 
 last the mass of gorgeous pomp seemed to open, and 
 I could plainly distinguish the majestic countenance of 
 the King, encircled with long hair, and conspicuous with a 
 thick frixzled beard. 
 
 An avenue of soldiers was formed ; some officers were 
 sent to receive whatever documents and presents we 
 had brought ; we were bidden a second time to prostrate 
 ourselves to the earth, and were then escorted back to our
 
 WE \VERE COMMANDED TO HALT. 
 
 To fact page 324.
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 325 
 
 ships. I found Belesys very impatient to be released from 
 his imprisonment, and he looked much chagrined when I 
 told him that it was necessary for me to detain him 
 a while longer as a hostage for my own safety. 
 
 In about an hour afterwards some letters, enclosed in a 
 casket of gold, arrived from King Belochus for the Queen 
 of Sheba ; the present for the Queen was accompanied by 
 a meagre gift of provisions and stuffs for myself and my 
 people. 
 
 My mission was now accomplished, and I prepared again 
 to set sail. 
 
 "You may go," I said to my prisoner; "let us part 
 friends." 
 
 Belesys gave a sigh of relief. 
 
 " I am glad you are a man of your word," he said. 
 
 I laughed heartily. 
 
 "Did you suppose I should keep you? What good 
 could you do me ?" 
 
 " Revenge is sweet," he answered. " I feared you would 
 not let my injustice go unpunished." 
 
 "Ah, you mean that would have been your course."
 
 326 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 Belesys smiled. 
 
 " The hand that cannot be cut off must be caressed," he 
 said. 
 
 I took good care that before he left he should see the 
 scorpions filled with missiles and put ready for action, and 
 then I dismissed him with the most punctilious observance 
 of outward respect. 
 
 Before quitting the ship he made another attempt to 
 induce Bichri to join his service, an honour which was 
 coolly and firmly declined.
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 327 
 
 CHAPTER XXIII. 
 
 WE SETTLE OUR ACCOUNTS WITH BODMILCAR. 
 
 IT was quite late in the evening before we reached the bai 
 of the river, and as I was fearful of crossing it in the dark, 
 I gave orders to lay to for the night. A small Chaldean 
 camp was within sight, but I took every precaution to 
 guard against any act of treachery on the part of Belesys. 
 
 A number of booths made of branches of trees had been 
 erected on the shore, and some Phoenician dealers were 
 purchasing plunder from the soldiers, and supplying them 
 with wine in return. Himilco, Gisgo, and several others 
 expressed a great wish to go ashore, and although I knew 
 that they would only be drinking and bragging of their 
 adventures, I could not find it in my heart to refuse them. 
 1 only stipulated that they should not go out of hearing. 
 A couple of hours later, being curious to know what 
 was going on in the little mart that looked so bright with 
 its many lamps, I took Bichri and Jonah, and rowed to 
 land. Just as I stepped on shore, I observed two galleys 
 pass down stream, as if about to anchor below us ; they 
 were followed by a gaoul, which kept very close to the 
 opposite bank ; but as the river was very wide, and it was 
 quite dusk, I could not distinguish its form. Knowing, 
 moreover, that there was a great deal of slave-trafficking 
 going on with the Assyrians, I did not give the circum- 
 stance more than a casual attention. 
 
 I found Himilco and Gisgo in animated conversation 
 with the Chaldean soldiers, who evidently regarded all
 
 328 
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 their tales about enormous stags, stinking fish-oil, and the 
 sun shining on the wrong side, as mere romances, if not 
 downright lies. One of them avowed that no power on 
 earth would ever make him believe that any people could 
 accept Jonah for their god, a mere human being like them- 
 selves. To this Bichri replied, somewhat contemptuously, 
 that he could not see but that Jonah was every whit as 
 good as Nisroch ; and Gisgo added that he could believe 
 anything after seeing how the Assyrians allowed them- 
 selves to be bullied by Belochus and his general Belesys. 
 
 Furious at the insults offered alike to his eod and to his 
 
 o 
 
 rulers, the Chaldean threatened to break every bone in 
 Gisgo's skin ; whereupon Gisgo replied that he was quite 
 ready to accept a challenge, and that he would fight it 
 out in any way he pleased ; like the people of Prydhayn or 
 Ar-Mor, if he chose. 
 
 'You had better not be fighting with us," said Himilco ; 
 "we conquer wherever we go; Sicilians, Garamantines, 
 Suomi, Germani, we have thrashed them all. We have 
 been to the river Illiturgis, and to the Pyrenees, and to
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 329 
 
 the Chariot of the Gods, and to the Fortunate Islands, where 
 we got as much gold as we liked. Everything succeeds 
 with us ; and the best thing you can do is to leave us 
 alone." 
 
 The man looked aghast at the string of names which 
 Himilco repeated out so volubly, and, in a half-apologetic 
 tone, replied : 
 
 " You Sidonians are wonderful travellers. I am a Kar- 
 dook, and thought I had done something marvellous in 
 coming here from my far-off mountains. The world is 
 much larger than I reckoned." 
 
 Another Chaldean now put in his word, and said that 
 though he had not been to Tarshish, he had just seen a 
 man of Tarshish. 
 
 "Just seen one! where ?" asked Himilco. 
 
 "In the royal camp. He was along with the Phoenician 
 captain who has taken service under King Belochus." 
 
 A thrill ran through me. In an instant I recollected 
 the gaoul and the two galleys, and the truth flashed upon 
 my mind. 
 
 "His name?" I cried. "Tell me his name, and I will 
 give you a shekel." 
 
 " Make it two, and I will tell you." 
 
 I threw him the money, which he picked up and put in 
 his purse. He was walking off, saying that he did not see 
 why he need tell me the captain's name now that lie 
 was already paid. In my rage at the cool effrontery 
 of the rascal I was about to knock him down, when one of 
 the Phoenician dealers interposed : 
 
 " Never mind that fellow's nonsense, I will tell you what 
 you want. The captain's name is Bodmilcar; he is a 
 Tyrian." 
 
 The very sound of the name was enough. My men 
 caught it, and in an instant we were all on our way back- 
 to the ships. Once on board, I held a consultation with 
 the officers, and put them in possession of the fact that 
 Bodmilcar was lying in wait a few cables' length below us;
 
 330 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 that he was in connection with the army ; and that it was 
 extremely likely that Belesys would attack us in the rear. 
 How melancholy would it be, I urged, if our enterprise, 
 hitherto so successful, should be marred by our hateful 
 foe at last ! 
 
 Animated by a general enthusiasm, my people declared 
 that not a moment should be lost, the hour for action was 
 come, and the attack must be made at once. 
 
 Chamai and Hanno began to contend for the right to 
 kill Bodmilcar. 
 
 "Let me only get within reach of him !" cried Chamai. 
 
 " No, no," said Hanno, flushing with excitement ; " he is 
 my rival, and by my hand must he fall." 
 
 " Don't be simpletons, young men !" I interposed ; " there 
 is something better than wrangling for you to do now. 
 Look to your duties. We will make for the sea." 
 
 Using every possible caution, we proceeded towards the 
 river-mouth. The Ashtoreth took the middle of the channel, 
 with the Adonibal on her right, and the Cabiros on her left. 
 Every light had been extinguished, and it was with throb- 
 bing pulses that the men on board stood, ready armed, 
 peering out into the darkness. Bichri had spread out his 
 arrows within reach upon the deck, and was crouching 
 down, his bow full strung ; he was between Dionysos and 
 Jonah. The trumpeter was armed with a huge hatchet in 
 his girdle, and the little Phocian was provided with his bow 
 and arrow ready for immediate use. Himilco, holding his 
 cutlass and shield, took his post at the stern, directing the 
 helmsman ; Hannibal and Chamai placed themselves at 
 the head of their own companies, and stood almost on 
 tiptoe in their eagerness to get the first glimpse of the enemy. 
 
 Before the hour of sunrise we could hear the rushing of 
 the water at the river-bar, and in the faint dawn could 
 make out Bodmilcar's three ships blockading our exit 
 The Melkarth was in the middle ; the decks of all three 
 being perfectly thronged by men in helmets. The shore 
 was quite deserted.
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 331 
 
 "The stream is in our favour," I observed; "let us 
 commence action with the fire-ships." 
 
 A number of planks loaded with combustibles was soon 
 set afloat. 
 
 I did not wait long before ordering Jonah to sound the 
 signal for attack : it was answered promptly by a challenge 
 from the enemy ; a volley of lances fell upon our deck ; 
 we discharged another volley in reply ; and the battle had 
 fairly commenced. 
 
 As I had myself superintended the construction of the 
 Alelkarth, I was well aware that her flanks were far too 
 substantial to be injured by any blow from our prows ; I 
 knew, moreover, that her height was so great that it gave 
 her an immense advantage in overwhelming us with mis- 
 siles, and rendered every thought of boarding her un- 
 tenable. But I also knew her weak points. I had mysel/ 
 experienced that her enormous weight made her difficult 
 to move; and I resolved in my own mind that, if possible, 
 I would take advantage of this defect. After ascertaining 
 from Himilco, who knew enough of the channel to form a 
 reliable opinion, that the Mclkarth drew too much water to 
 be able to move a cable's length to the right of where she 
 was, I ordered our boats to be laden with all the com- 
 bustibles they could carry. I next signalled to the Cabiros 
 to come alongside, and telling Himilco to follow me, I went 
 on board her, Hamilcar being left in charge of the As/i- 
 toreth. All this time the arrows from the enemy's ships 
 were falling fast about us, and Bodmilcar, evidently ex- 
 pecting assistance from Belesys behind us, was fighting as 
 if sure of victory. 
 
 Gisgo joined Himilco at the helm of the Cabiros, and I 
 stood between them to give my orders. Never, I can con- 
 fidently say, was a vessel more skilfully piloted. After 
 taking the two boats in tow, and effectually setting light 
 to their cargo of combustibles, we bore straight down upon 
 the Mclkarth; and when we were within half a bow-shot, 
 we were descried by Bodmilcar, who began to jeer ua
 
 332 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 "All hail, Mago ! you are right welcome ; there are some 
 old scores to settle between us, that little affair in Egypt, 
 and that other matter in Tarshish, and that piece of busi- 
 ness in the Straits of Gades ; we may as well wipe them all 
 off to-day. I hope to have the pleasure of seeing you 
 swing from that yard-arm before night Most happy to 
 meet you now." 
 
 An arrow struck him as he finished speaking ; he started 
 back. 
 
 " Hit ! he's hit !" shouted Bichri, in a voice that rang out 
 high above the general tumult. 
 
 " No ! " roared Bodmilcar, " my cuirass is arrow-proof." 
 
 " Let us see whether your ship is fire-proof 1" I bellowed 
 in reply. 
 
 The Cabiros now dashed between the Melkarth and the 
 galley on her right, and in endeavouring to avoid us, the 
 gaoul became wedged between the burning boats. In 
 the midst of a shower of arrows, one of which wounded my 
 cheek, I cut asunder the towing-ropes ; the flames broke 
 forth, and a long jet of smoke rose high into the air. Gisgo 
 was wounded in the thigh, and could not stand, but he con- 
 tinued bravely to steer upon his knees. So rapidly had we 
 darted by, that the volley of missiles intended for our deck 
 went splashing and crashing down upon the water in our 
 wake ; and as we retraced our course on the other side 
 just as rapidly, I called out to Bodmilcar that I meant 
 to serve his ship as I had served the Egyptian galley at 
 Tanis. Himilco, too, did not spare him some cutting jokes 
 upon his dilemma. 
 
 Having returned to my own ship, I ordered the Adonibal 
 and the Cabiros to make a joint attack with me upon one 
 of the two galleys, and then to get right ahead of the other. 
 We made the assault with the very utmost of our strength ; 
 the galley made a desperate effort to escape us, but it was 
 too late ; before she could move I had stove in one of her 
 sides, and driven her, by the violence of the shock, against 
 the Melkarth and the two burning boats. In the midst ol
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 333 
 
 the smoke I could see that the Melkarttts men were franti- 
 cally making their way on board the Adonibal, which had 
 got between her and the other galley, and that the whole 
 of the six ships were thus brought together into a compact 
 mass, at one end of whicli the flames were raging furiously, 
 and at the other hatchets, swords, and cutlasses were being 
 wielded with relentless desperation. 
 
 "To the Adonibal!" I shouted; "board her! we shall 
 have them now ! " 
 
 Simultaneously my own people and the crew of the 
 Cabiros made their way on to her deck. Bodmilcar was 
 already there. Hanno rushed towards him and cried : 
 
 " Now then, Bodmilcar, come on, and show yourself a 
 man for once !" 
 
 " Come on, young milksop ! I am quite ready ! As soon 
 as I have settled your business, I shall have time to attend 
 to the rest." 
 
 Their swords clashed as they closed in one upon the 
 other, but the.throng around them was so dense that they 
 were quite lost to my view. 
 
 All at once Himilco, who had never left my side K made a 
 dash forward, and shouted : 
 
 " Ah ! you monster, scoundrel, wretch, I have you now !" 
 
 He had recognised the man for whom he had been look- 
 ing for the last fourteen years, and had knocked him 
 jlown : the two were rolling together on the deck. 
 
 "Well done, Himilco! hold him tight!" said Bichri, 
 who was passing, his sword all covered with blood. 
 
 " The brute is biting my arm ; cannot you help me ?" 
 
 Bichri, quick as lightning, slipped a knife into the hand 
 of Himilco, who plunged it deep into his adversary's side: 
 he rolled back ; the death-rattle was already in his throat. 
 
 " Revenge is sweet," sighed the pilot ; " this death of a 
 dog is too good for you ! " 
 
 Meanwhile Jonah, backed up courageously by Aminocles, 
 was performing feats of wonder with his cutlass ; Hannibal 
 and Chamai, with their armour all battered in, were on the
 
 334 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 prow, pushing man after man back overboard into the 
 water ; Hamilcar was reported to be killed ; Hasdrubal 
 was badly wounded, but still clinging to his helm ; I went 
 to his assistance, and by our joint effort we succeeded in 
 bringing the ship round so as to be out of the reach of the 
 threatening flames ; the Ashtoreth and Cabiros had sheered 
 off a little, and were waiting my summons to come again 
 alongside ; and the other galley of the enemy, although it 
 escaped the fire, had gone adrift. 
 
 Such was the condition of affairs, when as I was rallying 
 my men for another onslaught, Hanno, his sword broken, 
 and his clothes all stained with blood, rushed to my side. 
 
 " He has escaped ! " he gasped. " I have lost him in the 
 crowd." 
 
 " Patience !" I answered ; "he is not far off." 
 
 I now resolved to fall back myself towards my two other 
 ships, and as soon as I saw the opportunity, I shouted to 
 my men : 
 
 " Back to the Ashtoreth ! " 
 
 As we retreated, we left the prow of the Adonibal in 
 complete possession of Bodmilcar's troops, and then by 
 drawing up two lines of men made an avenue for our own 
 escape at the stern. 
 
 Bodmilcar, perfectly helpless, was thus left in a trap, on 
 board the Adonibal, which was exposed to the full fury of 
 our arrows and catapults ; his own ship was burning like 
 a furnace ; one of the galleys was sunk, and the other, as I 
 have said, had gone adrift. 
 
 For more than half an hour, Bodmilcar endured our pro- 
 jectiles ; but at length I came to the determination of again 
 facing him on board the Adonibal. We found him stand- 
 
 o 
 
 ing on the bow, surrounded by a scanty remnant of hardly 
 more than thirty men. His face was covered with blood. 
 
 "Shall I shoot him ?" asked Bichri. 
 
 " By no means," I answered, laying my hand upon the 
 archer's arm ; " he must die a more ignominious death thatf 
 thau"
 
 MY ACCOUNT WAS SETTLED WITH BODMII.CAK. 
 
 To face page 335.
 
 TUB ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 335 
 
 Desperate, but short, was the last effort of the Tyrian's 
 body-guard. He was about to mak-t a frantic rush upon 
 myself, when Jonah seized him with a powerful grasp. 
 
 " Here's your man, captain !" 
 
 ^odmilcar struggled to get free. 
 
 "Attempt to escape," said the trumpeter, "and I'll shake 
 the life out of your body !" 
 
 Foaming with supprsesed rage, the captured man sub- 
 mitted to his fate. 
 
 He was motionless and silent. Nothing could induce 
 him to open his lips ; sullenly he heard my questions ; ob- 
 stinately he refused to reply. He was tied to a rope's-end, 
 and was soon swinging at the end of the yard-arm of the 
 Adonibal. 
 
 My account was settled with Bodmilcar. 
 
 We were soon upon our homeward way. 
 
 After reporting our experiences to the Queen of Sheba, 
 we proceeded to Tyre along the canal of Pharaoh, stopping 
 only to pay our devoirs to King Solomon. 
 
 A triumphal reception awaited us. Throngs of our 
 countrymen assembled to welcome our return ; and King 
 Hiram, in our honour, gave a sumptuous banquet, at 
 which he invited me publicly to narrate the history of our 
 protracted and adventurous voyage. 
 
 The King munificently gave me the three vessels which 
 I had brought safely home, and the people unanimously 
 elected me naval suffect at Sidon. 
 
 I appointed Hannibal captain of my men-at-arms, and 
 retained Himilco, Gisgo, and Hasdrubal in my service in 
 various posts of good emolument. The report of Hamilcar 
 being killed in action had proved too true. 
 
 I have little more to tell. 
 
 All Phoenicia knows how 1 superintended the floating of
 
 336 
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 
 
 the cedar-wood and all the materials which King Solomon 
 required for the magnificent temple he was rearing at Jeru- 
 salem. Chamai is a captain in King Solomon's army, and 
 is invariably recognised with every token of respect when 
 he comes with Abigail, his wife, to visit me at the Ad- 
 miralty palace. Every one, too, knows Bichri, the rich 
 vinedresser, who periodically comes to Sidon to sell his 
 barrels and skins of sparkling wine, always inviting 
 Himilco to the first taste of the produce of his vineyards ; 
 
 whilst every year a vessel is sent with all due pomp to 
 Paphos to bring Hanno, the high priest of Ashtoreth, \\ith 
 the lovely Chryseis, her priestess and his wife, to sacrifice 
 in the temple of their great metropolis. Dionysos, who 
 has become a distinguished instructor of his countrymen 
 in navigation, and Aminocles, his proud and aged father, 
 generally accompany them. 
 
 On these occasions the Cabiros, adorned with em- 
 broidered hangings, puts out to sea in honour of my 
 guests, and brings them to my private quay, where they 
 are always hailed with acclamation as my former com-
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MAGO. 33; 
 
 panions in the discovery of the Cassiterides, the Amber- 
 coast, and the Fortunate Islands. 
 
 During the period of our festivities it is generally ob- 
 served that Himilco does not walk home particularly 
 straight, a circumstance that Bichri notifies by whistling 
 some Benjamite or Cymrian air ; and when finally the 
 guests depart, Jonah is never missing, as he always insists 
 on preceding them \f, their s'.ip A 'ith a magnificent flourish 
 of his trumpet.
 
 NOTES. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 Phoenicians. It is for simplicity's sake that throughout the preceding 
 fiction I have adopted the classical name Phoenicians, which may be 
 interpreted either as "the red men" or "men of the date-lands." 
 Amongst themselves they were designated " Canaanites," or " people of 
 the lowlands," in contradistinction to " Aramites," or " people of the 
 highlands." 
 
 It would be out of place here to enter into any critical dissertation 
 upon the words Khna and Aram, from which Canaanites and Aramites 
 derive their appellation. Page I. 
 
 Shekel. This word (which, in the Hebrew tongue, signifies a weight) 
 is applied both to coined money, the use of which originated with the 
 Phoenicians, and to a certain standard of ordinary weight. Page 2. 
 
 Tariff of the Sacrifices. The ritual or tariff of sacrifices is extracted 
 from the work of the Abbe" Barges on the Phoenician inscription dis- 
 covered at Marseilles. Page 5. 
 
 Gaoul. Originally this word signified any round hollow object. The 
 Phoenicians designated the island of Gozo " Gaulo Melitta," Malta the 
 Round, and it may easily be understood how the term came to be 
 applied to their circular merchant ships, which were of a type essentially 
 Tyrian. " Onerariam navem Hippus Tyrius invenit? (Pliny, ' Nat 
 Hist.') 
 
 My authorities for the description of the Phoenician vessels are : 
 
 1. Two engravings in Layard. 
 
 2. E '.ekiel's prophecy against Tyre. (Chap, xxvii. 7.) 
 
 Z 2
 
 340 NOTES. 
 
 3. Xenophon's description in the ' CEconomia ' of the great Phoenician 
 ship that came every year to the Piraeus. 
 
 4. The engravings in Wilkinson. 
 
 I have likewise ventured to draw some inferences by analogy from 
 the accounts of Genevan, Pisan, and Venetian ships of the thirteenth 
 century, given by CoL Yule, in his edition of ' Marco Polo.' Page 8. 
 
 Sheathed with Copper. Although this may seem an anachronism, 
 it may with some degree of certainty be alleged that the Phoenicians 
 had an idea of using copper for this purpose. It would seem to be 
 implied by Vegetius (' Rei militaris,' iv. 24) and by Athenseus (v. 40). 
 An ancient legend attributes the invention to Melkarth, the Tyrian 
 Hercules : Hercules . . . n.rue ceneA navigavit . . . na-vem <zneam habuii 
 ^Servius). 
 
 The other materials employed in the building of the ships are men- 
 tioned by the prophet Ezekiel. 
 
 Besides the gaoul, 1 have introduced the barque, the fast ship, and 
 the long ship, or fifty-oared " ar-galley. 
 
 Without entering into minute details, it may be said that the barque 
 ib essentially Phoenician. Barek, in Hebrew, signifies to bend or curve 
 anything, as a plank, tiarca est quce cuncta navis commercia ad litius 
 tiortat (Isidorus, Origines). In the modern Berber dialect it is called 
 * ibarka." 
 
 The fast ship was called ITTITOS, a horse, by the Greeks, either on 
 account of its speed, or from the figure ordinarily found at its prow : 
 Strabo distinctly asserts the latter reason. The vessel described in the 
 text being of the type most frequently used in the Phoenician colony 
 of Gades, has, on that account, been designated ' the Gadita? Several 
 Phoenician coins, apparently current on the coast of Africa, bear the 
 impression of a horse's head ; and the legend of a horse's head being 
 discovered in the foundation of Carthage, probably originated in the 
 national symbol affixed to the Phoenician ships. 
 
 The true Sidonian war-ship is the fifty-oared galley : 
 
 vavv niTr]K6vTopui> 2i5oi/ia>. 
 
 EURIP. Hel. 1141. 
 
 What was the tonnage of such a vessel, or how it could be worked 
 by only fifty oars, or carry 400 men, are matters on which I give no 
 opinion ; it is not my province to enter upon any technical argu- 
 ments. 
 
 If an analogy be required, it may be suggested by the huge Chinese 
 junks which were seen by the Arabian, Ibn Batuta, in the fourteenth 
 cenlr.ry, and which carried 600 men, and had fifty or sixty immense 
 oars, each oar being worked by eight men, by means of ropes pulled in 
 opposite directions. Those seen by Marco Polo had four men to each
 
 NOTES. 341 
 
 oar. It is not improbable that the Phoenician vessels were worked by 
 some similar method. Page 9. 
 
 Purple sail. My description of the parade-boats is not imaginary ; 
 pictures of them are given in Wilkinson (vol. hi.), and all the ancient 
 writers, from Herodotus to Plutarch, enter into details concerning them. 
 Herodotus describes the Sidonian vessel, from which Xerxes reviewed 
 his fleet, as being adorned with golden hangings, meaning Babylonian 
 materials wrought with gold. Page 16. 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 Pigeons. Ravens. The custom of taking birds on a voyage, to in- 
 dicate by their flight the direction of land, is mentioned repeatedly in 
 the annals of antiquity. As an instance of more modern time and of 
 semi-barbarous races, it may be incidentally quoted that the sea-king, 
 Ingolf, or Floke Vilgedarson, in 868 took with him three ravens when 
 he set out for the discovery of Iceland. Page 23. 
 
 Fleur-de-lys. The tiara with this device may be seen amongst the 
 engravings at the end of Botta's work. Page 31. 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 Pharaoh. The blank which exists in the records of Egypi at the end 
 of the eleventh and beginning of the tenth centuries r,.c., renders 
 me unable to give the name of the Pharaoh reigning at this period. 
 
 The war-chariots of the Egyptians were mounted by Libyans, i.e., by 
 Perbers of the Tamachek race, of which the Kabyles and Touaregs are 
 the modern representatives. These chariots and cavalry, also Libyan, 
 formed the great strength of the Egyptian army. Page 79. 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 Cydonians. Pelasgians. Without entering upon any dissertation on 
 this topic, I content mysell with mentioning the existence throughout 
 Europe of races distinct both in type and language from the Aryan 
 races *vhom they preceded. Two of these may be especially remarked: 
 one with round skulls of Mongolian type, commonly called Turanians ; 
 the other with elongated skulls, classiiied as Australoids. These races 
 have everywhere left traces alike ot their presence and of their inferior 
 civilisation In the island ol Crete, the Greeks preserved the memory 
 ~f the Cydonians by the few words which 1 have introduced into the 
 text. Pa^e 100.
 
 342 NOTES. 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 Homer. My introduction of the name of Homer undoubtedly de 
 mands an apology. I can only plead that the temptation to uplift the 
 veil of mystery, and to reveal the mighty poet in connection with my 
 fiction, was very great. Even after Schliemann's researches, the date 
 of the Trojan war is so uncertain that I feel quite at liberty to regard 
 it as an open question. Page \ 29. 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 Tyrrhenian Privateers. The description of these vessels is based 
 upon a figure found upon a vase in the Campana Museum. Page 158. 
 
 Scylla. Charybdis. The romances interwoven into my tale are 
 strictly Phoenician ; and I have felt quite justified in introducing an 
 allusion to the way in which the Tyrian sailors delighted to mystify 
 strangers upon whom they could impose. I may adduce the passage 
 in Herodotus, where he speaks of the young girls fishing for gold in 
 the island of Cyraunis, and calls it a fine Phoenician story. " Tell it 
 to the Greeks ! " has passed into a proverb, and the Phoenician tar was 
 only too glad to amuse himself and to enhance the price of his wares 
 by giving a highly-coloured version of his adventures. Page 164. 
 
 NergaL The superstition about the gigantic cock is borrowed from 
 a Rabbinical legend quoted by Movers. Page 164. 
 
 CHAPTER XL 
 
 Adonibal. I had already completed my fiction before I learnt from 
 the researches of M. Sainte-Marie that Adonibal was the name usually 
 borne by the naval suffects at Utica, or that it is at least established 
 that a long line of magistrates were so called. It was a mere coin- 
 cidence that I chose it as being the first appropriate Phoenician name 
 that occurred to my mind. 
 
 I may observe here that I have throughout the preceding pages 
 written proper names in the way in which they are most familiar. It 
 would be mere pedantry to put Hanna-baal (cherished by the gods) 
 instead of Hannibal, or Bod-melkarth (the face of Melkarth) instead of 
 Bodmilcar ; and it will suffice for any reader who has not studied the 
 Semitic dialects to know that any ancient Phoenician or Jewish name 
 may be dissected like most modern Arab names -, for example. 
 Hamilcar is Abd- Melkarth (the servant of Melkarth), like Abd-Allai)
 
 NOTES. 343 
 
 (the servant of God). The student of the Semitic dialects will have no 
 need to come to my book for instruction. 
 
 With regard to the names of places, I have felt considerable diffi- 
 culty. My reasons for not writing them in Semitic are threefold : 
 
 1. They are not all known to us under this form. 
 
 2. If known, they are unfamiliar to the general reader. 
 
 3. The identity, orthography, and pronunciation could not be 
 substantiated without entering into minute arguments, which would 
 be out of place. 
 
 I have accordingly, with few exceptions, used the most familiar forms, 
 and have, at the risk of criticism, written Crete, for Caphtorim ; Egypt, 
 for Mi/raim ; Libyans, for Mashowiah, &c. Page 177. 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 I have represented Mago as sacrificing in a dolmen in the form of a 
 covered avenue below a tumulus. The details are drawn from Bour- 
 guignat's Monuments megalitkiqiies du nord tie PAfrique. M. Uaux 
 also gives a description of a similar temple. 1 profess, however, that I 
 am very far from accepting Bourguignat's theory about rude stone 
 monuments being arranged in the form of serpents, scorpions, and 
 other figures ; I am altogether mistrustful of the accounts of prehistoric 
 temples, and am quite of Kergusson's opinion, that these monuments are 
 comparatively modern. Page 202. 
 
 Atlantidcs. To my mind there is nothing improbable in the idea of 
 the existence of an inland sea in Algeria which is suggested by the 
 text. I cannot, however, say so much for the existence of Atlantis, but 
 while speaking of the migrations of the Libyans, it seemed consistent to 
 mention all the ancient traditions that relate to them. Page 203. 
 
 CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 Ar-Mor.\ entertain considerable doubt whether at the period of 
 which I write the Celts had penetrated so far as the west coast of 
 France; but at any rate they were already in the east, and upon the 
 Rhone. I have ascertained the existence of anterior races, such as the 
 Mongoloids and Australoids, and both here and in a subsequent chapter 
 have referred to them. I plead guilty to an anachronism of four whole 
 centuries, but I felt that to the general reader it would seem strange 
 that I should depict my Phoenicians landing in Gaul without meeting 
 with some well known Gallic people ; all that I can say in extenuation 
 is that I have endeavoured to construct my story so as to make the 
 anachronism not too flagrant -Page 244.
 
 344 NOTES. 
 
 CHAPTER XVII. 
 
 Suomi. There is no reason to doubt the existence of Finns at this 
 date at the mouth of the Elbe. For want of an ancient Finnish name, 
 I have invented an appellation from the modern Finnish word Suomi. 
 Page 261. 
 
 CHAPTER XX. 
 
 Circumnavigation of Libya. Some adverse criticism may probably 
 be aroused by my resorting to this expedient for the prosecuting of my 
 story. That the Phoenicians might have accomplished it, cannot be 
 disputed ; and although the Periplns of Hanno has recently been 
 proved to be apocryphal, and the work of some scientific Greek romance 
 writer, I have not hesitated to incorporate the prominent feature of it 
 into these imaginary adventures. Page 302. 
 
 CHAPTER XXI. 
 
 Sheba. Ophir. The identity of this locality with the southern 
 coast of Arabia is beyond a doubt. Page 309. 
 
 " Fairer, etc." These verses are translated from some later Arabian 
 poetry. Oriental taste has altered so little, that I may claim to be 
 pardoned for putting into the mouth of a Phoenician, a thousand 
 years before the Christian era, some poetry belonging to a period a 
 thousand years after. Page 310.
 
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