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At a later period, the Phœnicians, some of whom wished to lessen their numbers at home, and others, ambitious of empire, engaged the populace, and such as were eager for change, to follow them, founded Hippo,1 Adrumetum, Leptis,2 and other cities, on the sea-coast; which, soon growing powerful, became partly a support, and partly an honor, to their parent state. Of Carthage I think it better to be silent, than to say but little; especially as time bids me hasten to other matters.
Next to the Catabathmos,3 then, which divides Egypt from Africa, the first city along the sea-coast4 is Cyrene, a colony of Theræans;5 after which are the two Syrtes,6 with Leptis7 between them; then the Altars of the Philæni,8 which the Carthaginians considered the boundary of their dominion on the side of Egypt; beyond these are the other Punic towns. The other regions, as far as Mauretania, the Numidians occupy; the Moors are nearest to Spain. To the south of Numidia,9 as we are informed, are the Getulians, of whom some live in huts, and others lead a vagrant and less civilized life; beyond these are the Ethiopians; and further on, regions parched by the heat of the sun.
At the time of the Jugurthine war, most of the Punic towns, and the territories which Carthage had lately possessed,10 were under the government of Roman prætors; a great part of the Getulians, and Numidia as far as the river Mulucha, were subject to Jugurtha; while the whole of the Moors were governed by Bocchus, a king who knew nothing of the Romans but their name, and who, before this period, was as little known to us, either in war or peace. Of Africa and its inhabitants I have now said all that my narrative requires.
1 XIX. Hippo] “"It is not Hippo Regius" (now called Bona) "that is meant, but another Hippo, otherwise called Diarrhytum or Zarytum, situate in Zengitana, not far from Utica. This is shown by the order in which the places are named, as has already been observed by Cortius."” Kritzius.
2 Leptis] There were two cities of this name. Leptis Major, now Lebida, lay between the two Syrtes; Leptis Minor, now Lempta, between the smaller Sytis and Carthage. It is the latter that is meant here, and in c. 77, 78.
3 Next to the Catabathmos] “Ad Catabathmon.” Ad means, on the side of the country toward the Catabathmos. “"Catabathmon initium ponens Sallustius ab eo discedit."” Kritzius.
4 Along the sea-coast] “Secundo mari.” “"Si quis secundum mare pergat."” Wasse.
5 Of Theræans] Therœôn. From the island of Thera, one of the Sporades, in the Ægean Sea, now called Santorin. Battus was the leader of the colony. See Herod., iv. 145; Strab., xvii. 3; Pind. Pyth., iv.
6 Two Syrtes] See c. 78.
7 Leptis] That is, “Leptis Major.” See above on this c.
8 Altars of the Philæni] see c. 79.
9 To the south of Numidia] “Super Numidiam.” “"Ultra Numidiam, meridiem versus."” Burnouf.
10 Had lately possessed] “Novissimè habuerant.” In the interval between the second and third Punic wars.
Sallust. The Jugurthine War. Rev. John Selby Watson, M.A. New York and London. Harper & Brothers. 1899.
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