camp in a country for which he had not only disputed verbally, but had fought battles with Gala, as though it had been his own by uncontested right.  He alleged, that “if any one should attempt to dislodge him, which was what he most wanted, he would have an opportunity of fighting; but, if the ground were given up to him through fear, he must march into the heart of the kingdom.  That the Massylians would either submit to his authority without a contest, or would be inferior to him in arms.”  Syphax, impelled by these arguments, made war on Masinissa, and, in the first engagement, routed and put him to flight.  Masinissa, with a few horsemen, effected his escape from the field to a mountain called by the natives Balbus.  Several families, with their tents and cattle, which form their wealth, followed the king; the rest of the Massylian people submitted to Syphax.  The mountain, which the exiles had seized, had plenty of grass and water; and, as it was well adapted for feeding cattle, afforded an abundant supply of food for men who live upon flesh and milk.  From this place they infested all the surrounding country; at first with nightly and clandestine incursions, but afterwards with open depredations.  The lands of the Carthaginians suffered the severest devastation, because there was not only a greater quantity of booty there than among the Numidians, but their plunder would be safer.  And now they did it with so much boldness and defiance, that, carrying their booty down to the sea, they sold it to merchants, who brought their ships to land for that very purpose; while a greater number of Carthaginians were slain and made prisoners, than frequently happens in a regular war.  The Carthaginians complained bitterly of these occurrences to Syphax, and urged him strongly to follow up this remnant of the war, though he was himself highly incensed at them.  But he considered it hardly suitable to the dignity of a king to pursue a vagabond robber through the mountains.

32.  Bocchar, one of the king’s generals, an enterprising and active officer, was chosen for this service.  Four thousand infantry and two thousand cavalry were assigned him; and having been loaded with promises of immense rewards if he brought back the head of Masinissa, or if, which would be a source of incalculable joy, he took him alive; he unexpectedly attacked his party while dispersed and carelessly employed, and after cutting off an immense quantity of cattle and men from the troops which guarded them, drove Masinissa himself with a small body of attendants to the summit of the mountain.  On this, considering the business as in a manner settled, he not only sent the booty of cattle and the prisoners he had made to the king, but also sent back a part of his forces, as being considerably more than were necessary to accomplish what remained of the war; and then pursuing Masinissa, who had come down from the top of the mountain with not more than five hundred foot and two hundred horse, shut him up in a narrow