Page 683 divided likewise his Army; part of which he sent to the Sea Coasts, half of the rest he deliver'd to Eschrion, and the other half he led himself, leaving a sufficient Garrison at Tunis. While great Armies were thus marching to and fro all over the Country, and every one expecting a suddain Revolution at hand, all were in a fear and amazment in expectation of what would be the Event.
Hanno who commanded that part of the Forces that march'd up into the heart of the Country, laid an Ambuscado for Eschrion, and surprizing him on the suddain, cut off above Four thousand of his Foot and Two hundred of his Horse, amongst whom was the General himself. Of the rest part of them were taken Prisoners, and the remainder escap'd to Archagathus who was Five hundred Furlongs from the place. Imilcon General in the Higher Africa first posses'd himself of a City near to Eumachus, whose Army was over-loaden with spoils taken out of several Cities. But the Grecians notwithstanding drew up in Battalia, and offer'd the Carthaginian General Battle; whereupon he left a part of the Army ready drawn up in the Town, with this Order, that as soon as they saw him fly, they should sally out upon the pursuers. Marching therefore out with half of the Army, he ingag'd the Enemy almost close under their Camp, and presently fled as if he had been in a great fright; whereupon Eumachus his men, proud of their Victory, pursu'd them in disorder, and in that confusion follow'd them close at the heels; and presently on a suddain issu'd out from another part of the City, the Body before drawn up in the Town, and at one word of Command set up a great shout, which struck the pursuers in amaze and astonishment; and being the Barbarians fell upon the other that were in disorder, and surpris'd beside, the Grecians presently fled: but the Enemy having blockt up the passage to their Camp, the Eumachians were forc'd to turn aside to the next Hill, where they wanted Water; which being set round by the Carthaginians, they almost all there perish'd, some by Thirst and others by the Sword; for of Eight thousand Foot, Thirty only escap'd, and of Eight hundred Horse only Forty.
Archagathus therefore being thus distress'd, left Tunis, and recall'd the rest of the Soldiers (he had sent abroad) from all parts; and sent Messengers into Sicily to give an account to his Father of what had happen'd, and to intreat him to hasten over with assistance with all speed. Besides these misfortunes other inconveniences and mischiefs overtook the Grecians; for all their Confederates (except a very few) forsook them: And all their Enemies join'd together, and Incampt just in their teeth and were ready to swallow them up. For Imilco had blockt up all the Passes and secur'd the Country from all inroads of the Enemy for a Hundred Furlongs distant; and on the other side Atarbas had plac'd his Camp Forty Furlongs from Tunis; so that the Greeks hem'd in both by Sea and Land were near starv'd for want of Provision; and nothing but Terror and Amazment fill'd every place. While they were in this sad and dreadful condition, Agathocles receiving intelligence of the destruction of his Men in Africa, had prepar'd Seventeen Men of War for the assistance of Archagathus. But his Affairs in Sicily growing every day worse and worse, and the Number of the Exiles with Dinocrates increasing more and more, he left the managment of the War in the Island to Leptines and his Captains; and he himself having Mann'd his Ships, waited only for an opportunity how to get out, for that Thirty Carthaginian Ships lay in the mouth of the Harbour-But at a time after when Eighteen Ships came in to his assistance from Hetruria, who had pass'd by the Carthaginians in the night into the Harbour, he took that occasion, and by a stratagem deluded the Enemy; for he charg'd part of his Fleet to lie still for some time, while he by making out of the Port should draw off the Carthaginians to pursue him. But therefore he goes with seventeen Sail with all the wind he could make, whom the Enemies Fleet forthwith pursu'd: But Agathocles as soon as he saw that the Hetrurians were got out of the Harbour, presently Tackt about and fell upon the Barbarians; upon which the Carthaginians surpriz'd with the unexpectedness of the thing, and now surrounded with their Enemies Gallies, in a great terror made away and sled; the Grecians then took Five of their Ships together with the Men in them; and the Carthaginian Admiral (seeing the Ship he was in was upon the point of being taken) kill'd himself, preferring death before Captivity, which then (as he thought) was just at hand. But he took no right measures at that time; for the Ship Thy the help of a happy Gale of Wind got off with the loss of the little Trinket Sail. hus Agathocles who never in the least hop'd to overcome the Carthaginians at Sea, unexpectedly beat them in a Sea fight, and being thenceforth Master of the Port, he secur'd the Passage for the benefit of the Merchants; so that the Syracusians having Provision brought in from all parts, instead of their former scarcity of every thing necessary, presently abounded in the plenty of all things.
The Histories of Herodotus written in 440 BC is considered to be the founding work of history in Western literature. His history included stories and fables but he claimed to have traveled extensively and learned about many countries through direct observation.
The thesis of Stolen Legacy is that the Egyptians created what is wrongly called Greek philosophy. Dr. James argues that the African origin of Greek Philosophy is well known but rarely discussed. Ancient Greek historians such as Herodotus and Diodorus the Sicilian wrote in significant detail about the contributions of Egypt. Egyptian technology and libraries were unmatched and Greek philosophers such as Pythagoras and Plato studied there. The contribution of Africa to the intellectual foundation of modern knowledge is tremendous but unacknowledged.
The Library of History by Diodorus the Sicilian is one of the most highly regarded universal histories in antiquities. His work includes the history of Egypt, Asia, Africa, Greece and Europe. His book is a must read for research of ancient history.
Bible Study The King James Bible (kjv), World English Bible (web) and Bible in Basic English (bbe) are all examples of public domain books. The King James Bible (kjv) online uses the content from these books and open source software to enhance Bible study capabilities. The site includes the verse of the day, search tools, christian literature and links to related content. It demonstrates the use of open source to create a valuable service.