21.31
After
this rousing appeal he dismissed them with orders to prepare themselves by
food and rest for the march. The next day they advanced up the left bank of
the Rhone towards the central districts of Gaul, not because this was the
most direct route to the Alps, but because he thought that there would be
less likelihood of the Romans meeting him, for he had no desire to engage
them before he arrived in Italy. Four days' marching brought him to the
"Island." Here the Isere and the Rhone, flowing down from different points
in the Alps, enclose a considerable extent of land and then unite their
channels; the district thus enclosed is called the "Island." The adjacent
country was inhabited by the Allobroges, a tribe who even in those days
were second to none in Gaul in power and reputation. At the time of
Hannibal's visit a quarrel had broken out between two brothers who were
each aspiring to the sovereignty. The elder brother, whose name was
Brancus, had hitherto been the chief, but was now expelled by a party of the
younger men, headed by his brother, who found an appeal to violence more
successful than an appeal to right. Hannibal's timely appearance on the scene
led to the question being referred to him; he was to decide who was the
legitimate claimant to the kingship. He pronounced in favour of the elder
brother, who had the support of the senate and the leading men. In return for
this service he received assistance in provisions and supplies of all kinds,
especially of clothing, a pressing necessity in view of the notorious cold of
the Alps. After settling the feud amongst the Allobroges, Hannibal resumed
his march. He did not take the direct course to the Alps, but turned to the
left towards the Tricastini; then, skirting the territory of the Vocontii, he
marched in the direction of the Tricorii. Nowhere did he meet with any
difficulty until he arrived at the Durance. This river, which also takes its rise
in the Alps, is of all the rivers of Gaul the most difficult to cross. Though
carrying down a great volume of water, it does not lend itself to navigation,
for it is not kept in by banks, but flows in many separate channels. As it is
constantly shifting its bottom and the direction of its currents, the task of
fording it is a most hazardous one, whilst the shingle and boulders carried
down make the foothold insecure and treacherous. It happened to be swollen
by rain at the time, and the men were thrown into much disorder whilst
crossing it, whilst their fears and confused shouting added considerably to
their difficulties.
