22.21
It now
seemed as though the remainder of the summer would be undisturbed, and it
would have been so as far as the Carthaginians were concerned. But the
Spanish temperament is restless and fond of change, and after the Romans
had left the pass and retired to the coast, Mandonius and Indibilis, who had
previously been chief of the Ibergetes, roused their fellow-tribesmen and
proceeded to harry the lands of those who were in peace and alliance with
Rome. Scipio despatched a military tribune with some light-armed auxiliaries
to disperse them, and after a trifling engagement, for they were undisciplined
and without organisation, they were all put to rout, some being killed or
taken prisoners, and a large proportion deprived of their arms. This
disturbance, however, brought Hasdrubal, who was marching westwards,
back to the defence of his allies on the south side of the Ebro. The
Carthaginians were in camp amongst the Ilergavonians; the Roman camp
was at Nova, when unexpected intelligence turned the tide of war in another
direction. The Celtiberi, who had sent their chief men as envoys to Scipio
and had given hostages, were induced by his representations to take up arms
and invade the province of New Carthage with a powerful army. They took
three fortified towns by storm, and fought two most successful actions with
Hasdrubal himself, killing 15,000 of the enemy and taking 4000 prisoners
with numerous standards.