30.3
When
this business was completed the consuls and praetors departed to their
various provinces. They were all, however, interested in Africa, as much so
indeed as if the ballot had assigned it to them, whether it was that they saw
that the issue of the war and their country's fate would be decided there, or
that they wished to do a service to Scipio as the man to whom all eyes were
turned. So it was that not only from Sardinia, as above stated, but from
Sicily itself and from Spain, clothing, corn, even arms as well as supplies of
all kinds were forwarded to him from the Sicilian harbours. Throughout the
winter there had been no pause in the numerous operations which Scipio was
conducting on all sides. He maintained the investment of Utica; his camp was
in full view of Hasdrubal; the Carthaginians had launched their ships, their
fleet was fully equipped and ready to intercept his supplies. Nevertheless he
had not lost sight of his purpose to win Syphax, in case his passion for his
bride should have cooled through unstinted enjoyment. Syphax was anxious
for peace and proposed as conditions that the Romans should evacuate
Africa, and the Carthaginians Italy, but he gave Scipio to understand that if
the war continued he should not desert his allies. I believe that the
negotiations were conducted through intermediaries -and most of the
authorities take this view -rather than that Syphax, as Antias Valerius
asserts, came to the Roman camp to confer personally with Scipio. At first
the Roman commander would hardly allow these terms to be mentioned;
afterwards, however, in order that his men might have a plausible reason for
visiting the enemies' camp he did not reject then so decidedly, and held out
hopes that after frequent discussions they might come to an agreement. The
winter quarters of the Carthaginians, constructed as they were of materials
collected haphazard from the country round, were almost wholly built of
wood. The Numidians in particular lived in huts made of wattled reeds and
roofed with grass matting; they were dispersed all over the camp in no order
or arrangement, and some even lay outside the lines. When this was reported
to Scipio, he was hopeful of burning the camp down if an opportunity
presented itself.