30.29
.Hannibal had reached Hadrumetum
where he remained a few days for his men to recover from the effects of the
voyage, when breathless couriers announced that all the country round
Carthage was occupied by Roman arms. He at once hurried by forced
marches to Zama. Zama is a five days' march from Carthage. The scouts
whom he had sent forward to reconnoitre were captured by the Roman
outposts and conducted to Scipio. Scipio placed them in charge of the
military tribunes and gave orders for them to be taken round the camp where
they were to look at everything they wished to see without fear. After asking
them whether they had examined all to their satisfaction, he sent them back
with an escort to Hannibal. The report they gave was anything but pleasant
hearing for him, for as it happened Masinissa had on that very day come in
with a force of 6000 infantry and 4000 cavalry. What gave him most
uneasiness was the confidence of the enemy which he saw too clearly was
not without good grounds. So, although he had been the cause of the war,
though his arrival had upset the truce and diminished the hope of any peace
being arranged, he still thought that he would be in a better position to
obtain terms if he were to ask for peace while his strength was still unbroken
than after a defeat. Accordingly he sent a request to Scipio to grant him an
interview. Whether he did this on his own initiative or in obedience to the
orders of his government I am unable to say definitely. Valerius Antius says
that he was defeated by Scipio in the first battle with a loss of 12,000 killed
and 1700 taken prisoners, and that after this he went in company with ten
delegates to Scipio's camp. However this may be, Scipio did not refuse the
proposed interview, and by common agreement the two commanders
advanced their camps towards each other that they might meet more easily.
Scipio took up his position not far from the city of Naragarra on ground
which, in addition to other advantages, afforded a supply of water within
range of missiles from the Roman lines. Hannibal selected some rising
ground about four miles away, a safe and advantageous position, except that
water had to be obtained from a distance. A spot was selected midway
between the camps, which, to prevent any possibility of treachery, afforded a
view on all sides.
