Graham, Alexander: Roman Africa: an outline of the history of the Roman occupation of North Africa ; based chiefly upon inscriptions and monumental remains in that country (London [u.a.], 1902)

Carthage and Rome

°aan. Bruce, who traversed the country in 1766, says that in
"roceeding in a north-easterly direction after leaving Zanfour,
Sr.id traversing the plain a distance of twelve miles, ' we came to
jOjebel Mesaood, on the other side of which upon an eminence
is^a small town built from the fragments of a larger and ancient
one, whose name is still called Zama, and was probably the
ancient capital of Juba I.' So decisive a victory enabled the
E.oman general to name the conditions of peace. Had Scipio
been prompted to subject Carthage to the same fate that only
a few years previously Hannibal had desired to inflict on Rome,
there was nothing to prevent him. He granted peace, but on
heavy conditions. Carthage was to pay, in addition to the
penalties previously enforced, a sum of money equivalent to
48,000/. sterling annually for a term of fifty years, and not to
engage in arms with Rome or her allies, either in Africa or else-
where, without the permission of Rome. It was not without
grave discussion in the Senate, or the expression of many con-
flicting opinions, that these conditions were agreed to. As
usual on such momentous occasions, when the very existence
of a nation trembles in the balance, there was a peace party
and a war party. The former, headed by Scipio, whose valour
was only equalled by his magnanimity, prevailed. Carthage
was allowed to exist for another fifty years as a tributary of
Rome. But the ill-fated city was doomed to a long period of
unrest and disturbance as soon as the treaty was signed and the
Roman army had been withdrawn. The adversary was no
longer the Roman but the powerful Numidian, who had con-
tributed so largely to her defeat on the decisive field of Zama.

There is no name in African records which is so conspicuous,or
exercised so extraordinary an influence on the career of Numidia
and its people, as that of Masinissa. Fearless in action, a steadfast
friend or a merciless foe, unscrupulous and of unbounded ambi-
tion, this powerful chieftain ruled for more than sixty years over
a conglomeration of tribes who knew no will but his, and recog-
nised his authority as though he were a god from Olympus. In
the whole range of ancient history there was no one ever invested
with kingly power who enjoyed such a career of unchequered
good fortune as this remarkable man. Sober in habit and, after
the manner of his race, never drinking anything but water, his
physical powers were extraordinary. Riding without saddle,