and forests to the north and east of the Alps. I was amazed.

Even more was I amazed to see hundreds upon hundreds of cages containing
beasts not from northern Europe, but from Africa, or even from Asia: lions
without number, panthers and leopards by the hundred, many tigers,
antelopes of all kinds by scores of each kind, rhinoceroses, and
hippopotami in enormous cages on gigantic wains drawn by twelve yoke of
oxen; even a dozen huge gray elephants pacing sedately, their turbaned
_mahouts_ rocking on their necks.

I knew that the traffic in beasts from the northern forests concentrated
at Aquileia and I had a hazy notion that they were customarily shipped
from there by sea round Italy and through the straits to the Tiber. My
curiosity was excited as to why they were now coming overland instead of
going by sea. Still more was I curious as to why these hordes of animals
from the south should be traversing Italy from the north.

I asked questions and could get no satisfaction from the natives of the
district: slaves, peasants, yeomen, proprietors, overseers, _Villicus_ and
all, they one and all knew nothing. If they claimed to know, what they
alleged merely emphasized their ignorance.

The constabulary knew, but were inclined to be reticent and, when they
spoke, were laconic. Yet their briefest utterances contained hints which
confirmed the only fact I had elicited from the natives: namely, that this
traffic was not only unusual along the Flaminian Highway, but had never
been seen on it before; was a complete novelty, even a portent. They also
confirmed my impression that few animals destined for beast-fights in the
amphitheatres reached Rome overland; as I had thought, practically all had
hitherto come by sea and up the Tiber.

Still curious, I made friends with the teamsters. Some were from Ravenna,
and even these grumbled at the two hundred and fifty miles as ruinous to
their cattle. The animals they convoyed had come overland from Aquileia to
Altinum and from there to Ravenna by sea. In this way had come the
crocodiles, hippopotami and rhinoceroses.

More teamsters were from Aquileia itself. Some of these with the lighter
wagons for the cages containing wolves, lynxes, small antelopes, hyenas
or African apes, had been able to take the shorter though poorer road by
way of Patavium and Ateste to Bononia, which made their total journey
under five hundred and twenty miles. But most, including all those
conveying bear