vited into Sicily, but he
kept possession of it only a few years. Such was the government of Sicily
during the wars of which I am going to treat. They will give us great
light with regard to the power of the Carthaginians, at the time that they
began to be engaged in war with the Romans.

Sicily is the largest and most considerable island in the Mediterranean.
It is of a triangular form, and for that reason was called Trinacria and
Triquetra. The eastern side, which faces the Ionian or Grecian sea,
extends from Cape Pachynum(602) to Pelorum.(603) The most celebrated
cities on this coast are Syracuse, Tauromenium, and Messana. The northern
coast, which looks towards Italy, reaches from Cape Pelorum to Cape
Lilybaeum.(604) The most noted cities on this coast are Mylae, Hymera,
Panormus, Eryx, Motya, Lilybaeum. The southern coast, which lies opposite
to Africa, extends from Cape Lilybaeum to Pachynum. The most remarkable
cities on this coast are Selinus, Agrigentum, Gela, and Camarina. This
island is separated from Italy by a strait, which is not more than a mile
and a half over, and called the Faro or strait of Messina, from its
contiguity to that city. The passage from Lilybaeum to Africa is but 1500
furlongs,(605) that is, about seventy-five leagues.(606)

(M99) The period in which the Carthaginians first carried their arms into
Sicily is not exactly known.(607) All we are certain of is, that they were
already possessed of some part of it, at the time that they entered into a
treaty with the Romans; the same year that the kings were expelled, and
consuls appointed in their room, _viz._ twenty-eight years before Xerxes
invaded Greece. This treaty, which is the first we find mentioned to have
been made between these two nations, speaks of Africa and Sardinia as
possessed by the Carthaginians; whereas the conventions with regard to
Sicily, relate only to those parts of the island which were subject to
them. By this treaty it is expressly stipulated, that neither the Romans
nor their allies shall sail beyond the Fair Promontory,(608) which was
very near Carthage; and that such merchants, as shall resort to this city
for traffic, shall pay only certain duties which are settled in it.(609)

It appears by the same treaty, that the Carthaginians were particularly
careful to exclude the Romans from all the countries subject to them; as
well as from the knowledge of what was transacting in them; as though the
Carthaginians, even