Both
on the side and the face there are abrupt parts divided from the rest,
and ending in vast deep valleys; yet are the parts behind, where they
are joined to the mountain, somewhat easier of ascent than the other;
but then the people belonging to the place have cut an oblique ditch
there, and made that hard to be ascended also. On its acclivity, which
is straight, houses are built, and those very thick and close to one
another. The city also hangs so strangely, that it looks as if it would
fall down upon itself, so sharp is it at the top. It is exposed to the
south, and its southern mount, which reaches to an immense height, was
in the nature of a citadel to the city; and above that was a precipice,
not walled about, but extending itself to an immense depth. There was
also a spring of water within the wall, at the utmost limits of the
city.

2. As this city was naturally hard to be taken, so had Josephus, by
building a wall about it, made it still stronger, as also by ditches and
mines under ground. The people that were in it were made more bold by
the nature of the place than the people of Jotapata had been, but it
had much fewer fighting men in it; and they had such a confidence in
the situation of the place, that they thought the enemy could not be too
many for them; for the city had been filled with those that had fled
to it for safety, on account of its strength; on which account they
had been able to resist those whom Agrippa sent to besiege it for seven
months together.

3. But Vespasian removed from Emmaus, where he had last pitched his
camp before the city Tiberias, [now Emmaus, if it be interpreted, may
be rendered "a warm bath," for therein is a spring of warm water, useful
for healing,] and came to Gamala; yet was its situation such that he was
not able to encompass it all round with soldiers to watch it; but where
the places were practicable, he set men to watch it, and seized upon the
mountain which was over it. And as the legions, according to their usual
custom, were fortifying their camp upon that mountain, he began to cast
up banks at the bottom, at the part towards the east, where the highest
tower of the whole city was, and where the fifteenth legion pitched
their camp; while the fifth legion did duty over against the midst of
the city, and whilst the tenth legion filled up the ditches and the
valleys. Now at this time it was that as king Agrippa was come nigh
the walls, and was endeavoring to sp