pass the inundated district, and to
approach within about eleven miles of Ctesiphon. Here his further march
was obstructed by a fortress, built (as it would seem) to defend the
capital, and fortified with especial care. Ammianus calls this place
Maoga-malcha, while Zosimus gives it the name of Besuchis; but both
agree that it was a large town, commanded by a strong citadel, and held
by a brave and numerous garrison. Julian might perhaps have left it
unassailed, as he had left already several towns upon his line of march;
but a daring attempt made against himself by a portion of the garrison
caused him to feel his honor concerned in taking the place; and the
result was that he once more arrested his steps, and, sitting down
before the walls, commenced a formal siege. All the usual arts of attack
and defence were employed on either side for several days, the chief
novel feature in the warfare being the use by the besieged of blazing
balls of bitumen, which they shot from their lofty towers against the
besiegers' works and persons. Julian, however, met this novelty by a
device on his side which was uncommon; he continued openly to assault
the walls and gates with his battering rams, but he secretly gave orders
that the chief efforts of his men should be directed to the formation of
a mine, which should be carried under both the walls that defended the
place, and enable him to introduce suddenly a body of troops into the
very heart of the city. His orders were successfully executed; and
while a general attack upon the defences occupied the attention of
the besieged, three corps introduced through the mine suddenly showed
themselves in the town itself, and rendered further resistance hopeless.
Maogamalcha, which a little before had boasted of being impregnable,
and had laughed to scorn the vain efforts of the emperor, suddenly
found itself taken by assault and undergoing the extremities of sack and
pillage. Julian made no efforts to prevent a general massacre, and the
entire population, without distinction of age or sex, seems to have been
put to the sword. The commandant of the fortress, though he was at
first spared, suffered death shortly after on a frivolous charge. Even a
miserable remnant, which had concealed itself in caves and cellars, was
hunted out, smoke and fire being used to force the fugitives from their
hiding-places, or else cause them to perish in the darksome dens by
suffocation. Thus there was no extremity