On Signals made by Fire . 299 
what to do, when they are not told how many ships, or 
what quantity of provisions are come from the enemy ? 
The last method w&s invented by Cleoxenes, which 
others ascribe to Democlitus ; however we have improv- 
ed it, says Polybius, who continues the sole speaker up- 
on this head. This fixes every circumstance, and enables 
us to give notice of whatsoever happens. The only thing 
required is great care and exactness. This method is as 
follows : 
The 24 letters of the alphabet must be taken and di- 
vided into five parts ; and these must be fixed on a board, 
from top to bottom, in their natural order in five columns; 
five letters in each column, the last excepted, which is to 
have but four. 
The alphabet being disposed in this manner, the man 
who is to make the signal must begin by showing two 
torches or lights ; and these he must hold aloft till the 
other party has also shown two lights. This first signal 
is only to show that both sides are ready, after which the 
lights must be removed. 
The affair now is, to make the other party read in this 
alphabet the advices we want to acquaint them with. 
The person who gives the signal shall hold up torches to 
his left, in order to denote to the correspondent party 
from which of the columns he must take letters, to write 
them down in proportion as they shall be pointed out to 
him ; so that if it is the first column, he only holds up one 
torch, if the second, he shows two, and so on, and al- 
ways to the left. He must do the same to the right hand, 
to point out to the person who receives the signal, which 
letter in the column he must observe and write down. 
This both parties must agree upon between them. 
These several things being fixed, and each of them got 
to his post, the man who gives the signal must have a 
geometrical instrument with, two tubes, in order that he 
