predicted by Thales. 239 
Let us now compare this result, with the fact as related by 
Diodorus, It is stated by this author, that Agathocles was 
six days on his passage, from Syracuse to the coast of Africa ; 
although he used the utmost expedition, being, in fact, closely 
pursued by the Carthaginian fleet. The place where he landed 
was called ActroyJag, the Quarries; whence he proceeded to 
the neighbouring cities of Mzyukyv woXiv, Megalapolis , or the 
Great City , and Aevxov T vvijra, White Tunis. The position of 
these cities is not handed down to us ; all that we know is, 
that the latter place ( which must not be confounded with the 
present Tunis) was two thousand stadia, or two hundred and 
twenty-nine English miles, distant from Carthage. Agatho- 
cles, therefore, probably landed near the Syrtis Minor, or 
Gulph of Cabes, about three hundred miles in a direct course 
from Syracuse : whence we may reasonably conclude that he 
performed one-sixth of his passage, or about fifty miles, in 
the space of one day ; which, I am aware, is not so much as 
the mean rate that has been attributed to the ships of the an- 
cients (see Herodotus, lib. 4, §. 86). Syracuse lies in N. lat. 
37° 3' and E. long. 15 0 14'; and, consequently, on the day 
after the sailing of Agathocles from that port (being the day 
on which the eclipse took place), the fleet would be in about 
N. lat. 36^° : at all events, it could not (from the direction of 
its course ) be much farther south than this point, which is all 
that is required in the present instance ; and a few miles, either 
way, not being of any material consequence. It follows there- 
fore, that in the meridian of Syracuse, the northern part of 
the moon’s umbra ought to extend as far north as that paral- 
lel of latitude. But, from the calculations above adduced, it 
