OF AGATHOCLES, THALES, AND XERXES, 
187 
assumed to be the same as with the “ Unvaried Greenwich Elements.” The further 
inferences, as to the multiple, positive or negative, of 'Variation” (always using that 
word in the technical and precise sense of increase of argument of latitude by 20'”) 
which is best adapted to the circumstances of the problem, are deduced by graphical 
process, as will be seen hereafter. 
23. The whole of the calculations have been made by Mr. H, Breen, Assistant at 
the Royal Observatory. 1 have every reason to trust in their accuracy. 
Section III. Eclipse ^Agathocles. 
24. The account given by Diodorus, lib. xx., and supported in all important par- 
ticulars by that of Justin, lib. xxii., is as follows. Agathocles, being blockaded in 
Syracuse by the Carthaginian fleet, secretly formed the design of invading the 
Carthaginian territories, and placed men on board ships in the harbour, but was 
unable for several days to pass the enemy’s fleet. At length a convoy of provision- 
ships appeared; the blockading ships left their station to attack the convoy; 
Agathocles took the opportunity of leaving the harbour; the Carthaginians imme- 
diately left the convoy and followed him ; he escaped with difficulty under cover of 
night ; and “ the next day there was such an eclipse of the sun that the day wholly 
put on the appearance of night, stars being seen everywhere.” After he had sailed 
"'six days and the same number of nights” he made the African shore, and again 
barely escaped a Carthaginian fleet (it does not appear whether it was the same as 
that which had blockaded Syracuse ; it was probably a different fleet) ; and landed 
at a place called “ The Quarries.” He shortly took two cities, of which the second 
(White Tunis) was 2000 stadia from Carthage ; it does not appear however whether 
the distance from Carthage was measured in the most direct line or in reference to 
the route afterwards pursued by Agathocles ; and there is no mention of the distance 
or direction of the city from the landing-place. It is stated by Diodorus that the 
troops, before sailing, supposed that they were to make an attack either on Italy or 
on the Carthaginian part of Sicily; and by Justin, that, while on the voyage, they 
supposed that they were going on a marauding expedition either to Italy or to 
Sardinia. 
25. The eclipse was evidently total; and the principal task which remains for us, 
in order to render this eclipse available for the correction of the lunar tables, is, to 
investigate from these materials the probable place of Agathocles when the shadow 
passed over him. The first thing is, to discover the position of his landing-place. 
Mr. Baily supposed this to be in the Gulf of Khabes. By the assistance chiefly of 
Captain William Henry Smyth, R.N., I am enabled to indicate, and (as I conceive) 
with perfect certainty, a very different locality. On the west of Cape Bon, at a place 
called Alhowareah, are quarries of immense extent, proceeding from the sea cliff's 
and worked into the solid rock, and lighted by holes from above. They are undoubt- 
edly the quarries from which Utica and Carthage were built. “Alhowareah” appears 
to be a corruption of the Roman name “Aquilaria;” the place at which Curio 
MDCCCLIII. 2 c 
