foot, (whom the Romans call Optio,) either in sport, or earnest, or by divine impulsion mounted alone, and presently other souldiers admiring his courage followed him. Three Moors ran to oppose him, and the place being narrow, came single. The first by chance falling, the Roman used his advantage, and killed him. The souldier who followed him seeing it, ran up with a shout; and the whole Army neither expecting leader, nor sound of trumpet, nor observing order, but crying and encouraging one another, gave on: where Rufinus, and Leontius, the son of Zan••as, did so bravely upon the enemy, that terrified at it, and seeing their guards cut in pieces, they all ran away, and the most overtaken in narrow passages were slain.
Jabdas, though woudned by a dart in his thigh, escaped and fled into Mauri∣tania. The Romans pillaged the enemies camp, and Solomon caused them to stay in Aurasium, and repair the Castle, and left a garrison to hinder the Moors re∣course thither in their rebellions. In Aurasium is an ancient Tower, standing up∣on a rock called Geminians Rock, safe, and difficult of accesse. Here Jabdas had lately put his wealth, with his women; and never thinking that an enemy could get thither, or force the Tower, he left one old Moore onely to take charge of his treasure. But the Romans through all the difficulties got thither, and one of the souldiers as in sport, began to climb up to the Tower; whom the old man and the women laught at for a mad man. But he scrambled up with his hands and feet, and being got up drew his sword, and cut off the old mans head. The rest of the souldiers boldly and with alacrity helpt one another up, took the women and a great treasure, with which Solomon re-edified the walls of many cities in Africk. The Moors being beaten out of Numidia, fled into Zebe, a Country of Mauritania beyond mount Aurasium: whose metropolis is Sitiphis, tributary to the Empire. Caesarea is head of the other Mauritania, tributary likewise, except the City it self, exempted by Belisarius for a landing place for Romans; there being no good passage to it by land. So in Zebe the Moors sate down, whereby the Affricans continued in obedience, and a setled peace, without thought of hostility, and were very happy under Solomon, a prudent and moderate Governour.