A carpet from the looms of Syria covers the ground, and on it are
spread four couches, on which, in a position half sitting half
reclining, repose the principal personages of the party. The elder
of these is a man some fifty years of age, of commanding figure,
and features which express energy and resolution. His body is bare
to the waist, save for a light short sleeved tunic of the finest
muslin embroidered round the neck and sleeves with gold.

A gold belt encircles his waist, below it hangs a garment resembling
the modern kilt, but reaching halfway between the knee and the
ankle. It is dyed a rich purple, and three bands of gold embroidery
run round the lower edge. On his feet he wears sandals with broad
leather lacings covered with gold. His toga, also of purple heavily
embroidered with gold, lies on the couch beside him; from one of
the poles of the tent hang his arms, a short heavy sword, with a
handle of solid gold in a scabbard incrusted with the same metal,
and a baldrick, covered with plates of gold beautifully worked
and lined with the softest leather, by which it is suspended over
his shoulder.

Two of his companions are young men of three or four and twenty,
both fair like himself, with features of almost Greek regularity
of outline. Their dress is similar to his in fashion, but the
colours are gayer. The fourth member of the party is a lad of some
fifteen years old. His figure, which is naked to the waist, is of
a pure Grecian model, the muscles, showing up clearly beneath the
skin, testify to hard exercise and a life of activity.

Powerful as Carthage was, the events of the last few years had shown