the evils which he inflicted upon mankind, for the power of the acting
cause is manifested in the excessive atrocity of his actions. I think
that God alone could accurately reckon the number of those who were
destroyed by him, and it would be easier for a man to count the grains
of sand on the sea-shore than the number of his victims. Considering
generally the extent of country which was depopulated by him, I assert
that more than two millions of people perished. He so devastated the
vast tract of Libya that a traveller, during a long journey,
considered it a remarkable thing to meet a single man; and yet there
were eighty thousand Vandals who bore arms, besides women, children
and servants without number. In addition to these, who amongst men
could enumerate the ancient inhabitants who dwelt in the cities,
tilled the land, and traded on the coast, of whom I myself have seen
vast numbers with my own eyes? The natives of Mauretania were even
still more numerous, and they were all exterminated, together with
their wives and children. This country also proved the tomb of numbers
of Roman soldiers and of their auxiliaries from Byzantium. Therefore,
if one were to assert that five millions perished in that country, I
do not feel sure that he would not under-estimate the number. The
reason of this was that Justinian, immediately after the defeat of the
Vandals, did not take measures to strengthen his hold upon the
country, and showed no anxiety to protect his interests by securing
the goodwill of his subjects, but immediately recalled Belisarius on a
charge of aspiring to royal power (which would by no means have suited
him) in order that he might manage the affairs of the country at his
own discretion, and ravage and plunder the whole of Libya. He sent
commissioners to value the province, and imposed new and most harsh
taxes upon the inhabitants. He seized the best and most fertile
estates, and prohibited the Arians from exercising the rites of their
religion. He was dilatory in keeping his army well supplied and in an