The mercenaries employed by Carthage for its defence not receiving
their pay, revolted, to the number of a hundred thousand, and took
possession of Tunis, of which they made a place of arms. During three
years they had great advantages over the Carthaginians, and several
times appeared before the gates of Carthage, with a threat of besieging
it. At length Amilcar Barca was placed at the head of the troops of
the republic; and this general surprised the army of the rebels,
and besieged them in their camp. The famine soon became so terrible,
that they were constrained to eat each other. After having suffered
for a long time, they gave up their leaders, who were put to death.
Amilcar afterwards marched straight to Tunis, where the rest of the
rebels were, under the command of a seditious chief named Mathos. Tunis
was carried, all the rebels were killed, and Mathos, their leader,
terminated by a shameful death a life stained by barbarous cruelties.