3. A CARTHAGINIAN, who succeeded Hasdrubal in the command of a
place called Nepheris, in Africa, where he was attacked by Scipio Africanus the Younger, who
however left Laelius to continue the attack, while he himself marched against Carthage.
However, Scipio soon returned, and after a siege of twenty-two days, the place was taken :
70,000 persons are said to have been killed on that spot, and this victory of Scipio was the
first great step towards the taking of Carthage, which had been supplied with provisions from
Nepheris. The capture of the place, moreover, broke the courage of the Africans, who still
espoused the cause of Carthage. (Appian,