[*] 26.3. tabulae, tablets, of the shape of a folding slate, with wax spread inside, written on with a pointed instrument called stilus. See Fig. 27. — litteris Graecis: not in the Greek language, but in Greek letters. These were probably learned from colonists at Marseilles, as the Gauls had no alphabet of their own. The Druids made use of Greek letters （Bk. vi. ch. 14）, but the Gauls in general seem to have been ignorant of them （Bk. v. ch. 48）. Specimens of Gallic names on coins appear in the names DUBNOREX, [[Delta]]IVICIACOS, VERCINGETORIXS. See Fig. 29, Fig. 82. [*] 26.5. ratio, an account: followed by the indir. quest. qui … exisset. [*] 26.6. possent: not the subjv. of indir. quest., but of characteristic （§ 535. a (320. a); B. 283. 2; G. 631. 2; H. 591. 1 (503. i); H-B. 521. 1. a）. [*] 26.7. rerum: cf. note on res, 4 4. [*] 26.10. ad milia xcii, about 92,000. — summa, the sum; fuerunt agreeing with the plu. predicate. Deducting the Boii, who were adopted by the Haedui, this reckoning would show an actual loss, in slain or captives （to be sold as slaves）, in this short campaign, of nearly 250,000, including probably about 150,000 women and children or other non-combatants. The carnage seems extraordinary even under the conditions of ancient warfare. But, as in all battles, many more must have escaped than the record showed.
CAMPAIGN AGAINST ARIOVISTUS. — The latter half of this Book is taken up with the expulsion of a military settlement of Germans, which had been made a few years before under Ariovistus, a chief of the Suevi. The occasion of this new campaign was the following: The Haedui, jealous of the Sequani, who lived a little to the north, had laid excessive tolls on their trade, which consisted chiefly in the export of salted meats for the southern market. This led to a war, in which the Sequani had invited the aid of the Germans under Ariovistus, about three years before the campaign of Caesar. The Germans, once in Gaul, had exacted a large share of territory and proved to be grasping and oppressive masters. Meanwhile the Helvetian war began to threaten. The Roman Senate, to make safe, passed the decrees before mentioned, promising favor and friendship to the Haedui （ch. 11）; and at the same time sent messengers to Ariovistus, saluting him as king and friend （ch. 35）, recognizing his claims on Gaul, and, it was said, inviting him to Rome. This was the year before, in Caesar's consulship. Now, however, that the fear of the Helvetians was passed, Caesar found himself obliged to take sides in the old quarrel. READING REFERENCES ON THE CAMPAIGN AGAINST ARIOVISTUS. Abbott's Caesar, pp. 86-93. Dodge's Caesar, pp. 82-99. Fowler's Julius Caesar, chap. 9. Froude's Caesar, pp. 231-238. Guizot's Hist. of France, Vol. I. pp. 51-53. Merivale's Hist. of Rome, Vol. IV. pp. 295-300. Napoleon's Caesar, Vol. II. chap. 4. Plutarch's Lives, Caesar. Trollope's Caesar, pp. 38-44.
