posed to
emigrate farther into Gaul, and the Sequanians, whose lands bordered
on those of the Helvetians, gave them permission to march through their
country.

Such was the state of affairs when Caesar arrived in Gaul. Feeling that
the passage of such a large body of emigrants (368,000) through Gaul
would be dangerous to the province (Gallia Narbonensis), he determined
to interfere. The Helvetians were met at BIBRACTE, near Autun, and after
a terrible battle, which raged from noon until night, were defeated
with great slaughter (58). The survivors, about one third, were treated
kindly, and most of them sent back to Switzerland.

Caesar now turned his attention to the Germans who had settled west of
the Rhine. After several fruitless attempts at negotiation, during
which the bad faith of Ariovistus became conspicuous, the forces came
together. Though the Germans were brave, they were no match for the
drilled legionaries, who fought with the regularity of a machine. Few of
the barbarians escaped, but among these was Ariovistus.

The campaigns of this year being ended, the legions were sent into
winter quarters among the Sequanians under Labienus, the lieutenant of
Caesar. He himself went into Cisalpine Gaul to attend to his duties as
administrator, and to have communication with his friends at Rome.

THE WAR WITH THE BELGAE.

While Caesar was in Hither Gaul, he learned from Labienus that the
BELGAE were forming a league to resist the Romans. This people occupied
the northeastern part of Gaul, and embraced several tribes, of which
the principal were the REMI, BELLOVACI, SUESSIONES, and NERVII. The last
were the fiercest and least civilized.

Caesar raised two new legions, making eight in all, and marched against
the Belgae as soon as the spring opened. His sudden approach alarmed
the Remi, who lived nearest to Central Gaul, and they immediately put
themselves under his protection. From them he learned that the Belgae
could muster about 300,000 men.

By skilful tactics and a successful attack he put to flight and nearly
annihilated the Suessiones. The Bellovaci now put themselves under his
protection, but the Nervii remained in arms. One day, while the six
legions were forming camp on the bank of the river Sabis, the Nervii and
their allies suddenly rushed upon them from an ambuscade in the woods on
the opposite bank. The troops were entirely unprepared, and so quick was
the enemy's charge that the Romans had not