to advance and difficult to withdraw.  While Geta was in a dilemma as to what he should do, one of the natives who was at peace with the invaders persuaded him to make use of incantations and enchantments, telling him that as a result of such procedure abundant water had frequently been granted them.  No sooner had he taken this advice than so much rain burst from heaven as to allay the soldiers’ thirst entirely, beside scaring the enemy, who thought the gods were assisting the Roman.  Consequently they came to terms voluntarily and ended their warfare.—­After these events Claudius divided the Moors who were in subjection into two districts, namely, the country about Tengis and that about Caesarea, these cities giving their names to the whole region; and he appointed two knights as governors.  At this same period certain parts of Numidia also were involved in warfare by neighboring barbarians, and when the latter had been conquered returned to a state of repose.

[-10-] The office of consul Claudius held in conjunction with Gaius Largus.  He allowed the latter to continue consul for a whole year, but as for himself he remained a magistrate only two months at this time.  He had the rest swear to the deeds of Augustus, and was himself sworn, but in regard to his own deeds he allowed no such procedure on the part of any one.  On leaving the office he took the oath again, like other people.  This was always his practice, every time he was consul.

About this period certain speeches of Augustus and Tiberius were being read according to decree on the first of the month, and when they had kept the senators busy till evening he ended the reading, declaring that it was sufficient for them to be engraved on tablets.

Some praetors who were entrusted with the administration of the funds having incurred charges, he did not take legal measures against them, but made the rounds of those who sold goods and let buildings, and corrected whatever he deemed to be abuses.  This he did also on numerous other occasions.—­There were likewise peculiarities in the appointment of the praetors, for their number was now fourteen or eighteen or somewhere between, just as it happened.—­Beside this action with reference to the finances he established a board of three ex-praetors to collect debts owing the government, granting them lictors and the usual force of assistants.

[-11-] On the occasion of a severe famine he considered the problem of abundant provisions not only for that particular crisis, but for all succeeding time.  Practically all food used by the Romans was imported, and yet the region near the mouth of the Tiber had no safe landing-places nor suitable harbors, so that their mastery of the sea was rendered useless.  Save for such staples as were brought in during their season and stored in warehouses nothing from abroad could be had in the winter season; and if any one risked a voyage, he was almost sure to meet with disaster.