Carthage, at a comparatively early period of its history, possessed a very large extent of sea coast, though in it there were but few harbours fitted for commerce.  The boundaries of the Carthaginian dominions on the west were the Philaenorum Arae, so called from two brothers of this name, who were buried in the sand at this place, in consequence of a dispute between the Carthaginians and the Cyreneans, respecting the boundaries of their respective countries.  On the other, or western side, the Carthaginian dominions extended as far as the Pillars of Hercules, a distance, according to Polybius, of 16,000 stadia, or 2000 miles; but, according to the more accurate observations of Dr. Shaw, only 1420 geographical miles.

Next to Carthage itself, the city of Utica was most celebrated as a place of commerce:  it lay a short distance to the west of Carthage, and on the same bay.  It had a large and convenient harbour; and after the destruction of Carthage, it became the metropolis of Africa Propria.  Neapolis was also a place of considerable trade, especially with Sicily, from which the distance was so short, that the voyage could be performed in two days and a night.  Hippo was a frontier town on the side of Numidia; though Strabo says, there were two of the same name in Africa Propria.  The Carthaginian Hippo had a port, arsenal, storehouses, and citadel:  it lay between a large lake and the sea.  We have already noticed the etymological meaning of the word Cothon:  that this meaning is accurate may be inferred from the word being applied to several artificial harbours in the Carthaginian dominion, besides that of Cartilage itself:  it was applied to the port of Adrumetum, a large city built on a promontory,—­and to the port of Thapsus, a maritime town, situated on a kind of isthmus, between the sea and a lake.  The artificial nature, of this latter harbour is placed beyond all doubt, as there is still remaining a great part of it built on frames:  the materials are composed of mortar and small pebbles, so strongly and closely cemented, that they have the appearance, as well as durability, of solid rock.  It is singular, that in the dominions of Carthage, extending, as we have seen, upwards of 1400 miles along the shores of the Mediterranean, there should be no river of any magnitude or importance for commerce:  the Bagrada and the Catada alone are noticed by ancient historians, and both of these were insignificant streams.

Having thus pointed out the natural advantages for commerce possessed by the Carthaginians, we shall next proceed to notice such of their laws, and such parts of their political institutions, and features of their character, as either indicated their bias for commerce, or tended to strengthen it.  The monarchical government of Carthage was not of long continuance; it afterwards became republican, though the exact form of the republic is not certainly known.  As late as the time of Aristotle, there seems to have