35) placing of the battle-field in the district of Belfort.

This hypothesis, although not certain, suits the circumstances of the case; for the fact that Caesar required seven days' march for the short space from Besancon to that point, is explained by his own remark (i.

41) that he had taken a circuit of fifty miles to avoid the mountain paths; and the whole description of the pursuit continued as far as the Rhine, and evidently not lasting for several days but ending on the very day of the battle, decides--the authority of tradition being equally balanced--in favour of the view that the battle was fought five, not fifty, miles from the Rhine.

The proposal of Rustow (-Einleitung zu Caesars Comm-.

p.