On landing there he dug a trench, and slew the black victims Circe had given him, and with drawn sword awaited the approach of a host of shades, among whom he recognized a man killed by accident on Circe's island, who begged for proper funeral rites.

By Circe's order, Ulysses, after allowing the ghost of Tiresias to partake of the victim's blood, learned from him that, although pursued by Neptune's vengeance, he and his men would reach home safely, provided they respected the cattle of the Sun on the island of Trinacria.

The seer added that all who attacked them would perish, and that, even if he should escape death and return home, he would have to slay his wife's insolent suitors before he could rest in peace.
After this had been accomplished, Ulysses was to resume his wanderings until he came to a land where the oar he carried would be mistaken for a winnowing fan.

There he was to offer a propitiatory sacrifice to Neptune, after which he would live to serene old age and die peacefully among his own people.

His conversation with Tiresias finished, Ulysses interviewed his mother--of whose demise he had not been aware--and conversed with the shades of sundry women noted for having borne sons to gods or to famous heroes.
_Book XI._ This account had been heard with breathless interest by the Phaeacians, whose king now implored Ulysses to go on.