ABSTRACT
THE Athenian troops at Katana were put in motion in the early spring, even before the arrival of the reinforcements from Athens, and sailed ro Megara. Having in vain attacked the Syracusan garrison, they re-embarked, landed again for similar purposes at the mouth of the river Terias, and then, after an insignificant skirmish, returned to Katana. An expedition into the interior of the island procured for them the alliance of the Sikel town of Kentoripa; and the cavalry being now arrived from Athens, they prepared for operations against Syracuse. Nikias had received from Athens 250 horsemen fully equipped, for whom horses were to be procured in Sicily! - 30 horse-bowmen and 300 talents in money. He was not long in furnishing them with horses from Egesta and Katana, from which cities he also received some farther cavalry - so that he was presently able to muster 650 cavalry in all.
