Nor was any measure overlooked by the Sameans by which either the works or the enemy could be interfered with.
Nevertheless, their resistance depended mainly upon two things; first, the [p. 99]
construction of a new wall, equally strong throughout,1
on the inner side and in place of the wall that was destroyed; second, their sudden sallies, now against the enemy's siegeworks, now against his outguards; and generally in these battles they had the advantage.
One device was found to hold them in check, though trivial to mention.
A hundred slingers were recruited from Aegium and Patrae and Dymae. These peoples were trained from boyhood, in accordance with a tradition of the race, in hurling with a sling at the open sea the round stones which, mingled with the sand, generally strew the coasts.
In consequence they use this weapon at longer range, with greater accuracy and with more powerful effect than the Balearic slinger.
Moreover, the sling is not composed of a single strap, like those of the Baleares and other peoples, but the bullet-carrier is triple, strengthened with numerous seams, that the missile may not fly out at random, from the pliancy of the strap at the moment of discharge, but, seated firmly while being whirled, may be shot out as if from a bow-string.2
Having been trained to shoot through rings of moderate circumference from long distances, they would wound not merely the heads of their enemies but any part of the face at which they might have aimed.
These slings prevented the Sameans from making sallies so frequently or so boldly, to such an extent that from the walls they begged the Achaeans3
to withdraw for a while and in quiet to watch them fighting with the Roman outguards.
For four months Same underwent the siege. Since every day some of their small number were killed or wounded and those who remained were wearied [p. 101]
in both body and mind, the Romans at night, by way4
of the citadel which they call Cyneatis —for
the city slopes towards the sea and faces west —crossed the wall and entered the market-place. When the Sameans realized that part of the city had been captured by the enemy, they took refuge with their wives and children in the larger citadel.
Then the next day the city was plundered and all who had surrendered were sold as slaves.