It was a counterpart to the foolhardy Britannic expedition; but at least the first throw was fortunate.

The coast was reached in the middle of the Acroceraunian (Chimara) cliffs, at the little-frequented roadstead of Paleassa (Paljassa).

The transports were seen both from the harbour of Oricum (creek of Avlona) where a Pompeian squadron of eighteen sail was lying, and from the headquarters of the hostile fleet at Corcyra; but in the one quarter they deemed themselves too weak, in the other they were not ready to sail, so that the first freight was landed without hindrance.

While the vessels at once returned to bring over the second, Caesar on that same evening scaled the Acroceraunian mountains.

His first successes were as great as the surprise of his enemies.