After they had assembled, he first asked them whether they had put on board water for the men and cattle, sufficient to last as many days as the corn would.

When they answered that there was water on board sufficient for five and forty days' consumption, he then charged the soldiers that, conducting themselves submissively, and keeping quiet, they would not make any noise or disturb the mariners in the execution of their duties.

He informed them, that he himself and Lucius Scipio in the right wing, with twenty ships of war, and Caius Laelius, admiral of the fleet, together with Marcus Porcius Cato, who was then quaestor, with the same number of ships of war in the left wing, would protect the transports.

That the ships of war should carry each a single light, the transports two each.

That in the ship of the commander-in-chief there would be three lights as a distinction by night.