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2067. When Taxiles died, his son Omphis or Mophis who had persuaded his father to submit to Alexander, sent to him to know his pleasure. He wanted to know if he would be the next king or live a private man till Alexander came. Although word was returned to him that he should reign, yet he held off for the present. Meanwhile, when Hephaestion and Perdiccas were sent to make a bridge over the Indus River, came that way, Omphis received them with all honours and freely furnished them with provisions. However he did not go out to meet them on the way least he should seem to depend on any man for favour but Alexander himself.
2068. When Alexander came to Embolyma, a city not far from the rock Aornus, he left Craterus with some of the army there. He ordered him to make provisions of grain and other necessaries for a long time in case the siege of Aornus lasted a long time and he was not able to capture it on the first attack. Alexander took his Agrians, archers, Caenus' brigade, from the Macedonian squadron such as were of the nimblest sort and best armed, 200 of his cavaliers and 100 archers on horseback and marched to the rock.
2069. According to legend, when Hercules was in those parts, he tried to take that place but could not because he was thwarted by an earthquake. Alexander was all the more eager to take the rock and outdo Hercules. According to Diod. Sic. the rock was about 12.5 miles in circumference and 2 miles high. Arrian says that the rock was 12.5 miles in circumference and at its lowest point it was about 1.4 miles high. At the foot of it toward the south, the Indus River ran not far from its source. (Strabo, l. 15.) The rest was covered with vast bogs and inaccessible cliffs. In one of the cliffs a poor old man with his two sons lived in a cave where three beds were cut out of the rock. Alexander promised him 80 talents if he would show him a way up the rock. Thereupon he told him there was but one way and showed him where it was. When Alexander found no way other but that one, he manned that place so strongly that those on the rock could not possibly receive any relief from others. Then he put his army to work. He cast up a mound of earth and rubbish so high that now he could come at least to fight with them at closer range. He launched an assault on them which lasted 9 whole days and nights without cessation. Alexander lost many of his men in the fighting and in climbing the rocks. Among those who died, were Chares and a person called Alexander. Although he had no hope of taking it yet he pretended to carry on the siege but left one passage which led to the rock open for them to flee. Those on the rock were overcome by his persistency and resolution. They took the advantage of a dark night and all fled from the rock.
2070. When the king saw no activities on the rock the next day, he sent Balacrus to see what had happened. He brought word that the enemy was all gone. Then Alexander took some of the captains of his bodyguard and 700 of his silver targeteers and went up onto the rock first. The rest of the Macedonians followed lending one another a hand to climb up as well as they could. Alexander then ordered them to pursue the enemy. This they did and killed many of them in the chase. Many fell over the rocks and were dashed to pieces. When Alexander had conquered the place, he offered many sacrifices, and built altars to Minerva and Victoria on the rock. He left a garrison there and made Sisicoptus or Sisocostus, the governor of that place and country around it. Sisocostus had come previously from India to Bessus in Bactria. When Alexander had subdued Bactria, Sisocostus came in with his men to Alexander and served him faithfully after that.
2071. Alexander left Aornus and went into the country of the Assaceni. He was told that the brother of Assaecanus, the last king, with a number of elephants and number of the inhabitants and bordering nations were fled to the mountains in those parts. When Alexander came to the city of Dirta, he found no one there, nor in the surrounding country side.
2072. The next day he sent out Nearchus with 1000 silver targeteers. He assigned to Nearchus some lightly armed Agrians. Antiochus was given 3000 silver targeteers. These were sent out as scouts and to see if they could find any of the natives of whom they might enquire among other things, about the elephants.
2073. Alexander marched forward to the bank of the Indus River. He sent an army before him to clear his way. Otherwise it would have been impossible for him to have gone through. When he found that its narrow passes were controlled by Erix, he left Coenus to bring the main body of the army later at a less strenuous pace. Alexander advanced with his slingers and archers, cleared the forest and made a safe way for the army that followed later. Diodorus calls this Indian, Aphrices and says that he had with him 20,000 men and 15 elephants. Whether from a hatred to this Erix or Aphrices, or whether to ingratiate themselves with Alexander, the Indians killed him and brought his head and arms to Alexander. He pardoned them but did not thank them lest others follow their example.
2074. In 16 days he came to the Indus River. He captured the city Penceliotes not far from there which surrendered to him. He left Philippus with a garrison of Macedonians there to keep order. He subdued also a number of smaller towns that were along the river. Cophaeus and Assagetes, the governors of that country attended him as he went from place to place. Alexander learned from some natives whom he had taken prisoner that the men of that country were all gone to Barisades (or perhaps Abisarus) and that the elephants were left grazing on the banks of the Indus River. Thereupon he ordered them to show him the way to the place where the elephants were. They caught all but two which fell over the rocks and died. The rest were taken and trained for service and were added to his army. He found good trees for timber there. He ordered them cut down to make boats with. When the boats were launched, he went in them to the bridge of boats which Hephaestion and Perdiaccas had built for him. Since they saw that they would have more rivers to cross, they made their boats so they could be easily disassembled and carried on carts. Besides these boats, they built two others of 30 oars a piece and many more smaller craft.
2075. Alexander stayed there 30 days to rest his army. In that time he offered magnificent sacrifices to his gods and entertained his cavalry and foot soldiers by the river side. He made one of his friends, Nicanor, governor of all that region on this side Indus. After this he crossed the river by the bridge that was made at Pencolaites (Strabo, l. 15.) with his army. Again he sacrificed to his gods after the manner of the Greeks. Alexander came into the region which lies between the Indus and the Hydaspes River in the beginning of the spring. This is noted by Aristobulus who was with him then and by Strabo (l. 15. p. 691.)
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2076. When Alexander was about 8 miles away, Omphis the son of Taxiles met him with an army and elephants spaced at equal distances among the companies. At first Alexander did not know whether he came as a friend or a foe and prepared for a fight. When Omphis saw Alexander's actions, he halted his army and rode quickly by himself to Alexander and surrendered both himself and his kingdom (which was not much bigger than Egypt) into his hands. When Alexander asked him whether he had mostly labourers or soldiers in his kingdom he replied that he was at war with two kings. Hence he must of necessity keep more soldiers than labourers in his kingdom. His enemies were Abisarus and Porus who reigned on the other side of the Hydaspes River. With Alexander's permission, Omphis assumed title and position of a king. After the custom of his country, he was called by the name of Taxiles, for that name goes with the kingdom with whoever rules it.
2077. The city Taxila from which the king is named after, is the largest of all the other cities lying between the Indus and Hydaspes Rivers. All its inhabitants with Omphis entertained Alexander very joyfully. On the 4th day after his arrival there, Omphis told Alexander what grain he furnished Hephaestion for his army. He presented both Alexander and all his friends with crowns of pure gold. In addition he gave them a large number of cattle, 3000 oxen and almost 10,000 sheep. Arrian adds, that he sent Alexander 700 Indian cavalry and 200 talents of silver. Curtius mentions only 80 talents of silver ingots.
2078. Alexander was very impressed with this entertainment and sent him back his 200 talents of silver with 1000 talents more of his own. He also sent many dinner plates of gold and silver with a great deal of Persian attire and 30 of his own horses with their equipment. Alexander's liberality pleased and obliged Omphis to loyalty. It greatly offended his friends. One of those, Meleager was eating at supper and was quite drunk. He told Alexander that he was very glad to see that he found a man here in India whom he thought worthy of 1000 talents. Alexander remembering what penance he had done for Clitus, did not seek revenge but only said:
``Envious men were nothing else but their own worst tormentors.''
2079. The next day, Abisarus, king of the Indian mountaineers sent his own brother to him with other ambassadors to present him with money and elephants. He submitted himself and all that he had to Alexander's disposition and pleasure. When Alexander had made a firm league with him, he sent them back again to him. Also ambassadors with presents came to him from Doxareus, a governor in those parts.
2080. In the country of Taxila, Alexander offered again his usual sacrifices and made shows and contests with his cavalry and foot soldiers. He left Philippus the son of Machates, to be the governor in those parts with a garrison in the city. He left behind in the country of Taxila those of his army that were unfit for military service. He then went on toward the Hydaspes River.
2081. Alexander thought his fame would make Porus readily submit to him. He sent a message to him by Cleochares to require tribute of him and to order him to meet Alexander at the border of his kingdom. Porus answered that one of these two things he would not fail to do. He would meet him at the border of his kingdom with his army.
2082. There was another Porus a king of a neighbouring country in India. He was the nephew of the other Porus. Because he hated his uncle, he sent ambassadors to Alexander and offered himself and all his kingdom to his service.
2083. Alexander sent back Caenus to the Indus River with orders to dismantle the boats and bring them overland in carts to him. The smaller boats came apart in 2 sections, the larger were in 3 sections. They were all brought to the Hydaspes River.
2084. When they were reassembled and launched, he used them to return to Taxila with his army. He received 5000 Indians whom Taxiles and others had brought to him. He returned to the banks of the Hydaspes River. On the way, Barzaentes who was governor of the Drangians at times and the instigator of the revolt of the Arachosians was taken prisoner and brought to Alexander along with 30 of his elephants. This was a great prize for the Indians trusted more in their beasts than in their men. Gamaxus, a petty king in those parts and a confederate of Barzaentes, was taken and brought bound to him. Both were committed to prison and the elephants enlisted into Alexander's service and sent to Taxiles or Omphis. Alexander advanced and came to Hydaspes where he had executed Barzaentes for his old treason against his master Darius. (Arrian l. 3. p. 72.)
2085. Porus was camped on the other side of the Hydaspes River. He planned to stop Alexander. He was a man of large statue and a brilliant mind. He was said to be five cubits high (7.5 feet) although Plutarch says that he was but four cubits high and a hand breadth (6 feet 4 inches). His body was so big that his coat of armour was twice as large as any other man's. He rode upon an elephant taller than all the rest on which he sat like an ordinary man on horseback. Curtius says that in the forefront of his battle he placed 80 large elephants. Diodorus says he had 13. Arrian says that he had almost 200. He had 300 chariots and 30,000 foot soldiers in his army. Diodorus states that he had more than 1000 chariots and 50,000 thousand foot soldiers, although Plutarch says he had 20,000 soldiers and 200 cavalry. Diodorus says 3000 and Arrian 4000 cavalry. The Hydaspes River ran between the two armies. Porus with his elephants always appeared at the head of his army and was ready to hinder the crossing of Alexander. Alexander had noises daily to be made in his army to make the similar noises from the barbarians more normal and therefore less terrible to his men. After a while, in a stormy dark night, he crossed over the river with certain of his foot soldiers and most choice cavalry. He crossed way up the river onto a small island in the midst of the violent thunderstorm. Although, he saw some of his men hit by lightning and others seriously hurt, he was determined to cross and hide on the other side. The river was swollen with the rain and undermined its banks in many places with the swiftness of its current. Alexander got to land, where he could hardly stand for the unstableness of the ground and the undermining of the banks. When the Macedonians saw this, they also forced themselves to land being up to their very arm pits in water.
2086. When he crossed the river, he went ahead of his foot soldiers some 2.5 miles with his cavalry. He engaged 1000 enemy cavalry and 60 chariots. He captured all the chariots and 400 cavalry. When Porus learned that Alexander had crossed the river, he attacked him with all the troops he had except the ones he left to take care of the Macedonian army that had not yet crossed over. Alexander feared the number of the enemy and their elephants. He attacked one wing of them and commanded the rest to attack the other wing. When the natives were hard pressed anywhere, they always retired in a group to the elephants as a place of refuge. The fight grew confused everywhere and Alexander could scarcely route them until about 2 p.m. Alexander described the battle in detail in his own letters:
2087. Aristobulus says that in the former of these two fights he killed 400 cavalry and captured 60 chariots and Porus' son was killed in the fight. However, Ptolemy states when the forces who were sent out under Porus' son, he was killed in the fight. Ptolemy says the forces which were sent out with Porus' son were twice as many as Alexander mentions in his letter. Ptolemy says they attacked with 2000 cavalry and 120 chariots. Concerning the latter engagement which was fought with Porus, Alexander does not go into detail. Arrian gives more information concerning the number killed. The Indians lost almost 20,000 men and 3000 cavalry. All their chariots were scattered, two of Porus' sons were killed. Spitarches who commanded all that region of India and all the captains both of the elephants and chariots and of his cavalry and foot soldiers were killed in the battle. All the elephants which were not killed in the fight were captured. Of Alexander's foot soldiers, he lost 80 of the 6000 engaged in the first battle. He lost 10 of the archers on horseback, which led the first assault, 20 of his fellow cavaliers and 200 cavalry. Diodorus states that about 12,000 died including the two sons of Porus, all the chief commanders of his army and bravest captains that he had. 9000 prisoners were taken and 80 elephants captured. 280 of the Macedonian cavalry died along with more than 700 foot soldiers.
2088. When Porus was taken, Alexander asked him how he wanted to be treated. He replied:
``Like a king.''
2089. Alexander asked him again, whether he wanted anything else and his answer was that word:
``Like a king.''
2090. comprehends all. When Alexander saw his noble and royal disposition, he treated him accordingly and took him into the number of his friends. He restored him to his kingdom again which reached from Hydaspes to the bank of the Acesives River. In it were 300 cities. (Strabo, l. 15. p. 698.)
2091. Arrian shows that these things happened after the summer solstice in the rainy season in India. The Hydaspes River would swell greatly whereas in the middle of winter a man may wade across it. (Arrian. l. 5. p. 107.) Jacobus Capellus compares another place of his, (Arrian. l. 7. p. 163.) where he writes the same thing of the Euphrates River, saying:
``It is fordable in the winter. When the spring approaches, and much more when the sun returns from its summer solstice, it grows deep and overflows its banks.''
2092. The Greeks call the four seasons of the years by the name of tropics. They may just as easily divide the year into two parts, summer and winter. Summer would start at the vernal equinox and winter from the autumnal equinox. However Arrian is speaking after the manner of the east when he says:
``as the spring approached and after this toward the summer season, the rain began to fall there and the waters to rise.''
2093. Concerning those Indian regions, Aristobulus was an eye-witness of them, and was present with Alexander at the Hydaspes River. He says that at the beginning of the spring, the rains begin to fall and so grow stronger from day to day. Strabo says the same. (Strabo, l. 15. p. 114.)
2094. This battle was fought between the vernal equinox and the summer solstice. Arrian plainly shows this where he says:
``This was the end of the battle fought by Alexander against Porus and his Indians on the other side of the Hydaspes River in the year when Hegemon was archon of Athens in the month Munichion:''
2095. In that year that month corresponds almost entirely to our month of May according to the Julian Calendar. The summer solstice did not happen until Alexander came to the Acesines River, as I show later from Nearchus.
2096. Alexander was glad for this victory which opened the way to the farthest borders of the east. Thereupon he had all his men that died in the battle to be honourably buried. He sacrificed to the sun, as the giver of this victory. He held games and contests both on foot and horseback at the river Hydaspes near the place where he crossed. Since there was of all manner of provisions in the place, he stayed there for 30 days to rest his wearied companies. To cheer up his soldiers for the remainder of this war, he called them together and gave them a pep talk commending their prowess and valor. He told them that all the forces of India were quashed by their one day's work. All the rest was a rich spoil for them to take. He gave the chief commanders of his army crowns to wear. Every one of them received 1000 pieces of gold. He rewarded the rest according to his place and rank in the army. For a description of the monument he made there, see (Philostratus l. 2. Life of Apollion. c. ult.)
2097. Alexander planned that as soon as he set foot in India, to go and see the Indian Ocean. Therefore he had his shipwrights build boats for that purpose. In the Emodian hills nearby, there was an abundance of tall fir trees with a quantity of cedar and pine trees along with other timber fit for ship building. When they went to cut them down, they found there very many large snakes, as long as 24 feet. In those woody mountains, they found rhinoceroses as well as a huge number of apes, some quite large. The rhinoceros is a rare beast in other countries. When the Macedonians saw a number of them ranging on the side of a hill in a kind of array like soldiers, they first thought that they had been an enemy. They cried out, "Arm, Arm" and arranged themselves to attack them. It was not until Taxiles, who was then with Alexander, told them what they were that the fray ended. (Strabo. l. 15. p. 698, 699.)
2098. Alexander built 2 cities here, one on each side of the Hydaspes River. The one on this side the river at the place where he crossed and the other on the other side where he fought this battle. This city he named from the victory over the Indians and gave it the Greek name, Nicea. The other one he called Bucephalis or Bucephalia after his horse Bucephalus. He had died there not of any wound received in the battle (As some have it. A. Gellius (l. 5. c. 2.)) but spent with travel and old age. He was 30 years old according to Arrian and Sicritus as cited by Plutarch. The king gave him a solemn funeral and build a monument and there built a city round it. (Pliny, l. 8. c. 42.) Near to these cities he built his navy for the ocean (Strabo. l. 15. p. 698) on the Hydaspes River which ran between the two kingdoms of Porus and Taxiles. Both of these helped him greatly in building this fleet. (Curt l. 9. c. 7.)
2099. Alexander left Craterus there with a part of his army to finish the buildings of these two cities and their wall. He went further into India against those who bordered on Porus' kingdom. Aristobulus called the kingdom Glauconica but Ptolemy called it Glausa. He took one half of his fellow cavaliers along with him, the best men from every squadron, with all his archers on horseback, his squadron of Agrians and the other archers. On this expedition, 37 cities surrendered to him. The smallest city had at least 5000 inhabitants and many had more than 10,000. In addition, many towns and villages surrendered to him some which were as large as the cities. All this territory he added to Portus' kingdom. He made Taxiles and Portus good friends and sent Taxiles back into his own kingdom again.
2100. At the same time ambassadors from Abisarus came to Alexander. Arisarus promised to be at his command, provided that Alexander would not require him to give up his kingdom. For he would not live without a kingdom nor reign if he were enslaved to another man. Thereupon Alexander sent back word to him that seeing he would not come to Alexander, Alexander with his army would take the pains to go to him. This would cost Abisarus dearly. Ambassadors came to him from those Indians which lived as free states and from another Porus, king of the Indians also.
2101. Phrataphernes, the governor of Parthia and Hircania came at this time to Alexander with such Thracians that Alexander had left with him. Messengers came to him from Sicicus, governor of the Assacenians to tell him, that the Indians had murdered his vice-governor and had revolted from him. Against these Alexander sent Philippus and Tyriespes with an army ordering them to suppress the rebellion of the Assacenians and keep that province in order. About this time, Cleophis, the queen of the Assacenians bore Alexander a son, whom she named after Alexander and was later king of that country. (Justin. l. 12. c. 7. with Curtius, l. 8. c. 20.)
2102. The other Porus who was the nephew to the one whom Alexander had overcome, feared his uncle Porus more than Alexander. He left his kingdom and fled into the country of the Gaugaride. He took with him as many as would follow him and that were fit to bear arms.
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2103. Alexander with his army crossed over the violent Acesives River which was almost 2 miles wide. Those who crossed on bags made from skins did much better than those in the boats. Those who crossed in boats were dashed many times on the rocks in the way. Some boats sunk, drowning some of the army as Arrian from Ptolemy reports, (l. 5. p. 145.) Alexander left Coenus with his brigade on the near side to provide for the crossing of those supplying grain and other things for the army and to protect them from any attackers.
2104. Nearchus, who was in the army at this time, says, (cited by Strabo, l. 15. p. 692.) that Alexander first camped by the river side. He was forced to move his camp later to higher ground to escape the flood waters. This happened about the summer solstice. Arrian confirms this in his book (Indica, p. 172.) where he says that Alexander's army ran away from the Acesives River when its water flooded all the country at midsummer.
2105. There were vast forests and shady trees of an enormous size and incredible height. Some were over 100 feet high and so thick that 4 men could barely get their arms around them. They cast a shadow of 3 acres or 300 feet from their limbs. For the most part, they were like huge beams bowing downward to the ground and grew up from there again. The new plant was not nourished by the same bough but rooted itself were the bough touched the ground. For more information about the banyan tree see (Pliny. l. 12. c. 5. & Strabo l. 15. p. 694.). He states from Aristobulus that under one of these trees 50 men could sit at dinner.
2106. There were also a large number of deadly snakes. They were small and very colourful. Their bite was so deadly that it caused sudden death to any one that was bitten. To avoid this danger, the Macedonians hung their beds from the limbs of the trees and slept above ground. They got little sleep. At length they learned a remedy for the snake bite from the native people. They showed them a root to take if any man happened to be bitten.
2107. Alexander sent Porus back to his own kingdom with orders to return with an army of the choicest and ablest Indians that he could find along with any elephants he had. After the army crossed the deserts, they came to the Indian river of Hyarotis or Hydraotes. It was as wide as the Acesines River but not so violent. He left garrisons everywhere he went in convenient places so that Craterus and Caenus might safely come to him with grain which they were to gather from all the places they went. He committed part of his army to Hephaestion. He gave him charge of two squadrons of foot soldiers, both his own and Demetrius' Cornets of cavalry and half his archers. He sent them into the country of that Porus who fled away and ordered him to transfer the kingdom to his friend King Porus. If he found any other Indian nation bordering on the Hyarotis River which lived as free states, he should add them all to Porus' kingdom. Alexander crossed the Hyarotis River with less trouble than he had with the Acesines River.
2108. Next to this river there was a grove of shady trees not usually seen in other parts and wild peacocks that flew up and down in the trees. Alexander advanced and took over other countries. Some surrendered and others he took by force. For some he was forced to chase and overtake and make them yield to him.
2109. Meanwhile, Alexander was told that there were other Indian states and a people called the Cathaeans who intended to fight him if he came into their countries. They joined with other free states of India to form an alliance with them in this action. Also another nation of those parts called Oxidracans and the Mallians. A little before this, Abisarus and Porus with their joint armies along with many other confederate Indians, went to subdue them but were unable to. The Indians awaited Alexander's arrival in Sangalae, a large city of the Cathaeans. It was surrounded with a wall and with a bog. These Cathaeans are called by Polyannus (l. 4. Stratag.) the Calthaei. Diodorus call them the Cathari. He states that it was law, agreed to by all these countries that when the husband died, the wife would be buried with his body. Strabo also notes this of the Cathaeans. (l. 15. p. 699.)
2110. Alexander went into these parts and came the second night to a city called Pimprama. That country of the Indians are called Adraista. Diodorus calls them the Andrasta. These came to him and surrendered conditionally.
2111. Alexander rested his soldiers there the next day. On the third day, he marched to Sagala where the Cathaeans and their allies awaited his arrival. They stood in battle array on the rise of a hill before the city. Instead of a trench between them and the enemy, they placed 3 rows of chariots locked closely together. Alexander quickly scattered the chariots and they all fled back into the city. Alexander immediately besieged them. He cast up a double trench around the city except where the bog hindered them. He set Ptolemy there with 3000 of the silver targeteers, all the squadron of Agrians and one company of archers to guard that quarter. He set all the chariots which he had taken, in an escape route from the city to hinder them from escaping. The inhabitants tried to escape in the 4th watch of the night and fell over those chariots. They were beaten back by Ptolemy who killed 500 of them and forced them to retreat within their gates again. Meanwhile Porus came to him with the rest of his elephants and 5000 Indians. His battering rams were assembled and approached the wall. The Macedonians did not have to batter the inner wall but only undermined the outer earthwork made of brick and raised their ladders against the inner wall, thus taking the city by assault. 17,000 inhabitants were killed, 70,000 taken prisoner, 300 chariots were captured and 500 horses were taken. Alexander did not lose more than 100 men in this seige. 1500 more including Lysimachus, one of the captains of his bodyguard were hurt.
2112. After Alexander buried his dead after the Macedonian customs, he sent Perdiccas with sufficient forces to ravage and plunder all the country around there. He sent Eumenes the secretary, (that is that Eumenes who was secretary sometimes to King Philip and whose life, Plutarch and Probus have both written) with 300 cavalry to two cities which had allied with those of Sangala. He was to offer them a pardon and he should receive them in mercy. However when the townsmen heard what was done at Sangala, they all fled from the town before he came. As many as were not able to escape through infirmity, were all killed by Eumenes to the number of 500. Alexander gave up the idea of overtaking the rest and returned to Sangala and utterly destroyed it.
2113. Alexander went to besiege another strong town into which a great number of people from weaker places had fled. When they asked his mercy and opened him their gates, he pardoned them and took hostages. He marched away to the next town, which was a very large one and full of people. There he had the hostages whom he received to be presented before the walls. Those in the town knew them as their neighbours and they desired to speak with them. The hostages told them what a merciful man Alexander was and how dreadful he was to his enemies. They easily persuaded them to yield to him. Now the news went out that before people thought Alexander was more like a robber was wrong and he behaved more like a conqueror. The rest of the cities surrendered without a fight. (Curt. l. 9. c. 2. Polya. Stratag. l. 4. in Alexan. s. 30.)
2114. From here he went into the kingdom of Sopithes who at more than 6 feet was taller than all men of those parts. He came from his chief city with his two mature sons. He gave Alexander his golden rod, all set with beryl stones and surrendered to him, himself, his children and all his kingdom. Alexander gave him his kingdom back again. A few days later, he feasted Alexander and all his army in a very sumptuous manner. He gave Alexander personally many large and costly gifts. He also gave him 150 Indian dogs which were, as was said, a cross breed between dogs and tigers. They were very strong and courageous. To prove this he had 4 of them attack a very large lion. (Strabo, l. 15. p. 700. Elia. Histor. Ammal. l. 8. c. 1.)
2115. Meanwhile Hephaestion returned to him with the troops he left with. He subdued all the countries of the Indians far and wide wherever he went. Alexander spared no honour for him and praised him before the army.
2116. Alexander left Sopithes in his kingdom as he found him. He advanced still to the next country where Phegeus was king. All the inhabitants welcomed the Macedonians and Phegeus went out personally to meet Alexander with gifts and presents. He submitted himself wholly to his pleasure. Alexander re-established him in his kingdom. Alexander was royally entertained with all his army and stayed there 2 whole days.
2117. On the 3rd day he departed from there and came to the Hyphasis or Hypanis River. It is almost a mile wide and 36 feet deep. It was very rocky under water and quite difficult to cross. Phegeus told him what he wanted to know about the other side of the river. There was a vast desert of 11 or 12 days journey to cross bounded by the Ganges River. It was the largest in all of India. Beyond the river lived various peoples. The people there were the Gaugaridae or Gongaridae and Prasians or Praendians, or Praesiaeans, or Pharrasians, or Tabraesians, for they are all known by these different names. Their King was called Agrammes. (Diod. Sic. calls him Xagrames,) He had an army of 20,000 cavalry, 200,000 foot soldiers, 2000 chariots and 3000 or (as Diodorus says) 4000 elephants, all trained and equipped for war.
2118. These things seemed incredible to Alexander. When he had questioned Porus further, Porus told him that the force and power of that king and kingdom was indeed very great and no less than what he was told. However the current king was of ignoble birth and no better than a poor barber's son. He was hated and scorned by his subjects. Androcottus, who was then but a youth and had not only seen Alexander but also for a certain saucy prank played on Alexander, was ordered to be executed. He would have died had he not fled. Justin, (l. 15. c. 4.) tells us that he later said that Alexander almost conquered all of India. The part he missed was of little note since their the king was too wicked, so base, so hated and so much scorned by his people.
2119. Alexander began to reflect that his soldiers were all tired out and spent with the length of the war. Every man began to look for an end of these dangers and for the reward and fruit of all their labours. They had now been 8 whole years (for so long it was since he became king) in a continual perilous war. It happened that for 70 consecutive days, it poured rain accompanied with violent thunderstorms according to Diodorus. Diodorus says that to pacify the soldiers, he gave them permission to plunder a most rich and bountiful country of the enemies and to take all to themselves. While they were busy at this, he called together their wives and children and made there a law that the wives would receive their monthly allowance in grain and their children the same wages that their fathers did.
2120. When the soldiers were returned home laden with wealth and riches, the king called them all together. He made a prepared speech to request them to accompany him cheerfully to the conquest of the Gangaridae. Caenus the son of Polemocrates replied in the name of the whole army and concluded that they all desired an end of the war. The Macedonians would not listen to Alexander's request. Ptolemy reports that he went on and offered sacrifices for the crossing of the river. When the entrails portended all direful things if he proceeded, he called together his friends and such as were the oldest and most intimate with him. He told them first and afterward declared to all the army that since all things seemed to be against his going any farther, he was now content and resolved to return home.
2121. Pliny very improbably writes that notwithstanding all this, he crossed the Hypanis River and erected altars on the other side. (l. 6. c. 17.) For a similar action occurred in the same place, that is in the king's own letters to confirm as much. I think that those words refer not to his crossing over the Hypanis or Hyphasis River but to that which went before concerning the order and distance of his camps and journeys from place to place. These were described and recorded by Diognetus and Baeton, his two principal harbingers and camp masters. For who can believe that Alexander alone without his army and without any purpose of going any further would offer to cross such a dangerous river as that was. If he would, then the enemy who were on the other side, would have attacked him and hindered his work. Strabo, (l. 15. p. 700.) notes that he went no further eastward because he was forbidden to cross the Hypanis or Hyphasis River. Plutarch also tells us that in his time the kings of the Praesiaeans or Prasians crossed the river to his side and worshipped those altars which Alexander then set up and offered sacrifices on them after the customs of the Greeks.
2122. It is obvious that Alexander divided his army into various companies. He had 12 altars to be built, all of square stone on the west side of the Hyphasis River and not on the east side. Each alter was 75 feet high and similar to so many large towers and of a greater size than towers were usually constructed. On these altars, he offered sacrifices after the Greek manner to his gods. He held for his men, games of all sorts, wrestling, dancing and sports on horseback. Then he made his camp three times larger in every respect than it was ever done before. He made trenches 50 feet wide and 10 feet deep. He had the earth cast up from the ditch. He made a good wall around the trench. He commanded his foot soldiers that in their tents they should set up two bedsteads, each of them 7.5 feet high. The cavalry men should do this as well as make mangers for their horses as large as at other times. They should do the same with their weapons, horse bits and other equipment, they were leaving behind. They should make them in the same proportion and to hang them up. This was to give posterity an imaginary belief of his greatness. Concerning the inscriptions and titles of his altars, we may see more in (Philostratus, his life of Apollonius.)
2123. When these things were done, he returned by the same way he came to the Hydraotes River. He crossed it and came back to Acesines.
2124. There he found this city already built by Hephaestion whom he left to do it. Into the city he relocated as many of the neighbouring places as wanted to live there. He left his mercenary soldiers who were unfit for military service here.
2125. Arsaces, who ruled over all in the province bordering on the kingdom of Abisarus and the brother of Abisarus and his associates came to Alexander. They brought him presents of the most valuable items in those parts. Abisarus sent 30 elephants. They said that Abisarus would have come to him but he was sick. Alexender sent messengers to Abisarus and they confirmed his story. Thereupon he made Abisarus governor under himself of that province and made Arsaces subject to him. He appointed what tribute they should pay to him. Alexander offered sacrifices again at the Acesines River.
2126. He crossed the Acesines River and came to the Hydaspes River. He repaired with the help of his soldiers, whatever the flooding of that unruly river had destroyed of his two cities, Nicaea and Bucephalis recently built there. From the time that he went from there until his return, it had rained continuously with monsoon winds according to Aristobulus as cited by Strabo. (l. 15. p. 691.) The rain lasted 70 days with violent thunderstorms, as I showed before from Diodorus.
3678a AM, 4387 JP, 327 BC
2127. Alexander had built a large number of ships by the side of the Hydaspes River. Two of these had three banks of oars. He planned to sail down to the Indian Ocean with his cavalry and foot soldiers. For his venture, he gathered all the Phoenicians, Cypriots, Carians and Egyptians who followed his camp and put them aboard his ships.
2128. At the same time Coenus died who was one of his best and closest friends. He grieved his death and had him buried with all honour and sumptuousness which that time and place afforded. However, he did not forget the speech which he made in the armies behalf promising them to return home. Had he known how short a time he had to live, he would never have made so long an oration.
2129. He received fresh troops from Greece. These were auxiliaries and mercenary soldiers under their various commanders, that is 30,000 foot soldiers and 6000 cavalry. This also brought rich arms for 25,000 foot soldiers and 100 talents in medicines (Diod. Sic. & Curt. l. 9. c. 5.) Memnon also brought him from Thracia, 6000 cavalry besides those which came from Harpalus and 7000 foot soldiers. He also brought weapons inlaid with silver and gold which Alexander distributed in the army and had the old ones burnt.
2130. Harpalus, who Curtius says sent the new supplies to him, was the same person whom Alexander had entrusted with the keeping of his tributes and treasure in the city and province of Babylon and whom he had left as his overseer of all that country. (Plutarch in Alexand. ) However, he gave the government of it to Mazeus who had delivered it up into his hands and when he died Ditamenes succeeded him in that charge. Although Diodorus calls Harpalus, the president of that province in his history of (year 2, 113th Olympiad) in which time we are. Diodorus further tells us that Harpalus hoped that Alexander would never return alive from India and gave himself over to all kinds of intemperance and luxury, sparing no expense. First he committed of all manner of whoredom and luxury with the women of that country. Then he indulged in all sorts of unseemly and unseasonable delights and pleasures. He squandered the king's money committed to his charge. He ordered various fish to be brought to him from as far off as the Red Sea (Indian Ocean, ed.) and was so lavish in his feasting and usual diet that every man was ashamed of him. He sent for a noted strumpet, Pythonice by name from as far as Athens and when she died, he sent for another one from the same place called Glycera. Therefore Theopompus complained in his letter to Alexander telling him that Harpalus spent more than 200 talents in making two tombs for Polynice when she died, one at Athens and another at Babylon. He dedicated a grove, an alter and a temple to Pythonice by the name of Venus Pythonica. He set up Glycera's statue in brass at Tarsus in Syria and let her live in the king's palace. He commanded the people to call her by the title of a queen and reverence her as such. (Athenaus l. 13. c. 23.)
2131. Cleander, Sitacles and Heracon in Media did the like, hoping that Alexander would never return alive from India. They plundered private men's estates, pulled down temples and ravished the young virgins of the noblest families. They did many other kinds of villainies to their citizens and belongings. The very name of a Macedonian was odious to all nations for their avarice and luxury of all kinds. Worst of all, Cleander, who having first ravished a noble virgin himself, gave her later to his slave for his whore. (Curt. l. 10. c. 1. Arrian. l. 6. p. 142.)
2132. Alexander prepared for his voyage into the ocean. He saw old grudges rekindled between Porus and Taxiles and made them friends again. He made them pledge friendship to each other and then sent them away to their own kingdoms. He had made Porus king of all the countries lying between Hydaspes and Acesines River as before. In addition he gave him all the free states which he had subdued between the Acesines and Hypanis River, which were various countries containing over 2000 cities. (Arrian. l. 6. p. 124.) Others say that within these 15 countries were more than 5000 large cities besides towns and villages. (Plutarch in Alexand.) In fact the region lying between the Hydaspes and Hypanis River contained no more than nine countries with 5000 cities. Each city was as large as Coos in Meropis, (Strabo, from Apollodorus, who wrote of the affairs of Parthia, reports, l. 15. p. 686.) Strabo thinks that his opinion is a bit outlandish. He says it seems that this number is put a little hyperbolically and therefore Pliny thinks this is the number of all the cities which he subdued in India. (l. 6. c. 17.) Those who were with Alexander in his expedition report that in that part of India which he subdued there were 5000 towns and cities each as large as Coos in these 9 countries. Philippus, who was one of his company of friends with Alexander, was appointed governor of a country beyond the Indus River by Alexander.
2133. The cavalry of the city of Nisaea were sent back. Craterus and Hephaestion were commanded to march before him into the capital city of Sopithes' kingdom and await the arrival of his fleet. Craterus went on the right hand side of the Hydaspes with a part of the cavalry and foot soldiers. Hephaestion was on the left hand with the remainder and far greater part of the whole army and 200 elephants. The whole army at this time consisted of 120,000 men with those whom he brought from the sea coast. Those returned to him also whom he sent to levy fresh troops. They brought with them men of various nations and different weapons. (Arrian. l. 6.& in his Indica. p. 181.) Plutarch says that at this time he had 20,000 foot soldiers and 15,000 cavalry.
2134. Curtius says that this fleet had 1000 ships. Of these, Diodorus says, 200 were open and the rest were barges propelled by oars. Arrian, (in his Indica) says he had only 800 boats, some for transporting the horses and the rest for cargo vessels grain and other provisions. In total this amounted to little less than 2000 vessels.
2135. The admiral of this fleet was Nearchus from Crete and Euagoras from Corinth was in charge of all the provisions. In Alexander's ship, the captain was Onisieritus from Astypula. Arrian (in his Indica), records the name of every capatin for each ship.
2136. When the preparations were complete, Alexander sacrificed to his native gods and to the other gods as the priests advised him to. These included, Neptune, Amphitrite and the Nereides or Sea Nymphs. Most importantly he sacrificed to the ocean, to the Hydaspes River, the Acesines River into which the Hydaspes flows and to the Indus River which receives them both. He held various sorts of games, of music and wrestling and the like with prizes for those who would enter the contests. He distributed animals to every company so they could sacrifice by themselves.
2137. In the morning, the army boarded the ships. This included the silver targeteers archers and such of the cavalry as were called his friends. This totalled 8000 troops and happened not many days before the setting of the Pleiades. (Strabo. l. 15. from Aristobulus). This time is about the end of our October. Alexander boarded and poured out a golden viol of wine from the prow of the ship into the river. He called on the Acesines, Hydaspes and Indus Rivers all at once. Afterward when he offered to his progenitor Hercules, to Ammon and the rest of the gods according to his accustomed manner the trumpet sounded at his command. This signal was to draw down the vessels into the water and to start the journey. This was done. The order was given how far every barge, horse carrier and ship of war should stay away from each other lest they should collide with each other. They were to keep their rank and position and not to out row each other as if this were a race.
2138. In this manner Alexander came on the 3rd day to the place where he had appointed Craterus and Hephaestion to meet him. He stayed there 2 days so that Philip might there catch up to him with the rest of the army. Alexander had sent him to the Acehnes River with orders to march down by the bank. He sent away Craterus and Hephaestion again with orders where to march by land.
2139. Alexander followed the Hydaspes River which was at least 2.5 miles farther than going by land and landed his soldiers and went to Sibarus, the country of the Sobians. These were said to be the descendents of those who along with Hercules had besieged the Rock of Aornus. When they could not take it, they were left here by him when they were not able to march with him any further. Their clothes were nothing but skins of wild beasts and their weapons nothing but clubs. Although the Greek manners and customs were long gone, yet a man might easily perceive some traces and marks of their Greek origin among them. When Alexander pitched his camp near to the chief city of their country, the principal men of them came to him and were admitted into his presence. They reminded him of their Greek origin and what reverence they had for the Greek nation. They offered him their service in whatever his pleasure was as became men of the same blood with him and his Greeks. They witnessed to this with the extra-ordinary presents they gave to him. Alexander received them very graciously and made them a free state to live according to their own laws.
2140. From there he rode further into the country some 30 miles and after he had wasted all the fields, he came and besieged the chief city of that country.
2141. The Agalassians opposed him with 4000 foot soldiers and 3000 cavalry on the bank of a river. He crossed the river and quickly routed them after killing most of them. The rest ran into the towns. When he had captured them, he slew those who were of age and sold the rest for slaves.
2142. Other inhabitants there took up arms also and about 20,000 gathered together into one city. He broke into the city by pure force. When they barricaded their streets and fought on them from the battlements of their houses, he was forced to retire and left many of his Macedonians dead behind him. Therefore in a rage he set fire to the houses and burnt both the city and most of the people in it with fire. When 3000 who had fled into the citadel sued for pardon, he gave it to them.
2143. He then returned aboard ship with his friends. He went with all speed into the countries of the Mallians and Oxydracans because he was told that they were two very populous and warlike countries. They had carried their wives and children into fortified places and planned to meet in the battle. Therefore he made the more haste, so that he might attack them while they were still making preparations and not fully ready for him.
3678b AM, 4388 JP, 326 BC
2144. On the 5th day of sailing down the river, he came to the confluence of the two rivers, the Acesines and Hydaspes. They both meet in a very narrow channel. Therefore, the river runs with a most violent and rapid current making many whirlpools. Many of their ships sprung leaks and two of the largest of them ran afoul of each other, broke up and sank, drowning their passengers. Alexander's own ship, was sucked into one of these whirlpools and was in extreme danger of sinking and drowning Alexander. When they had gone a little farther, the channel became wider and the stream grew calmer. The ships came to the right hand bank and found a safe harbour to stay in behind a bank which ran out into the river. This broke the violence of the river and so they were able to draw their ships to land.
2145. The king set up altars on this side of the bank and sacrificed to his gods for escaping so great a danger. Then he marched about 4 miles further into the country and attacked the natives that would not submit to him. He ordered them only not to help the Mallians and returned to his ships again. He was met by Craterus, Hephaestion and Philippus who brought their armies to help him.
2146. The countries of the Oxydracans and Mallians lie between the place where the Hydaspes River joins the Acesines River and they both flow into the Indus River. (Arrian. in his India, p 171.) These were usually at war with each other but now united against their common enemy, Alexander. To further secure their alliance, they gave 10,000 virgins to each other to intermarry. They had 80,000 foot soldiers and 10,000 cavalry besides 700 chariots. Curtius says 900. Justin (l. 12. c. 9.) and Orosius (l. 3. c. 19.) call these people the Mandri or Ambri and Sabracans or Subagrans or Sugambrians. By all these names, the Malli and Oxydracans (who in Diodorus are incorrectly written Syracusions) in various editions go. They had 60,000 cavalry.
2147. The Macedonians thought they were past all danger and looked for an end of the fighting business. When they saw themselves engaged in a new war with more fierce and warlike countries than they had before in any part of India, they were terrified. They began again to murmur and rebel against Alexander. Alexander pacified them with a good speech and made all well again.
2148. Commander-in-chief of all this native army was a man of proven valour and chosen from the Oxydracans. He pitched his camp at the foot of a hill and made many fires so that he might make his army seem all the larger. They made loud shouts and noises after the manner of their country to terrify the Macedonians. The next morning Alexander was full of hope and confident of victory. He encouraged his soldiers and attacked them. Whereupon, the enemies whether for fear or some disagreement among themselves, all ran away and fled to the mountains and woods. When the Macedonians could not overtake them, they started rifling their camp.
2149. When Alexander had rigged his navy he sent Nearchus with it down river into the country of the Mallians. He ordered him to be there 3 days before the army. Alexander crossed the Hydaspes and ordered Craterus, who was on the right hand of the Hydaspes to take charge of the elephants, of Polysperchon's brigade, his archers on horseback and of Philip's regiment. He ordered Hephaestion to go 5 days march ahead of him. Ptolemy was to come 3 day's journey behind him. This ensured that whoever escaped from Hephaestion, would be sure to fall into the hands of one of the two of them. He ordered those that went ahead of him to go to the confluence of the Acesines and Hydraotes Rivers which was the farthest border of the Mallians, as the confluence of the Acesines and Hydaspes Rivers was border of the Oxydracans. They were to stay there and await his arrival and the armies of Craterius and Ptolemy.
2150. Alexander took his regiment of silver targeteers, his squadron of Agrians, Python's brigade and all his archers on horseback and one half of his fellow cavaliers. He went through a sandy dry country into the region of the Mallians to attack them before either the Oxydracans could come to help them or they could go to the Oxydracans.
2151. The first day he camped near a little river about 12 miles from the Acesines. When they rested for a while, he ordered every man to fill what bottles he had with water. They marched on the remainder of that day and the next night some 50 miles. On the next morning, they attacked a great many of the Mallians. They never thought that he would come over that dry wilderness and were walking abroad idly outside the city. He killed most of them and the rest fled into the gates of the city and there locked them. Alexander had his cavalry surround the walls, instead of a trench, until his foot soldiers came.
2152. As soon as the foot soldiers came, he sent away Perdiccas with his own troops, Clitus' cavalry and the Agrians to besiege another town of the Mallians. He understood that many of the Indians were gathered together there. He wanted to keep them in but not to make any assault until he came. This would prevent them from carrying news into other parts that he had come into the country. He began to make his approaches and to assault the city which he besieged.
2153. He killed many of them in the assault and the rest left the walls and fled to the citadel. When he took that, he killed 2000 men.
2154. When Perdiccas came to the city which he was commanded to besiege, he found all the inhabitants had fled. When he found that they had just recently escaped he followed them as fast as he could. All the ones he overtook, he killed. The rest escaped into the bogs and marshes.
2155. When Alexander had rested and refreshed himself and his army, he marched at the first watch of the night. At day break, they came to the Hydraotes River where he found that many of the Mallians had already crossed. He attacked and killed the rest that were crossing the river. Then he crossed the river with his army and overtook those that had crossed earlier. He killed many of them and took others prisoner. However, most of them escaped into a well fortified city.
2156. When his foot soldiers came up, Alexander sent Python against them with his own and two other regiments of cavalry. On the first attack, he chased them into the town and took it. All those who were not killed, were made slaves. After this Python returned to the camp.
2157. Alexander led his army against a city of the Brachmanni where he understood more of the Mallians had fled. As soon as he came, he besieged it all around with his squadrons very heavily. The soldiers immediately left the walls and fled to the citadels. When this was captured, some of the inhabitants, set their own houses on fire and threw themselves into it. Others died fighting. About 5000 perished and few were captured alive.
2158. Alexander stayed there one day to give his soldiers a rest. The next day he marched against the other towns of the Mallians. He found all the cities deserted and the inhabitants all fled to the woods and mountains. He stayed there one day.
2159. The next day he sent Python and Demetrius, the captain of a regiment of cavalry back to the riverside. He sent other troops and companies with them. He wanted them to deal with any that had escaped to the woods. If they did not surrender they were to be killed. A great many were killed by them.
2160. Alexander marched against the capital city of the Mallians into which he learned that many others had fled. When this large city heard of his coming, the inhabitants fled and crossed over the Hydraotes River. They put themselves into battle array on the high clifts of that river, as if they would stop him from crossing there. Alexander followed them immediately with his cavalry and ordered his foot soldiers to come later. When he was in the middle of the river, the Indians abandoned the place and although they were in good battle array, they fled. There were at least 50,000 of them. Alexander saw them in a strong compact body. Since his foot soldiers had not come to him, he offered to charge them from all directions. However, he did not think it wise to fight with them at that time.
2161. As soon as the Agrians, other well-ordered squadrons and the archers came, the main battle with the foot soldiers started. The Indians fled and all ran away to the next fortified city. Alexander pursued them and slew many of them. When they were there, Alexander presently surrounded the city with his cavalry before the foot soldiers came.
2162. Demophoon a soothsayer, talked with Alexander and told him that by certain signs and prodigies he observed that Alexander was in some great danger. He wanted Alexander to stop or at least to defer the siege of the place. The king reviled him with sharp words for disheartening the soldiers while they were in action. He divided his army into two parts and led one part and gave the other to Perdiccas. They both went together to scale the wall. The Indians could not endure the attack and abandoned their stations on the wall and all fled all to the citadel. Alexander with those about him broke open the first gate himself and got into the city. He began to set ladders against the citadel wall. When he saw his Macedonians not coming on so quickly as he wished, he took a ladder himself and set it against the wall and climbed onto the top of it. Pencestes, carried his shield which he borrowed out of the Temple of Minerva in Troy. In all encounters he was always ahead of Alexander but this time he was behind him. After him came Leonatus, one of the captains of his bodyguard on the same ladder. Abreas (one of the Duplarians, of that order of knights or esquires had double pay or allowance) was on another ladder. When the silver targeteers heard of the danger the king was in, they fought to set up the ladders so thickly that the ladders broke and so all came tumbling to the ground. By this they were of no use and hindered others from getting up that would help. (See Appiannus toward the end, l. 2. Bell Civil.)
2163. Alexander was shot at on every side from the adjoining towers. No man dared come and fight hand to hand with him on the wall. Alexander leapt off the wall down into the citadel yard and put his back to a wall there and killed those that came to attack him with his own hand. He killed the captain of the Indians who came boldly to attack him. After that no one dared come near him but all shot at him from a distance.
2164. Meanwhile Pencestes, Leonatus and Abreas, leaped down from the wall into the yard after him and came to his rescue. Abreas was shot through his face into the head and died in there. Alexander (as Ptolemy reports) received so great a wound in the breast that his very breath came forth at it together with his blood. Pencestes, who interposed with Minerva's buckler in his hand and Leonatus, who took in his own body the blows which were meant for Alexander were likewise seriously wounded. No one wanted this but Alexander himself, who had there poured out his soul together with his blood. All agree that Pencestes defended him with his Palladian buckler. Hence Pliny calls him, (l. 34. c. 8.) the preserver of Alexander the Great. Concerning the actions of Leonatus and Abreas, the Duplarian, all do not agree. Ptolemy the son of Lagus, was at the rescue of him. This is affirmed by Clitarchus and Timogenes and Pausanias in his Attica. However he denies this and says he was not. All that while he fighting with the enemy elsewhere. Curtius says that so great was the carelessness of those old historians, it is hard to know what to believe.
2165. The Macedonians at last broke into the citadel and killed everyone there with the sword. They did not spare man or woman, old or young. They brought the king out upon their shields, dead or alive, they knew not which. The cure of his wounds was more grievous than the wounds themselves. He endured the pain and started to recover. The army could hardly be brought to believe this. It was widely said he died from his wounds. Therefore as soon as possibly he could, he had himself carried to the river side. From there he sailed down in a barge to the place where his army camped which was at the confluence of the Hydraotis with the Acesines River. Hephaestion was here in charge of the army and Nearchus was over the navy. As soon as he came to land, he admitted the soldiers to kiss his hand and he refused his stretcher. He mounted his horse so all could see him. Then he alighted and went on foot to his pavilion.
2166. When the king's wounds had been healing for 7 days, he heard that the Indians were sure he was dead. He had two barges joined together and upon them he had his royal tent spread. It was open on every side so all could see he was still alive. This would put an end to the rumour of his death among the enemies. From there he went down the river and ordered, that none should come near the barge he was in, for fear of jolting his weak body with the beating of the oars. So on the 4th day, they came to a country that was deserted by the inhabitants. It had abundant provisions of grain and cattle. Since the place pleased him well, he stayed there to refresh both himself and his army.
2167. Nearchus the admiral, reports, that his friends blamed him for acting like a soldier rather than a king or captain in the army. When he grew angry at this remark, he showed his dislike by his looks. A certain old Baeotian pleased him again by reciting an old limerick:
``He who would do any great thing, reason was he should suffer something too.''
2168. Curtius (l. 9. c. 12.) mentions a speech made to him by Craterus in the name of his friends for the same purpose. His answer to it to this end that a man can never lack an occasion to win glory by.
``After the 9th year of my reign and 29th of my age, do you think it possible for me to be lacking to myself in advancing my glory which I have ever addicted and devoted myself to?''
2169. For so Curtius quotes him in saying this. However, the correct time of the chronology, was the 10th year of his reign (which agrees well enough with this saying) in his 30th year.
2170. The king stayed here many days until he was fully recovered from his wounds. He built more ships. There were about 3000 Greek soldiers who he had located in certain cities of Bactria and Sogdiana which he had built there. They grew tired of living among those barbarous people and were encouraged by the supposed news of Alexander's death. They defected from the Macedonian government and killed some of the chief of their own country men. They took up arms and seized the citadel of the city Bactra. It was not so carefully kept as it should have been. They drew the inhabitants in with them in this revolt. The leader of this conspiracy was Athenodorus. He assumed the title of a king not so much out of a desire for any kingdom but to bolster his plan to have the men follow him back to Greece. Biton or Bicon, was a Greek. From a grudge and envy against Athenodorus, he invited him to a banquet and had Boxus kill him. The next day Biton called a company together and there persuaded some that Athenodorus would have killed him. Others thought it was nothing but a mere roguery of Biton. They quickly persuaded others and they all took up arms to kill him. The leaders among them persuaded the rest and so all grew quiet again.
2171. When Biton had escaped this action, he started to plot the deaths of those who had saved his life. When they knew this, they laid hold on him and Boxus. Boxus was killed immediately. They planned to put Biton on the rack. All of a sudden, the Greeks, like madmen, rose up all in arms for no apparent reason. They did not rack Biton for fear of a rescue by the multitude. Although he was naked, he fled to the Greeks. When they saw what a distress he was in and ready to be racked, they changed their minds and rescued him from the danger he was in.
2172. Meanwhile, the Mallians that were left, sent their messengers to Alexander, to surrender their nation to his mercy. Likewise the Oxydracans surrendered. They sent the captains and chief men of every city and with them 150 of the principal men of the whole country to Alexander. He wanted them to send him 1000 of their principal men or as Curtius says, 2500 cavalry. These he would keep as hostages or as soldiers to serve him until he had ended his war with the Indians.
2173. Alexander invited all the principal men and petty kings of these countries to a feast where he had 100 golden beds to be set up at a reasonable distance from each other. Everyone of those beds was enclosed with curtains made of scarlet and gold. The purpose of the feast was to display whatever the old luxury the Persians had or the new extravagances of the Macedonians both mixed together could afford.
2174. Dioxippus the Athenian was at this feast. (Pliny l. 35. c. 11. Athena. l. 6. c. 6. Elian. l. 10. c. 22. & l. 12. c. 58. & Plut. in his book of Curiosities.) Dioxippus was a famous champion and one whom the king made much of for his great strength of body and courage. Choragus was a Macedonian of mighty strength and who had in many a fight shown his courage. When Choragus was drunk, he challenged Dioxippus to a fight. The next day Dioxippus came stark naked and all over anointed with oil with only a truncheon and a cloak for his arms. He approached the Macedonian, who came in armed with sword, buckler, pike and a javelin and laid him to the ground at his foot.
2175. The Macedonians and Alexander took this defeat as a disgrace on the Macedonian nation in the sight of these barbarians and there were embarrassed by it. As short time later at another feast, a golden cup disappeared. Dioxippus was suspected of taking it. This upset him so much he wrote a letter to Alexander and then killed himself.
2176. Alexander shipped his cavalry, 1700 of his fellow cavaliers and about 20,000 of his foot soldiers. He went not far on the Hydraotes River before he came to the confluence of it and the Acesines River. He sailed down the Acesines, and finally came to the confluence of the Acesines and Indus River. He stayed there with his navy until Perdiccas came to him with the main body of the army. On the way he subdued the Abastenians who were a free state among those Indians.
2177. While he stayed there, there came to him other ships of 30 oars a piece and certain cargo ships which had been recently built in the country of the Xathri. This was another free state in those parts. Ambassadors came and submitted to him from the Ossadians, another free state.
2178. Likewise the messengers of the Oxydracans and Mallians returned to him with presents. Among these were a small quantity of linen cloth, 1000 Indian shields and 100 talents of steel. As well they brought huge lions and tigers that were tamed, the skins of huge lizards and tortoise shells. There were also 300 chariots and 1030 horses to draw them, 4 to a chariot. (Curt. l. 9. c. 15.) Arrian says also that they sent him 3000 men for hostages. These were the bravest and best men they could find among them. They also sent 500 chariots with men in them to fight. This was more than what Alexander had asked of them. Arrian adds that Alexander accepted their chariots and returned their hostages again.
2179. Alexander commanded them to pay him such tribute as they formerly paid to the Arachosians and set Philip to be their governor. His government was to extend to the confluence of the 2 rivers, the Indus and Acesines and no further. We can hardly believe Plutarch where he says that the extent of Philip's government was three times the size of Porus' kingdom especially if it were so big, as he himself states it to have been. Alexander left him to guard that province all the Thracian cavalry and such companies of foot soldiers as he thought fit and necessary for that purpose. Moreover he had a city built at the confluence of those two rivers. He thought it would quickly grow quite large and be famous. Therefore he constructed a great number of docks for ship building.
2180. At that time Oxyartes, father of Roxane whom Alexander had married came to him. Alexander cleared him of all suspicion of having any hand in the revolt of the Greeks that were in Bactria. 3678c AM, 4388 JP, 326 BC
2181. After this Polysperchon was sent to Babylon with an army. (Justin, l. 12. c. 10.) Craterus was ordered to take most of the army that was left with the elephants and to march down on the left bank of the Indus River. This way was easier for the heavily armed foot soldiers and the bordering countries were no more loyal to him on either side of the river. (??) Alexander took some choice companies and sailed down the Indus River to the ocean. It is said that he went at least 75 miles a day on the river and yet the journey lasted a full five months. (Pliny, l. 6. c. 17.)