CHAPTER XXVIII.

ALEXANDER CROSSES THE HINDU-KOOSH.

After the transaction of this business, he advanced against Bactra and

Bessus, reducing the Drangians and Gadrosians[493] to subjection on his

march. He also reduced the Arachotians to subjection and appointed

Menon viceroy over them. He then reached the Indians, who inhabit

the land bordering on that of the Arachotians. All these nations he

reached marching through deep snow and his soldiers experiencing

scarcity of provisions and severe hardship. Learning that the Areians

had again revolted, in consequence of Satibarzanes invading their land

with 2,000 cavalry, which he had received from Bessus, he despatched

against them Artabazus the Persian with Erigyius and Caranus two of the

Companions, also ordering Phrataphernes, viceroy of the Parthians, to

assist them in attacking the Areians. An obstinately contested battle

then took place between the troops of Erigyius and Caranus and those

of Satibarzanes; nor did the barbarians give way until Satibarzanes,

encountering Erigyius, was struck in the face with a spear and killed.

Then the barbarians gave way and fled with headlong speed.

Meantime Alexander was leading his army towards Mount Caucasus,[494]

where he founded a city and named it Alexandreia.[495] Having offered

sacrifice here to the gods to whom it was his custom to sacrifice, he

crossed Mount Caucasus, after appointing Proëxes, a Persian, viceroy

over the land, and leaving Neiloxenus son of Satyrus, one of the

Companions, with an army as superintendent. According to the account

of Aristobulus, Mount Caucasus is as lofty as any in Asia, and most of

it is bare, at any rate in that part where Alexander crossed it. This

range of mountains stretches out so far that they say even that Mount

Taurus, which forms the boundary of Cilicia and Pamphylia, springs

from it, as do other great ranges which have been distinguished from

the Caucasus by various names according to the position of each.

Aristobulus says that in this part of the Caucasus nothing grew except

terebinth trees and silphium;[496] notwithstanding which, it was

inhabited by many people, and many sheep and oxen graze there; because

sheep are very fond of silphium. For if a sheep smells it even from a

distance, it runs to it and feeds upon the flower. They also dig up the

root, which is devoured by the sheep. For this reason in Cyrene,[497]

some drive their flocks as far as possible away from the places where

their silphium is growing; others even enclose the place with a fence,

so that even if the sheep should approach it they would not be able

to get within the enclosure. For the silphium is very valuable to the

Cyrenaeans.

Bessus, accompanied by the Persians who had taken part with him in the

seizure of Darius, and by 7,000 of the Bactrians themselves and the

Daans who dwelt on this side the Tanais,[498] was laying waste the

country at the foot of Mount Caucasus, in order to prevent Alexander

from marching any further, both by the desolation of the land between

the enemy and himself and by the lack of provisions. But none the

less did Alexander keep up the march, though with difficulty, both on

account of the deep snow and from the want of necessaries; but yet he

persevered in his journey. When Bessus was informed that Alexander was

now not far off, he crossed the river Oxus,[499] and having burnt the

boats upon which he had crossed, he withdrew to Nautaca[500] in the

land of Sogdiana. He was followed by Spitamenes and Oxyartes, with the

cavalry from Sogdiana, as well as by the Daans from the Tanais. But

the Bactrian cavalry, perceiving that Bessus had resolved to take to

flight, all dispersed in various directions to their own abodes.