Arrian's Anabasis of Alexander and Indica

Book may have numerous typos, missing text, images, or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1893. Excerpt: ... the land of Susis on their left. They sailed along the lake into which the river Tigres discharges itself. This river flowing from Armenia past the city of Nineveh, formerly great and prosperous, causes the country which lies between it and the river Euphrates to be called Mesopotamia. From the lake into the river itself is a voyage of 600 stades (70 miles); here was a village of Susis which is called Aginis. This is 500 stades (59 miles) distant from Susa. The length of the voyage along the coast of Susis as far as the mouth of the river Pasitigris was 2,000 stades (235 miles). Thence they sailed up the Pasitigris through a country inhabited and prosperous. After sailing 150 stades (17- miles) they anchored there waiting for those whom Nearchus had despatched to see where the king was. He himself offered sacrifice to the preserving gods, and celebrated a contest and the whole fleet made merry. When it was reported that Alexander was approaching, they again sailed up the river, and moored near the bridge of boats by which Alexander was going to convey his army to Susa. Here a junction was formed, and Alexander offered sacrifices for the safety of the ships and of the men, and celebrated contests. Wherever Nearchus appeared in the army he was pelted with flowers and garlands. Here also Nearchus and Leonnatus were crowned by Alexander with golden crowns; the former for the preservation of the fleet, and the latter for the victory which he had won over the Oreitians and the neighbouring barbarians. Thus Alexander's army starting from the mouth of the Indus arrived safely. CHAPTER XLIII. EXPLORATION OF ARABIA. The country on the right of the Red Sea (i.e., the Persian Gulf) beyond Babylonia is Arabia, most of it; part of this extends as far as the sea of Phoenicia and PalestineSyria; bu...