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Barzaantes, at that time prince of the country, who had been one of 

 the murderers of Darius, on Alexander's approach, fled for pro- 

 tection into the provinces beyond the river Indus ; with the addi- 

 tional circumstance, that the Indians sent him back to Alexander, 

 who executed the traitor*. This fact is the more deserving of atten- 

 tion, because, if Arrian were rightly informed, it proves that the 

 fame of Alexander had already reached the Indians, who dared not 

 protect even so considerable a person as the prefect of the Arachosians 

 and Drangae. He is afterwards said, by the same author, to havfe 

 proceeded against the Indians in that quarter; but, from pursuing 

 at this time any attempt on India itself, he was prevented, by certain 

 intelligence, that Bessus was growing formidable in Bactriana, had 

 assumed the name of Artaxerxes, and displayed, on his brows, at 

 public entertainments, the diadem of Persia. Nothing can more 

 fully demonstrate Alexander's contempt for the usurper than his 

 advancing so far southward as Aria and Arachosia ; whereas Bessys 

 and Bactriana lay behind him in a quite contrary direction. 



There can scarcely be a doubt that Alexander conceived, during 

 this last expedition, the first idea of penetrating into India beyond 

 the Sinde, as the natives term the Indus. He had observed, 

 perhaps, with admiration, the martial and splendid appearance 

 which they made in his various battles with Darius; the stately, 

 though unwieldy, animals their country produced, and history and 

 common report had informed him of other prodigies, and the im- 

 mense riches in which it abounded. Among the Arians also and the 

 Arachosians, who largely shared the commerce of India, (for, Cabul 

 is the capital of Zablestan,) he might have discovered other con- 

 vincing proofs of the amazing advantages, which, from a firm con- 

 nection and an extended commerce with India, would redound to 



* Arrian, lib. iii. cap. 25, at the close of that chapter. 



Vol. iii. 2 H 



