[ 272 ] 



horses, though during their engagements with Darius not wholly 

 estranged to elephants, yet never approached that animal with- 

 out reluctance and terror, and as it was upon this part of his 

 army, and his knowledge of this circumstance, that Porus prin- 

 cipally relied for success, Alexander determined to avoid them 

 altogether; and, while Coenus with his division wheeled round to 

 attack the enemy's right wing, the king fell furiously upon their left ; 

 having previously ordered Seleucus, with the foot, to remain sta- 

 tionary till he saw that confusion in the army of the enemy which 

 his measures were calculated to produce. The Indian horse, ac- 

 customed as they were to conquer on Indian plains, for a long time 

 resisted valiantly the superior numbers and impetuous attack of the 

 Macedonian ; but, being overcome at length by the masterly ma- 

 noeuvres and correct discipline of their assailants, were driven from 

 their station ; and, by that means, left the infantry, whose flank they 

 had covered, exposed to their fury. While, therefore, they were 

 thus assailed in flank and rear by Alexander and Coenus, the Mace- 

 donian infantry advanced with rapidity, and, with their long pikes 

 and lances, attacked both the elephants and their drivers ; at the 

 same time that the equestrian archers, in number a thousand, 

 whom Alexander had purposely selected to attend this expedition, 

 overwhelmed those who fought in the chariots, as well as the horses 

 that drew them, with showers of arrows and javelins. The enraged 

 elephants, almost frantic with the pain they endured, rushed for- 

 wards on the Macedonians with irresistible impetuosity, breaking 

 through the embodied phalanx, and trampling multitudes to death. 

 The Indian horse, observing this check given to the enemy's in- 

 fantry by the elephants, quickly rallied again, and made repeated 

 and vigorous attacks upon Alexander and Coenus : but those com- 

 manders, having now united their formidable squadrons, repulsed 

 them with great slaughter, and compelled them to seek protection 



