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intend the erection of the two cities which he had ordered to be 

 built, as well as the fleet preparing^ Alexander advanced to the 

 Acesines, or modern Jenaub, the next river of the Panjab. Before 

 he commenced his march, however, he took an opportunity of 

 reconciling to each other the princes Taxiles and Porus ; granting 

 the former permission to return to his hereditary domain, and giving 

 the latter the most solemn pledges of lasting friendship. 



Broad, turbulent, and rapid, as was the Hydaspes, the Acesines is 

 represented to have exceeded that river in all these points ; its 

 breadth being fifteen furlongs, or nearly two miles ; whereas that of 

 the Hydaspes was only four furlongs, or about half a mile over ; and 

 its surface, in particular, being wrought into such violent agitation 

 by the numerous and prominent rocks which every where choaked 

 up the channel, that the waters of it seemed to boil, and threaten 

 immediately to ingulph whomsoever a fatal temerity might lead to 

 attempt the passage. But the Macedonian army, which had already 

 triumphantly crossed so many rivers and mountains, disdained to 

 have its progress impeded by the terrific appearance of the Acesines, 

 and, partly on the vessels brought from the Hydaspes and partly 

 on skins stuffed as before, were ferried over the formidable stream. 

 Many of the vessels, however, struck against the prominent rocks in 

 the river, and were dashed to pieces; but the floats, formed of 

 lighter materials, rebounded uninjured, and deposited their burthen 

 safely on the opposite shore. Of the country on the eastern side of 

 the Acesines, a second Porus is said to have been the sovereign. 

 This Porus, too, was at enmity with the first conquered of that 

 name ; and, led by his antipathy to that Porus, had, previously to the 

 battle of Nicaea, sent ambassadors with the offer of his kingdom, 

 and a voluntary surrender of his army, to subjugate his rival. The 

 moment, however, he learned that Alexander had obtained a signal 

 victory over his antagonist, had admitted him to his friendship, 



