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to take up their residence in it ; and he farther contributed to its 

 population, by permitting such of the foreign mercenaries in his 

 army as were unable or unwilling to proceed, to make it their future 

 abode. Hither, also, Abissares, king of the barbarous tribes of moun- 

 taineers, excusing his personal attendance by the plea of illness, a 

 second time sent ambassadors, bearing presents and the tribute 

 recently imposed by Alexander, who was pacified by his obedience ; 

 but, not yet wholly free from suspicion, to overawe that Indian, 

 joined Arsaces with him in the government of those northern districts. 

 About this period the brave and veteran Ccenus paid the debt of 

 nature ; and Alexander, though sincerely afflicted at the death of so 

 valuable an officer, could not avoid sarcastically remarking, that he 

 had made a speech disproportionably long for the few days of his 

 remaining life. Having again offered sacrifices on the banks of the 

 Acesines, he recrossed that river, and pressed on to the Hydaspes, 

 where he found the fleet which he had ordered to be built with the 

 timber cut down in the noble forests in its neighbourhood, which 

 Strabo expressly says abounded with fir, with pine, and cedar*, in a 

 state of great forwardness, he commenced the most active prepara- 

 tions for accomplishing his grand project of sailing down the Indus 

 into the ocean. While these were vigorously going on, he received a 

 seasonable supply of fresh troops, consisting of six thousand Thracian 

 horse, headed by Memnon, and seven thousand foot, which Harpalus 

 had sent him under the command of that general. Such expedition 

 was used by the artificers, chiefly Phoenician and Carian Greeks, 

 appointed to get ready this exploring fleet, that, in a few days, a 

 navy, amounting in number to eighty triremes and near two thou- 

 sand vessels of smaller burthen, was launched on the Hydaspes. 

 As we have advanced with Alexander through the progress of 



* Strabonis Geograph. lib. xvi. p. 654- 



