[ 314 ] 



invalids, and might probably sink under the difficulties of the more 

 arduous march which he secretly intended to take through Gedrosia 

 to Babylon. These were to advance by the way of Arachosia and 

 Drangiana into Carmania, and thence to proceed to Macedon. To 

 his charge he also entrusted the elephants ; those elephants which he 

 plainly perceived must perish in the dreary deserts of Gedrosia, 

 which he was resolved to encounter with the least incumbrance 

 possible. Another important object, too, as Dr. Vincent has ju- 

 diciously observed, the king had in view in planning this expedition, 

 viz. more accurately to " survey and explore the extensive pro- 

 vinces of his empire*." The preparations for the departure of the 

 fleet being at length completed, Alexander, with that division of the 

 army which had usually embarked with him, went on board ; the 

 other divisions marched, the greater, under Hephtestion, on the one 

 side -j- of the Indus; the inferior, under P3 r thon, on the opposite 

 bank : the latter had orders to colonize the cities newly erected on 

 the coast with all the inhabitants that could be procured from the 

 adjacent districts, and, having performed this service, to meet the 

 kino- at Pattala. On the third day of his progress down the river, 

 Alexander received the unwelcome intelligence that Moeris had 

 assembled his Pattalans, and, with the whole body of them, had fled 

 into the deserts, leaving all the towns deserted and the fields destitute 

 of husbandmen. On this intelligence, the fleet proceeded with 

 greater dispatch, and soon reached Pattala, discovered in the name 



* Voyage of Nearchus, p. 1 37. 



t Arrian docs not specify on which bankHephaestion marched; Dr. Vincent, in consequence 

 of his prior hypothesis supported in reluctant opposition to Major Rennel, determines it to 

 be the eastern bank; and yet, from the orders given to Python to collect the Indians for 

 colonizing the garrisons, one would incline to think the eastern as the more populous and 

 properly the Indian, shore would be the one better adapted to the professed purpose of the 

 march of the latter commander. 



