[ 315 ] 



and nearly in the scite of the modern Tatta, the capital of the Delta, 

 formed by the waters of the Indus. This tract, the gift of that 

 great river, during the immense period which it has continued to 

 roll, extends in length about one hundred and fifty miles along the 

 sea-coast ; and its greatest depth from the most prominent part of the 

 base to its apex is one hundred and fifteen miles. The lower region 

 of this Delta is throughout intersected by numerous creeks and 

 rivers ; towards the middle it is a desert of burning sands ; and is 

 every where totally destitute of trees. The upper parts of the 

 Delta, however, are said to be well cultivated, and to yield 

 abundance of rice. 



On the arrival of the fleet at Pattala, the light infantry were first August. 

 disembarked, and ordered to pursue the fugitives with the utmost 327. 

 celerity, and invite them, by every possible argument, to return to 

 their habitations and the cultivation of their lands ; promising them 

 liberty unrestrained and property uninjured. On this many of them 

 returned ; but, when Hephaestion was shortly after dispatched to erect 

 a fort in the city, and other detachments were sent into the country 

 to dig wells and render the barren tract habitable, the perfidious 

 Pattalans fell furiously upon them, and wounded and killed many : 

 they were, however, finally defeated with great slaughter, and 

 driven back to their deserts. Alexander, determined in his views in 

 regard to Pattala, on receiving this intelligence, reinforced those de- 

 tachments, and gave orders for the immediate construction of a 

 spacious harbour and a naval arsenal, at the point at which the Indus 

 divides itself into two great branches, and rolls in two impetuous 

 currents into the ocean. He came also himself on shore, and in 

 person assiduously superintended the carrying on of works of the 

 highest importance to his future projects. After staying some time 

 on shore, and taking an accurate survey of the country and the 

 coast, Alexander re-embarked with the same number of forces as he 



Vol. in. 2 S 



