324 



Gradus ad Aornon. 



[No. 4. 



Arrian. 

 other small towns built on the 

 river Indus. Kophaios and As- 

 sogetes, Uparchs of the country- 

 attending him. And coming to 

 the city Embolima, sited near the 

 rock xlornos : Krateros was left 

 by him with a portion of the 

 army to collect into the town 

 much corn and other commodities 

 suitable to a prolonged delay,that 

 the Macedonians sitting down 

 might weary out the defenders of 

 the rock with a lengthened siege, 

 if they could not carry it by as- 

 sault. But he, taking the archers 

 and the Agrians and the corps of 

 Koinos, men selected from the 

 other phalanx for their activity 

 and perfect equipment and 200 of 

 the companion horse and 20 of the 

 mounted archers, approached the 

 rock and that day encamped where 

 it appeared to him convenient, on 

 the morrow advancing a little,even 

 to the rock, he again encamped. 



xxix. — And certain of the 

 neighboring inhabitants, there, 

 approached him,and, surrendering 

 themselves, offered to lead to an 

 assailable point of the rock, 

 whence it would not be difficult 

 for him to take the place. And 

 with them he sent Ptolemy son 

 of Lagos, the life guardsman, lead- 

 ing the Agrians and the other 

 light armed and the selected oi 



ander and Charus however, escap- 

 ed, whom the king had sent in 

 advance with the thirty selected 

 youths and now began to fight 

 feebly. But as the barbarians 

 hurled their darts from above, 

 they were oftener stricken than 

 they struck. Therefore Alexan- 

 der mindful of his name and pro- 

 mise, whilst fighting rather fierce- 

 ly than cautiously, being pierced 

 through was overthrown. Whom 

 when Charus beheld extended, he 

 rushed upon the enemy forget- 

 ful of all but revenge, and slew 

 many with the javelin, some 

 with the sword. But, since so 

 many were opposed to one, he 

 soon lay lifeless upon the body of 

 his friend. The fight was very 

 unequal, the king moved by the 

 destruction of his bravest youth 

 and other soldiers, gave the signal 

 for retreat. It proved their safety 

 that they retired gradually and 

 intrepidly : and the barbarians 

 satisfied to have repelled the 

 enemy, did not press upon them 

 as they retired. But Alexander 

 when he had determined to aban- 

 don the enterprize (since there 

 was no hope of seizing the rock) 

 nevertheless made a show of per- 

 severing in the siege. For he 

 ordered the passes to be closed 

 and towers to be brought up and 



