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HISTORY OF THE SEA. 



of the first magnitude." He was thus led to make long quota- 

 tions from his descriptions for the purpose of refuting them. As 

 the original account given by Pytheas is not extant, the world is 

 indebted to the skepticism of Strabo for all that it knows of one 

 of the most interesting and daring maritime enterprises of 

 antiquity. 



In the year 326 before Christ, Alexander of Macedon, having 

 accomplished the conquest of Persia, and having invaded Hin- 

 dostan by the north, found himself compelled, by a mutiny of 

 his troops, to arrest his course upon the eastern bank of the 

 river Indus. He was here seized with a desire to explore the 

 lower course of that river, and afterwards the southern shores 

 of Asia, a tract of coast with which the Greeks were entirely 

 unacquainted. The object of the expedition was partly explo- 

 ration, and partly to convey a portion of the army back to 

 Babylon upon the river Euphrates. The dangers of the enter- 

 prise and the improbability of success deterred the greater part 

 of the naval officers from attempting it, as neither the Arabian 

 Sea nor the Persian Gulf had ever been traversed before. 

 Nearchus, the admiral of the fleet, proposed several candidates 

 for the perilous honor, who variously excused themselves. 

 Nearchus at last proffered his own services, which, after some 

 hesitation, were accepted. This selection of a commander 

 tranquillized the soldiers and sailors intended for the expedition ; 

 for they felt that Alexander would not have sent his intimate 

 friend upon a voyage from which he would not be likely to 

 return. The splendor of the preparations, the beauty of the 

 vessels, the confidence of the officers, also went far towards dissi- 

 pating their fears. At the word of Alexander, says a modern 

 poet, — 



" The pines descend - the thronging masts aspire ; 

 The novel sails swell beauteous o'er the curves 

 Of Indus: to the moderator's song 

 The oars keep time, while bold Nearchus guides 

 Aloft the gallies. On the foremost prow 



