Alexander : a history of the origin and growth of the art of war from ...

eceived reiuforcements here ofECBATANA. 419six thousand Greek mercenaries,under Plato of Athens. That this small body of mencould march from theHellespont through conquered Persiato Media shows how entirely the country had accepted itsnew yoke.To Ecbatana Alexander now brought his treasures gatheredin the camps and cities captured from Darius.The sumtotal of the precious metal brought hither by Alexander isvariously stated at from two hundred to four hundred andfifty millions of dollars.It was guarded on the road by Parmenio,and was placed in vaults in charge of Harpalus.Sixthousand Macedonians, some cavalry and light troops garrisonedEcbatana.From Ecbatana Alexander ordered Parmenio forward toHyrcania, through Cadusia, with the Greek mercenaries, thereenlisted Thessalians, and all the cavalry except what waswith the king, in order to bring that region into subjection.But later on Parmenio was ordered back to Ecbatana in command.He had grown gray in the service, and unfitted forsevere exertions.Though thearmy had just completed its march from Persepolisto Ecbatana, its labors were not interrupted. Alexandermust keep upon his way. He at once called on the phalanxto follow him over the dry and arid plains of Parthia,under the July sun, and scale the mountains of Hyrcania.Never was army so hard worked.In the Caspian regions the rainfall is excessive, and thecountry is hot and damp, feverish and most unhealthy. Onthe upper table-lands it is fiercely cold in wintei", and very hotinsummer, but being a dry, clear heat, not as unbearable asin India. Spring and autumn are the pleasant seasons. Themountains are snow-clad, ten to twenty thousand feet high, andon these intense cold prevails at all times. From Bushahr,