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

420 PURSUIT OF DARIUS.on the Persian Gulf, to Teheran and the Caspian, you gothrough parching heat, sand and barrenness inthe south, atemperate climate, pastures and cultivation in the centre, andsevere cold, with bare and ice-covered mountains in the north.Even the best part of the country, which is lauded by thePersians for its climate, can be extremely hot, and issubjectto drought and scarcity. The soil is good when irrigated,but two thirds ofwater.the table-land remains sterile from lack ofThe country may be well described as a desert, withnumberless oases ; there are forests in the north and on themountain slopes, but the table-lands are bare.Having completed his work in Ecbatana, Alexander headeda column formed ofthe Companion cavalry, the light-armedand Greek mercenary cavalry of Erigyius, the phalanx exceptwhat was left in the garrison at Ecbatana, the archers andAgrianians, and set out on a forced march to overtake Darius.He proceeded with such speed that it exhausted many menand horses, but these were leftbehind, and in eleven days hereached Ehagae, probably near the present Teheran, havingaveraged about twenty miles a day. This rate of speedunder a midsummer sun in thiscountry with heavy infantryis remarkably good.He was now within one of his marches of the CaspianGates. But Darius had already passed this defile towardsHyrcania on his way probably to Bactria. He had againneglected to bar the onward march of the Macedonians atthis most available spot. So many deserters had straggledbehind the Persian army that it had become more easy toascertain its movements. Most of these made their way totheir homes ; others surrendered to Alexander. All but despairingof catching up with Darius by mere pursuit, and hisarmy being much exhausted, says Arrian, but not unlikelybecause he was far from certain of the direction taken by the