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

'XXXIII.THE CAUCASUS. FALL, B. C. 330, TO MAY, B. C. 329.Having turned south, Alexander made a circuit through the land of theAriaspians and Drangians, and the outskirts of Gedrosia, and then passed north,through Arachotia towards the Caucasus.All the peoples on this route he reducedto subjection and tribute, — detaching forces right and left to thoroughlyoverawe the population, and garrisoning the towns. He again made somechanges in organization to get his army into lighter order, for from now on hehad small war rather than pitched battles to anticipate.Bessus lay behind themountain barrier of the Parapamisus (modem Hindu-Koosh) , feeling safe inthe protection of its mighty summits.by an easy pass ;From Aria, Alexander could have crossedfrom the Cophen region, to which his long circuit had broughthim, he had before liim passes higher and more difficult than any in the Alps.He started so soon as winter was fairly over, and, after incredible suffering andgreat loss, in fifteen days reached the farther side. Bessus fled from beforehim.Bactria and Sogdiana were the seat of an ancient civilization, with plentyof resources ; but when Bessus abandoned Bactria, the whole country surrenderedto Alexander, who thence crossed the Oxus, and marched on Sogdiana.Bessus' confederates then surrendered this prince in hope of pardon. He waslater executed.Alexander marched to Maracanda.Alexander now marched (very likely through the valleyof the modern Adoreskan River) into the land of the Ariaspians,a nation of horse breeders, who had afforded muchassistance to Cyrus in his invasion of Scythia. He had anumber of rivers to cross in his path, but the army had grownexpert in such work, and there is infrequent mention of these,unless very large. They were taken as a matter of course.He found the Ariaspians an agricultural people dwelling in afertile oasis surrounded by mountains or deserts.They wereindependent and self-governing on a model not unlike theGreeks. The king treated them with especial favor and