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

482 BESSUS EXECUTED.are said to have perished. Only Caesar's massacres in Gaulexceed the frightful score of this devastation.Alexander then left Peucolaus with three thousand men inMaracanda, and returned to Zariaspa, where he intended toremain for the coming winter. The people of Bactria, afterthe fate of Sogdiana, needed no further effort to reduce themto subjection. The revolt had not progressed far in thisprovince. Little more is mentioned about it. Clemency succeededcruelty, says Quintus Curtius, and had a good effect.But some of the leaders in the late insurrection had fled intomountain fastnesses, where they deemed themselves securefrom pursuit.During this winter Alexander had his headquarters andcamp at Zariaspa. The reinforcements which reached himhere were considerable. We know that there was quite anamount of trouble in the rear among the newly-appointedsatraps and other civil governors ; it could scarcely be otherwise; and the fact that these detachments were able to marchthrough the length and breadth of the land, despite these turmoils,points conclusively to the excellence of the chain ofmilitary posts which Alexander had established in the successionof cities he had founded on the way.Military activity at Zariaspa was shared with the toils ofstate, and both alternated with games and feasts. Alexanderis said by Curtius to have founded six cities in Bactria andSogdiana ; by Justin, twelve. The general convention whichhad evoked the insurrection was now held. It was here thatBessus was tried before the assembly of notables, convictedand mutilated by cutting off his nose and ears. He was thensent to Ecbatana, probably exhibited as an example on theway, and was there executed. This was the Oriental methodof procedure.To show that modern critics have not been the first to