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

A PONTOON BRIDGE. 539nlans. As had now become all the more the custom withAlexander, during the remainder of the season which hespent here, he made his sojourn a series of festivities in theMacedonian manner, but without neglecting the demands ofthe army, whose mixture of nationalities called for muchtime in discipline and organization.Then leaving a garrison,mostly of invalided men, under Philip, son of Machatas, as asort of viceroy, but clothing Taxiles with practical authority,he advanced towards the line of the Hydaspes, which he wasinformed was held by Porus, king of the region beyond theriver.No doubt the readiness with which Taxiles placed himselfunder Alexander's command was due to the enmity existingbetween himself and this Porus, whose kingdom was toostrong to attack single-handed, and of whom he stood in constantdread.For Porus was certainlj' the most able chieftainof this country, possessed a rich and flourishing kingdom,said to contain one hundred large cities, and had Cashmir asan ally. Porus was not only at odds with Taxiles and theHimalayan tribes, but also with the " kingless " peoples ofthe Five Rivers.In order to be able to bridge the Hydaspes, Alexandersent CcEnus back to the Indus to bring forward the boatswhich had been used there.This Coenus did by cutting themin two, or, in case of the thirty-oared galleys, in three parts,and conveying them on wagons. This is probably the firstinstance of anything resembling a pontoon bridge being transported,though, as above stated, this is alleged to have beendone in the Cophen campaign. The army then moved forwardtowards the Hydaspes. Alexander had from Taxilasent his herald Cleochares to Porus, commanding him to bringin his submission. To this high-handed call Porus repliedthat he himself owned his country, owed allegiance to no