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

FACING HOMEWARD. 585but had he not in reality already determined to leave theseallies to guard the real eastern boundary of his kingdom,the Indus, and turn back? The incident of the Macedonianprotest was alone enough to impel his natural obstinacyto make a point of a march farther on into the bowels ofIndia.It was the end of August.To commemorate the event andto mark the spot where the hero arrested his conquering hand,as a thank-offering to the gods who had smiled upon hisefforts and as a monument to the labors of the king and of thearmy, twelve altars of the shape of very high towers, butmuch wider, were erected and inaugurated with the greatestpomp, sacrifices, feasts and games.Alexander then gaveto Porus charge also of this territory and marched backover theHydraotis and to the Acessines, where he found thecity Hephaestion was to build all but completed. This, asusual, he populated with Indians who volunteered to settlethere and invalided Greek mercenaries, whom he left withabundant resources. The denizens of these new towns wereno doubt given marked privileges to comjDcnsate for theirchange of home.The rainrice covered theThe soldiers rejoiced athad now ceased, the land began to dry, and thelately flooded fields with a mantle of green.their once more facing homeward aswell as at the smiling aspect of the country.It was here that Abisares' brother reached Alexander.He came wnth gifts and thirty elephants, and brought excusesfrom Abisares that he did not personally report to the king,for he was sick. Alexander chose to accept the excuses, andappointed Abisares satrap of the country lately his kingdom.He had no time for an expedition to chastise him ; nor washe of any great moment. Taxiles and Porus sufficed to keephim in check. Arsaces, king of the adjoining territory, like-