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

606 "THE CITY OF THE MALLL"the Hydraotis and Acesines, where Hephaestion was at thehead of the army, and Nearchus of the fleet. When the shipbearing the king approached the camp, he ordered the tentcovering to be removed from the stern, that he might be visibleto all. But they were still incredulous, thinking, forsooth,that Alexander's corpse was being conveyed in the vessel;until at length he stretched out his hand to the multitudewhen the ship was nearing the bank. Then the men raiseda cheer, lifting their hands, some towards the sky, and othersto the king himself. Many even shed involuntary tears atthe unexpected sight. Some of the shield-bearing guardsbrought a litter for him when he was conveyed out of theship ; but he ordered them to fetch his horse. When he wasseen again mounting his horse, the whole army reechoed withloud clapping of hands, so that the banks of the river andthe groves near them reverberated with the sound. Onapproaching his tent, he dismounted from his horse, so thathe might be seen walking.Then the men came near, some onone side, others on the other, some touching his hands, othershis knees, others only his clothes. Some only came close toget a sight ofhim, and went away having chanted his praise,while others threw garlands upon him, or the flowers whichthe country of India supplied at that season of the year."It cannot be denied that there is a difliculty in acceptingMultan as the " City of the Malli," where Alexander waswounded.The main camp was at the confluence, less than adozen miles below Multan, and yet the troops were apparentlyunable to ascertain whether the king was really dead, asrumored, or only wounded.The whole paragraph just quotedlooks as if the city in question were farther up the river.Moreover, Hephsestion was at the camp, in joint commandwith Nearchus. His route had been close to Multan fromthe upper camp down the left bank. Yet he had neither