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

THE DESERT. 623coast lived only the Ichthyopliagi, whose huts were built ofbones of the whale, shells and seaweed, and whose entire dietconsisted of fish. Inland to the mountain ranges some twentymiles from the coast were sand stretches inhabited solely byjackals and wolves and insects. Beyond the mountains laythe still more terrible desert of Gedrosia. It has been saidthat Alexander chose this passage simply because of its difficulties— because he was minded to do o:reater things thanSemiraniis and Cyrus. This seems a partial way of lookingat the matter. Is it not easier to believe that Alexander wasreally seeking to discover and establish the best outlet forcommerce between his Indian satrapies and his Persian, andthat he was willing to run a risk for this so desirable end ?Unless he were to go this route, how could he prove that hisgreat jjlan of coranierce between India and Persia was feasibleby way of the Indus, the sea and the Euphrates? Howcould he forsake his friend Nearchus, who was sacrificinghimself to carry out the king's great schemes ? How indeedwould he know the extent, boundaries and resources of thiscoast land unless he passed this way? Was he not, in fact,compelled to choose this route, in order not to have an unconqueredstrip full of wandering robber tinbes between hisIndian satraj^ies and Persia? It was essential for him tomarch by a route along which he could sustain his fleet bydigging wells, and leaving supplies at convenient places onthe coast. The ancient fleets were able to sail only duringthe day and in fair weather ; at night and in storms they werecompelled to put in shore, to find water and provision.Thecrews of rowers and warriors were so numerous for the tonnageand the oars took up so much space, that they couldcarry but a limited supply of food. If he expected him to succeed,Alexander could not send Nearchus along an unknowncoast without some aid. And while he might have dispatched