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.If there was one thing more than another which conduced to orderliness and obedience among the numerous and widely separated peoples which found themselves, either by conquest or alliance, under Alexander’s sway, it was this: that under his empire no sort of oppression by local government officials was ever permitted.52 The other officer, Heracon, was cleared for the time being; but soon afterwards some people at Susa had him convicted of robbing the temple there, and he, too, was executed.Stasanor and Phrataphernes, on learning that Alexander was marching to Gedrosia, correctly foresaw the difficulties he would encounter in the desert, and had brought with them, in consequence, a number of draught-animals, including camels; their arrival was certainly fortunate, and the camels and mules were a most timely addition; in due proportion to their number Alexander distributed them among his forces – among the officers individually, and so many to each squadron, company, and platoon.53Certain writers54 have told the improbable story that Alexander made a progress through Carmania in a sort of double-sized chariot, specially constructed, in which he reclined with his intimate friends, listening to the music of flutes, while the troops accompanied him making merry as on holiday and with garlands on their heads, and that the people of the country, all along the route of the procession, had provided food and every imaginable luxury for their delectation.All this is supposed to have been Alexander’s notion of imitating the Dionysiac Revels, or triumphal marches, in accordance with the legend that Dionysus, after his conquest of India, traversed the greater part of Asia with this sort of pomp and ceremony – Thriambus (or Triumph) was one of the titles of Dionysus, and the same word thriambi – triumphs – was used to describe his ceremonial procession after victories in war.There is no mention of this either in Ptolemy, son of Lagus, or in Aristobulus, or indeed in any other writer whom one might consider to give reliable evidence in such matters.In any case, there is the story; I do not believe it – and that is all I propose to say.I do, however, put on record (on Aristobulus’ authority) that while he was in Carmania, Alexander offered sacrifice in gratitude to heaven for his conquest of India and the escape of his army from the desert of Gedrosia, and that he held a festival with public competitions in athletics and the arts.He promoted Peucestas to be a member of his Personal Guard – he had already decided to make him governor of Persia, but in view of the special service he had rendered in the battle with the Mallians, he wanted him to enjoy this mark of honour and confidence before taking over his governorship.Up to that time Alexander’s Personal Guards were seven in number: Leonnatus son of Anteas, Hephaestion son of Amyntor, Lysimachus son of Agathocles, Aristonus son of Pisaeus (all four from Pella); Perdiccas son of Orontes, from Orestis; Ptolemy son of Lagus and Peitho son of Crateuas from Eordaea.Now there was an eighth – Peucestas, the man who held his shield over Alexander’s prostrate body.Meanwhile Nearchus had completed his voyage along the coasts of the Orians, Gedrosians, and Ichthyophagi, and arrived at the inhabited parts of the Carmanian seaboard.From there he made his way inland with a few companions and gave Alexander his report of the ocean voyage.55 Alexander sent him back to the fleet with orders to continue his voyage as far as Susia and the mouths of the Tigris.I propose to give a detailed account of his voyage from the Indus to the mouth of the Tigris in the Persian Gulf in a separate volume, basing it on Nearchus’ own story; this book, like the present one, will be a Greek history written in Alexander’s honour.It will be a work for some future date, when I am in a proper mood, and the spirit moves me to embark upon it.56Alexander now ordered Hephaestion to proceed to Persia with the elephants, the baggage-train, and the greater part of the army.His instructions were to take the coastal route, because it was now winter57 and he would find in the coastal regions of Persia both warm weather and an abundance of supplies [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]