the Hydaspes and the Hyphasis. These territories are said to have been occupied by seven nations, the Glausai, Kathaioi, and others, and to have comprised no less than two thousand towns. The opportunity was seized to effect a reconciliation between Poros and his old enemy, the King of Taxila, and the friendship between the two monarchs was cemented by a matrimonial alliance. The King of Taxila, who had vied with his rival in zealous service to the invader, was formally confirmed in his sovereignty of the country between the Indus and the Hydaspes.
Alexander, who never neglected to make provision for the protection of his flank and rear, and for the uninterrupted maintenance of communications with his distant base in Europe, instructed Generals Hephaistion and Krateros to march with all possible speed to secure the capital of King Saubhuti (Sophytes, or Sopeithes), lord of the fastnesses of the Salt Range stretching from Jihlam to the Indus, who submitted without resistance.
The fleet was to be protected by an army of 120,000 men marching along the banks, under the generals above named. Krateros had the command on the right, or western, bank of the river, while the larger portion of the army, accompanied by two hundred elephants, was led by Hephaistion along the left, or eastern, bank. Philippos, satrap of the countries west of the Indus, had orders to follow three days later with the rear-guard.
Thus escorted the vast fleet began its memorable voyage. At daybreak one morning toward the end of
