October, Alexander, having offered libations from a golden bowl to the river gods, his ancestor Herakles, Ammon, and any other god whom he was accustomed to reverence, gave the signal for starting by sound of trumpet. In stately procession, without confusion or disorder, the ships quitted their anchorage and moved down-stream to the astonishment of the crowds of
.jpg)
Ancient Hindu ship.
From an Ajanta Cave Painting. (After Griffiths.)
natives lining the banks, who had never before seen horses on board ship. The plash of thousands of oars, the words of command, and the chants of the rowers wakened the echoes, which reverberated from bank to bank, and enhanced the amazement of the gaping throngs of spectators. On the third day the fleet reached the place, perhaps Bhira, where Hephaistion and Krateros had been ordered to pitch their camps facing each other on opposite sides of the river. Here a
