so-called gates or fortresses, 'which were erected to defend the
ground; the one being in Cilicia, and the other in Syria, the
river flowing between them.1
The limited width of the pass along the borders of the sea,
added to the difficulty of turning it by keeping along the lower
part of the Amanus, gave to it great importance and strength,
especially when approached from the side of the Issus. Aware
of this difficulty, and under the impression that it would be
Cyrus turns, strongly occupied, Cyrus caused his fleet to land his heavy-
passoTsyria6 armed, veterans both within and without the Syrian fortress, to
and Cilicia. secure a passage for his army; but Abrocamas, not wishing
to oppose a prince who might eventually take away his satrapy,
had already retreated at the head of a force, estimated at
300,000 men, and Cyrus, without opposition, completed the
next march, which was to the commercial city of Myriandrus.
Each of these marches was of five parasangs, that is eleven or
twelve miles.
Events a t During a halt of seven days at this place, Xenias and Pasion,
Mynandrus. men 0f some importance, stealthily departed by sea, but
the judicious conduct of Cyrus in sending their effects, as well
as their wives and children after them, prevented others from
following an example which might have been fatal to his undertaking
; and even those Greeks, who had been hitherto backward,
became zealous followers, believing that so magnanimous
a commander would not fail to be still more liberal to those who
were faithful.8
March to the The important pass of Beilan, as well as the gates of Cilicia
riv e r Chains, and having been abandoned by Abrocamas, the army of
Cyrus made twenty parasangs, in four marches, to the river
Chalus. Proceeding through the pass in the Beilan chain,
and advancing north-eastward, keeping quite clear of the lake
of Aga Denghiz and the surrounding marshes, it is about sixty-
one geographical miles to the upper part of the Baluk-su or
Baluklu-su3 (Fish River), and about sixty-eight or seventy
miles from the town of Beilan, if a greater sweep be made
northward along the slopes of the hills.4 As there were three
1 Anabasis, lib. I., cap. iv. 8 Ibid.
8 See Map No. 1. 4 See above, vol. I., p. 412.