namely, at the junction of the Hasan Kal’eh-su and the Bin-gol-
su, near Kopri Keui, it cannot be less than from seventy to
eighty miles ; since the shorter distance from the latter point
to the upper part of the Murad-su, near Kara Kilisâ, is sixty-
six miles.?
It has just been seen, that the distance in question occupied
thirteen marches, or, including four days not particularly
mentioned, about sixty-nine parasangs. But as it is to be
observed, that these were intended to be road distances answering
to one hour, it may fairly be presumed, that an army could
not accomplish much more than about one mile in each, especially
through snow so deep that the whole of the specified
increasing time must have been consumed between the rivers Euphrates
thfretreat.°f and Araxes ; even the pressing marches through Mesopotamia
were less than two miles per hour. We are told, that it even
became necessary to tie bags stuffed with hay to the horses’
feet to prevent their sinking.2
The Greeks On the second day after crossing the latter river, the Greeks
way6through discovered the inhabitants of the surrounding countries, namely
the Taochiansf ^ e Chalybeans, the Taochians, and the Phasians, assembled
to dispute their passage, and occupying strong ground probably
between the territories of the two last.
Here, as when difficulties of the same kind previously occurred,
the eminences were gained by an attack made in the
flank by volunteers; and the disheartened defenders having
fled with loss, the Greeks got possession of some well-stored
villages in advance.
Cattle, & C . During the succeeding five marches of thirty parasangs,
entrenchments made through the territory of the Taochians,3 provisions were
scarce, it being the custom of the country people to place their
1 Mr. Brant’s Journey, vol. X ., p. 424 to 430 of Eoyal Geographical
Journey.
a Anabasis, lib. IV ., cap. vi.
8 Presumed to be part o f the mountainous tract stretching northward of
the upper p art of the Araxes. Traces of the name are supposed to be found
in the Tâôk of the Turks, and Tuchi or Taoutchie of the Georgian districts.
Aperçu des Possessions Busses au-delà du Caucase, sous le Rapport
Statistique, Ethnographique, Topographique et Financier. St. Petersburg,
1836. 4 tomes en 8vo., avec une carte. M.S. traduit par M. le Capitaine
Stoltzman.
supplies in secret fastnesses, probably wattled enclosures such
as those still in use in the little Kabarda and district of
Tuchi.1 One of these entrenchments, containing a number of
oxen, asses, and sheep, was, however, taken after a prolonged
resistance; during which, the women chose to perish rather
than fall into the power of the Greeks.
The latter now proceeded a distance of fifty parasangs The Greefe
through the territory of the Chalybeans to the river Harpasus, the hostile
which they accomplished in seven marches ;2 notwithstanding y
the difficulties caused by the most warlike, and the most
troublesome people hitherto encountered. The system of
hostilities pursued, chiefly consisted in constantly harassing
the rear; but when pressed in turn, they retreated to fastnesses
in which their provisions were secured: so that the
Greeks would have been starved by their systematic and persevering
opposition, had it not been for the supply of cattle
taken from the Taochians.
The difficulties experienced by Rennell, Ainsworth, and
other commentators in following this part of the retreat of the
ten thousand, will be greatly lessened, if it be. borne in mind,
that the daily marches, through the deep snow in January,3
the army being also harassed by the Chalybeans, must have
been very short. From the supposed crossing-place on the Difflaiities of
Aras, keeping a little way northward of the direct line, it is through
about 110 miles to the Tchoruk-su (Jorak) or Acampsis, near A™enia-
Kara Aghatch, which would coincide with the fourteen marches
given by Xenophon,4 as does also the position of the river in
question, with the Harpasus; the last seven marches being, as
we are informed, through the country of the Chalybeans, the
Chaldeans of Strabo.5
This probably was the southern part of the district of
Tchildir; for the Chaldeans, as a separate people, occupied aTheteAs^
tract next to the Colchians, which was, however, afterwards marCh through
1 See above, vol. I ., pp. 154-159. 3 See Index Map.
3 The writer found it very deep in this part of Armenia, both in December,
1831, and in January, 1832.
4 Anabasis, lib. IV ., cap. vii.
l ib . X I I ., p. 549.