of Babylon was continued to Mazseus:1 Apollodorus raised
numerous recruits in Asia; and others having arrived from
Macedonia,2' Alexander, after halting thirty-four days and
He marches distributing ample rewards, proceeded towards Susa, the more
towards Susa. cenf.rai capita]j an(j ^he . residence of the Court.8
As Alexander approached, the son of Abulites came to
offer to surrender the city, and on reaching the Choaspes,
now the Kerah or Kerkhah, the offer was repeated by the
satrap in person; whose respect was further manifested by
He is received having a procession of elephants and swift dromedaries,
honours. bearing presents of regal magnificence.4 Besides which the
conqueror found in the royal treasury of Susa 50,0005 unwrought
ingots, or about 9,365,000/., which had been collected
by different sovereigns for their children and descendants; but
had now passed to a stranger as the result of a single battle.
Preparations Whilst in this city, reinforcements joined from the Asian Greek
campaign?r cities,6 which enabled Alexander to complete his preparations for
another campaign. Having restored the satrapy of Susiana to
Abulites, and entrusted the government of Susa itself; with the
care of the royal captives, to Archelaus, he resumed his march
towards Persis. Making, as has'been presumed, a detour7 to
avoid the river Coprates, or river of Dizful, on the fourth day
the army crossed the Pasitigris, probably above Ahwaz,8 and
invaded the territory of the Uxii. The people of the plains
1 Arrian, lib. I I I ., cap. xvi.
a Diod. Sic., lib. X V I I ., cap. x ii.; Quint. Curt., lib. V., cap. ii,
3 A direct line in an E S.E. direction, through Lower Mesopotamia,
would touch the river Tigris about the commencement of the Shatt-el-Hai
a t Kut-el-’Amarah, which is 70 miles from Babylon ; and 55 miles farther
is the ancient crossing place of that river, called E l Kantarah, which is a
little below Imam Gharbi. The remaining distance to Siis is about 100
miles, or nearly 230 miles in all, over a level country; and the march occupied
20 days, according to Arrian (lib. I I I ., cap. xvi.), including the passage
of the Hai Canal and the rivers Tigris and Choaspes.
4 Quint. Curt., lib. V., cap. ii.
5 Forty thousand only, according to Diod. Sic., lib. X V II., cap. xiv.
6 Arrian, lib. I I I . , cap. xvi.
7 See above, vol. I., p. 205.
8 Following a part of the river Shapiir, the distance would be from 42
to 45 miles.
submitted, but a considerable body of mountaineers underpin of
Madates opposed him, and the pass which they occupied was *
too strong to be carried by a direct attack.1 Alexander having,
however, ascertained that the fortress might be taken in reverse,
detached 1,500 light troops and 1,000 Agrians under Tauron2
at sunset; and moving himself north-eastward at the third
watch to give time, he passed the straits by daybreak,8 being
provided with materials to make screens to protect his men
during the delicate operation of placing the towers against the
walls.
The flinty and precipitous nature of the ground, however, Pock fortress
caused a serious loss notwithstanding; and perceiving some
hesitation among his men, Alexander asked the soldiers if they
were not ashamed to make difficulties before such a paltry
place, after having taken so many splendid cities. A tortoise
was now formed with their bucklers as a protection, just as the
corps under Tauron appeared above the citadel, and the enemy
being thus closely pressed on both sides, the town presently
surrendered. Some of the inhabitants fled, and others retired
into the citadel, which afterwards surrendered, under favourable
terms, obtained at the earnest intercession of Sisygambis.
Some ruins near the caves of Shikoftehf-Sule'iman, on the
plain of Mai-Amir, appear to be those of the Uxian city ; and
the narrow pass, connecting the plains of Halegun and Mal-
Amir, answers to the straits passed by Alexander before daylight.
4
th e rest of the Uxian territory being added to the satrapy Alexander
of Susiana, Alexander despatched the main body under Par- Advance?810
menio along the plain, and leading the light troops by the
mountain road on the left flank, he joined them, on the fifth
day, near the Susiad rocks5 which separate Susiana from Persis
or Fars. The difficult defile at the foot of Kal’eh Sefid, about
1 Diod. Sic., lib. X V I I ., cap. xv.
s Quint. Curt., lib. V., cap. iii; but Arrian, lib. I I I ., cap. xvii., calls
the commander Craterus. ;
3 Quint. Curt., lib. V., cap, iii.
4 Baron de Bode’s Notice in Eoyal Geographical Journal, vol. X I I I .,
p p . 108-112.
5 Diod. Sic., lib. X V II., cap. xv., p. 541; Quint. Curt., lib. V., cap. iv.