'Some years travels into divers parts of Africa, and Asia the great. Describing more particularly the empires of Persia and Industan: interwoven with such remarkable occurrences as hapned in those parts during these later times. As also, many other rich and famous kingdoms in the oriental India, with the isles adjacent. Severally relating their religion, language, customs and habit: as also proper observations concerning them.' [‎251] (274/448)

Alexander ovecomes Poms, &c.
251
Form a valiant and powerful Indian Prince having notice that Alexander advanced
towards hisCountrey (which comprehended a great part of what the Mogul now holds
' in Jndnftan?) waited for him on the banks of Hydaffes with a great body of Horfe and
Foot and many Elephants of War where they fought, and gave the Greeks fuch tefti-
mony of their valour that albeit Alexander got the better of the day it gave the Greeks ne-
verthelefs frefh caufe to reft fatisfied with fuch Vidories as they had got, without fur
ther hazard into the Orient. To put which out of thought and for their refrelhment
after fo hard labour, Alexander let loofe the reins to all manner of debauchery •, for
at the Mountain Maros he celebrated the Bacchanalia, and for fifteen dayes glutted the
Army with thofe myftic fopperies. After which he forced his way through Deddala
and Acadera, took by alfauit a Fort fcituate upon an inacceffible hill which could not
be fubjeded by Hercules. After that Malaga and Nora-, principal places of ftrength in
thofe parts ^ and with fome difficulty palfed his Army over Acefmes another branch of
Indus, and then fet Foot in India 7 for faith the Hiitorian, Ad amnem Acefinem per^ensper
hmc in Oceamm devehitur : which,I note onely tofliew that Indus and this River are"one in
that ftory^ albeit indeed but a branch of; all which he apprehended his own by that
little poifeffion.
The confideration whereof made him acquaint his great Officers with his delign to
penetrate as far as Ganges, which they feemed to approve of *, but being known unto the
Army, the length of the way, theincreafe of heat, waited quarters, infinite numbers
of Indians affembled ill their own defence, the difficulty of palling over Ganges (which
was reported to be thirty furlongs broad and an hundred fathoms deep,) thefe and the
like had fo vive an impreffion in their fancies, that as one and all by a general murmur
they expreffed their difcontent: fo as finding that neither by threats nor promifes he
could allay the mutinous humour of the Camp, at prefenthediflembled his thoughts and
feemed to reft fatisfied, albeit foon after he made feveral Of them feel the weight of his
difpleafure. The Horfe he marched through Patalena upon the Eaftern banks of the River
Indus, the Foot in boats paft merrily down theftream until they came to that we now call
Diu formerly Patala near the Tropic and in view of the Ocean: where drawing his Horle
"and Foot into a body heftraightway invaded the Countrey of the Oxidracans, ftormed
the principal place of defence the Mallians had, and temerarioufly mounting the parapet
and violently leaping into the Town to the amazement of the Barbarians, followed
but by two officers, for a while fuftained the Darts and other Weapons the Enemy lent j
and by that inconfiderate ad (if the Hiftorian fay true) had periihed, had not the Army as
men defperate in his refcue enforced their fpeedy entrance.
After which he fubjeded the Brachmans Countrey: and preparing for his march
againft the more remote Indians affembled near the banks of Ganges the Camp broke out
into a frefh murmur fo that albeit he ufed all^poffibie means to perfwade their further
march, vehemently declaring, That unlefs they oppofed their fortune againft the nu
merous but naked preparations about Ganges which gave them a bold defiance, they
would retreat with fhame and (faith Vlut. vita Alexa?id.) all they had thitherto done was
neither memorable nor thanks-worthy. Kotwithftanding which, the Army having the
old Idea before their imagination, glutted with vidory, overcharged with rich fpoils;
and tired with travel, and unable to endure the eixtream heat of thofe parts, firft they
Ihewed him their white hairs and the many maims received in battels, and then with
tears befought him to put a period to his conquefts and ambition: By which, they gave
him caufe fufficient to underftand their unwillingnefs to fcorch their bodies which
already looked like Mummy, any longer in thofe fiery Regions; fo that in fine, forced he
was tocondefcend.
Nor was it ill refolved , duly confideilig the great way they ffiould have marched ere
they had arrived at Ganges, the intolerable heat they muft endure, the uncertainty of
provifions, and lofs probably they might have undergone in an Enemies Countrey, who
having no dependance upon the Terfian were not at ail ffiook by the fall of that Empire but
rather as one man embodied upon the banks of Ganges ^ part of which , namely the
Gangarida and the Prafians were reputed two hundred thoufand Foot and fourfcore thou-
fand Horfe, befides eight thoufand warlike Elephants, all bent in his oppofal; withal,
finding upon a mufter, that albeit in the fight againft Form and the Mallians his Army con-
fifted of an hundred and twenty thoufand Foot and fifteen thoufand Horfe ? full three
parts of that number were fince dead, part being flain in fight, but moft dying of flux
and fevers occafioned through excefs of grapes at Nyfa and their other intemperance at
the celebration of thefrantique Orgyes. Alexander therefore feemingly fubmitted to a
return into a more moderate clime y and the rather, that he might be recruited with
Kk 2 thofe
t'jjl 11 Hi