Ἀλεξάνδρου ἀνάβασις 5.11.1

5.11.1

ἄκρα ἦν ἀνέχουσα τῆς ὄχθης τοῦ Ὑδάσπου, ἵνα ἐπέκαμπτεν ὁ ποταμὸς λόγου ἀξίως, αὐτή τε δασεῖα ἴδῃ παντοίων δένδρων καὶ κατʼ αὐτὴν νῆσος ἐν τῷ ποταμῷ ὑλώδης τε καὶ ἀστιβὴς ὑπʼ ἐρημίας. ταύτην καταμαθὼν τὴν νῆσον καταντικρὺ τῆς ἄκρας, ἀμφότερα ὑλώδη τὰ χωρία καὶ οἷα κρύψαι τῆς διαβάσεως τὴν ἐπιχείρησιν, ταύτῃ ἔγνω διαβιβάζειν τὸν στρατόν.

There was a bluff ascending from the bank of the Hydaspes at a point where the river made a remarkable bend, and this was densely covered with all sorts of trees. Over against it lay an island in the river overspread with jungle, an untrodden and solitary place. Perceiving that this island directly faced the bluff, and that both places were wooded and adapted to screen his attempt to cross the river, he decided to take his army over this way. Now the bluff and the island were 150 stadia distant from the great camp. But along the whole of the bank he had posted running sentries at a proper distance for keeping each other in sight, and readily transmitting along the line any orders that might be received from any quarter. In every direction, moreover, shouts were raised by night, and fires were burnt for many nights together. But when he had made up his mind to attempt the passage, the preparations for crossing were made in the camp without any concealment. In the camp Krateros had been left with his own division of the cavalry, and the Arakhosian and Parapamisadan horsemen, together with the brigades of the Macedonian phalanx commanded by Alketas and Polysperchon and the contingent of 5000 men under the chiefs of the hither Indians. He had ordered Krateros not to attempt to cross the river before Poros moved off against them, or before learning that he was flying from the field, and that they were victorious. " If, however," said he, " Poros with one part of his army advances against me while he leaves the other part and his elephants in his camp, then please to remain where you are; but if Poros takes all his elephants with him, and a portion of the rest of his army is left behind in the camp, then do you cross the river with all possible speed; for," added he, "it is the elephants only which make it impossible for the horses to land on the other bank. The rest of the army can cross over without difficulty."