Αλεξανδρου αναβασις 5.20.10

5.20.10

εἴη ἂν οὖν ἐκ τοῦδε τοῦ λόγου ξυντιθέντι τεκμηριοῦσθαι, ὅτι οὐ πόρρω τοῦ ἀληθοῦς ἀναγέγραπται τοῦ Ἰνδοῦ ποταμοῦ τὸ μέγεθος, ὅσοις ἐς τεσσαράκοντα σταδίους δοκεῖ τοῦ Ἰνδοῦ εἶναι τὸ εὖρος, ἵνα μέσως ἔχει αὐτὸς αὑτοῦ ὁ Ἰνδός· ἵνα δὲ στενότατός τε καὶ διὰ στενότητα βαθύτατος ἐς τοὺς πεντεκαίδεκα ξυνάγεσθαι· καὶ ταῦτα πολλαχῇ εἶναι τοῦ Ἰνδοῦ. καὶ γὰρ καὶ τοῦ Ἀκεσίνου τεκμαίρομαι ἐπιλέξασθαι Ἀλέξανδρον, ἵναπερ τὸ πλατύτατον ἦν τοῦ πόρου, ὡς σχολαιτέρῳ χρήσασθαι τῷ ῥεύματι.

When Alexander had duly honoured with splendid obsequies those who had been slain in the battle, he offered to the gods in acknowledgment of his victory the customary sacrifices, and celebrated athletic and equestrian contests on the bank of the river Hydaspes, at the place where he first crossed with his army. He then left Krateros behind with a part of the army to build and fortify the cities which he was founding there, while he advanced himself against the Indians whose country lay next to the dominions of Poros. Aristoboulos says that the name of the nation was the Glaukanikoi, but Ptolemy calls them the Glausai. By which of the names it was called I take to be a matter of no consequence. Alexander invaded their country with the half of the companion cavalry, picked men from each phalanx of the infantry, all the horse-archers, the Agrianians, and the other archers. The people everywhere surrendered on terms of capitulation. In this manner he took seven-and-thirty cities, the smallest of which contained not fewer than 5000 inhabitants, while many contained upwards of 10,000. He took also a great many villages which were not less populous than the towns; and this country he gave to Poros to rule, and between him and Taxiles he effected a reconciliation. He then sent Taxiles home to his capital.
At this time envoys came from Abisares to say that their king surrendered himself and his whole realm to Alexander. Yet before the battle in which Alexander had defeated Poros, Abisares was ready with his army to fight on the side of Poros. But he now sent his brother along with the other envoys to Alexander, taking with them money and forty elephants as a present. Envoys also arrived from the independent Indians, and from another Indian ruler called Poros. Alexander ordered Abisares to come to him as quickly as possible, threatening that if he did not come he would see him and his army arriving where he would not rejoice to see them.
At this time Phrataphernes, the satrap of Parthia and Hyrkania, at the head of the Thracians who had been left with him came to Alexander. There came also envoys from Sisikottos, the satrap of the Assakenians, reporting that these people had slain their governor and revolted from Alexander. Against these he sent Philippos and Tyriaspes to quell the insurrection and restore tranquillity and order to the province.
Alexander himself advanced towards the river Akesines. This is the only Indian river of which Ptolemy, the son of Lagos, has mentioned the size. He states that where Alexander crossed it with his army in boats and on inflated hides the current was so rapid that the waters dashed with foam and fury against the large and jagged rocks with which the channel was bestrewn. He informs us also that it was 15 stadia in breadth; and while the passage was easy for those who crossed upon inflated hides, not a few of those who were carried in boats perished in the waters, as many of the boats were dashed to pieces by striking against the rocks. From this description we may fairly conclude, if we institute a comparison, that the size of the river Indus has been pretty correctly stated by those who take it to have an average breadth of 40 stadia, while, where narrowest and of course deepest, it contracts to a breadth of 15 stadia, which I take to be its actual breadth in many parts of its course, for I conclude that Alexander selected a part of the Akesines where the passage was widest, and where the current would consequently be slower than elsewhere.