Age of the Nandas and Mauryas c9.s24.12

c9.s24.12

Hunting dogs of astonishing strength and courage were noticed by the companions of Alexander in the country of Sophytes, and Alexander received one hundred and fifty of them as a present from him. A curious incident in Sophytes' court is related at some length by almost all the writers and here is Strabo's version of it: 'To prove their mettle, two of these dogs were set on to attack a lion, and when these were overpowered, two others were set on. When the contest was about equal, Sophytes ordered a man to seize one of the dogs by the leg and to drag him way, or if he still held on, to cut off the limb. Alexander at first refused to let the dog be so mangled, as he wished to save its life, but when Sophytes said, "I will give you four instead of it", he consented, and saw the dog allow its leg to be cut off by slow incision rather than let go its hold³'. It was believed that tiger blood ran in the veins of these dogs!