[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [General history and culture](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general) › [The Early History of India, from 600 B.C. to the Muhammadan Conquest, including the Invasion of Alexander the Great](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general.smith-1924) › c12.67 # The Early History of India, from 600 B.C. to the Muhammadan Conquest, including the Invasion of Alexander the Great c12.67 The Early History of India, from 600 B.C. to the Muhammadan Conquest, including the Invasion of Alexander the Great c12.67 - **Language:** English ### [c12.67](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general.smith-1924.c12.67) Alexander, therefore, resolved, in the words of Arrian, to 'steal a passage'. The easiest plan would have been for the invader to wait patiently in his lines until October or November, when the waters would subside and the river might become fordable. Although such dilatory tactics did not commend themselves to the impetuous spirit of Alexander, he endeavoured to lull the vigilance of the enemy by the public announcement that he intended to await the change of season, and gave a colour of truth to the declaration by employing his troops in foraging expeditions and the collection of a great store of provisions. At the same time his flotilla of boats continually moved up and down the river, and frequent reconnaissances were made in search of a ford. ‘All this,’ as Arrian observes, ‘prevented Pōros from resting and concentrating his preparations at any one point selected in preference to any other as the best for defending the passage’ (v, 9). Rafts, galleys, and smaller boats were secretly prepared and hidden away among the woods and islands in the upper reaches of the river. These preliminaries occupied six or seven weeks, during which time the rains had broken, and the violence of the flood had increased. Careful study of the ground had convinced Alexander that the best chance of crossing in safety was to be found near a sharp bend in the river about 16 miles marching distance above his camp, at a point where his embarkation would be concealed by a bluff and an island covered with forest. Having arrived at this decision, Alexander acted upon it, not only, as Arrian justly remarks, with ‘marvellous audacity’, but with consummate prudence and precaution. - [Previous: c12.66](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general.smith-1924.c12.66) - [Next: c12.68](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general.smith-1924.c12.68) - [Up: c12](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general.smith-1924.c12) ## Linked texts (1) - [Ἀλεξάνδρου ἀνάβασις](https://indike.org/pramana/inf.gr.roman.arrian.anabasis) — Λούκιος Φλάουιος Ἀρριανός, Ancient Greek --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general.smith-1924.c12.67](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general.smith-1924.c12.67) · Pramāṇa