The Early History of India, from 600 B.C. to the Muhammadan Conquest, including the Invasion of Alexander the Great c16.27

c16.27

the fertile valley of the Hydraōtes, on both banks of the river. Their neighbours, the Oxydrakai (Sanskrit, Kshudrakā), who dwelt on the banks of the upper course of the Hyphasis, although ordinarily at war with the Malloi, had resolved to forget old enmities and to make common cause against the invader. The rival nations cemented the alliance by wholesale intermarriage, each giving and taking ten thousand young women for wives.¹ But personal jealousies, such as in all ages have reduced to futility political combinations in India, prevented the alliance from taking effect. While the allies were discussing the claims of rival generals to command, Alexander acted, and, with masterly strategy, sweeping down upon the Malloi, extinguished their military power before the Oxydrakai could come to their aid. The forces at the command of the confederacy should have sufficed, if properly handled, to annihilate the small flying column at Alexander’s disposal; for they are said to have comprised 80,000 or 90,000 fully equipped infantry, 10,000 cavalry, and from 700 to 900 chariots.