DEFEAT OF THE ASPASIANS.—THE ASSACENIANS AND GURAEANS ATTACKED.
When the enemy who were occupying the commanding heights perceived
the Macedonians approaching, they descended into the plain, being
emboldened by their superiority in number and despising the
Macedonians, because they were seen to be few. A sharp contest ensued;
but Alexander won the victory with ease. Ptolemy’s men did not range
themselves on the level ground, for the barbarians were occupying
a hill. Wherefore Ptolemy, forming his battalions into column, led
them to the point where the hill seemed most easily assailable, not
surrounding it entirely, but leaving room for the barbarians to flee
if they were inclined to do so. A sharp contest also ensued with these
men, both from the difficult nature of the ground, and because the
Indians are not like the other barbarians of this district, but are
far stronger than their neighbours. These men also were driven away
from the mountain by the Macedonians. In the same way did Leonnatus
with the third division of the army; for his men also defeated those
opposed to them. Ptolemy indeed says that all the men were captured, to
a number exceeding 40,000, and that 230,000 oxen were also taken, of
which Alexander picked out the finest, because they seemed to him to
excel both in beauty and size, wishing to send them into Macedonia to
till the soil. Thence he marched towards the land of the Assacenians;
for he received news that these people had made preparations to
fight him, having 20,000 cavalry, more than 30,000 infantry, and 30
elephants. When Craterus had thoroughly fortified the city, for the
founding of which he had been left behind, he brought the heavier armed
men of his army for Alexander as well as the military engines, in case
it might be necessary to lay siege to any place. Alexander then marched
against the Assacenians at the head of the Companion cavalry, the
horse-archers, the brigades of Coenus and Polysperchon, the Agrianians,
the light-armed troops,[604] and the archers. Passing through the land
of the Guraeans, he crossed the river Guraeus,[605] which gives its
name to the land, with difficulty, both on account of its depth, and
because its current is swift, and the stones in the river being round
caused those who stepped upon them to stumble.[606] When the barbarians
perceived Alexander approaching, they durst not take their stand for a
battle in close array, but dispersed one by one to their various cities
with the determination of preserving these by resolute fighting.