Page:A Comprehensive History of India Vol 1.djvu/60

 -<> JIISTOJtY OF INDIA, [liwK I.

B.C. s.'ii became the central emporium of tlie Eixnt and tlie West. The tra/le of the world was thus diverted into a new channel, and Plujenician i^rosjierity, once fallen, amid not be revived. The downfall of Tyre has been dwelt upon here, both because it was indirectly the means of greatly extending the intercourse with India, and because to it proljaldy is to be ascribed the determination which Alexander now expressed to persevere in his Enfined within the limits of Persia, is foreign to our subject, but the course which it subsequently took brings us at once to the most interesting period in tlie history of ancient India. Flight of After the battle of Arbela, which was fought B.C. 331, and decided the fate

Darius. . . . . . ..

of the Persian empire, Darias continued his flight eastwards into Bactria, through a pass in the Elbm-z Mountains, kno^vn to the Greeks by the name of the Cas- pian Gates. Alexander, following in pursuit, was informed that Bessas, the satrap of Bactria, had not only throvn off all allegiance to the Persian monarch, but had made him his prisoner. With mingled feelings of compassion for the fallen monarch, and indignation at the conduct of the satrap, he quickened hLs pace, and was flattering himself with the hope of a speedy capture, when he learned that Bessus, to increase his speed, and, at the same time, remove a great obstacle to his ambition, had disencumbered himself of his royal ma.ster, and left him on the road, dying of woimds which he had treacherously inflicted. AMien Alexander reached the spot, Darius was breathing his last. A]exander's Determined to punish the atrocity, Alexander lost no time in continuing the L^m ° pm-sviit of the perpetrator. A thorough knowledge of the coimtry gave Be-ssus great advantages, and these he improved to the utmost, by burning and devastating, so as to interpose a desert between him and his piu^uer. Fortime seemed to favour his escape, when Alexander was obliged, by a revolt, to retrace his steps. Dm-ing the winter of B.C. 330, Bessus was, in consequence, left in imdistiirbed possession of the usurped title of King of Persia. In the folloAdng spring, however, the pvirsuit was resumed, and the criminal having been delivered up by his own associates, paid the forfeit of his crimes by a barbarous mutilation and an excruciating death.

In aveno-ino- the death of Darius, Alexander had advanced far to the east, and seen a new world open before him. For a time, however, sensuality seemed to have gained the mastery over him, and many months were wasted in Bactria in ch-unken and licentious reveUings. Ambition did not re-assume its ascendency till B.C. 327, when he reached the banks of the Indus, and prepared to cross it with an army consistmg of 1 20,000 foot and 15,000 horse. About 70,000 of these were Asiatics. The point at which he first reached the Indus has been made a