Page:History of India Vol 2.djvu/106

76 authority over the King of Urasa (Hazara), who is called Arsakes by Arrian.

About the same time a welcome reinforcement of five thousand cavalry from Thrace, and seven thousand infantry, sent by the king's cousin, Harpalos, Satrap of Babylon, arrived, bringing no less than twenty-five thousand suits of armour inlaid with gold and silver. The new accoutrements were at once distributed to the ragged troops, and the old suits were burned.

Alexander then advanced to the Hydaspes (Jihlam), and encamped on the bank, probably on the site of the camp formerly occupied by Poros. Several weeks were now devoted to the final preparations for the voyage down the rivers. All available country boats plying on the river were impressed for the service, and deficiencies were supplied by the construction of new vessels, for which the forests at the base of the hills afforded ample facilities. Crews were provided from the contingents of seafaring nations, Phoenicians, Cyprians, Karians, and Egyptians, who accompanied the army, and by the end of October, 326, all was ready. The fleet, which included eighty galleys of thirty oars each, and a multitude of horse transports and small craft of all kinds, probably numbered nearly two thousand vessels.

Before the voyage began, Alexander convoked an assembly of his officers and the ambassadors of the Indian powers, and in their presence appointed Poros to be king of all the conquered territories lying between