Page:History of India Vol 9.djvu/44

 20 ACCOUNT OF INDIA BY STEABO believe their correctness. Other writers also mention the hunting of serpents in the Emoda Mountains, and the keeping and feeding of them in caves. Between the Hydaspes (Jihlam) and Akesines (Chinab) is the country of Poros, an extensive and fertile district, contain ing nearly three hundred cities. Here also is the forest in the neighbourhood of the Emoda Mountains in which Alexander cut down a large quantity of fir, pine, cedar, and a variety of other trees fit for ship-building, and brought the timber down the Hydaspes. With this he constructed a fleet on the Hydaspes, near the cities which he built on each side of the river where he had crossed it and conquered Poros. One of these cities he called Boukephalia, from the horse Boukephalos, which was killed in the battle with Poros. The name Boukephalos (ox-headed) was given to it from the breadth of its forehead. It was an excellent war-horse, and Alexander constantly rode it in battle. 1 The other city he called Nikaia from the victory (nike) which he had obtained. In the forest before mentioned it is said there is a vast number of monkeys, and they are as large as they are numerous. On one occasion the Macedonians, see- ing a body of them standing in array opposite to them on some bare eminences (for this animal is not less in- telligent than the elephant) and presenting the appear- ance of an army, prepared to attack them as real ene- mies, but being informed of the facts of the case by Taxiles, who was then with the king, they desisted. 1 See vol. ii, p. 67.