Page:Xenophon by Alexander Grant.djvu/63

Rh at Trapezus (now Trebizond), a large Greek city on the coast of the Colchian territory. Here they remained for a month, being hospitably entertained, resting from their toils, and from time to time plundering the native villages on the neighbouring hills. Here they sacrificed to Jupiter the Preserver, Hercules the Conductor, and other gods, in fulfilment of vows which they had made in different crises of their march. After the sacrifices they celebrated games, of which Xenophon gives a comical account. A steep hill-side was chosen for the race-course, down which horses had to gallop, and, turning round in the sea, to come up again to the altar on the top. "In the descent many rolled over; but in coming back against the stiff ascent, the horses could hardly get along at a walk. There was consequently great shouting and laughter and cheering from the people."

With these words of light-hearted good-humour, Xenophon concludes his account of the retreat of the ten thousand Greeks from Babylonia to Trebizond, on the Euxine. The retreat itself had occupied five months, and it was now the month of February, in the year 400 Additional difficulties and troubles awaited them in their return through the outlying Greek colonies; these were partly of their own creation, and partly owing to the selfishness of their countrymen. A whole year elapsed before the remnant of the Cyreian force was incorporated with the Lacedæmonian army in Asia Minor, and before Xenophon left them. These subsequent events, and with them the later personal career of Xenophon, the chief leader