Chapter 5

There and then the barbarians turned and fled as best they might, and the Hellenes held the summit, while the troops with Tissaphernes and Ariaeus turned aside and disappeared by another road. The main body with Cheirisophus made its way down into the plain and encamped in a village filled with good things of divers sorts. Nor did this village stand alone; there were others not a few in this plain of the Tigris equally overflowing with plenty. It was now afternoon; and all of a sudden the enemy came in sight on the plain, and succeeded in cutting down some of the Hellenes belonging to parties who were scattered over the flat land in quest of spoil. Indeed, many herds of cattle had been caught whilst being conveyed across to the other side of the river. And now Tissaphernes and his troops made an attempt to burn the villages, and some of the Hellenes were disposed to take the matter deeply to heart, being apprehensive that they might not know where to get provisions if the enemy burnt the villages.

The barbarians turned and fled as best they could, and the Hellenes held the summit. The troops with Tissaphernes and Ariaeus turned aside and disappeared down another road. The main body with Cheirisophus went down into the plain and camped in a village full of all kinds of good things. It was not the only one. Many other villages in this plain of the Tigris were just as well supplied. It was now afternoon. Suddenly, the enemy appeared on the plain and killed some Hellenes who had scattered across the flat land looking for plunder. Many herds of cattle had been captured while they were being driven across the river. Tissaphernes and his troops now tried to burn the villages. Some Hellenes were deeply troubled. They feared they might not know where to find provisions if the enemy burned the villages.

Cheirisophus and his men were returning from their sally of defence when Xenophon and his party descended, and the latter rode along the ranks as the rescuing party came up, and greeted them thus: "Do you not see, men of Hellas, they admit that the country is now ours; what they stipulated against our doing when they made the treaty, viz. that we were not to fire the king's country, they are now themselves doing—setting fire to it as if it were not their own. But we will be even with them; if they leave provisions for themselves anywhere, there also shall they see us marching;" and, turning to Cheirisophus, he added: "But it strikes me, we should sally forth against these incendiaries and protect our country." Cheirisophus retorted: "That is not quite my view; I say, let us do a little burning ourselves, and they will cease all the quicker."

Cheirisophus and his men were returning from their defensive attack when Xenophon and his party came down. As the rescuers approached, Xenophon rode along the ranks and greeted them: "Men of Hellas, do you see? They admit that the country is now ours. When they made the treaty, they demanded that we not set fire to the king's country. Now they are setting fire to it themselves, as if it were not their own. But we will get even with them. If they leave provisions for themselves anywhere, they will see us marching there too." Turning to Cheirisophus, he added: "But I think we should go out against these fire setters and protect our country." Cheirisophus replied: "I do not quite agree. I say we should do a little burning ourselves, and they will stop all the sooner."

When they had got back to the villages, while the rest were busy about provisions, the generals and officers met: and here there was deep despondency. For on the one side were exceedingly high mountains; on the other a river of such depth that they failed to reach the bottom with their spears. In the midst of their perplexities, a Rhodian came up with a proposal, as follows: "I am ready, sirs to carry you across, four thousand heavy infantry at a time; if you will furnish me with what I need and give me a talent into the bargain for my pains." When asked, "What shall you need?" he replied: "Two thousand wine-skins. I see there are plenty of sheep and goats and asses. They have only to be flayed, and their skins inflated, and they will readily give us a passage. I shall want also the straps which you use for the baggage animals. With these I shall couple the skins to one another; then I shall moor each skin by attaching stones and letting them down like anchors into the water. Then I shall carry them across, and when I have fastened the links at both ends, I shall place layers of wood on them and a coating of earth on the top of that. You will see in a minute that there's no danger of your drowning, for every skin will be able to support a couple of men without sinking, and the wood and earth will prevent your slipping off."

When they returned to the villages, the others set about gathering provisions, while the generals and officers met. They were deeply discouraged. On one side were extremely high mountains. On the other was a river so deep that they could not reach the bottom with their spears. As they puzzled over what to do, a Rhodian came forward with a proposal: "Gentlemen, I am ready to carry you across, four thousand heavy infantry at a time. I can do it if you provide what I need and give me a talent for my trouble." When asked, "What will you need?" he replied: "Two thousand wine-skins. I see there are plenty of sheep, goats, and donkeys. We only need to skin them and inflate their skins. The skins will easily carry us across. I will also need the straps you use for the baggage animals. I will use them to tie the skins together. Then I will fasten stones to each skin and lower them into the water as anchors. Next, I will carry the linked skins across and fasten them at both ends. I will lay wood over them, with a layer of earth on top. You will soon see there is no danger of drowning. Each skin will support two men without sinking, and the wood and earth will keep you from slipping off."

The generals thought it a pretty invention enough, but its realisation impracticable, for on the other side were masses of cavalry posted and ready to bar the passage; who, to begin with, would not suffer the first detachment of crossers to carry out any item of the programme.

The generals thought the idea was clever enough, but impossible to carry out. Large numbers of cavalry were stationed on the other side, ready to block the crossing. To begin with, they would not allow the first group to cross to carry out any part of the plan.

Under these circumstances, the next day they turned right about face, and began retracing their steps in the direction of Babylon to the unburnt villages, having previously set fire to those they left, so that the enemy did not ride up to them, but stood and stared, all agape to see in what direction the Hellenes would betake themselves and what they were minded to do. Here, again, while the rest of the soldiers were busy about provisions, the generals and officers met in council, and after collecting the prisoners together, submitted them to a cross-examination touching the whole country round, the names, and so forth, of each district.

Under these circumstances, they turned around the next day and retraced their steps toward Babylon and the unburned villages. They had set fire to the villages they left behind. So the enemy did not ride up to them, but stood staring in amazement. They wanted to see where the Hellenes would go and what they intended to do. Once again, while the rest of the soldiers gathered provisions, the generals and officers met in council. They gathered the prisoners and questioned them closely about the surrounding country, including the names of each district.

The prisoners informed them that the regions south, through which they had come, belonged to the district towards Babylon and Media; the road east led to Susa and Ecbatana, where the king is said to spend summer and spring; crossing the river, the road west led to Lydia and Ionia; and the part through the mountains facing towards the Great Bear, led, they said, to the Carduchians¹. They were a people, so said the prisoners, dwelling up on the hills, addicted to war, and not subject to the king; so much so that once, when a royal army one hundred and twenty thousand strong had invaded them, not a man came back, owing to the intricacies of the country. Occasionally, however, they made truce or treaty with the satrap in the plain, and, for the nonce, there would be intercourse: "they will come in and out amongst us," "and we will go in and out amongst them," said the captives.

The prisoners said that the regions to the south, through which they had come, belonged to the district toward Babylon and Media. The road east led to Susa and Ecbatana, where the king is said to spend summer and spring. Across the river, the road west led to Lydia and Ionia. The prisoners said that the route through the mountains toward the Great Bear led to the Carduchians¹. The prisoners said the Carduchians lived in the hills, loved war, and were not subject to the king. Once a royal army of 120,000 invaded their land, but not one man returned. The difficult terrain had defeated them. At times, however, the Carduchians made a truce or treaty with the satrap in the plain. Then, for a time, the two peoples would have dealings with each other. “They will come and go among us,” the captives said, “and we will come and go among them.”

After hearing these statements, the generals seated apart those who claimed to have any special knowledge of the country in any direction; they put them to sit apart without making it clear which particular route they intended to take. Finally the resolution to which they came was that they must force a passage through the hills into the territory of the Kurds; since, according to what their informants told them, when they had once passed these, they would find themselves in Armenia—the rich and large territory governed by Orontas; and from Armenia, it would be easy to proceed in any direction whatever. Thereupon they offered sacrifice, so as to be ready to start on the march as soon as the right moment appeared to have arrived. Their chief fear was that the high pass over the mountains must be occupied in advance: and a general order was issued, that after supper every one should get his kit together for starting, and repose, in readiness to follow as soon as the word of command was given.

After hearing these statements, the generals set apart those who claimed special knowledge of the country in any direction. They did not reveal which route they intended to take. Finally, they decided to force a passage through the hills into the territory of the Kurds. Their informants had told them that beyond the hills lay Armenia, the large, rich territory governed by Orontas. From Armenia, they could easily travel in any direction. They then offered a sacrifice so they would be ready to march as soon as the right moment came. Their chief fear was that the high mountain pass might be occupied before they reached it. They ordered everyone to pack their gear after supper and rest, ready to follow as soon as the command was given.