at the distance of about one hundred and twenty miles:  at this place Nearchus joined him.  Alexander embraced Nearchus with the warmth of a friend; and his reception from all ranks was equally gratifying and honourable.  Whenever he appeared in the camp, he was saluted with acclamations:  sacrifices, games, and every other kind of festivity celebrated the success of his enterprize.  Nearly five months had been occupied in performing the voyage from the mouth of the Indus—­a voyage which a modern vessel could perform in the course of three weeks.

Immediately after the junction of the fleet and army, Alexander crossed the Pasi-Tigris, and proceeded to Susa:  here he distributed rewards and honours among his followers for their long, arduous, faithful, and triumphant services.  Those officers who had served as guards of Alexander’s person received crowns of gold; and the same present was made to Nearchus as admiral, and to Onesicritus as navigator of the fleet.

We have already mentioned that Alexander projected the circumnavigation of Arabia to the Red Sea, in order to complete the communication between India and Egypt, and through Egypt with Europe.  Nearchus was selected for this enterprize; its execution, however, was prevented by the death of Alexander.  That he was extremely anxious for its completion, is evident from the personal trouble he took in the preparations for it, and in the necessary preliminary measures.  In order that he might himself take a view of the Gulf of Persia, he embarked on board a division of his fleet, and sailed down the same stream which Nearchus had sailed up.  At the head of the Delta, the vessels which had suffered most in Nearchus’ voyages were directed to proceed with the troops they had on board, through a canal which runs into the Tigris, Alexander himself proceeding with the lightest and best sailing vessels through the Delta to the sea.

Soon after his return to Opis, where the mutiny of his troops took place, Alexander gave another proof of his attention to maritime affairs; for he despatched Heraclides into Hyrcania, with orders to cut timber and prepare a fleet for the purpose of exploring the Caspian Sea—­an attempt which, like that of the projected voyage of Nearchus up the Arabian Gulf, was prevented by Alexander’s death.  In the mean time Nearchus had been collecting the vessels that were destined for his expedition; they were assembled at Babylon:  to this city also were brought from Phoenicia forty-seven vessels which had been taken to pieces, and so conveyed over land to Thapsacus.  Two of these were of five banks, three of four, twelve of three, and thirty rowed with fifteen oars on a side.  Others likewise were ordered to be built on the spot of cypress, the only wood which Babyloni afforded; while mariners were collected from Phoenicia, and a dock was directed to be cut capable of containing one thousand vessels, with buildings and arsenals in proportion to the establishment.