were surprised to find Alexander dressed in his armour, covered with dust and blood.  A cushion was now brought to him, and he bade the eldest of the ambassadors seat himself upon it.  This man was named Akouphis:  and he was so much struck with the splendid courtesy of Alexander, that he asked him what his countrymen must do, in order to make him their friend.  Alexander replied that they must make Akouphis their chief, and send a hundred of their best men to him.  Upon this Akouphis laughed, and answered:  “I shall rule them better, O King, if I send the worst men to you and not the best.”

LIX.  There was one Taxiles,[420] who was said to be king of a part of India as large as Egypt, with a rich and fertile soil.  He was also a shrewd man, and came and embraced Alexander, saying, “Why should we two fight one another, Alexander, since you have not come to take away from us the water which we drink nor the food which we eat; and these are the only things about which it is worth while for sensible men to fight?  As for all other kinds of property, if I have more than you, I am willing to bestow it upon you, or, if you are the richer, I would willingly be placed in your debt by receiving some from you.”  Alexander was delighted with these words, and giving him his right hand as a pledge of his friendship exclaimed, “Perhaps you suppose that by this arrangement we shall become friends without a contest; but you are mistaken, for I will contend with you in good offices, and will take care that you do not overcome me.”  Saying thus, they exchanged presents, amongst which Alexander gave Taxiles a thousand talents of coined money.  This conduct of his greatly vexed his friends; but caused him to be much more favourably regarded by many of the natives.

After this, Alexander, who had suffered great losses from the Indian mercenary troops who flocked to defend the cities which he attacked, made a treaty of alliance with them in a certain town, and afterwards, as they were going away set upon them while they were on the road and killed them all.  This is the greatest blot upon his fame; for in all the rest of his wars, he always acted with good faith as became a king.  He was also much troubled by the philosophers who attended him, because they reproached those native princes who joined him, and encouraged the free states to revolt and regain their independence.  For this reason, he caused not a few of them to be hanged.

LX.  His campaign against king Porus is described at length in his own letters.  He tells us that the river Hydaspes[421] ran between the two camps, and that Porus with his elephants watched the further bank, and prevented his crossing.  Alexander himself every day caused a great noise and disturbance to be made in his camp, in order that the enemy might be led to disregard his movements:  and at last upon a dark and stormy night he took a division of infantry and the best of the cavalry, marched to a considerable distance from the enemy, and crossed