Page 617 They that were sent with Nearchus, had endeavour'd to possess themselves of a few Watch Towers; but being hindred and prevented of many, and the most Necessary and Commodious Places, they lost many of their Soldiers, and being set upon on every side by the Barbarians, they had much ado to make their way through them. And as for those that follow'd Antigonus, (having enter'd the Streights) they fell into dangers that were inextricable: For the Natives being well acquainted with the Places, and having before possess'd themselves of the Steep and Craggy Rocks, cast down massy Stones upon the Soldiers Heads as they passed by; and besides making use of showers of Arrows, they so gall'd them, that they were neither able (through the inconveniency of the Place) to annoy their Enemies, nor avoid their shot: And in regard the Passage was very craggy and difficult, the Elephants, Horses, and heavy arm'd Men, were involv'd both in Toils and Hazards at one and the same time, and in no capacity to help themselves.
Antigonus being brought into these streights; now repented that he did not follow the Counsel of Pitho, who had advis'd him to have bought his Passage by Money. But after the loss of many of his Men, and the rest still in imminent hazard, after nine Days troublesome march, he came at length to the Inhabited Parts of Media.
One Mischief on the Neck of another thus falling upon the Army, the intolerable Distresses they were brought unto, stirr'd up the Soldiers to cry out against Antigonus, insomuch as they gave him very harsh and bitter Words.
For in Forty Days time, they had three several times been miserably slaughter'd; but by fair Words, and plentiful Provision of all things necessary, he at length quieted them. Then he commanded Pitho to go over all Media, to get together Horsemen and Horses and Carriages, which he easily perform'd, the Country abounding with Horses and Cattle. For Pitho return'd, bringing along with him Two thousand Horsemen and a Thousand Horses, ready furnish'd, and so many loads of Munition as that the whole Army might be compleatly arm'd, together with Five hundred Talents out of the King's Treasury.
Antigonus form'd the Horse into Regiments, and distributed the Horses among those that had lost their own, and gave the Draught-Beasts freely among those that wanted them, whereby he regain'd the former Love of the Soldiers.
In the mean time, the Governors of the Provinces, and Captains of the Forces with Eumenes, when they heard that the Enemy was in Media, were in various Opinions what to resolve upon: For Eumenes, Antigenes, and the rest who came up from the Sea-Coasts, were for returning thither again. But those who came from the higher Provinces (upon the account of their Friends and Relations that were left at home) were for defending those Parts. The Contest waxing hot, Eumenes considering that one part of the Army (which was now divided into two) was not strong enough to cope with the Enemy, comply'd with the Governors of the Upper Provinces. Decamping therefore from Pasitigris, he mov'd towards Persia, and came to the Regal Seat of the Kingdom, Persepolis, at the end of Four and twenty days march.
The Country in the first Entrance into it, and as far as the Ladders (as they are call'd) is Flat and Low, exceeding Hot, and barren of Provision; but the rest is higher, of a wholesome Air, and very Fruitful: Wherein are many shady Valleys, variety of Pleasant Gardens, natural Walks bounded on either side with all sorts of Trees, and water'd with refreshing Springs. So that those that pass this Way, many times stop here and solace themselves in these pleasant Places with great delight.
Here the Inhabitants brought in to Peucestes abundance of all kinds of Prey and Booty, which he largely distributed among the Soldiers, to gain their Favour and Good will. In this Tract inhabit the most Warlike of the Persians, being all Archers and Slingers, and is far more populous than any of the other Provinces.
When they came to Persepolis, the King's Palace, Peucestes the Governor, and General of the Province, order'd a magnificent Sacrifice to the Gods, and to Alexander and Philip, and to that end sending almost over all Persia for Beasts to be sacrific'd, and abundance of all other Provisions, necessary for a Festival and publick Solemnity, he Feasted the whole Army.
In this Festival the Guests were placed in four Rounds, including one within another, the greatest surrounding all the rest, which was ten furlongs in Compass, and was fill'd with Mercenaries and Confederates.
The second Round was eight Furlongs, in which were plac'd the Macedonian Silver Targateers, and the rest of Alexander's Fellow-Soldiers. The other Circle was of four Furlongs, and fill'd with inferior Officers, special Friends, Commanders, and Horse-men.