Chapter 28 Volume IV

Having completed the crossing, they marched in formation at noon through Armenia. The land he passed was no less than five parasangs, all plains, wilderness and hilly areas.There are no villages near the river here due to the war between the Bimenians and the Kadukyas.At last they came to a very large village, and a palace of the governor, most of which were towered and well-provided.From this they proceeded two stations, ten parasangs, until they crossed the source tributary of the Tigris.From here they advance three stops, Fifteen Parasang, to the Tigris River.Although the river is not big, it is indeed a beautiful river.There are many villages nearby.This area was called Western Armenia.Its vice-governor, named Tiribazus, is a friend of the Persian king, and as long as he is around, he is the only noble who can help the king mount his horse.He led a troop of cavalry to the Greeks, and sent an interpreter forward, saying that he wanted to speak with the commander of the Greeks.

The generals decided to listen to what he had to say, and went to a place where they could hear clearly, and asked him what he wanted. He replied that he wanted to make a treaty, on condition that the Greeks would do no harm on their part, and that the Greeks would not burn the houses, but would take all the supplies they needed.The generals accepted the offer, and they signed a treaty accordingly. From here they marched three stops, fifteen parasangs, across flat fields.Tiribazus and his troops followed at a distance of about ten stadia.They came to a palace, surrounded by many villages, which contained a great deal of provisions.Here they camped.It snowed heavily at night.In the morning they decided to move the army units and commanders into the villages, since there were no enemies in sight.This plan seemed safe because the snow was falling heavily.Here they can get all the good things they can have--sacrificial animals, grain, good old wine, raisins and beans of all kinds.But some who have been scattered from village to village report that they have seen many lights flashing at night.The generals therefore decided that it was not safe to house the various parts of the army separately, and that all the corps must be brought together.So they gathered together, especially since the wind and snow seemed to be stopping.But while they were camping out, a heavy snow fell, which, besides hindering the movement of the pack animals, covered both the weapons and the sleeping people.Everyone is reluctant to get up because, lying there, the snow on your body-if it doesn't slide off-makes you feel warm.But Xenophon cheered up all at once, and without his cloak, he went to chop wood.The other person also got up quickly, took his ax away, and continued to chop.Others arose at this time, and set to work to light fires and anoint them, for there they found ointments made of lard, sesame seeds, bitter almonds, or turpentine in abundance to replace olive oil.

They also found aromatic oils made from the same ingredients. Afterwards, they thought it necessary to separate the teams into houses in each village.When the people returned to the houses and were provided again, they cried out for joy, and those who had previously absurdly burned the houses they had left were punished to live in bad houses.Thereafter they sent a detachment led by Democrates the Tenus to the mountain where the diaspora said they had seen fire, for this Democrates had been known to be accurate and matter-of-fact on many occasions in the past. say.When he came back he said he saw no fire, but he brought back a man with a Persian bow and quiver, and a battle-axe like the one used by the Amazons.When he was asked where he came from, he said he was a Persian who had gone out to the camp of Tiribazus to get supplies.Asked how many people there were in Tiribazus's team and why he had recruited this army, he replied that it was Tiribazus' own troops and some Kalubia and Taukia mercenaries, who were going to occupy the only channel in the mountain. A vital position to attack the Greek army.

After hearing these words, the generals decided to gather the troops into one camp.Leaving a garrison behind, under the command of General Sophinetus the Stenphalian, they set off at once, with the captive as their guide.As soon as they started to cross the mountain, the light soldiers charged forward and saw the enemy camp in the distance. Before the heavy armor could catch up, they shouted and charged towards the enemy camp.The strangers, hearing the roar, fled without answering the battle, but some were killed, and about twenty horses were taken away, and the tent of Tiribazus, with its fine silver-footed couches, and its wine-cups, and It is said to be his chef, sommelier and others.As soon as the generals of the hoplites heard of these successes, they thought it best to return to their camps as soon as possible, lest those left behind would be attacked.So they immediately blew the call to retreat and hurried back, arriving at the camp on the same day.