After this they marched into the country of the Taochians five 1
stages--thirty parasangs--and provisions failed; for the Taochians
stores. Now when the army arrived before one of these strong places--a
men and women and numerous flocks and herds were
gathered--Cheirisophus attacked at once. When the first regiment fell
both light and heavy infantry, whereupon Cheirisophus halted him with
place, for the troops have no provisions, unless we take it."
Thereupon they consulted together, and to Xenophon's inquiry, "What it
was which hindered their simply walking in?" Cheirisophus replied,
"There is just this one narrow approach which you see, but when we
overhanging crag," pointing up, "and this is the state in which you
find yourself, if you chance to be caught;" and he pointed to some
poor fellows with their legs or ribs crushed to bits. "But when they
have expended their ammunition," said Xenophon, "there is nothing
handful of fellows, there is no one in front of us that we can see;
hundred is thickly covered with great pines at intervals; under cover
to approach the bush a galling fire of stones commences." "The very
thing we want," said the other, "for they will use up their ammunition
easier to get back, if we wish."

Thereupon Cheirisophus and Xenophon set out with Callimachus the
Parrhasian, the captain in command of the officers of the rearguard
precaution; and Agasis the Stymphalian, and Aristonymous the
single company to stand safely within the trees. Here Callimachus hit
upon a pretty contrivance--he ran forward from the tree under which he
run the gauntlet of the enemy's fire and get into the place. So,
hurled from overhead.

And here a terrible spectacle displayed itself: the women first cast
abundance and flocks of sheep.

fifty parasangs. These were the bravest men whom they encountered on
wore linen cuirasses reaching to the groin, and instead of the
ordinary "wings" or basques, a thickly-plaited fringe of cords. They
they drew within their enemy's field of view. They carried also a
regular townships, and whenever the Hellenes passed by they invariably
the Hellenes could get nothing from this district, but supported
After this the Hellenes reached the river Harpasus, which was four
hundred feet broad. Hence they marched through the Scythenians four
stages--twenty parasangs--through a long level country to more

contradistinction to another mountain tribe in Pontus so named,
who were famous for their forging, and from whom steel received
acquaintance later on.

a spike at the butt end also.

which they would see the sea, "and," he added, "if I fail of my word,
you are free to take my life." Accordingly he put himself at their

[3] Gymnias is supposed (by Grote, "Hist. of Greece," vol. ix. p. 161)
to be the same as that which is now called Gumisch-Kana--perhaps
"at no great distance from Baibut," Tozer, "Turkish Armenia," p.

rearguard had killed some and captured others alive by laying an
ambuscade; they had taken also about twenty wicker shields, covered
with the raw hides of shaggy oxen.

[4] Some MSS. give "the sacred mountain." The height in question has
been identified with "the ridge called Tekieh-Dagh to the east of
Gumisch-Kana, nearer to the sea than that place" (Grote, ib. p.
has not been identified as yet, and other mountain ranges have
been suggested.

shouters, and the shouting continually recommenced with yet greater
volume as the numbers increased, Xenophon settled in his mind that
something extraordinary must have happened, so he mounted his horse,
Presently they could hear the soldiers shouting and passing on the
joyful word, "The sea! the sea!"

summit, then indeed they fell to embracing one another--generals and
officers and all--and the tears trickled down their cheeks. And on a
soldiers began bringing stones and erecting a great cairn, whereon
Hellenes dismissed the guide with a present raised from the common
turned his back upon them in the night and was gone.