re western part of the region is supplied by means of
_kanats_ or underground conduits, which are sometimes carried many miles
from the foot of the mountains. The position of the wells, which were
few in number, was known only to the natives; and Artabanus hoped that
the Syrian monarch would be afraid to place the lives of his soldiers in
such doubtful keeping. When, however, he found that Antiochus was not
to be deterred by any fears of this kind, but was bent on crossing the
desert, he had recourse to the barbaric expedients of filling in, or
poisoning, the wells along the line of route-which the Syrian prince
was likely to follow. But these steps seem to have been taken too late.
Antiochus, advancing suddenly, caught some of the Parthian troops at
their barbarous work, and dispersed them without difficulty. He then
rapidly effected the transit, and, pressing forward, was soon in the
enemy's country, where he occupied the chief city, Hecatompylos. Up
to this point the Parthian monarch had declined an engagement. No
information has come down to us as to his motives; but they may
be readily enough conjectured. To draw an enemy far away from his
resources, while retiring upon one's own; to entangle a numerous host
among narrow passes and denies; to decline battle when he offers it,
and then to set upon him unawares, has always been the practice of weak
mountain races when attacked by a more numerous foe. It is often good
policy in such a case even to yield the capital without a blow, and
to retreat into a more difficult situation. The assailant must follow
whithersoever his foe retires, or quit the country, leaving him
unsubdued. Antiochus, aware of this necessity, and rendered confident of
success by the evacuation of a situation so strong, and so suitable for
the Parthian tactics as Hecatompylos, after giving his army a short
rest at the captured capital, set out in pursuit of Artabanus, who
had withdrawn his forces towards Hyrcania. To reach the rich Hyrcanian
valleys, he was forced to cross the main chain of the Elburz, which here
attains an elevation of 7000 or 8000 feet. The route which his army had
to follow was the channel of a winter-torrent, obstructed with stones
and trunks of trees, partly by nature, partly by the efforts of the
inhabitants. The long and difficult ascent was disputed by the enemy the
whole way, and something like a pitched battle was fought at the top;
but Antiochus persevered, and, though his