BATTLES OF PLAT^A AND MYKALE. 173 would be no interruption from the cavalry ; and to occupy the ground called the island, distant about ten furlongs in a direction nearly west, and seemingly north of the town of Platsea, which was itself about twenty furlongs distant : this island, improperly so denominated, included the ground comprised between two branches of the river Oeroe,' both of which flow from Kithaeron, and, after flowing for a certain time in channels about three furlongs apart, form a junction and run in a northwesterly direction to- wards one of the recesses of the gulf of Corinth, — quite distinct from the Asopus, which, though also rising near at hand in the lowest declivities under Kithgeron, takes an easterly direction and discharges itself into the sea opposite Eubcea. When in this so-called island, the army would be secure of water from the stream in their rear ; nor would they, as now, expose an extended breadth of front to a numerous hostile cavaliy separated from them only by the Asopus.s It was farther resolved, that so soon as the army should once be in occupation of the island, half of the troops should forthwith march onward to disengage the con- voys blocked up on Kithceron and conduct them to the camp. Such was the plan settled in council among the different Grecian chiefs ; the march to be commenced at the beginning of the second night-watch, when the enemy's cavalry would have com- pletely withdrawn. In spite of what Mardonius is said to have determined, he passed the whole day without any general attack : but his cavalry, probably elated by the recent demonstration of the Lacedfemo- nians, were on that day more daring and indefatigable than ever, and inflicted much loss as well as severe suffering; 3 insomuch that the centre of the Greek force (Corinthians, Megarians, etc., between the Lacedaemonians and Tegeans on the right, and the
- See a good description of the ground in Colonel Leake, Travels in
Northern Greece, ch. xvi, vol. ii, p. 358. ^ Herodot. ix, 51. 'Ef tovtov 6// Ttiv xi^pov k^ovTiEvaavTO fiETacrTJvai, cva Kol vdari lx<^oi- ;^;pao?fflt a<f'&6vu, koX oi Inwee^ cr^ecf fifi cnvoiaro, uairep Kar' l^v eovTcjv. The last words have reference to the position of the two hostile armies, extended front to front along the course of the Asopus. ^ Herodot. ix, 52. Keivrtv ftev ttjv 7}/xepTiv rraaav, TrpooKet/ievrjc ttjc Innov, elxOV noVOV UTpVTOV.
