Page 418 - Four Thousand Years Ago by Geoffrey Bibby

Luristan that he was not so occupied with the west that they
could raid the lowlands with impunity. And deep into the hills

his infantry and chariotry pushed up the stony tracks, the en­
gineers in the van building bridges and clearing rockslides as
they went. It was more a demonstration march than a war. The
Lullubi and the tribes beyond, who were of the new Persian

SOLDIERS OF THE ARMY OF CARCHEMISH, PORTRAYED IN RELIEF ON
A STONE SLAB.

stock, submitted without demur and were assessed for a tribute
which everyone knew they had little intention of ever paying. But
their teeth were drawn; most of the young men were forthwith

pressed into service with the Assyrian army.
It had clearly been a mistake to give the west a year s respite.
Carchemish and the countries beyond had always regarded As­

syria as a very distant threat. An Assyrian army might, once or