army went out to plunder the neighbouring villages. The most extensive operation was that undertaken by about half the army under Xenophon against the Drylæ or Drillians, a warlike tribe among the mountains, of whom nothing farther is known. With some difficulty and "not inconsiderable" loss, they took the citadel of these people, and plundered their chief town. As Cheirisophus did not return, and provisions were running short, the Greeks commenced their march by land along the coast, sending the sick and all who were above forty years of age by sea, in a few vessels which they had procured.
In three days they arrived at Cerasus, or Kerasunt, a place which has given its name to that now popular fruit, the cherry, which was first introduced into Europe from Cerasus by the Roman general Lucullus, in the year 73 B.C.[1] Here the soldiers were reviewed under arms, and were found to be reduced in number by the casualties of the retreat to 8600 men. A division was made of the money that had been obtained by the sale of captives. A tenth part was consecrated to Apollo and to Diana of Ephesus, and each man received his share of the remainder. Starting hence, they fought their way through the country of the
- ↑ "The cherry is said to have been introduced into Britain one hundred and twenty years afterwards; but some suppose that the cherries introduced by the Romans into Britain were lost, and they were reintroduced in the time of Henry VIII. by Richard Haines, the fruiterer of that monarch. The Romans extended the cultivation of the cherry to eight varieties. In the British gardens are upwards of forty sorts."—Mr Ainsworth's 'Travels in the Track of the Ten Thousand Greeks.'
