Onesicritus

Onesicritus held this position not only during the descent of the Indus, but throughout the long and perilous voyage from the river to the Persian Gulf.

Alexander was so satisfied with his work that, on his arrival at Susa, Onesicritus was rewarded with a crown of gold, at the same time as Nearchus.

[7] Yet Arrian blames him for lack of judgment, and on one occasion expressly ascribes the safety of the fleet to the firmness of Nearchus in overruling his advice.

[13] Plutarch cites him as one of those who related the fable of the visit of the Amazons to Alexander, for which he was justly ridiculed by Lysimachus,[9] and Arrian accuses him of falsely representing himself as the commander of the fleet, when he was in truth only the pilot.

But it is clear that these censures are overcharged; and though some of the statements cited from him are certainly gross exaggerations,[16] his work appears to have contained much valuable information concerning the remote countries for the first time laid open by the expedition of Alexander.