Mach-ing waves

I have never before read a physics book that included a three page excerpt from a history of Alexander the Great's expedition in India.  But Mach does exactly that in chapter 2, section IV, part 7.  He is discussing tides, and notes that Alexander's armies, being used to the minimal tides of the Mediterranean, were wholly unprepared for the Indian ocean.

It is important to be reminded that people named Alex are of great ambition.  It is strange how few great physicists are named Alexander, Alexis, Aleksandr, Oleksandr, Alejandro, Alessandro, etc., but at least we Alexes can claim Alexander Fleming in our ranks.