continuation of the great ridge called Hindo-Ko, or the Indian Caucafus; and which are near the head of the Indus, and run through the heart of Thibet. I suspect Emodus and Imaus to be different readings of the fame name; and Imaus or Himaus, we have every reasonable proof of being derived from the Sanfcrit word Himmaleh, fignifying fnowy. That vaft ridge bears the fame name at prefent; and Pliny knew the circumstance well *.

To return to Alexander. He failed from his first place of embarkation in the Hydafpes, about the middle of November N. S. 327 years before Chrift, (according to Ufher) having of course, been in the field the whole rainy feafon; for he croffed the Indus in May. In five days, the fleet arrived at the conflux of the Hydafpes and Acefines (Chelum and Jenaub) the identity of which, is most pointedly marked, by the nature of the banks: for these large rivers, pent up within ftrait rocky beds, form a rapid and troubled ftream at their confluence; and this appearance difmayed the whole fleet, and proved fatal to fome of the large fhips. A fimilar defcription of this confluence is given in Sherefeddin's life of Timur, who croffed a little below it in 1398 nearly at the same season, over a bridge of boats. At this place, Philip, who had led a division of the army along the banks of the Acelines, (whofe course is not far from that of the Hydafpes, and gradually approaches it, until they meet) here joined the grand army, and was ferried over the Acefines. We may obferve from this, and from Craterus and Hephestion being detached with the other two divifions along the oppofite banks of the Hydafpes, that Alexander might be faid almost to fweep the whole country. He now approached the confines of the Malli, and set out on his first expedition with a detachment, against the people of the country, to prevent their giving affistance to that nation; but the particulars of his march are not recorded. He returned again to the fleet and army at the conflux of the Hydafpes;

Imäus, incolarum lingua nivofum fignificante. Pliny Book VI

and

and from thence dispatched the fleet to the next place of rendezvous, at the conflux of the Hydraotes (Rauvee) with the Acefines (Jenaub); for fo the confluent ftreams of the Hydafpes and Acefines were named, the Acefines being the largest; and as the Hydafpes is faid to be 20 ftades in width the whole way, the other must have been an immenfe river. The army was divided into four divifions, three of which marched at a confiderable diftance from 'each other, along or near the courfe of the river; the fourth, Alexander took the command of himfelf, and marched inland from the river, to attack the Malli on that fide; in order to drive the fugitives towards the forks of the rivers, where they might be intercepted by fome of the other divifions. The line of direction of his march muft have been fouth or fouth-eastward. On the fecond morning he took a strong city, and Perdiccas, another; and after a fecond long night march, arrived at the Hydraotes (Rauvee): perhaps, we may allow for the day, and two night marches, 40 road miles; or 30 G. miles of horizontal distance *. He fell in with the river at fome confiderable distance above the conflux (the appointed rendezvous for the fleet) as appears by what followed: and after croffing it, took two other towns †, and then proceeded to the capital city of the Malli; after dispatching Pithon back to the river fide, to intercept the fugitives. This capital of the Malli, must not be mistaken for the modern Moultan; which is at leaft 40 miles by land, below the conflux of the Hydraotes; or two days voyage for a boat going with the ftream: but the ancient capital in question, was above the conflux, and near the Hydraotes (Rauvee) by the garrifon's leaving it, and retiring to the oppofite (north) fide of the river. Alexander recroffes the river, after them, but finding

The Ayin Acbaree reckons 27 coffes, or 51 B. miles, between the two confluences of the Hydafpes and Hydraotes with the Acefines; but this account includes the windings of the channel.

† One of these was a town of Brachmans or Bramins. Some of them burnt themfelves, together with their houses; and few came alive into the enemies hands. This mode of conduct has been practifed in our own times. See Orme's Indoftan, Vol. II. p. 255.

Itinerary 1662.

them

them too strong to be attacked with the party he brought with him, and waiting for a reinforcement, the enemy had time to retire into another fortified city, not far off. This nameless city, is the place where Alexander was wounded, and in fuch imminent danger; and not in the capital of the Malli, nor among the Oxydrace (Outch) which is on the oppofite fide of the Acefines (Jenaub) and near its confluence with the Indus. Indeed Arrian is particular in pointing out this error [of Diodorus]. As to the distance of this city above the conflux, we may collect that it could not be very far, both by reafon of the quick communication between Alexander, and the camp and fleet; and by the ground he had marched over, after leaving the first conflux. I am inclined to place it about 10 G. miles above the conflux (of the Jenaub and Rauvee) and a few miles from the north bank of the latter; and the capital of the Malli on the oppofite fide, and not far from the river bank; so that they will be fomewhat below the present town of Toulomba, a famous pass on the Rauvee, between Lahore and Moultan.

When Alexander was fufficiently recovered from the effects of his wound, he was embarked on the Hydraotes, and carried down the ftream, to his fleet, which appears to have been brought into the Hydraotes; for we learn that he paffed the conflux after he joined the fleet *.

We learn alfo, from the fame author, that the Acefines preferves its name until it is loft in the Indus, although it receives the Hydafpes and Hydraotes: the hiftorian. of Timur, in like manner, gives the name of Jenaub to the confluent waters of the Chelum and Jenaub: this alone, however, does not prove that it was the largest river; for we have many examples, in modern geography, at least, where the adjunct river, though the smallest, gives its name to the confluent waters. It is worthy of remark, that Arrian, as it appears, not knowing what became of the Hyphafis (Beyah)

* Arrian.

does

does not say that Alexander faw the mouth of it, as he did thofe of the Acefines and Hydraotes; but only informs us that it fell into the Acefines. And indeed, the truth is, that these rivers under the modern names of Beyah and Setlege, do not join the Jenaub; but after uniting their streams, fall into the Indus, a great way farther down. It is certain that the courfes of rivers, even of the largest, do alter fo much, in time, that what Arrian fays, might have been the cafe; but there is no neceflity for fuppofing it.

Arrian, as well as Sherefeddin, informs us that the lower part of the Panjab towards Moultan, is flat and marfhy, and inundated [like Bengal] by the periodical rains, which fall between the months of May and October. As a proof of it, Alexander was once obliged to break up his camp, on the Acefines (Jenaub) and retire to the higher grounds.

From the conflux of the Acefines with the Indus, we accompany Alexander fucceffively to the territories of the Sogdi, Muficani, Oxycani, Sindomanni, and Patalans. The Oxydrace, who had fubmitted by their ambaffadors, were left unmolested. Bhakor answers nearest to the pofition and defcription of the country of the Muficani, which was next to the Sogdi, and the most powerful on that part of the Indus: and the Oxycani, the next in order, to Hajycan; a circar, or divifion of Sindy. In Sindomanni, we may recognise the country of Sindy; or that thro' which the river Sinde flows, in the lower part of its course and Pattala, has ever been referred to the Delta of the Indus. But fo vaft a change of names, or rather fo vaft a change in the manner of writing them*, forbids. the building of any hypotheses, on the fimilarity of ancient and

A comparison of the modern names with the ancient, in many parts of Afia, leads me to conclude, that had they been faithfully written by the Greeks, much lefs difference would be found between them, than we now experience: and I am inclined to think that the names of the rivers, in particular, are fcarcely changed fince the time of the Greeks. Vanity has no fhare in new naming of rivers.

modern names of places; except in cafes, where the locality is equally evident.

Having now conducted Alexander acrofs the Panjab, and down the Indus, to the head of its delta, it may not be amifs to observe, that the fate of the country through which he paffed, was very different from what we should have conceived, who have been in the habit of confidering Hindooftan, as being governed by one monarch; or even as divided into feveral large kingdoms. In the Panjab country, in an extent lefs than is comprised within one of the foubahs, or grand divifions of the Mogul Empire, we find no lefs than feven nations; and along the lower parts of the Indus, many more. Even in the Panjab, where Alexander warred a whole campaign and part of another, there was nothing of that kind of concert appeared, which must have taken place between the governors of provinces, had they been under one head: but in general, each acting separately, for himself. The Malli, Catheri, and Oxydracæ, we are told, leagued together for their mutual defence; and this proves that they were feparate governments. It is curious, that the same cause that facilitated Alexander's conquefts in India, should also have given them the degree of celebrity that has ever accompanied them; that is to fay, their fubdivifion into a number of small states and ordinary readers, either not regarding, or not comprehending their extent and confequence, have confidered them as kingdoms. The conquest of the Panjab and Sindy, would, with such an army*, be no very great matter in our times, although united and yet this conqueft is confidered as a brilliant part of Alexander's history: the truth is, the romantic traveller is blended with the adventurous foldier; and the feelings of the reader, are oftner applied to, than his judgment.

But although the western part of Hindooftan was in this state, there exifted beyond, or rather towards the Ganges, a powerful

* Alexander had 120,000 men, and 200 elephants. Arrian.