part of the Ganges neareft to it; or about Moonygurry: 286 mere will reach to Canoge; which being at the conflux of the Calini river with the Ganges, and alfo a large place, would make me fufpect that Calinapaxa* was meant for it: and 228 more will reach to the conflux of the Ganges and Jumna; that is, to Allahabad. This I think furnishes a convincing proof that Pliny's diftances are well proportioned to each other, as far as we have data for making a just comparison. Between the Indus and Hyphafis (Setlege) the proportions do not hold fo good. For instance, between the Indus and Hydafpes (Behat) Pliny reckons 120 miles; which on my map is 135 (fuppofing that Alexander came by Rotas, the ordinary route: for had he taken the fame road with Timur, the distance would be lefs than 120). And again, between the Hydafpes and Hyphafis, Pliny reckons 390 miles; of which distance no more than be made on the map, by the ordinary route towards Sirhind; and 350 fuppofing he went towards the lower parts of the river; which I think highly probable, for reafons that will be hereafter affigned. But as the country between the Hydafpes and Hyphafie, was the feat of war; in which Alexander was undoubtedly often led out of the direct route, it cannot be expected that this part of the distance should be so well ascertained as the others.

300 can

Between Alexander's pofition on the Hyphafis, (Setlege) and the Jomanes (Jumna) Pliny reckons 336 miles, which exceeds. the distance between these rivers in the line of the great road between Lahore and Delhi, by about 106 miles: and this diftance is not ascertained by the march of an army, but by order of Seleucus Nicator; and is therefore as worthy of belief as the account of the distance between the Jumna and Ganges, which was done at the fame time. But 336 miles is really the distance between the Jumna and that part of the Hyphasis (or Setlege) below the conflux

* This term I apprehend Pliny used, rather to convey an idea of its local pofition; than as its proper name.

of

of the Bea: which I fuppofe to have been Alexander's pofition

when he erected his altars.

Pliny then proceeds to ftate that Palibothra is 425 miles below the conflux of the Ganges and Jumna; and the mouth of the Ganges 638 below that; or 1063 below the conflux. It is true that this distance on the map is only 1000 fuch miles by the road; but we ought to reflect, that our own ideas of this distance did not come nearer the truth, after we had had an intercourfe of near two centuries, with India; and indeed until the present time: for it will be found that M. D'Anville's map of India published in 1752, reprefents the diftance in queftion as much short of the mark, as Pliny goes beyond it. Therefore by this account Palibothra fhould be 425 parts in 1063, of the distance between Allahabad and the mouth of the Ganges; or nearly about the town of Bar, 40 miles below Patna.

We can hardly doubt after this account of Pliny's, but that fome very large city stood nearly in the pofition which he affigns to Palibothra; but that this city was the capital of India, and the place vifited by the Grecian Ambaffadors, I do by no means fuppofe. I rather incline to think that the city meant by Pliny, stood on the fite of Patna; and that the true Palibothra was no other than Canoge, or Kinnoge, for reasons which I shall presently fhew.

Canoge, the ruins of which are of a very great extent, was for a feries of ages the capital of Hindooftan; but it is now reduced to the fize of a middling town. It is fituated on the right bank of the Ganges *, near the place where the Calini river (or Collynuddy) joins it. It is faid to have been built more than 1000 years before our æra; and is mentioned as the capital of Hindooftan under the predeceffor of Phoor, or Porus, who fought against Alexander †. The fucceffor of Porus, Sinfarchund (the Sandrocotta of the Greeks)

*Latitude
Longitude

+ Before Chrift 326.

27° 3'
80. 13

paid

paid a tribute to Alexander's fucceffors: and Jona, the second in fucceffion from Sinsarchund, reigned at Canoge *. We have no reason to suppose that the capital was removed from Canoge, in the interval between the time of the predeceffor of Porus, and the time of Jona; and therefore Canoge was without doubt the place where the Ambaffadors of Seleucus were received, about 300 years before our æra: and this place the Ambaffadors mention by the name of Palibothra. In point of extent and magnificence, Canoge answers perfectly to the defcription given of Palibothra. The Indian hiftories are full of the accounts of its grandeur, and populousness. No longer ago than the fixth century, it contained 30,000 fhops, in which beetelnut, which the Indians, (almost universally) chew, as the Europeans do Tobacco, was fold. There were also 60,000 bands of musicians and fingers, who paid a tax to government †. In A. D. 1018, it was seized on by the Gaznian emperors.

It has been faid that Canoge is fituated near the conflux of the Calini river with the Ganges. This river, though not the third in magnitude amongst the rivers of India, is yet no inconfiderable one; and as the beds of many of the leffer rivers of that country fpread to a very great width, the Calini might, in a season when its bed was full, be mistaken for a much larger river than it really is.

M. D'Anville informs us that Eratofthenus, the librarian of Alexandria, under Ptolemy Evergetes, wrote, that it appeared by the measure of a royal route §, that the distance from the western extreme of India to Palibothra, was 10,000 ftadia. M. D'Anville says in the fame place, that the stadium is the 1050th part of a degree of a great circle. Now, the distance from the Indus at Attock, to Canoge, is just 9 degrees and half, which makes 9975 ftadia; or in

Dowe ift. 9, 10, 11. 2d edition. + Dowe it, 16. t Eclairciffemens, page 55. The route of an eastern Prince is always measured, by perfons attending the camp for that purpose.

G

noge,

round numbers, as the other account is probably taken, 10,000 ¶. I think this, in fome degree, corroborates my opinion, that Canoge is the fame with Palibothra.

Ptolemy places Palibothra in latitude 27°; and between the towns of Malibi on the weft, and Athenagarum on the caft. The latitude given for Palibothra, is within 3 miles of that of Canoge † ; and the latitudes of Maliba and Athenagarum, are nearly those of Matura, and Audiah, or Oude ‡: and the proportional distances of the former from Palibothra, anfwer minutely to thofe of the latter from Canoge. To this we may add, that Athenagarum is fituated on the right bank of a large river, which joins the Ganges on the left, a great way below Palibothra; answering to the Gogra, of Oude river. The Uxentius Mons, by which the hills of Bundelcund and Bahar are evidently, meant (by the circumftance of their lying between Panaa, or Panna, and the head of the Adamas river, or that of Sumbulpour and Cattack) are placed about 3 degrees on the fouth of Palibothra, or in latitude 24°; and on the north fide of them, and within 18 miles of its true latitude § is Panassa, which, no doubt, is intended for Panna, the famous Diamond mine.

Now, as the Bundelcund hills are only 30 miles from Allahabad, and near 2 degrees from Canoge, it appears improbable that Allahabad should be the place meant for Palibothra; although it is highly probable that Canoge may.

I am of opinion that fome reliance may be placed on Ptolemy's latitude of Palibothra; for on a comparison of the latitudes of five different places between the Indus and Ganges, I find the greatest

The fame Eratofthenus computes, the extent of India from the fource of the Indus, to its mouth, at 13,000 ftadia; which, according to the above standard, makes about 12 degrees and a third. As the ancients reckoned the western branch of this river, which rifes in the mountains of Hindoo-Ko(the Indian Caucafus) the true Indus, this computation will be found to be pretty just. difference

difference to be only 12 minutes *, between his latitudes and mine. It must not be forgotten, that the country between Panjab and Palibothra, was the part of India, of all others the best known to the ancients.

Gour, called alfo Lucknouti, the ancient capital of Bengal, and fuppofed to be the Gangia regia of Ptolemy, ftood on the left bank of the Ganges, about 25 miles below Rajemal +. It was the capital of Bengal 730 years before Chrift and was repaired and beautified by Acbar §, who gave it the name of Jennuteabad; which name, a part of the circar in which it was fituated, ftill bears. According to Ferifhta's account, the unwholesomeness of its air, occafioned it to be deferted foon after ||; and the feat of government was removed to Tanda, or Tanrah, a few miles higher up the river. No part of the fite of ancient Gour is nearer to the present bank of the Ganges than four miles and a half; and fome parts of it, which were originally washed by that river, are now 12 miles from it. However, a small ftream that communicates with the Ganges, now runs by its weft fide, and is navigable during the rainy season. On the east fide, and in fome places within two miles, it has the Mahanada river; which is always navigable, and communicates alfo with the Ganges.

Taking the extent of the ruins of Gour at the most reasonable calculation, it is not less than 15 miles in length (extending along the old bank of the Ganges) and from 2 to 3 in breadth. Several villages ftand on part of its fite: the remainder is either covered with thick forefts, the habitations of Tygers and other beafts of prey;

§ 1575:

This is Ferifhta's account; but fome of its prefent inhabitants told me that it was deferted

in confequence of a peftilence.

G 2

ог