grapes, apples, plumbs, &c. It likewise yields rice, wheat, "and other sorts of grain. The natives are exceedingly fond of "wine and hog's flesh; although their country is well stocked "with cows and goats. They have a distinct language, nothing "resembling that of any other people: and their arms consist of "the bow and arrow, the sabre, and the sling." Another author adds, "That the natives are, for the most part, idolaters; that they are of a robust make, and that their complexion is a mixture of red and white." Sherefeddin, Capt. Kirkpatrick observes, says nearly the same thing."

46

We have here, a second instance of a distinct race of people in the same neighbourhood: for the Bijorians and Sewadians (as we have seen), border on Kuttore.

The Siahposhians (or Black Vests) bordered on the north of Kuttore; since Timur on his route from Anderab to Kuttore, sent off a detachment to the left, that is, to the NE (as he went himself to the E, or S E), and this detachment penetrated into their country.

On the south and south-west of the province of Cabul, our knowledge is very limited. The roads from Ghizni to Candahar, and from the latter to Moultan; are all the geographical lines that we possess in that quarter. The latter is from a march of Dara Sheko; and from it we learn, that the mountains of Suhmandroog, occur, at about 4 marches from Candahar; but that the rest of the road is more smooth and even, than that leading to Cabul, from Attock. The mountains of Wulli, covered with snow, were left to the north; but our knowledge of the geography of this part, is much too scanty to allow us even to venture an opinion, on the general direction of the ridges of mountains: we learn, however, from the journal of Mr. Steele (1614), who went by the direct road (it would appear) from Moultan to Candahar; that a large tract of mountainous country lay in his way; and also a river of the name of Lucca, which is not heard of, in Dara Sheko's

route; and therefore, probably joins the Indus, to the N of Dara's route. The Indus required 92 boats, or pontoons, for its bridge, where Dara crofsed it; and the Moultan river 65: and the rivers were then low. It does not, however, follow, that the breadth of the rivers bore an exact proportion to the number of boats; but we may conclude that the Indus is the widest river of the two.

The boundary of Moultan on the west; and the tracts occupied by the Balloges (or Bulloaches), and the Abdalli tribe of Afghans, in the line of Dara's route, are taken from Capt. Kirkpatrick's MSS. From him also we learn, that Dara sent his heavy artillery, for the siege of Candahar, in boats, from Lahore to Kun, or Ken, on the Indus; whence they were transported by land by Seewee and Dehâoo, to Candahar.

Candahar, while the Persian and Mogul empires were severally undivided, was the frontier city and fortrefs of Hindoostan, towards Persia; and was esteemed the key of the western provinces of the latter; and not unfrequently changed masters. The Ayin Acbaree classes, as belonging to Candahar, several provinces on the west of it, which unequivocally belong to Persia: but as the limits of the empire, varied with the prowess and abilities of the different emperors, it may be concluded that Acbar extended them

to the utmost.

The position of Ghizni, the ancient capital of the kingdom of the same name, is totally different from what M. D'Anville supposed; for he placed it in the N W extreme of Cabul: although it appears to be almost in the very heart of that province.

Ghizni is termed THE SECOND MEDINA; Owing to the great number of illustrious persons, whose remains have been interred there. Wonderful stories are related concerning its extent and population, in ancient times: yet Baber expresses his surprize at its having ever been pitched on, for the seat of any empire.* Although this was the part of India, the first known to Euro

Kirkpatrick's MSS.

peans, yet at this day, we know lefs of it, than of most other parts: nor ought it to excité surprise; for the modern Europeans have visited India, on a very different errand than what Alexander did: ours being purely on the score of maritime trade, until the downfall of the Mogul empire, opened the way to the acquisition of territory: and that in the opposite corner of the empire. This may serve to explain the cause of the great deficiency of geographical materials, for the tract in question: notwithstanding the aids that the science has received, from the labours of gentlemen, whose afsistance I am proud to acknowledge.

I have generally availed myself of the laborious researches of M. D'Anville, to introduce several places, whose names he has identified on the authority of the Turkish geographer beforementioned, whose works I am unacquainted with. Those who wish for more particular information, may consult his map of Asia, published in 1751; as also his Eclaircissemens,* which accompanied that, and the map of India; the first section of which, is particularly curious, and applies directly to this subject. His Antiquité Geographique de l'Inde, deserves attention likewise: though I confefs I cannot follow Arrian in his detail of Alexander's marches, in the countries bordering on the west of the Indus, for want of such unequivocal marks, as are to be found on the east side of that river, in the courses and confluences of the Panjab rivers. However, by the aid of Capt. Kirkpatrick's communications, and of the Ayin Acbaree, several positions in the march of Alexander may be ascertained: in particular, the second volume of that elaborate compilation, under the heads of Cashmere and Cabul, gives the names, dimensions, and relative positions, of the subdivisions of those countries; of which I have availed myself, throughout the geographical construction. I suspect that Alexander never went so far to the north as the city of Cabul; and that, although

• This work is become very scarce, and might be reprinted, with emolument to the publisher.

his route is generally represented as very circuitous, and even traversing the country from one extreme to the other; yet I apprehend, on the contrary, that he made no considerable deviations from his intended line of march, from the foot of Caucasus, or Hindoo-Kho, to the Indus, near Peucelaotis; or Puckholi. I shall endeavour to trace his route generally, from the river COPHENEs, that being the first point, according to my idea, that can be recognized. There seems indeed, to have been few doubts entertained, concerning the position of the Paropamisan Alexandria ; which has been referred to Candahar, by M. D'Anville, and many other geographers: and, I confefs, I was decidedly of the same opinion, until Capt. Kirkpatrick's communications gave me a better idea of the position of Candahar, in respect of Hindoo-Kho (Alexander's Caucasus), and of both of these, in respect of Balk, Cabul, and Bamian: and finding that Candahar is at a great distance to the southward of that ridge, whilst Alexandria is repeatedly said to lie at the southern foot of Caucasus, I ought according to the history, to look for it in some other position. That position, however, I have not been able to find: and the only facts that I can collect, towards enabling me to form any idea of the general position of Alexandria, are the following.

Alexander's route from the south coast of the Caspian sea, was through Aria, Zaranga, &c. to Arachosia; answering to Herat, Zarang, and Arokhage; † the latter of which lies to the south of Candahar. From Arachosia, he went into the adjacent country of the Indians; which answers, I conceive, to Cabul and Ghizni: for no district, lying west of the Ghiznian province, can well be classed amongst those of India. In his way from the Arachoti to the Indians, he went through deep snows; that is, I suppose, over

* Or rather the continuation of Hindoo-Kho, westward, under the name of GAUR: and which answers in position, to PAROPAMISUS.

The names of places, in the map of the tract situated between the heads of the Ganges and Indus, and the Caspian sea, at page 200, are given according to the ancient, as well as the modern, acceptation of them. The ancient names of towns have a dash under them: and those of provinces are in Italic capitals; whilst the modern ones are in Roman capitals.

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high mountains covered with snow; for the latitude is between 32 and 34 degrees: and there is no question, concerning the existence of high mountains on the south, and S E of Candahar. Taking for granted that mountains were passed over, we may suppose them to be a continuation of the heights of Suhmandroog, noticed in the march of Dara Sheko (page 166), and probably the Parveti Mons of Ptolemy.

From the country of the Indians, Alexander marched toward BACTRIA; in pursuit, or rather in quest of, Befsus. Mount Caucasus lay in his way to Bactria: and this country, from the circumstances of name, and position, answers most perfectly to that of Balk. Now, in order to form a judgment concerning the site of Alexandria, we ought, I think, to inquire where the passes, leading directly from the country of the Indians, to Bactria, over mount Caucasus, are situated; for in that line of direction ought Alexandria to lie, according to the history. The passes then will be found between Ghourbund, and the quarter of Bamian; that is, on the N W and west of the city of Cabul; and much to the east of Candahar. The course of the river Cophenes, ought to afford some afsistance at fixing Alexandria. It ran between Alexandria, and the first scene of the military operations of Alexander; and probably occurred pretty early in the march. In Alexander's arrangement of boundaries, the river Cophenes was the eastern limit of the province of Paropamisus; of which Alexandria was regarded as the capital: and that province, according to the ideas of Ptolemy, lay between those which the moderns name Korasan, and Cabul. I conclude, with some degree of confidence, that the river Cow, of the Turkish geography, and the Cow-mull of Baber (see page 154), which passes by Nughz, and whose principal branches are the rivers of Ghizni and Gurdaiz; is the Cophenes, in question: and then we must look for Alexandria in the quarter of Bamian; but its particular situation, it is impofsible to guess. At all events, the proximity of Alexandria to the northern moun