rymple, and, I believe, brought from India by Governor Hornby*), where it is placed about 34 G. miles to the eastward, or ESE of the eastern branch of the Indus. Cutch is composed chiefly of hills, woods, and sandy wilds; and we are utterly ignorant of any particulars, relating to the interior part of it. The mouths of several rivers appear in the map of its coast: and the ancient maps describe the Puddar river, as discharging itself into the gulf of Cutch, through these openings. It is possible that the river formed by the Caggar, and other streams, may discharge itself by one or more of these openings; unless it loses itself in the sands of the desert, which borders on the north of Cutch.

On the south coast of the gulf of Cutch, is a district inhabited by a piratical tribe, named Sangarians, who cruize for merchant ships, as far to the west as the entrance of the gulf of Persia. The capital of this state, is Noanagur; Bate (or Bait), and Aramroy, are its principal ports. The Ayin Acbaree takes notice of the founding of Noanagur, by a rajah who was driven out of Cutch, about 280 years ago: and says, that the territory in which it is situated, is named Little Cutch. No mention is made of Sangarians, in the same book: nor of any piracies being committed by the people of Noanagur.

Nearchus names certain parts of the country between the mouth of the Indus and the river Arabius, Sangada and Saranga; but

This map, which has the appearance of greater accuracy in the outline, and certainly contains more matter within it, than any other map of the tract, it is meant to represent; was drawn by a native of Cambay, a Bramin of uncommon genius and knowledge, named SADANUND. This information was given me by Sir Charles Malet, Resident at the Mahratta court of Poonah (who first suggested the idea of drawing the map); and who accompanied a very polite letter to me on the occasion, with a copy of the map in question, made by the author. By means of the same communication, as well as by the nature of the presents just made by the EAST-INDIA COMPANY, to MADAROW, the young Paishwah of the Mahrattas; I learn that this young prince, has a great turn for geographical studies: whence we may expect a great addition of geographical matter, collected on the spot, by English gentlemen, properly qualified for such pursuits; and protected by a patron of science, rather than tolerated by the operation of political influence. Under these auspices, Capt. Reynolds, of the Bombay establishment, who has already distinguished himself as an able, and no less enterprizing geographer, was tracing some capital lines across the Deccan and Peninsula.

Madarow, the present Paishwah of the Mahrattas, is the person mentioned in pages 1xxxvi, and lxxxviii, of the Introduction.

the tract was too confined, to be the abode of a nation. M. D'Anville supposes that the country of Sangada,* was the same with the modern Sangara: if so, the Sangarians must first have removed from the western, to the eastern side, of the Indus; and afterwards must also have crossed the gulf of Cutch.

fact, indeed, seems verified by the Ayin Acbaree.

The latter

It is worthy of remark, how exactly the position and description of the haven, named by Nearchus, the port of Alexander ; and which had an island near it, named Crocola; agrees with that of Crotchey and proves incontestibly, by the circumstance of the proximity of the mountains to the sea coast, when the fleet had advanced only 150 stadia, from the mouth of the Indus; that Nearchus sailed out of the western branch of that river. However, one might conclude, from Arrian's account of Alexander's voyage, down the two branches below Pattala, that he fixed on the easternmost branch, for Nearchus's fleet to proceed through, to the ocean; as Arrian calls it the left branch: but the circumstance of Alexander's landing, with a party of horse, and proceeding three days along the coast, in the direction that his fleet was to sail; that is, westward; overthrows such a supposition entirely: for no one will suppose that he chose to march a party of horse, three days, along the coast of the delta; where he must have been continually interrupted, by deep rivers and creeks.

Account of the MAP of the Countries, lying between the Heads of the INDIAN Rivers, and the CASPIAN SEA.

THE route of Mr. Forster from Candahar to the Caspian sea, throws considerable light on the geography of the intervening

* Eclaircissemens, page 42.

tract: as well as on other geographical materials, that were before involved in some degree of obscurity. As I have said, in another place, the discussion of the geography on the west of Cabul, does not belong so properly to the subject of India, as of Persia: and I shall therefore, at present, content myself with a few general observations, on the small map of the tract, lying between the heads of the Indian rivers, and the southern part of the Caspian sea: for having so often had occasion to mention the countries of Persia and Tartary, contiguous to the north-west parts of India; it will be for the reader's convenience to have a small map of those parts, inserted in this work; by which the relative positions of the frontier provinces of both countries, will be shewn, and the heads of the Indus, Ganges, and Oxus, brought into one point of view. It will also serve to convey an idea of the route pursued by Mr. Forster, from the banks of the Ganges, to the Caspian sea; and which has never been travelled by any European, in modern times: at least no account of it, is to be found on public record.

Between Candahar and Meschid-Sirr, on the south coast of the Caspian sea, Mr. Forster's route lay in a pretty straight line through Herat, Tershish, and Bistam; and this circumstance is favourable to the design of using his scale of computed farsangs, through that space. He estimates this measure roundly at two cofses, or about 33 British miles: but by his whole number of farsangs between Candahar and Meschid-Sirr, his standard of the farsang is calculated too high by about a seventh part: for it will be made to appear, when we take up the subject of the Persian geography, that it will require 23 of his farsangs to make a degree of a great circle; allowing the inflexions of the roads. With this scale, I have compared several of the intermediate places, in M. D'Anville's map of Asia; many of which I have ventured to alter: for it is probable that M. D'Anville might not have been possessed of an itinerary, so accurate as Mr. Forster's. Between Candahar and Gimmock, Mr. Forster estimates the bearing, at

W, and W by N; and the short distance between the latter, and Herat, N. No reason is assigned for the sudden change of course. From Herat to Bistam, the course was W by N; and the remainder of the way, W; W by N; and NW. These bearings appear to be generally accurate.

This gentleman furnishes us with new ideas respecting the bearing of the chain of mountains, that is commonly supposed to penetrate Asia from west to east, under various names: or rather, he brings us back to the ideas, left us by the ancients. (It is unquestionable, that the Greeks and Romans knew more of the particular geography of Persia, than appears in our modern maps: although the parts that are known to us, may be arranged with more geometrical precision). This chain (anciently named Taurus), which rises in lesser Asia, and runs eastward through Armenia; and from thence deviating to the S E, shuts up the south coast of the Caspian sea; was continued by Ptolemy, under the names of Coronus, Sariphi, and Paropamisus: dividing Hyrcania and Tapuri, from Parthia; Margiana from Aria; and Bactria from the province of Paropamisus: or, according to modern geography, dividing Mazanderan, or Taberistan, from Cumis; the countries of Dahistan, Corcan, and Karasm, from Korasan; Balk, and Gaur, from Sigistan, or Seistan: and finally was made to join that ridge, which, under the name of. Indian Caucasus, divided India from Bactria; and afterwards took the names of Imaus and Emodus; separating India from Scythia. It is not known to the moderns what course this chain takes, after it leaves the neighbourhood of the Caspian sea: or whether it does in reality join the Indian Caucasus: but the probability of it is strong, although it is not after the manner M. D'Anville supposed: for he gives it an ESE direction from the Caspian, and makes it pass on the south of Herat. But had this been the case, Mr. Forster must have crossed it in his way from Candahar; instead of which, he crossed no mountains until he came within 100 miles of the Caspian sea; so that he left the

continuation of the Indian Caucasus (if such there be) on his right; or to the northward; and I really believe that the ridge does exist, nearly under the form described by Ptolemy; for the rivers crossed by Mr. Forster, had all a southerly course; proving that the high land lay to the north, although out of sight: therefore the connexion between the Caspian mountains, and the Indian Caucasus (if such exists), must be by the north of Korasan.

There is no necefsity for supposing that this chain should be exceedingly lofty in every part: the existence of it, alone, is contended for. Ptolemy makes a distinction between the height of Caucasus, and that of the continuation of it, eastward, under the name of Imaus; this latter being, by far, the highest: and the point of commencement of the change of name, and elevation (which last is described in words, as well as in the topography, Asia, Tab. VII. and IX.), answers to the western part of Kuttore, and is nearly opposite to the head of the Suastus river (qu. Sewad?) The ridge of mountains (which he names the proper Caucasus) the next in order to the Imaus, westward; occupies the place of Hindoo-Kho, as it is described in page 150: and moreover, confines the country of the Lambata on the south; (qu. Lumghan?) and this is succeeded in the same order, by Paropamisus, which answers to the mountains of Gaur, on the N, and NW of Candahar. As for the ridge that Mr. Forster crossed, near the Caspian sea, it had a north and south direction; and answers to the mountains Masdoramus of Ptolemy, which shut up the eastern side of Parthia proper, situated on the SE of the Caspian. The modern name of this ridge is Kana-boody; and Mr. Forster remarks, that the elevation of it is far greater on the west, than on the east: so that the lands of Korasan, are, in general, more elevated than those towards Ispahan. The Kana-hoody mountains are those which M. D'Anville has extended to Herat and Cabul; but we find their course to be quite different; but how far they extend to the south, or S E, is still a question.