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in Armenia, about 70 years before Christ, brought them acquainted with the Romans; whose conquests met theirs, both in that country and in Syria. The Parthians, together with their conquests, had advanced their capital westwards: and had established it on the Tigris at Seleucia, or rather Ctesiphon (near the present Bagdad) before their wars with the Romans commenced. The particulars of their first wars with the Roman people, which continued about 65 years, are too well known to be repeated here, had this been a proper place for them; such as the expeditions of Pompey and Anthony; and the defeat of Crafsus. On occasion of this last event, the Parthians extended their conquests further westward, but were afterwards compelled to retire: and they generally lost ground in Armenia and Mesopotamia, during the time of the Roman emperors. Trajan penetrated to their capital; and satisfied his curiosity by embarking on the Indian sea. The moderation of Adrian restored the ancient boundary of the Euphrates. In A. D. 245, Persis, or Persia proper, which had for some ages ranked as a province of Parthia, gained the ascendancy; and, under Artaxerxes, put an end to the dynasty of the Arsacidæ, and restored the ancient name of Persia to the empire; after that of Parthia had existed about 480 years. So that, in fact, the Parthian empire, considered generally, was the Persian, under another name.

It should have been mentioned, in page 166, that the author of the Heft Akleem, a geographical work that was compiled during the reign of Acbar, states the following fact.

The sovereignty of Badakshan, continued in a family, which "derived its descent from Alexander the Great; until Abu "Said Khan Goorgan conquered the country, and put an end "to the dynasty of Macedonian princes, in the person of "Sultan Mohamed, the last monarch of that race." The date is not given. (Kirkp. MSS.)

. Dd

SECTION IV.

The Tract situated between the KISTNAH River, and the Countries traversed by the Courses of the GANGES and INDUS, and their principal Branches: that is to say, the middle Parts of INDIA.

THIS HIS very extensive tract is bounded on the north-east by the soubahs of Bengal, Bahar, Allahabad, and Agra; on the NW by the course of the river Puddar; on the east and west by the sea; and on the south by the river Kistnah, or Krishnah: and comprehends in general the soubahs of Guzerat, Malwa, Berar, Orissa, Candeish, Amednagur (or Dowlatabad), Visiapour (or Bejapour), and Golconda. It is about 800 British miles in length, from NW to SE; and 600 wide: and has in and about it, many points that are determined either by celestial observations; or inferred from such points, by the help of surveys, or good charts.

The fundamental points on which the construction and scale of this part depend, are as follow:

On the north and north-east, Agra, as determined by observations and survey (page 48); and Calpy, Chatterpour, Rewah, Burwah, and Balasore, inferred from measured lines drawn from other places of observation. On the east, Cattack, as determined by Col. Pearse (page 11). On the south, Masulipatam, as determined by Col. Pearse, and Capt. Ritchie (page 12). On the west, Bombay, by the observations of the Hon. Mr. Howe (page 31), and

Surat, Cambay, and Diu Point, inferred from charts and surveys (page 33). And in the interior parts, Narwah, Sirong, Bopaul, Hufsingabad, Burhanpour, Poonah, Amedabad, by Mr. Smith's observations, and General Goddard's march: Nagpour, Ruttunpour, and Gurrah, by Mr. Ewart's observations and surveys; and Arungabad, Hydrabad, Sumbulpour, 'Agimere, and Areg (near Visiapour), by miscellaneous materials. I shall proceed first, to give the authorities by which these primary stations or points, were determined; and afterwards shew how the intermediate parts were filled up, in detail. The construction of the sea coasts, on both sides of this tract, has been already discussed, in Section I.: and I shall begin my account of the construction of the inland parts, with Mr. Smith's and General Goddard's lines across the continent, from Calpy to Bombay, and Surat.

The Rev. Mr. Smith set out from Calpy with Col. Upton, in 1776, on an embassy to the Mahratta court, at Poonah; and fell into the great road from Delhi and Agra, to the Deccan, at the city of Narwah; which is situated on the river Sindeh, near the entrance of a famous pass, that leads through the chain of mountains that divide Malwa from Agra. From Narwah, he proceeded to Sirong, a city of Malwa, subject to Madajee Sindia: and from thence to Burhanpour, the capital of Candeish: and at one period, of the Deccan also. It is yet a flourishing city; and is situated in the midst of a delightful country. In his way to this place from Sirong, he crossed the famous river Nerbuddah; formerly the reputed boundary of the Deccan, to the north. From Burhanpour, he went to Poonah, the capital of the western Mahratta empire, crossing the heads of the Godavery and Beemah rivers in his way: and from Poonah to Bombay. During all this route, he took observations of latitude and longitude, as often as opportunity offered; which was not unfrequently: and with these, together with the intermediate bearings of the road, he constructed a map, which is no less valuable on the score of its general accuracy, and extensive

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