:!hap. 22.] ACCOXrST OF COUyXEIES, ETC. 43 



'omes nearest to the sea, and above them are the Mandei and 

 he lEalli." In the territory of the last-named people is a 

 nountain called MaUus : the boundary of tliis region is the 

 -iver Ganges. 



CHAP. 22. (18.) — THE GANGES. 



Some writers have stated that this river, like the Xile, 

 akes its rise from unknown sources,^^ and, in a similar manner, 

 vaters the neighbouring territoiy ; others, again, say that it rises 

 n the mountains of Scythia. They state also that nineteen 

 ivers discharge their waters into it ; those among them that 

 re navigable, besides the rivers already mentioned,^^ are the 

 "ondochates,"*^ the Erannoboas,'** the Cosoagus,"^ and the 

 5onus. Other writers again say that it bursts forth at its 

 -ery source with a loud noise, hurling itself over rocks and 

 )recipices ; and that after it has reached the plains, its waters 

 )ecome more tranquil, and it pauses for a time in a certain 

 ake, after which it flows gently on. They say also that it 

 s eight miles in breadth, where it is the very narrowest, and 



jalf-way between the rivers Mahanuddy and Godavery ; and the territory 

 )f the Calingse seems to correspond pretty nearly to the district of Circars, 

 ying along the coast of Orissa. 



^ By the Malli, Parisot is of opinion that the people of Moultan are 

 neant. 



^•5 So much so, indeed, that its sources were unknown to the learned 

 vorld till the beginning of the present century, although the Chinese em- 

 )eror Tang- Hi on one occasion sent a body of Llamas for the purpose of 

 nquiring into the subject. It is now ascertained that the river Ganges is 

 he result of the confluence of three separate streams, which bear the re- 

 spective names of the Gannavi, the Bhagirathi, and the Alakananda. The 

 iccond is of the most sacred character, and is the one to which the largest 

 ;oncourse of pilgrims resort. The ancients held various opinions as to 

 .he sources of the river. 



^^ The Cainas and the Jomanes, mentioned in the last Chapter. 



*' The modern Gandaki or Guuddk is generally supposed to be repre- 

 sented by the Condochates. 



*■* Represented as flowing into the Ganges at Palimbothra, the modern 

 Patna. There has been considerable discussion among the learned as to 

 tvhat river is indicated by this name. It has, however, been considered 

 iiost probable that it is the same as the Sonus of Pliny, the modern Soane, 

 :hough both that author, as well as Arrian, speaks of two rivers, which 

 ;hej- call respectively Erannoboas and Sonus. The name was probably 

 ierived from the Sanscrit Hyrar^-avahas, the poetical name of the Sonus. 



*' Supposed to be the same as the river Cosi or Coravaha. 



