150 Lieut.-Colonel Tov’s Comparison of the Hindu and Theban Hercules. 
was Aswa, probably the Asi, one of the four Scythic tribes inhabiting 
Central-Asia, mentioned by Strabo as having, in conjunction with the 
Tochari, &c. (Turshka), overturned the Bactrian empire.* That he was 
Indo-Scythic, this instance of admitted polyandrism would alone go far to 
prove. Nor is it improbable that the Pandus were the offspring of a Scythic 
prince of this region to which they migrated, who obtained the favours of 
Pandea, and that the story of their birth was fabricated to hide the disgrace. 
They returned with their bride to Hastinapoor, and with the aid of the 
priesthood and concurrence of the blind king Dhertrashtra, a partition of 
dominion took place, when Yudishtra, the elder Pandu, was enthroned in 
Indraput,t which henceforth eclipsed the more ancient capital Hastinapoor. 
But the contests for supremacy were soon renewed, and the brothers 
again declared outlaws by their uncompromising and vindictive relation. 
They soon travelled to the south, and were long indebted to the deep 
forests of Virdt and Herimbd, for security, suffering every privation and 
encountering manifold dangers from the savage beasts and no less savage 
men who peopled these wilds. The remembrance of these varied adven- 
tures is yet cherished in these intricate and interesting regions, through 
which I have traced their wanderings, and listened with delight to the 
recital of their adventures; to that of Bhima with the giant daughter of 
Herimba, or the exploit of Heri with the demon of Toolisham.t I have 
lo-tching, doubtless Pooliman, king of Magadha, or Behar, his capital, Champapoori. He 
also the same year received ambassadors from the king of Outcha. This is Ootch at the 
Jurca of the Punjnad, or confluent five rivers forming the Indus. From Cosmos we learn that 
an Indo-Scythic king of Hun race then ruled on the Indus. I have often intended to analyse 
those chapters of De Guignes, containing the account of the missions from India to China at 
this remote period, having perhaps had better opportunities of studying the Geography of 
northern India than many others, but I have so much varied material that I must be satisfied to 
throw out these hints for others to pursue; satisfied it is worth the labour, as an aid to Hindu 
chronology. ‘ On the Dynasties of Sum, Leam, and Tam.”—Hist. Gen. des Huns, tom. i. 
* A colony of this Asi, I have surmised in a preceding paper, may have colonized Scandinavia 
and founded Asgard : the region (gar) of the Asi. Thither the Gefe had preceded; hence the 
mythological similitude exhibited in the martial poetry of the Rajpoot bards, and the Scalds of 
the North; besides the resemblance of the Runes and old Pali of these Pastoral tribes. 
+ Its name of Dehli is modern, having been given in the eighth century, by the Tuars, 
descended from the Pandus, who refounded it. 
t Heri’s slaughter of the Hydra of Yamuna and rescuing the Vedas, or Science, from the same 
foe in the Gulph of Cutch, form a parallel to, and might be the original of Hercules strangling 
the serpent, and the adventure of the Pythian Apollo. 
