58 PLINY'S NATUEAL HISTORY. [Book VI. 



Dangalae, 21 the Parapinse, 22 the Catuces, and the Mazi ; and 

 then at the foot of Caucasus, to the Cadrusi, whose town 23 was 

 built by Alexander. 



Below all these countries, is the line of coast which we come 

 to after leaving the Indus. Ariana 24 is a region parched by the 

 sun and surrounded by deserts ; still, however, as the face of 

 the country is every here and there diversified with well-shaded 

 spots, it finds communities grouped together to cultivate it, 

 and more especially around the two rivers, known as the 

 Tonberos 25 and the Arosapes. 26 There is also the town of 

 Artacoana, 27 and the river Arius, 28 which flows past Alex- 

 andria, 29 a city founded by Alexander ; this place is thirty 

 stadia in extent. Much more beautiful than it, as well as 

 of much greater antiquity, is Artacabane, 30 fortified a second 

 time by Antiochus, and fifty stadia in breadth. We then 

 come to the nation of the Dorisdorsigi, and the rivers Phar- 



21 Inhabiting the modern Danra, according to Parisot. 



22 Inhabitants of the modern Parasan, according to Parisot. 



23 The modern Candahar is generally supposed to occupy its site. 



24 Pliny is thought to have here confounded the extensive district of 

 Ariana with the smaller province of Aria, which only formed a portion of 

 it. Ariana comprehended nearly the whole of what had been previously 

 ancient Persia- 



25 The river known in modern times as the Ilincut, according to Pa- 

 risot. 



26 This is supposed by Forbiger to be the modern Arghasan, one of the 

 tributaries of the Helmend. Parisot says that it was the same as the 

 modern Sat. 



27 Supposed to be the same as the " Aria civitas," or "city of Aria" of 

 other authors, which, however, is most probably represented by Alexandria, 

 the modern Herat, situate on the small stream now called the Heri-Rud. 

 At all events, Artacoana (proved by M. Court to be a word of Persian origin 

 Arde Koun) was, if not the same place, at a very small distance from it. 

 M. Barbie de Bocage is of opinion that it occupied the site of Pushing, 

 a town on the Heri river, one stage from Herat ; and by M. Court it is 

 thought to have been at Obeh, near the same place. 



28 Now called the Heri-Rud, which runs to the west of Herat. 



29 It is said that, judging from a traditional verse still current among 

 the people of Herat, that town is believed to unite the claims of the 

 ancient capital built by Alexander the Great, or indeed, more properly, 

 repaired by him, as he was but a short time in Aria. The distance also 

 from the Caspian Gates to Alexandria favours its identification with the 

 modern Herat. 



30 This place does not appear to have been identified. 



