328 R. D. Oldham — On prolahle Changes {71 the Geogra;phy [N'o. 4, 



that in this case his statement is really correct, thoagh constructively 

 wrong. In the extract from Al Istakhri it is merely stated that Alrnr 

 is situated ' near the Mihran,' but, in the map reproduced by Prof. 

 Dowson* and extracted from the Askkalu-1 Bilad (a copy of Ibn 

 Haukul's work), Alrur is clearly placed on the east bank of the Indus, 

 on the same side as Multan and the opposite side to Sadusan and 

 Makran. This map is said to be very similar to that of Al Istakhri, as 

 published by Moeller, and may be regarded as probably more trustworthy 

 than the text, into which clerical errors are so easily introduced. 



But if the geographers can give us no definite information on this 

 subject, we can at least obtain a fairly certain answer from the historians, 

 for, in the Chachnama,t it is stated that Chach set out from Alor and 

 after many marches reached the fort of Pabiya " on the Biyah," after 

 capturing this fort he crossed the Biyah, and, having passed the Ravi, 

 reached Multan: the same itinerary is given for Muhammad Kasim's 

 later march over the same country both in the Chachnama and by Al 

 Biladuri,J and it is certain that the passage of the Indus, had it been 

 crossed, would not have been omitted by a chronicler who was careful to 

 mention the much smaller rivers of the Bias and Ravi. In the case of 

 Muhamm.ad Kasim, the passage of the Indus at Mrun is recorded, but 

 there is no record of his recrossing it before reaching Aror. 



This should be sufficient proof that the Eastern Narra has not been 

 the bed of the Indus, at any rate since the eighth century, but this 

 opinion is so widely held and has been so supported by authority that 

 it will not be amiss to bring forward still further evidence pointing in 

 the same direction. 



The Arab geographer Al Idrisi places the head of the Delta, or the 

 place where the first distributory is given off, at Kallari, * a hard day's 

 journey' of forty miles from Mansura. The exact words of the trans- 

 lation are " at Kallari it divides — the principal branch runs towards 

 Mansura, the other flows northwards (southwards) as far as Sharusau 

 it then turns westwards (eastwards) and rejoins the chief stream forming 

 henceforward only one river. The Mihran passes on to Mrun and then 

 flows into the sea."§ Further on it says, " Kallari on the west (east) 

 bank of the Mihran is a pretty town well fortified and is a busy trading 

 place. Near it the Mihran separates into two branches ; the largest 

 runs towards the west (east) as far as the vicinity of Mansuria which 

 is on the west (east ?) bank ; the other runs towards the north-west 



* Elliot's History of India, I, 32. 

 t Op. cit, I, 140. 

 t Op. cit., I, pp. 122 and 202-3. 

 § Elliot, op. cit., I, 78. 



