1833.) Reputed Descendants of Alexander. 305 
from 2 to 2°5. The shells do not effervesce in acids, although some of 
them still preserve their external polish. Internally some of these 
stones, particularly the lighter, appear to pass into flint, whilst their 
external surface effervesces in acids. 
Not far distant, lumps of a greyish yellow limestone, crystalline, and 
earthy, the latter containing shells nearly similar to those in the sili- 
ceous stone. 
At Shivalingapah the wacken contains shells which preserve more of 
their carbonate of lime. Those appearances are the more singular, 
since the land at Medcondah is a continuation of the basaltic trap at 
an elevation of nearly 2000 feet above the level of the sea, distant 
from the Manjera 14 miles, and 200 feet above the bed of that river. 
" IIL.—On the reputed Descendants of Alexander the Great, in the Valley 
of the Oxus. By Lieut. Alexander Burnes, Bombay Army. 
[Read at the Meeting of the Asiatic Society, 29th May, 1833.] 
In speaking of the existence of Grecian colonies in the remote 
regions of Central Asia, said to be descended from ALEXANDER of Mace- 
don, it is necessary to premise, that I am not indulging in speculation, 
but asserting a lineage of various tribes of people, that is claimed by 
themselves, and merits therefore our attention. Marco Poto is the 
first author who mentions the existence of such a people, and informs 
us that the Mrrr of Badakhshan laid claim to a Grecian origin. The 
emperor Bazser corroborates the testimony, and the historian of his 
grand-son Axsar, the renowned Asut Fazu, points to the country 
of the Siahposh Kafirs, north of Peshdwar, as the seat of these soi- 
disant Macedonians. Mr. Exreuinstone has, I think, successfully 
refuted this supposition, for the Kafirs are a savage and mountainous 
tribe, without a tradition on the subject. 
The great elevation of their country appears to me satisfactorily to 
account for all their physical peculiarities, nor can [ look upon these 
people as any other than the aborigines of the plains, who fled to their 
present elevated abode in the wars that followed the introduction of 
Muhammedanism. Kajir means simply an infidel, and is applied by 
Muhammedans to all who disbelieve in their prophet. Mr. E:pHinstone 
confirms the statement of Marco Ponto by telling us, that the chief of 
Darwaz, in the valley of the Oxus, claimed a descent from ALEXANDER, 
which was admitted by all his neighbours. Such was the extent of 
information with which I entered the valley of that river, sufficient it 
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