1836.] Memoir on the Ancient Coins of Beghrdm. 5 



That Beghrdm was once a capital city is evidenced by its tope, a 

 sepulchral monument of departed royalty ; while a second, situated in 

 Tope Darah, about nine miles west, may probably be referred to it, as 

 may perhaps a third found at Alisahi, at the gorge of the valley of 

 Nijrow, distant about 1 2 miles east. The appellation Beghrdm must also 

 be considered indicative of the pre-eminence of the city it characterizes ; 

 undoubtedly signifying the chief city or metropolis. About three miles 

 east of Kdbul, we have a village and extensive pasture retaining this name, 

 which indicates the site of the capital in which Kadphis and his lineage 

 ruled, and whose topes we behold on the skirts of the neighbouring 

 hills. Near Jeldldbdd, a spot called Beghrdm, about a mile and half 

 west of the present town, denotes the site of the ancient Nysa; or, if the 

 position of that city admit of controversy, of Nagara ; its successor in 

 rank and consequence. Near Peshawar we have a spot called Beghrdm, 

 pointing out the site of the original city ; and that this epithet of emi- 

 nence and distinction was continued, up to a recent date, to the city of 

 Peshdwer, we learn from Ba'ber and Abul Fazl. 



We have indications in the Kohistdn of Kdbul of two other ancient 

 cities, which were undoubtedly considerable ones, but which we cannot 

 suppose to have rivalled Beghrdm in extent or importance. The 

 principal of these is found in Perwan, about eight miles N. 19 W. of 

 Beghrdm, and consequently that distance nearer to the grand range of 

 Caucasus, under whose inferior hills it is in fact situated. The second 

 is found at Korahtass, a little east of the famed hill, and Zedrat Khwojeh, 

 Raig Ruwan, distant from Beghrdm about six miles N. 48 E. There 

 are also many other spots in various parts of the Kohistan which exhibit 

 sufficient evidences of their ancient population and importance; but 

 these must be considered to have been towns, not cities. In the valley 

 of Panjshir we have more considerable indications, and we are enabled 

 to identify three very extensive sites of ancient cities ; but which, from 

 the character of the country, and the limited extent of its resources, we 

 can hardly suppose to have flourished at the same epoch. In the 

 Koh Daman of Kdbul, or the countiy intervening between that city and 

 the Kohistan, we discover two very important sites, which unquestionably 

 refer to once capital cities : both occur in a direct line from Beghrdm to 

 Kdbul, under the low hill ranges which bound Koh Daman to the east, 

 and contiguously also east to the river of Koh Daman ; the first com- 

 mences about eight miles from Beghrdm, and is known by the name of 

 Tartrung-Zar ; the second is about the same distance farther on, and 

 has no particular name, but is east of the seignorial castles of Luchu 

 Khan, and the village of Korinder : at this site we find a tope, an 

 indubitable evidence of royalty, and connected with it is a stupendous 



