10 Memoir on the Ancient Coins of Beghrdm. [Jan. 



so ; and it is probable that he crossed the Indus above Attock, or at a 

 point in the modern district of Puekoli, perhaps the ancient Peucolaotis. 

 A similarity of denomination may not always be depended upon, but 

 when combined with other accordances, it becomes, as D'Anville 

 expresses it, " un moyen de convenance." I shall close my specu- 

 lations on the site of Beghrdm, by remarking, that Alexander in his 

 march from Bactra to Alexandria ad Caucasum will have arrived at it 

 by the route of Bamidn and Shibr, because Arrian informs us, that he 

 passed Drapsaca on the road, which can hardly be mistaken for the 

 former of those places. Alexander crossed the Hindu Kosh or Cauca- 

 sus in the month of May ; when, supposing the seasons and climate of 

 these countries to have been the same as at present, any other route 

 over that mountain range was impracticable. The route from Bamidn 

 to Ghorband is passable to kdfilas at all seasons of the year, and is no 

 doubt the high road ; but it has been closed during the last twenty-five 

 years, by the insurrection of the Shaikh Ali Hazdrehs, who inhabit the 

 small extent of country between Ghorband and Shibr. The route of 

 Bamidn will have conducted Alexander either to Nildb or Beghrdm', 

 and these observations would have been unnecessary, had it not been 

 supposed by some that his starting place was Anderdb : this assumption 

 does not however seem warranted, and if grounded on the route that 

 Timu'r followed, it should have been recollected that the Tartar conqueror 

 crossed the Indian Caucasus in the month of July. 



It had been my intention this year to have secured every coin of 

 every description that should be picked up from the dusht of Beghrdm, 

 and this purpose would probably have been effected, had I not been 

 compelled to be absent at Jeldldbdd. A young man was however 

 despatched thither, with recommendatory letters to my friends in the 

 Kohistdn, and to him was confided the collection of all he might be able 

 to procure. On my eventually reaching Kabul, the young man joined 

 with 1320 coins, from the appearance of which it was evident he had 

 selected, and not, as ordered, taken all that were offered. It also 

 appeared, that in consequence of the distracted political state of the 

 Kohistdn in the spring, the Afghan pastoral families had not as usual 

 visited the plains of Beghrdm at an early season. In the autumn, more- 

 over, from apprehensions of a rising in this part of the country, the 

 Afghans sent their flocks to the Safi hills, the persons tending which 

 are the principal finders of these coins. Under these unfavorable 

 circumstances, I twice repaired to Beghrdm, and at various intervals 

 despatched my young men, and the total result of our collection this 

 year was five silver and 1900 copper coins. These are of course generally 



