1836.] and the ancient province of Taxila. 469 



native kings assumed the name on mounting the throne ; and we find 

 in history Alexander obliging Omphis, who governed the country, 

 to take the name of Taxiles. The appellation is quite unknown at 

 the present day. 



It appears that the Greeks confined Taxila proper to the central 

 part of the region between the Indus and the Hydaspes ; for when 

 they passed it, the northern portion was ruled by chiefs independent of 

 Omphis, while the south was in open opposition to both Alexander 

 and his ally. 



The geographical limits of Taxila are well defined on the map, by 

 the two rivers and the chain of Pirpanjdl on the north ; — from this 

 range to Koshdb on the south it measures 120 kos, with a breadth 

 from Attok to the Jelim of 74 kos*. 



It seems probable that the original inhabitants were Hindus of the 

 Pandava race, and Chandra-vansis. With these were amalgamated 

 Persians, Scythians, and even Greeks ; for the Glie'kers, of whom so 

 much has lately been written, I take to be the descendants of the 

 Macedonian colonists ; — they themselves trace their ancestors to the 

 Khaiani race of Persia, but the word seems but a corruption of Greek. 



Taxila contains the traces of a number of ancient towns of which the 

 origin is now unknown . Massive walls of stone masonry are seen, 

 and in some places brick work of Babylonish dimensions. The inha- 

 bitants call them the ruins of temples of Deva Nagarif or Sita-Rama. 

 The most curious, however, are the mausolea, cupolas, or topes. In the 

 northern provinces are found colossal statues of plaster, marble, and 

 stone, most of which have been mutilated by the bigotry of the 

 Muhammedans. Smaller idols are also occasionally dug up of superior 

 execution : some I have remarked with frizzled hair. The ancient 

 religion of the country was Buddhistic. The worship of Bacchus, or the 

 Sun, prevailed at the time of Alexander, and traces of it are visible 

 in the names of towns, as Surya, Sita, and Causalya ; the sun, his 

 daughter and mother (?)" 



The present inhabitants, being of so mixed an origin, betray striking 

 varieties of character and manners. The Musulmans who border the 

 Hydaspes resemble perfectly the Hindus of the Punjab, — while those 

 on the east bank of the Indus have all the peculiarities of the Afghans, 

 whence they are descended — an elegant figure, pleasing features, and 

 vivacity of expression. They are loquacious like the Persians : — and 

 though living in servitude, they retain their national pride, and submit 



* Col. Wilford's map states that the Jcos of this part of the country varies 

 from 10 to 22 furlongs, probably 2 miles will be a fair average. — Ed. 

 t Doubtless the Uda-nagari of Wilford ; see note to page 468. — Ed. 



