1863. ] Aornos. 4415 
We know of no other ancient accounts of Aornos beside those just 
now quoted. When Plutarch wrote, there were 16 different histories 
of Alexander’s exploits, every one of which has perished. Plutarch 
himself offers no account of this siege, excepting the words of encourage- 
ment which Alexander offered to a leader of one of the storming parties 
of his own name. We have therefore, I believe, collated together all 
that is authentic relating to Aornos. 
From these it appears that in our search for Aornos the following 
particulars must absolutely be borne in mind ; two of the three authori- 
ties agreeing together in all. 
That Aornos was on the right bank of the Indus, near the cities 
Masaga, Oora, Bazira and Em-bolima. 
That it was the place of refuge of the dense population of the plains, 
including that of the cities aforesaid. 
That its defences were not artificial but natural. 
That its perpendicular height was very considerable, being rated 
by one historian at 10,000 feet, by the other at 4,000, 
That it abounded in forest. 
That, high as stood the rock itself, the mountain which it crowned 
had yet higher ground. 
That when the mountain summit had been won, and the rock con- 
fronted, the extraordinary danger to the besiegers was past. 
Now, in considering Hodis hill—if it be the Aornos we are seek- 
ing, all the fortifications which now render it formidable must have 
been built since Alexander’s day ; and therefore we must imagine the 
hill stript of them before asking whether this be Aornos. Would Mr. 
Loewenthal really believe that one born and nurtured amongst the 
wild mountains of Macedonia, who had stormed Tyre, carried some 
tremendous natural strongholds in Bactria and in the Buktari moun- 
tains, and had just crossed twice the Hindu Koosh, with all his 
engines of war, would have felt much piqued by the fame of a hill 
some six or seven hundred feet high, little differing from thousands 
around him,—a hill, too, which fron: the river side at least (for I 
have a faithful sketch of it from Attok) is perfectly accessible from 
base to summit. 
If this hill be Aornos, we have also to discover south of the Loondi 
or Cabul river, sites answering to the cities Bazira, Oora, Masaga 
and Embolima. or fugitives from the Eusufzye could not have fled to 
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