1863. ] Aornos. 417 
the passage across. Alexander, who had come through the country 
of the Aspasioi (Issupzye) and Gouraioi and Assakanoi,* (people of 
Punjgour and Swaut,) to Bazira, leaving this town, and subduing 
some others on the Indus, came to Embolima at the foot of Aornos. 
Had Alexander marched towards Atuk where Hodi’s hill is sited, 
he had not sent half his army} with Hephaistioon and Perdikkas, as 
he would have been himself close in rear to support them. But he 
had gone through the countries of the Punjgour, the Assazye and 
Asup or Issupzye, and rejoined Hephaistioon after the siege of Aornos 
by a march off 16 stages: proving manifestly that Aornos was no 
where near the crossing of the Indus. 
Were Raja Hodi’s hill, when divested of its fortifications, a strong- 
hold calculated to have thrice foiled the greatest General of his age, 
and to be regarded as the greatest capture of Alexander ; it would be 
time enough J think, to enquire whether its name had ever been 
Benares or any thing else convertible by etymologists into Aornos. 
Mountains guite worthy of Hercules and of Alexander overshadow 
the Indus above the plain of the Aspasioi. Whether Mount Wunj 
(Aon}) the most difficult of these, and which, according to tradition, 
was not violated even by Alexander, be Aornos, or whether it be the 
Mahabunn, which more exactly suits Arrian’s description, I must leave 
to be determined by after research. In the case of the Mahabunn the 
name alone differs. Its title of “The Rock” it well deserves, as 
seen from the river side, being scarped by tremendous precipices at 
summit: and its name of “ Mahabunn” or the mighty forest, may 
very possibly be a corruption of “ Mahabutt,” the mighty rock ; even 
as we know from Jehangir’s autobiography, the neighbouring moun- 
tain of Gundgurh, to have been called in his day§ Gurrjgurh or “ the 
house of Thunder,’ and Huzara to have been called “ Abisara.”’ 
Persons who first visit Atuk, look up at once to Hodi’s castle and 
if they have not Arrian beside them, naturally ask, may not that be 
Aornos? But after considering the contemptible nature of the hill, 
* Assakanoi are no doubt the Assazye or sons of Assa who inhabit Swaut. 
+ exovTas thy Te Topyiov takiw kat KaAe:rov kat Medcaypou kat twy ETOLpwy 
IMTEWY TOUS NMLGEAS, KaL TOUS LoVOPopous imTEas GuMmavTas. Arrian iv. 22. 
{ Inde processit EHkbolima, &c. Hine ad flumen Indum sextis decimis cas- 
tris pervenit. Curtius VIII. 12, i. e., to the crossing of the Indus. For he had 
just descended Aornos which is on the Indus. 
§ From the thunderous sound which seems at times to proceed from its summit, 
but is probably the reflection of a sound generated high up in the river channel. 
3G 2 
