1840.] from Bactrian and Indo-Scythian coins. 745 



already, before the destruction of the Parthian empire, taken 

 possession of a part of Sogdiana. This era likewise agrees with 

 the fact above mentioned, that the Sogdians had contributed 

 their share in weakening the power of the Bactrian empire ; this 

 event must therefore have happened in the latter days of Eukra- 

 tides, or in the time of his successor, posterior to 160 b. c. 



The Yuetchis remained not long in the possession of their 

 new country ; another nation, the Ousun, flying from the 

 Hioungnus, deprived them of those districts ; the Yuetchis 

 ejecting the Sssus^ occupied the provinces possessed by them; 

 the SzuSf pushed to the south, find an opportunity of taking 

 possession of the country Kipin; the Yuetchis, following in 

 their wake, take the country of the Tahia.^ A Chinese general, 

 Tchamkiao, accompanied this expedition of the Yuetchis, and 

 the well ascertained event occurred immediately previous to 

 the year 126 b. c. 



This is the very year in which Phrahates was killed by 

 the Scythians ; the Yuetchis and the Szus flying from them, 

 are therefore the Tochares and Saces of western writers, whom 

 Phrahates is reported to have taken into pay. These mercenaries 

 were perhaps at first the Szus, and we indeed find Artaban 

 opposed to the Tochares. Whether the Szus were driven into 

 Bactria, according to the Chinese account, or called into that 

 country as according to Justin, both statements may be right as 

 regards their immediate narrative. Phrahates wished to avail 

 himself of the Scythians, pressed into his neighbourhood, to 

 strengthen his army. While Mithridates, ^^ ultor injuriae paren- 

 tum,^^ arrested for some time, it appears, the progress of those 

 Scythians. 



The Yuetchis divided the conquered districts according to the 

 number of their hordes, into five parts ; they had the country 

 of the Asi, or Ansi, whom De Guignes reads Gansi, as their 

 western frontier ; it is as appears probable correctly interpreted 

 as the country of the Parthians.f 



* De Guignes, p. 22. p. 23. Kl. p. 133. R6m. p. 83. 

 t Rem. p. 83. De Guign. p. 23. Kl. p. 133. 



