758 Lassen on the History traced [No. 104. 



though he was neither indolent nor of unwarlike disposition, 

 yet he lived in peace with the Romans. It is therefore also on 

 the authority, though only implied, of history, that we assign 

 to his reign the conquests of the Parthians in Cabul, of which 

 the coins with the names of Vonones and Volagases bear 

 witness.* Nor do we think ourselves mistaken in tracing from 

 this settlement in Cabul the Parthian irruptions into India, men- 

 tioned in the Periplus. 



The circumnavigator of the Erythraean sea tells also of these 

 inroads as an eye-witness, in which will be discovered another 

 reason against placing him so low as the era of Augustus. 



Be it as it may, if Azes be taken for the successor of Vono- 

 nes, and therefore of Volagases, he is placed in so late a period, 

 that the close resemblance of his coins with Grecian patterns is 

 quite inexplicable. Considering the extent of the countries 

 which are under the sway of Azes, no other has a juster title to 

 be identified with him than the Yankaotching of the Chinese 

 annals. The time would correspond, as we have to look accord- 

 ing to those accounts, for the flourishing power of the Yuetchis 

 just in the years 20 — 50. (a. c. ) 



Two facts, however, are at variance with this view. First, the 

 difference of the name, too palpable even for Chinese corruption 

 of sounds, and then, that of the coins. 



They are so closely allied to Greek types, that we must con- 

 nect Azes immediately with the Greeks, and in this case we 

 must likewise expect coins of Indo-Scythian kings who preced- 

 ing Azes, existed between his time and that of the Greeks, 

 and of this description we found only Mayes. Nor does our numis- 

 matological guide, M. Raoul-Rochette doubt in the least as to 

 this earlier era, and accordingly places him immediately after 

 Hermaios (11.42). t 



But if Azes reigned so early, he belonged to the Saces, and 

 not to the Yuetchi. This supposition is supported by the figure 

 of a horseman, which he adopts on his coins ; for the equestrian 



* Lastly, Volagases I. has styled himself "the just," as the Cabulian. 

 Mionnet VIIT. 448. Vonones I. does not bear this epithet. 

 1 II. 42. 



