1840.] from Bactrian and Indo-Scythian coins. 255 



and the Cabul river, from the time of the death of Alexander 

 the Great to the expiration of the dominion of the Sassanides : 

 on the other hand the succeeding history of these provinces 

 under Mahommedan sway, is as cheerless as the Arabian desert. 



The interest and importance of the Bactrian history will 

 scarcely be disputed, although it appears far from being pos- 

 sible to trace this history, not in general shifting intimations, 

 but in clear, lively, and distinct outlines ; for our information 

 about it is in inverse proportion to the importance which the 

 Bactro-Grecian empire ought to enjoy in history. Bayer's* 

 learned treatise has long ago proved, how little the Greek histo- 

 rians thought it worth while to pay attention to the fate of their 

 own countrymen in the distant east. The geographical work 

 of Strabo would be infinitely more valuable for the historian, 

 if he had stated such facts as he knew, instead of giving some 

 few detached, and confused notices on the Bactrian kings. I 

 for my part, would willingly resign for this all his discus- 

 sions on the Curetes, and many similar things. 



Thus this history was hitherto only the subject of the labo- 

 rious diligence of the learned collector, not of the narrating 

 historian, and it will probably remain for a long time in this 

 state ; however, every hope of acquiring at a later period a firmer 

 base and a more fertile field of inquiry is not lost. This hope 

 rests upon the discoveries of the last few years, as well as upon 

 the supposition, that their mine may not yet be exhausted. 



Just a hundred years ago Bayer signed the preface of his 

 acute treatise, and during the ensuing eighty years nothing ap- 

 peared, that could have corrected or enlarged in any essential 

 point his investigations. The history of the Bactrian Hellenes 

 continued to be a catalogue of mere names of kings \ a catalogue, 

 as destitute of facts as laboriously arranged, and scarcely plausi- 

 bly complete. 



The last decad of years, and chiefly its latter half, has brought 

 to light new monuments of that history, so unexpected and so 

 valuable, that the hope above alluded to, seems not to be quite 



* Historia Regni Graecorum Bactriani. Auctore Theophilo Sigifredo 

 Bayero. Petropoli, mdccxxxviii. 4to. 



