468 Lassen on the History traced [No. 101 . 



or from Bactria, the paths from the northern and central Asia 

 meet here. 



Secondly. — It must not be forgotten, that the districts along 

 the Cabul river have a tendency to resolve themselves into petty 

 states and national confederacies, unless a vigorous hand sways 

 the sceptre within the country. The country does not only 

 separate of itself into an eastern and western division, but, if 

 circumstances admit, small independent powers may also main- 

 tain themselves in the valleys of the northern tributaries of the 

 main river. 



Thirdly. — Supposing such a state of disorganization to exist, 

 each of these little river districts will seek its centre in itself, 

 and create a petty capital. However, in a state of well ordered 

 union, some particular foci of intercourse along the course of the 

 main-road, about Peshawur for the eastern, and Cabul for the 

 western Cabulistan, about Jelalabad, as connecting both, and for 

 intercourse with the Kameh valley — lastly, at the entrance into 

 the passes over the Hindookush on the low lands round Begh- 

 ram — must be formed by the course of mercantile transactions. 

 To render these relations quite evident, we may observe, that 

 the peculiar architectural monuments of the country, the topes, 

 are grouped round those four mentioned places, Peshawur in 

 the valleys of the Khyher tribes, Jelalabad at Soorkhrood, Cabul 

 itself, and, lastly, at the foot of the mountain district round 

 Beghram. 



For the purpose of giving a sketch of the historical accounts 

 of this country, we may commence by observing, that we must 

 especially keep in view accounts as to the national characteristics 

 of those people, without engaging in a complete inquiry into the 

 passages of the ancient geographers. We shall postpone this to 

 a more appropriate place, and besides, there exists already a 

 very thorough examination of this kind by an eminent geogra- 

 pher.* 



By way of beginning on a safe basis, let us commence with the 

 celebrated campaign of Alexander the Great. 



* Carl Ritter on the campaign of Alexander the Great in the Indian 

 Caucasus (in den Abhandlungen der Berliner Akademie aus dem Iahre 

 1829, p. 137. 



