1842.] from the West and North-west. 581 



more than twenty years before he made any attempt on' India, and 

 then he was invited by the rebellious chief of Lahore, who aided in his 

 first advance to Delhi. He always used the same direct route, and 

 early established a garrison and depot at Sirhind, in aid of his 

 expeditions. Nadir Shah having established his authority in Persia, 

 took Herat after an eight months' siege, and thence advanced to 

 Kandahar, claiming these as cities of Persia. From Kandahar he 

 advanced by Ghuzni to Kabool, having conciliated the Ghiljie tribes, 

 who had cause of offence against Delhi for neglect in the payment of 

 certain customary stipends. In his march from Kabool, he was unop- 

 posed, until he crossed the Sutlej, owing to the distractions and intri» 

 gues which then rent the court of Delhi. The battle which opened 

 the way to Delhi was fought at Kurnal, and Mohummud Shah thence 

 carried Nadir Shah to his capital as a friend or ally. The invader re- 

 turned across the Punjab unopposed as he had come, with the plunder 

 of the palace and capital of the Moghul emperor in his train. 



Ahmed Shah, in all his expeditions, seems to have followed the 

 same route, preferring it apparently on account of the water and forage 

 which is always to be obtained in plenty at the foot of mountain 

 ranges of sufficient elevation, and having garrisons of his own, or of 

 friendly chiefs at Atuk, Lahore, and Sirhind. The march of Nadir 

 Shah is thus the last that can be called an invasion for purposes of 

 conquest. 



This notice, however, of the routes and passes into India that have 

 been followed by different conquerors would obviously be incomplete, 

 if the wonderful expedition of Alexander were altogether omitted. It 

 has been reserved for last mention, that the reader may have the benefit 

 of the story of after-expeditions, to assist in the determination of the 

 line of this earliest — the Greek historians having left its course and 

 details somewhat obscure. 



The compilation of Arrian is the record of best authority which we pos- 

 sess of the military operations and marches of Alexander ; for Quintus 

 Curtius supplies only some fuller details of personal adventures, and a 

 very few additional names. Arrian's seven chapters on Alexander's Ex- 

 pedition are based, as the author states, on the notes of Ptolemy and 

 Aristobulus, who both accompanied the army throughout. His des- 

 criptions are sufficiently accurate to enable us, with the lights recently 



