628 The Battle Field of Alexander and Porus. [Dec. 



means probably the mighty forest, a name well deserved, as standing in 

 the naked plains of the Eusafzyes. 



I would not give in to the notion that any thing is exaggerated* by 

 the Greek historians. Such an idea would, I think, lead us astray. 

 Their history, like their sculpture, emanates from a mental organization 

 most critically balanced. The same severity of taste which caused them 

 to discard whatever was superfluous in architecture, whatever was be- 

 yond the perfect law of proportion in nature, seems to have dictated 

 a close adherence to truth in their histories, as the secret of historical 

 symmetry. So far as my own observation extends, (and I have wan- 

 dered over a large portion of Alexander's track) the difficulties are 

 actually underrated : the descriptions so truthful that on visiting the 

 scene, the dramatis personse seem to confront us, and that wonderful 

 series of conquests seems but the work of yesterday. 



The Maha Bunn agrees to the minutest particular with the descrip- 

 tion of Aornos, standing on the right bank of the Indus, feathered with 

 forests, watered by perennial springs. Its summit, a plateau capable 

 of holding the camp of a Persian army, and of employing a hundred 

 ploughs ; its pastures, the support of innumerable cattle ; its forests and 

 fastnesses the refuge of the Affacini of the plains and of fugitives from 

 Ahisara and Taxila ; its height, gigantic and pre-eminent : its posi- 

 tion sufficiently near to annoy Alexander's columns ; its inhabitants to 

 this day unconquered, paying neither allegiance nor tribute to any man. 

 Khubul, a large village washed by the waters of the Indus, is still a noted 

 hotel for fugitives from Peshawur and Huzara ; so that I was obliged 

 some months ago to blockade it. 



The Taxila of history is supposed by Captain Cunningham to be 

 the present Tukht purri or Trukh purri, 6 miles westward of Manuk- 

 yala. This old site is adjacent to Rabaht, the cemetery of the eastern 

 or Dhangulli branch of the Gukka family, and subsequently the seat of 

 a subdivision of that tribe. The name long ago struck me : but there 

 are some difficulties attending the identification. Taxila was the place 

 selected by Alexander for recruiting the strength of his army. It was 

 also the capital of Taxiles. Now the Tarkhaili have no tradition of 



* The breadth of the Hydaspes at Bukephalia appears to me very correctly esti- 

 mated by Quintus Curtius as four stadia or half a mile, he is speaking of its state 

 during the monsoon. 



