1852.] On the Sites of Nikaia and Boukephalon. 221 



These boats were conveyed on carts to the spot and hidden behind the 

 island nearest shore. The rafts were hidden in the bushes. But they 

 must have been launched at least a day or two previous to the embark- 

 ation in order to prove their capacity for the enterprize. This could 

 not have been done at Darapoor, without giving the alarm at Russool. 

 We have yet to examine a circumstance which has led several to 

 think the crossing must have been in this neighbourhood. Curtius 

 has stated that in crossing the tremendous torrent of the Hydaspes, 

 the waters, beaten back,* betrayed the existence of hidden rocks : in 

 many places, he adds, further on,f but one boat was wrecked, being 

 driven by the current against a rock. Now although I think that 

 Quintus Curtius' s history is generally faithful ; yet there are proofs 

 sufficient that he occasionally dealt in poetical embellishment of facts. 

 This is seen in his episode of Alexander and Charus at the storming 

 of Aornos, and in the fine speeches which he puts into the mouths of 

 his heroes. Any person gazing upon the torrent of the Hydaspes, 

 during the monsoon or previously, must have been struck with the 

 sight of these " undse repercussse," this boiling up of the waters, as 

 if hurled back from sunken rocks. Nevertheless, there are no rocks 

 below Luhri. There are none at Darapoor nor at Julalpoor, although 

 the mountain almost dips its foot into the wave. The reason of this 

 seems to be that the sandstone is so soft and friable, that it melts 

 into sand under the influence of air and water. Arrian is quite silent 

 about the rocks. The inference is that none existed then, any more 

 than now. A boat may have been lost against the hard solid bank of 

 the island, as well as if it had been rock. The current is so violent 

 at that season, that a boat with fifty or sixty men in it, is easily 

 smashed against any obstruction less soft than water. As the boiling 



4500 cavalry would require 300 rafts. And if one boat would take 50 infantry, 

 190 boats would be required for 9500 ; giving a total of 490 floats. Where could 

 they have been concealed from a scout on the high cliff of Russool. 



* Nee pro spatio aquarura late stagnantium impetum coercebat ; sed quasi in 

 arctum coeuntibus ripis, torrens, et elisus ferebatur ; occultaque saxa inesse osten- 

 debant pluribus locis undse repercussse. — Q. Cur. lib. viii. cap. 13. 



f Una ergo navi, quam petrse fiuctus illiserat, hserente, cgeterse evadunt, id. 

 lib. viii. cap. 13. The word " hserente," here used, savors rather of a bank or 

 shoal than of a mass of stone properly termed rock. 



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