234 On the Sites of Nikaia and Boukephalon. [No. 3. 



of Mahmood of Ghuzni, and was then, with hundreds of other towns, 

 overthrown ; and its name (which must have sounded idolatrous to 

 that righteous monster) blotted out. The existence in it of an idol 

 temple (the temple before alluded to) would have sufficed to seal its 

 condemnation. 



But the site is too important to be many years neglected, and hence 

 the town of Jelum may have arisen on the site of Nikaia, and this 

 being afterwards destroyed or found inconvenient by the inhabitants, 

 may have led to the erection of the modern town of that name close 

 to the site and built of the bricks of the ruined Boukephala. This 

 town, whatever its origin, has changed the name of the Hydaspes from 

 V'dusta to Jelum; and it may be a question whether it be, as generally 

 supposed, a Persian word, or a corruption of the Greek word ZfiXov 

 pomp, or o-vXov spoils — the place where the booty of Poms was 

 divided. 



But for the existence of an old Greek site at old Jelum, I should 

 have supposed that Nikaia had been where Sookchynepoor now stands, 

 and that it was one town of several which have there been destroyed 

 by the encroachments of the Hydaspes. But there is no tradition of 

 the name of the towns thus carried away, which can aid in throwing 

 light upon the question. The site of Sookchynepoor is peculiarly 

 happy, and must have been I think almost upon the battle-field, or at 

 least in sight of it. If Sookchynepoor be Nikaia, the old Jelum is 

 probably a Greek town with a Grecian name. 



If then my arguments have not been in vain, I have shown — 



1st. That Alexander must have skirted the mountains of Huzara, 

 the realm of Abisares, after his passage of the Indus. 



2nd. That the probabilities are in favour of his having followed 

 the Jelum route to the Hydaspes. 



The word Jylum is derivable from Sunscrit : viz. Jy, victory — lim, 

 house, — the habitation or abode of victory ; which is just a translation 

 of the Greek name Nikaia. The position of Sookchynepoor as the 

 site of Nikaia is for many reasons preferable to that of old Jelum. 

 But unfortunately there is no tradition that can assist us in fixing it 

 with certainty, and the site of the town which preceded Sookchyne- 

 poor has been wholly swept away by the river. 



3rd. That the probabilities are strongly in favour of his flank 



