1854.] Gradus ad Aornon. 811 



of either of the historians, but other officers have for years scrutinized 

 the rocks on the right bank of the Indus with like disappointment. 

 It may be well therefore to enquire wherein the difficulty lies. 



Of all the histories written by ancient authors of Alexander's 

 conquests only two* remain. The " Anabasis" of Arrian and the 

 " Exploits of Alexander" by Curtius, the first written 460 years, 

 the second 400 years after the death of Alexander. The contem- 

 porary history of Ptolemy, the companion of Alexander, is lost for 

 ever, so are the Journals of Alexander's Quarter Master Generalf 

 Breton and of Diognetus. Another life of the king written during 

 his reign was destroyed by him for its fulsome flattery. The Jour- 

 nals of Onesicritus are lost, excepting some scattered fragments 

 quoted by other authors. 



Now, if the two extant histories agreed in local description, we 

 might confidently take the guidance of either. But this is not the 

 fact, and in no case are the discrepancies so great, as in the several 

 descriptions of the Bock Aornos. It becomes therefore necessary 

 to make our choice : to follow the one, and either to reject the other 

 or to use it as a commentary. "Where such necessity exists, few will 

 hesitate to prefer the matter-of-fact history of Arrian to the more 

 romantic narration of Curtius ; the first being the work apparently 

 of a cool investigator well versed in geography and in military 

 tactics ; whilst the beautiful language and vivid descriptions of 

 Curtius are often the whole merit of his work. 



This plan I purpose pursuing in my quest of Aornos. Arrian 

 is the text, Curtius and Strabo are the commentaries. Curtius can 

 often, and Strabo may sometimes, supply hints omitted by Arrian. 

 All had access we may presume to Ptolemy's authentic history. 



In commencing this search, it is necessary to start from some 

 point, the general locality of which is beyond question. Let us take 

 for this the Alexandria ev 7rapa7ra/>tacrai?. Whether this be Begh- 

 vimX near Cabul or Istalif is immaterial at present, since the route 

 from either to India is the same. 



Leaving Alexandria in Parapamisis, Alexander marched to the 



* I do not mention Plutarch's account, which is a sketch rather than a history, 

 •f- See Pliny, Book VI. p. 125, D. Holland's translation. 

 % Vibgraon, an excellent city ; or Veuggron, a difficult city. 



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