342 Gradus ad Aornon. [No. 4. 



It is certain, however, that the Mahabunn has been occupied by 

 castles in two or three places. 



The best known of these is called Shah Kote or the royal castle, 

 a modern name which may refer to the visit of Nadir Shah, who 

 pitched his tent on that spot. 



Another castle is said to have stood on the brink of the precipice 

 facing the east.* The profile is shown in the accompanying 

 outline. To the eastward is a precipice of several hundred feet. 

 To westward is the table of the Mahabunn. To the north is a 

 ravine and beyond it a small hill of the same height as the rock or 

 mound on which the castle stood. The water on which the garrison 

 depended was a spring in this ravine. When the mound was lost 

 the garrison had no choice but of surrender. This site appears to 

 me to answer best the description of Arrian. Ptolemy might easily 

 have passed round to the left, and have occupied the point on the 

 mountain crest. The ordinary path of ascent to the mountain 

 would have placed Alexander also on the left, that is south of the 

 fort. He would have broken ground at 250 yds. that is beyond 

 arrow-flight and have driven his trench up obliquely to the fort. 

 The capture of the small hill near it, would not only have cut off 

 the water of the garrison, but in case of assault, it left them no 

 choice but to fly down the precipice on the east, where every man 

 must have perished in the hot pursuit ; whereas when favoured by 

 night, the paths were practicable to mountaineers well acquainted 

 with them. 



Prom Aornos, Alexander went in search of the brother of Assa- 

 kanos, who had rallied in the mountains and had carried off some 

 of the elephants. 



Trom the summit of the Mahabunn, the extensive valleys of 

 Boonair and Chumla lie spread out to view, the probable retreat of 

 fugitives from Sohaut. When, however, the enemy had mastered 

 the Mahabunn, Boonair and Chumla were no longer tenable. On 

 descending the Mahabunn by the 1ST. or western spurs, Alexander 

 would have found himself in Chumla. The country was utterly 

 deserted of its inhabitants, and Alexander does not seem to have 



* This site, so far as I can ascertain, is now called Aladundor Alatund, see letter 

 A on sketch. 



