1854.] Gradus ad Aornon. 345 



and Indus after the capture of Aornos. Both cannot be right. 

 Those who follow Ourtius, have endeavoured to discover Nusa near 

 Jullalabad, Capt. Cunningham is of this number. Wilford, I believe, 

 thought he had identified Meros in the Markoh or hill of snakes 

 standing northward of Bussawul. The remains of caverns at the 

 foot of this mountain he supposed to indicate the site of Nusa. 

 Wilford had not visited the spot. Masson who visited it takes a 

 very different view.* 



The objection to any site for Nusa in the valley of the Cabul 

 river below or about Julalabad is, that Curtius, our only authority 

 for enquiring in that neighbourhood, describes Nusa as hidden by 

 dense groves, in which were tombs of ancient cedar, and that the 

 cedar will not grow in this heated valley, where the hot wind prevails 

 in summer. Curtius also describes the Macedonians who had just 

 surmounted the snowy Caucasus as being there chilled by the exces- 

 sive and unusual cold of the night air. We should therefore expect to 

 find Nusa sited in an elevated valley, where the cedar, if not a native, 

 can with care be made to grow. 



The description however of Curtius has a half fabulous air. The 

 army encamps near enough to a large city to hear the bark of a 

 dog. Tet is utterly ignorant of the proximity, and the citizens are 

 equally ignorant of the presence of a large army and its battering 

 Train. Tor Father Bacchus who delights in disguise has spell-bound 

 the senses of both parties. The bark of a dog first informs the Mace- 

 donians that their camp is close to the walls. Arrian's description 

 has much more the appearance of fact. 



On the left bank of the Sohaut Sinde just previous to its junction 

 with the Cabul river, is the village Nisutta, standing in the plain 



* " In the distance is a lofty hill on the opposite bank of the river; from Bussa- 

 wul are seen the caves with triangular shaped entrances, noted by Wilford, and 

 which partly induced him, probably with the vicinity of the Markoh which he sup- 

 poses to be Mount Meru, to locate the ancient city of Nusa in this neighbourhood. 

 On this point we may not decide. Caves are too numerous and too universally 

 found, that any important deduction could be drawn from so comparatively trifling 

 a group as is here presented. And whether Markoh may have any more serious 

 etymological signification, than the Snake-hill, as understood by the natives is 

 doubtful. Still Bussawul exhibits ample vestiges as does the entire neighbourhood 

 of its ancient inhabitants. The spot is called Chakanor." Masson's Travels. 



