1854.] Gracilis ad Aornon. 353 



The existence of this animal in those parts is mentioned by Greek 

 authors ; and a belief prevails in Hazara, that it has been seen on 

 Mt. Gundgurh, where certainly no one would expect to find it. It 

 is called the wild man and supposed by natives to be human. 



The wild animals common to lofty mountains of that region are 

 found on Mt, Elum. Tigers and leopards are less numerous than 

 bears. The Boa-constrictor is said never to injure the human species, 

 but to live chiefly upon wild goats, deer, &c. It is probably, I think, 

 the species known to us in India as the rock snake. Of no great 

 length but of disproportionate thickness. 



From the above facts, Mt. Elum would appear to offer as favourable 

 a clue as has as yet been found, to the Mt. Meros ascended by 

 Alexander. According to Arrian, Alexander after the siege of 

 Aornos came to the Indus and from thence proceeded throughout 

 the Doaba of the Indus and the river Koopheen, and in this tour 

 came to Nusa, there learnt the position of Mt. Meros and ascended 

 it. The river Indus was at that time swollen by the melting of the 

 snows. The ordinary number of ferry boats would have required 

 many weeks to waft across his army with all its baggage and war- 

 engines, it was obviously better to await the building of fresh boats 

 than to attempt the crossing at once. The tracts conquered were 

 of vast importance, containing the most warlike people he had as 

 yet encountered ; and upon the most formidable of all the rivers he 

 was leaving behind him. A tour therefore through this newly 

 subdued country was of considerable utility, and the time spent 

 upon it, was well employed. 



Mt. Elum stands as Meros is described by Arrian in the Doaba 

 of the Indus and Koopheen. I can learn of no old site in Sohaut 

 answering to Nusa, and Sohaut having already been conquered, we 

 should not expect to find Nusa there, because according to Arrian 

 the Mulliks of JSTusa waited upon Alexander, imploring him to 

 spare their city : and according to Curtius and Plutarch, he attacked 

 and took the city. His former visit to Chumlaif, as I suppose he 

 had visited it after the capture of Aornos, was very hurried ; and he 

 may not have penetrated into Boonair, not knowing its history and 

 thinking it too much cut off by mountains to be colonized. It is 

 therefore not impossible that Nusa may have been in Boonair. He 



