1854.] Qradus ad Aornon. 3G1 



Oolagraon the ruins of a fort between Manihurr and Tindora, 

 standing on a high hill ; tolerably strong. 



The reader may choose for himself from amongst these the site of 

 Aornos. For my part I should absolutely require a site upon the 

 Indus. It seems to me the only certain clue we have to Aornos, 

 that it was sited on the right bank of the Indus. If Strabo, Curtius, 

 and Arrian were all mistaken as to this point, we have positively no 

 means of identification. 



The valley of Sohaut, Boonair and even part of the Eusufzye and 

 of Hazara are classical ground in Hindi lore. The five Pandoo 

 brothers, Toodishtira, Bheema, Urjoona, Nukoola and Saho Deva, 

 with their common wife the beautiful Diroopdi, came to Punjpir 

 (near Zayda) when Toodishtira, having gambled away the kingdom 

 of Delhi, was obliged by his compact to retire to the jungles. The 

 kingdom of Baja Viraht was Sohaut. His capital Virikot or Birikot 

 on left bank of Sohaut Sinde. The Pandoos determining to conceal 

 their dignity and take service as menials with Eaja Viraht hung up 

 their arms carefully concealed in a spot still called Pandoo Tahn. 

 Peshawur then called Gundhawa was, it will be remembered, the 

 kingdom of Krishna who eventually aided the Pandoos. At Rani 

 da gut is the castle or throne of the beautiful Diroopdi. 



Near Birikot is the Summahd or cenotaph of Kirichuk, a monster 

 half Dyte or Titan and half human. He, falling in love with Di- 

 roopdi and insulting her, was slain by Bheem Syne the Pandoo. 



One koss east of Birikot is the throne of Eaja Viraht, still called 

 Eaja ke Tukht. 



Three koss south of Birikot is Kirichuk ke Shuhr, the city of 

 Kirichuk, and between this and Birikot the city of Kirichuk's 

 brother. 



Half a koss north of Birikot is Eaja Toodishtira's palace, still 

 so called. 



At G-alagye is a statue of Kirichuk. 



At eleven koss west from Birikot are two mundeers or temples of 

 the Pandoos. Two koss west of Birikot, a temple of Kirichuk. 



Seventeen koss N. W. from Birikot is Dyteahpoor now called 

 Dyt Kulli, built by the Dyte or Titan, St'hool, near it in the hill is 

 a vast cavern, doubtless that mentioned by Arrian and Strabo as 

 the cavern of Prometheus the Titan. 



