OF CENTRAL AND EASTERN ASIA. 181 



ty range of Imaus, which, after running for a great space from 

 east to west, turned suddenly to the north, and stretching far 

 into Scythia, separated that vast region into two portions, Scy- 

 thia within, and Scythia without, Imam. This chain forms 

 thus the key to Ptolemy's geography of Central Asia; and as 

 my views respecting it differ \ery much from those hitherto 

 entertained, it may be necessary to enter into a short discus- 

 sion. 



All modern geographers, so far as I know, have conceived 

 that the Imaus must, in some shape or other, be identified 

 with the Beloor. D'Anville, Hennell, Gosselin, Pinkerton', 

 however they may differ in other respects, seem to consider 

 this as a point placed beyond all dispute. Even Major Ren- 

 nell, while he clearly points out, that Ptolemy's statements 

 place the Imaus in a very different quarter, does not allow 

 himself to suppose that those statements could be correct. 

 Now I think it will appear on a very slight consideration, that 

 every system which identifies the Imaus with the Beloor, is an 

 entire subversion of all the descriptions and statements of 

 Ptolemy. Between these two ranges he places a great nation, 

 or rather class of nations, under the appellation of the Sacne. 

 To their territory he assigns fifteen degrees of longitude ; 

 which, upon that parallel, and making every allowance for the 

 defects of his graduation, cannot be less than from five to six 

 hundred miles in direct length from east to west. This im- 

 mense region, which equals half the breadth of Indostan, is re- 

 duced by the present system to what M. Gosselin calls one of 

 the Gorges of the Beloor, a mere valley or glen between two 

 of its branches. Thus, too, the Sacae are entirely severed from 

 India, of which however both Ptolemy and Strabo describe 

 them as forming the northern boundary. 



The 



