OF CENTRAL AND EASTERN ASIA. 195 



the geography of Central Asia, has been so remarkable, tiiat it 

 may require a little consideration. It has, I think, been consi- 

 dered unquestionable by all modern geographers, that the Ca- 

 sia Regio of Ptolemy can be no other than the modern Cash- 

 gar. Not only has this been the sole prop of D'Anville's hy- 

 pothesis, but it has perhaps been the main source of the perti- 

 nacity, with which the Beloor has been always identified with 

 the Imaus. I must here premise, that no proof has been used 

 in a more irregular and licentious manner, than the one in ques- 

 tion. The ever rolling tide of war and revolution, has swept 

 from almost every region the names borne by it during the age 

 of which we are treating. If we make an exception of great 

 natural objects, mountains and rivers, there is not perhaps one 

 name in twenty which bears any resemblance ; and it is quite 

 as likely, that this one should be the result of accident as of 

 real identity. I would therefore lay down a principle which 

 will scarcely perhaps be dissented from by any who have had 

 the least experience in such researches : Where the descrip* 

 tions correspond, a similar name may be considered as fixing 

 the spot with greater certainty and precision : Where there is 

 no such correspondence, a mere name can never be set against 

 those grand features of nature which, remaining the same from 

 age to age, form our only sure guide in such an investigation. 



The Casia Regio is a territory of Scythia extra Imaum, bor- 

 dering upon, and even, according to Ptolemy, extending into 

 Serica. Cashgar is at an immense distance from China or 

 Great Thibet ; it is situated close to the Reloor. It would be 

 a mere repetition of every thing that has been said, to prove 

 that the identifying of the two breaks up the whole scheme of 

 Pyolemy's geography of Central Asia ; and that, according to 

 him, Cashgar ought to form part of Scythia intra Imaum. 

 There is a still more decided and tangible discrepancy. Cash- 



B b 2 gar 



