86 V. A. Smith — Orceco-Boman Influence on the [No. 1 , 
mentioned on a coin of Eukratides ( circa B. 0. 190), I was not aware 
that the identification had been made long- before by Sir Alexander 
Cunningham, who published it in the Numismatic Chronicle for 1869, 
and again two years later in his ‘ Ancient Geography of India.’ 1 
Sir Alexander Cunningham is of opinion that in the passage quoted 
by me from Prof. Rhys Davids’ translation of the ‘ Questions of king 
Milinda,’ — “ There is an island called Alasanda. It was there I was 
born,” — the word dipa (Sanskrit dwipa ) should be translated ‘ region ’ 
or ‘ division of the world ’ rather than ‘ island.’ He cites in support 
of this rendering the well known compound Jambudwipa, and takes 
Alasandad'ipa to mean “ the country of which Alasanda was the capital,” 
Kalasi being “ the same as Alasanda itself.” 
If, in the passage quoted, the word dipa does not mean ‘ island ’, 
there is, apparently, no reason for supposing the Alexandria in question 
to have been on the Indus. Sir A. Cunningham places it, as will be 
seen from the passage to be quoted presently, at a village named Opian 
or Hupian, 27f miles north of Kabul. Whatever be the true position 
of Alexandria or Alasanda, Prof. Rhys Davids’ note at page 127 of the 
‘ Questions of King Milinda ’ referring to “Alexandria (in Baktria) built 
on an island in the Indus,” is not quite accurate. The Indus was 
never included within the limits of Bactria, though the banks of 
the river may at times have been included in the dominions of the 
Bactrian kings. 
My quotation (same page) from Professor Percy Gardner was also 
unfortunate. He describes the legend on the rare coin of Eukratides, 
giving the name of the town of Karisi as being “ the conjectured read- 
ing of General Cunningham.” This remark is inaccurate. The only 
word at all doubtful in the reading of the legend on the coin referred 
to, was devata, and the reading of this word lias lately, Sir A. Cunning- 
ham assures me, been definitely established by a second specimen of 
the coin. The reading of the name ‘ Karisi ’ on the coin was never 
doubtful. 
In order to prevent any further misconception, and to show clearly 
Sir A. Cunningham’s views concerning the probable situation of 
Alexandria, = Alasanda or Alasadda, = Kalasi, presumably identical 
with Karisi, I had better quote in full the relevant passage from the 
‘ Ancient Geography of India,’ page 28, which is as follows : — 
“ If I am right in identifying Begram with the Kiu-lu-sa-pang of 
1 Prof. Rhys Davids informs me that ho also was unaware that Sir A. Cunning- 
ham had made the identification previously, and will gladly take the opportunity 
of the impending publication of the second volume of tho 1 Milinda ’ to acquaint his 
readers with tho fact. 
