622 
AORMAS. 
Aormas. I 
This is a high rock of India, which had its name from its extra- 
ordinary height, as being above the flight of a bird. Its circuit was 
about two miles, its height eleven furlongs, and the way leading up 
to the top artificial and narrow. At the bottom, on one side ran the 
river Indus ; and on its top was a fine plain, part of which was co- 
vered with a thick wood, the rest arable land, with a fountain fur- 
nishing abundance of excell jnt water. This rock was taken by Alex- 
ander the Great, in whose time there was a report that Hercules -had 
attempted it in vain ; however, according to Arrian, this report was 
without foundation. It is probable, indeed, that it was raised after 
the place was taken, in order to magnify Alexander’s exploits. 
While the Macedonian monarch was preparing all things necessary 
for the siege, an old man, with his sons, who had long lived in a cave 
near the summit, came, and ofl'ered to shew him a private way of 
ascending. This being readily accepted, Ptolemy, with a consider- 
able body of light-armed troops, was despatched with them, with 
orders, in case they succeeded, to entrench themselves strongly upon 
the rock in the wood, to which the old man was to direct them, before 
they ventured to attack the Indians. Ptolemy exactly executed his 
orders ; and gave notice, by a lighted torch set upon a pole, that he 
had got safely up. Upon this, Alexander gave immediate orders 
for a body of troops to attempt the passage by which the rock was 
commonly ascended ; but they were repulsed with great slaughter. 
He then sent an Indian, with letters to Ptolemy, desiring him, the 
next time an attack was made by the common way, to fall upon the 
enemy behind. But, in the mean time, those who defended the rock 
attacked Ptolemy with great vigour, but were at last repulsed, though 
with much difficulty ; but the next day, when Alexander renewed the 
attack, though Ptolemy attacked the Indians in the rear, the Mace- 
donians were repulsed on both sides. At last, the king, perceiving 
that the strength of the Indians lay in the straitness and declivity of 
the way by which they were attacked, caused a great quantity of trees 
to be felled, and with them filled the cavities between the plain on 
which the Indians were encamped, and the highest of his own ad- 
vanced posts. The Indians at first derided his undertaking: but at 
length, perceiving the ardour with which the work was carried on, 
and having felt the effects of the missile weapons of the Macedonians, 
they sent deputies to propose terms of capitulation. Alexander, sus- 
pecting that their design was only to amuse him till they made 
their escape, withdrew his guards from the avenues. As soon as he 
knew the Indians were descended, he, with seven hundred of Ptole- 
my’s light-armed foot, took possession of the deserted rock, and then 
made a signal for his forces to fall upon the flying Indians. They 
setting up a loud shout, so terrified the fugitives, that numbers of them 
fell from the rocks and precipices, and were dashed to pieces, while 
the greater part of the remainder were cut off in the roads. 
The Rock or Aitltgrande. 
Aultgrande is a river in Scotland, in the parish of Kiltearn, in 
Ross-shire, which takes its name from Loch Glass, and, after running 
