59 
1892.] V. A. Smith— On the Civilization of Ancient India. 
about the beginning of the third century B. 0. He teaches the forma¬ 
tion of the word ‘ yavanani ’ to indicate the writing (lipi) of the 
Yavana. 
[The jurist Gautama (IV. 21; page 196 of Buhler’s translation) 
enumerates Parasavas, Yavanas, Karanas, and Sudras together. His 
date is probably as early as that of Panini. V. A. $.] 
The well known passage in the thirteenth edict of Asoka which 
mentions the Yona (Yavana) kings, Antiochus, etc., is, of course, the 
earliest historical reference to the Yavanas, the date of which is certain. 
Some scholars have discovered the name of Alexander in the 
Kalsi version of the edicts, but the reading is doubtful. 
A distinct trace of the name of the great conqueror is found in the 
appellation of the city Alasadda, or Alasanda, mentioned in the 
Mahavansa and the Questions of Milinda. This name is obviously 
identical with Alexandria. Some have supposed the city to be situated 
on the Indian Caucasus, or Hindu Kush. [But it would seem rather to 
have been situated on an island in the Indus, if we may trust the author 
of the Questions of Milinda. 
“ The Elder replied : ‘ In what district, 0 king, were you born ?” 
‘ There is an island called Alasauda. It was there I was born.’ 
‘ And how far is Alasanda from here ?’ 
‘ About two hundred leagues. 
* In what town, O king, were you born ?* 
‘ There is a village called Kalasi. It was there I was born F 5 
‘ And how far is Kalasi from here ?’ 
‘ About two hundred leagues.’ 
‘ Ho w far is Kashmir from here ?' 
‘ Twelve leagues ?” 
Professor Rhys Davids is inclined to think that the town of Kalasi 
is identical with the c Karisi nagara,’ which seems to be mentioned on a 
coin of Eukratides (acc. circa B. C. 190) and that the coin was struck in 
commemoration of the fact of the Greeks having reached the Indus.* 
If the coin is rightly read, this conjecture seems extremely probable, but, 
unfortunately, the legend quoted is only “ the conjectured reading of 
General Cunningham.” (Gardner, Coins of Greek and Scythic Kings, 
page 19, note, and Plate VI, 8). 
Professor Weber next proceeds to argue in favour of a highly 
conjectural theory connecting the name Skanda with Alexander, but I 
think my readers will excuse me from reproducing his very unsatisfac¬ 
tory arguments. V. A. $.] 
* “ The Questions of King Milinda,” translated from the P;ili by T. W. Rhys 
Davids, being Vol. XXXV of Sacred Books of the East, pp. XXIII and 126. 
