H. G. Raverty —The Mihrdn of Sind and its Tributaries. [Ex. No. 
Subsequently, some great convulsion of nature in the parts far¬ 
ther north appears to have caused vast changes in the courses of 
storm to which they had fled on being defeated; and then another town, which 
the people set fire to, and perished in the flames, along with their women and 
children. The castle was not damaged; and Alexander left a garrison in it, after 
which he went round it by water for it was encompassed by three of the largest 
rivers of all India except the Ganges, which seemed to lend their streams for its 
fortification. “ The Indus washes it on the north side, and on the south, the 
Acesines [Oflin-ab] unites itself with the Hydaspes [Bihat]. The violent meeting 
of these rivers makes their waters as turbulent and rough as those of the sea ; 
and, as they carry a great deal of silt, which, by their rapid concourse is very 
much disturbed, they leave but a narrow channel for boats to pass in,” etc. Here 
the fleet got into great disorder, and sustained much damage, two of the largest 
vessels were lost; and such was the danger to the fleet, that many prepared to 
swim for their lives. Here three altars were erected, one for each river. 
According to Arrian, and the other authorities quoted in the “ Life and Actions 
of Alexander the Great,” by the Eevd. J. Williams, a useful abstract, chiefly 
drawn from Arrian and Strabo, and also to a less degree from Curtius, Athenaeus, 
and Plutarch, the fleet consisted of 80 tria-conters, and more than 2,000 river 
craft of every description ; and in eight days [from where he embarked] the 
fleet arrived near the confluence of the two rivers [the Hydaspes and Acesines : 
there is no Indus mentioned here] ; and their united streams contracted imme¬ 
diately below the point of junction. “ The current is sharp and rapid, and strong 
eddies are formed by the struggling waters that swell in waves and encounter each 
other, so that the roar of the conflict is audible from a great distance.” 
See Amir Timur’s account of the junction of the Jamd or Biliat with the 
Oh in-ab at page 279. 
Here the vessels ran foul of each other, and losses were sustained, so that the 
fleet was partly disabled, and two vessels sank. A small promontary on the right 
bank [west] offered shelter and protection to the partly disabled fleet. 
All this took place near and at the junction of the Hydaspes [the Bihat] and 
the Acesines [the Oliin-ab]. What part of the territory of the Panj-ab will agree 
with these descriptions, according to the present aspect of the country, leaving 
alone the rivers ? Not with Multan, I trow, and with no place south of Ohandani-ot 
or Shor Kot; yet Cunningham “identifies” this place of meeting at the time of 
Alexander, with Multan, as if the Hydaspes [Bihat] and Acesines [Chin-ab] had 
ever yet united south of the walls of that place. If Curtius is right as to the 
Indus also uniting near this castle, the matter is still more complex. 
It may be well also to mention here, that it is said, previously, that Alexander 
built Nicoea on the left [east] bank of the Hydaspes [Bihat] ; and in another place, 
that, “on some part of the river, between Nicoea and the standing camp at the 
confluence of the Acesines [the Ohjn-ab and Bihat below their junction] and the 
Hydraotes [the Rawi], Alexander had visited a prince by name Sopeithes ; and 
Strabo says, that, in his territory is a mountain [range] composed of fossil salt 
sufficient for the whole of India. Here, of course, the Namak Sai', Koh-i-Jud, or Salt 
Range is referred to. Rivers were constantly changing, and the recognition of 
places lying near them at the period in question depends on where and how they 
then ran, but mountains do not change so easily. 
