1892.] H. G. Raverty —The Mihrdn of Sind and its Tributaries . 
365 
again, its bank well defined, with a slope of some forty degrees, the 
ground here and there covered with hillocks, to within fifteen miles 
north of Tulanbah, and runs in the same westerly direction, the bank 
becoming less distinct, towards the former bed of the Chin-ab near 
Sidhu ki Sara’e on the north, where they used to unite. Subsequently, 
when the Rawi deserted the Biah. to unite with the Chin-ab, the united 
streams then passed on the west side of Multan instead of on the east; 
but, even now, the liawi shows a liking for this old channel—the most 
horsemen could at the same time be shaded from the sun ; and Onesicritus, as 
quoted by Strabo, mentions trees at the confluence in question, with their boughs 
bent downwards, of a size that four hundred horsemen might take shelter at mid¬ 
day beneath the shade of a single tree. The author of the “ Life ” above noticed, 
says : “ It might be worth while ascertaining, as connected with the age of this 
species of tree, whether there be one of great size and apparent antiquity in this 
vicinity.” I have before noticed the great Bohar or Banyan tree near one of the 
old confluences of the Uydaspes and Acesines, bat not of the latter with the 
Hydraotes, at page 331. After this, Alexander sailed down the three united rivers 
to their junction with the Indus, where he was joined by some vessels built at other 
places on the latter river. This mention here of the confluence with the Indus 
shows, that Curtins’ statement of the Indus being the third river uniting at the 
confluence of the Hydaspes and Acesines near the fortress there, to be an error. 
“ Here (at the confluence of the Indus and the three united rivers, the Hyphasis, 
Acesines, and Hydraotes) Alexander ordered a city to be built, and naval docks 
to be constructed, as it was a spot, in his estimation, well calculated to become the 
site of a powerful city,” but, as the upshot'shows, he could not have chosen one 
worse. See page 299. After this we are told that he came down to the country 
of the Soghdi, which name, the author of the “ Life ” supposes, “ they derived like 
their northern namesakes, from the great vale occupied by them,” but he does not 
tell us why the Tajzik word — sughd —should be used in a Hindu country in 
preference to a Sanskrit word, such, for example, as —sukhd or sukhud, meaning 
‘ salubrious,’ ‘ pleasant,’ etc. The former word means * a depression where rain 
water collects,’ and £ the name of a city in a great depression near Samr-kand.’ 
Tod says (Rajast’han : Yol. I, p. 93), that, “ the Soghdi country is Dhat in the 
desert,” and that, “ the Sodas are the Soghdi.” Cunningham, on the other hand, 
says (p. 254), “The Soghdi or Sodrae, I would identify with the people of Seorai,” 
the actnal position of which he says, “ is unknown.” “ Siw-ra’i or Sfw-ralu is 
well known : a mahall of the Multan sarldr, and lies about five miles above Sabzal 
Kot N-N-E. “ The elephants had been repeatedly ferried across as the nature of 
the country favoured their movements [The Indus must have been a smaller river 
then in comparison with what it afterwards became to have enabled this to be 
done] “ They were now transferred,” it is said, “ to the right [west] bank of that 
river for the last time ; and Craterus, with them, advanced through the country of 
the Arachosii and Drang®,” of whom Arrian makes the Indus the eastern limit. 
Here, it will be noticed, that the Hypanis [Biah] and the Hakra or VVahindah 
which latter great river as certainly existed at that period as the others, have been 
passed over without the least notice whatever. 
