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great distance, owing to our having left "the main road, and crossed fifteen or "sixteen miles lower down than the usu"al ferry at Jelum." This extract renders the second alternative highly probable; and the next, which at first seems opposed to it, is not really so, but gives it stronger countenance. "The hills... "came to the edge of the river, which "being also divided by islands, presents 66 exactly the appearance one expects from "the accounts of the ancients. So pre"cisely does Quintus Curtius's descrip❝tion of the scene of Porus's battle cor"respond with the part of the Hydaspes "where we crossed, that several gentle66 men of the mission, who read the pascc sage on the spot, were persuaded that "it referred to the very place before their 66 eyes." Now, as Alexander was opposed by a powerful armament, had to force a military passage, and was obliged to mask his preparations for it, it is likely that he crossed at some other part than where the common road met the river. If the ancient ferry were higher or lower than Jellalpore Ghat, the entire interval might be so shortened as to correspond with 132 Roman miles. From circumstances which come out in the examination of subsequent stages, the ancient ferry was probably higher up the river.

The first detour made by Col. Elphinstone's party in search of the imaginary site of Taxila was a deflection to the south; and the departure from the main road through the last stages, a deflectiou to the north. The first increases the travelling distance; and the last, both the travelling and horizontal distance.

"To the Hyphasis, not less famous XLIX. CCCXC." Here Pliny-let us not say Pliny, but the exemplar of the copies, takes a long step, or rather flight; passing two intermediate rivers, the Acesines and Hydraotes, without notice. Another MS. has "XXIX. — CCCLXXX.,"

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That Pliny, who gives a total no where else, should interpose one here, is sufficiently accounted for by his subjoining these words: "which was the limit of "Alexander's expedition."

I have filled up the above supplement from Lieut. Macartney's Memoir. "The "horizontal distance from Jellalpoor "Ghat to Vizeerabad Ghat, across this "doab, is 44 miles"...." The distance "from Vizeerabad Ghat to Meannee "Ghat on the Ravee, 55 miles horizon"tal distance." Lieut. Macartney does not give us the number of miles between the Hydraotes and Hyphasis; but diverging from the track of the mission to cross somewhat higher, the interval measures 60 miles on the map. Which sums, respectively, equal in Roman miles, travelling distance, the sums above assumed.

"To the Hesudrus, 168 mill. To the "river Jomanes as many (some copies "add five mill.)" Measured on the map, the interval between the Hyphasis and Hesudrus, PURSUING THE ROAD TO DELHI, is 55 miles 69, travelling distance; and we collect from the journal of the mission that it is 210 miles travel

ling distance from the Hesudrus to the

Jomanes. 69+210279 295 Roman. Neither the parts, nor the total, answer to Pliny's numbers; and for this reason: if we cross with the mission, we

† Elphinstone's Caubul, pp. 660, 661.

get too near the confluence of the Ravee and Sutlaj, contracting without occasion the interval between those rivers, and enlarging that between the Sutlaj and the Jumnah. In order not to desert the Itinerary, but to assay its possible accuracy, we may divide the entire distance on the map into nearly equal parts, by attributing to the ancient road a higher direction. What is known of certain stations in the ancient line of communication, and the former state of part of the country intersected by the present line, will support this distribution. 1. The ancient road passed through Hastinapoor; and the intermediate section, traced for it, ought therefore to diverge from the modern route, before reaching Delhi. 2. The magnitude ascribed by two classic historians to the desert as an obstacle to invasion from the Punjaub, affords reason for believing, that between the Hesudrus and the Jomanes it was formerly more extensive, reaching higher. There is evidence in the native historians that, since the rise of the empire of Delhi, cultivated tracts have been won from it; "In the year 1356, between the hills "Mendouli and Sirmore, the emperor "Ferose cut a channel from the Jumna, "which he divided into seven streams; 66 one of which he brought to Hassi, and "from thence to Beraisen, where he "built a strong castle, calling it by his own 66 name. He drew soon after a canal from "the Caggar, passing by the walls of Sir"sutti, and joined it to the river of "Kera; upon which he built a city, "named after him, Ferosabad. This "city he watered with another canal "from the Jumina. These public works

were of prodigious advantage to the adjacent countries, by supplying them "with water for their lands, and with a "commodious water carriage from place "to place." "We learn also from the "Ayin Acharee that Ferose founded the "city of Hissar, and dug a caual from "the Jumna to it. And we find, more

over, that the canal from the Jumna at "Kunjipoor to Delhi, was the work of "Ferose; and is probably one of the 466 seven channels mentioned by Ferishta." "Again, it is said that Ferose turned the 66 course of a large rivulet which fell into "the Sutlaj, from Hirdar in the province of Sirhind into the Selima, a small

"rivulet that ran southwards towards
"Sunnam."* I infer, therefore, that to

avoid the desert, a detour was made in
ancient times, intersecting the Hesudrus
and Jomanes respectively, at much higher
points than the modern route. It is im-
possible to conjecture particular stations
where the points of intersection might
fall, so as to satisfy many minds, or
not to leave, unmentioned, alternatives of
equal or greater probability where there
is so much latitude, especially as Pliny
does not give the ancient names of any
The old line
places on the two rivers.
might go through Rahoon, and crossing
the Hesudrus at Machewaruh, fall in with
the present road to Delhi at Sirhind, and
touching Umbalah, coincide with it as
far as Thanasur, and then strike off to
Bregy Ghat, above Kunjpoora ; or taking
a higher direction from Umbalah, it might
penetrate by Mustaphabad and Booreah,
and after cutting the Jumna, go through
Seharumpoor, Deobund, Kutoolie, and
Mirumpoor; which last course seems the
more likely. The travelling distance
must be increased by detours from 295
to 336, to bring it up to Pliny's mea-

sures.

Thence to the Ganges 112 mill. Major Wilford deduces this station to be Hastinapoor, from evidence that the royal road passed through it; and with his deduction all the distances coincide. The site of Hastinapoor, a city of which the ruins can be still traced on the old channel of the Ganges, is in lat. 299 8' 30" N. and long. 779 55' E. by Arrowsmith's large map. The horizontal distance from the higher ferry on the Jumna to this spot, is about 76 British miles, which will easily expand into 112 Roman miles, travelling distance.

"To Rodophia 119 mill. others give CCCXXV [read cxxv] mill. in this interval." Major Wilford speaks as if this place could be identified with the modern Hurdowah but this seems an error of the pen occasioned by a digression respecting the route from Hastinapoor to Thibet.

*Rennel's Memoir, pp. 72...74; citing Dow's Translation of Ferishta, and the English Translation of the Ayin Acbaree.

The seat of the war of the Mahabarata, an heroic poem in Sanscrit, some remarkably curious episodes of which have been translated by Charles

Wilkins, LL. D.

+ Asiatic Researches, vol. ix. p. 55.

I am not aware of a better guide to the possible site of Rodopha than to take a town, which owes its rise and note with the traveller to some local advantage which will always operate, corresponding nearest with the distances of the communicating stations each way: 119 or 125 Roman miles travelling distance, reduced to British miles horizontal distance (say 80 by the map) will bring us to Ramghaut, or the Ford of Rama, on the Ganges. Near the banks of great rivers, circuits of prodigious sweep are frequently necessary, to avoid torrent gullies and marshy jungles: this is a ground not for any uniform allowance, but for occasional latitude while the road accompanies the Ganges. "To the city Calinipaxa, 167 "mill." Major Rennel, in a passage already quoted, observes that Canoge is possibly the Calinipaa'a of Pliny. Major Wilford says, "the true name was Calini"basa, implying its being situated on the "Calini, a river which retains its an"tient name to this day; but the town " is now unknown."* Now Kanoge stands on the Callee-nuddee, or Calini; and its distance on the map from Ramghaut, the stage last assumed, 118 British miles, will correspond sufficiently with 167 of Pliny's miles travelling distance.

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seen at once. The travelling distance from Kanoge to Allahabad is 205 British miles, according to Forster, who went by Lucknow; 217 Roman miles. By Rennell's tables, from Kanoge to Lucknow, 75; and thence to Allahabad, 127; to which add the length of Lucknow, 7;= 209 221.

Having travelled with Pliny, as a conductor up to this point, I apprehend that the result tends to establish the general accuracy of his Itinerary, as far as can be expected at this distance of time, and under the disadvantage of several conversions of the measures of different countries to one denomination.

In proportion as it has that effect, it cannot be considered to militate either against Major Rennell's or Major Wilford's application of the Itinerary to the chief and ultimate point in question; for they both appeal to its authority, although their deductions from it are repugnant. I would here remark, that if in pursuit of this inquiry, it has been necessary to point to any proposition in their works which subsequent information has shown to be untenable, the inference is intended to apply to the single point corrected or superseded. No genius can supply the deficiencies of the historian, by constructing an hypothesis, which the researches of the traveller will in all parts corroborate. All acknowledge their general success in eliciting unexpected light from obscure materials. The English School of Oriental Literature has made itself illustrious; and the names of Rennell and Wilford will always shine among its ornaments.

(To be continued.)

To the Editor of the Asiatic Journal.

SIR, I shall feel obliged if either yeu or any of your readers can define the precedency of the compa

nions of the most honorable military order of the Bath :-are they not entitled to precedency of all other officers in the army or navy of whatever rank, who have no other title than what their commissions afford, which to the highest rank, is, I believe, not greater than

that of esquire?—I am Sir, your obedient humble servant,

A SUBSCRIBER.

The only reply we can give to the above request is, the following extract from the Gazette of the 3d January 1815, which, so far as we could ascertain, comprises all that is precisely defined on the subject.

"The third class of the most honourable military order of the Bath shall be composed of officers holding commissions in his Majesty's service, by sea or land, who shall be stiled companions of the said order. They shall not be entitled to

the appellation, style, precedence, or privilege of Knights Batchelors, but they shall take place and precedence of all Esquires of the united kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland."

To the Editor of the Asiatic Journal.

SIR, I have sent to Europe, by the vessel which brings this to you, a singular piece of writing, that it may be deposited in the British Museum, for the convenience of the literati who may wish to examine, and if possible, as perhaps some of them may be able, to discover what is the meaning of the curious cha racter in which it is written. It must be very mortifying to those who are fond of declaiming on the perfectability of human nature, to meet with such instances, alas so common! of this strange retrograde sort of improvement: sufficient proof that the knowledge of ten or twenty centuries ago is for ever perhaps gone out of sight. This curiosity was found in the Great Arabian desert, lying without any protection from the weather, supported on the lank twigs of a thorn, at a spot somewhat declining from the usual route towards Suke Shue, as you come to Bussora. I have used every effort in this country to obtain an explanation of the mysterious leaf, but in vain: the opinions of the learned are quite at variance, and I observe each makes the interpretation most congenial to his own mind, as his own taste tinctures it.

Mortez Ibn Ali, a mufti of im. mense erudition, if measured by the length of his beard, which falls unto his sash, maintains with ardour, that it is one of the new revelations promised by Muhammad to the true believers, and being sent by the same conveyance by which he received several chapters of the Koran-that the messenger by some accident dropped it, a circumstance which the prophet relates to have

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befallen the writings sent to himself more than once.

Ballaram Doss, a Brahman from Banaras, whose wisdom is proved by the sanctity of his life, having never during the whole course of it stained his hands with blood, no, not even of a musquito, insisted upon its being a leaf of one of the Veds blown away by some evil genius, for no Asura dare on any account to touch it, and had been deposited by the winds in that place. Having accidentally mentioned the Shanskrit, an Irish military gentleman gave our lucubrations a new turn: "Shanskrit, did you say, and what is that?" "A most ancient mode of writing" returned the Pandit ;"

66

Exactly so" replied the Hibernian" Shannah signifies old or ancient, and Skreeve to write, at this very day in the language of my country; by an idiom of which the last syllable of Shannah is always dropped in composition, as is that of Skreetigh the participle passive of Skreeve, so that Shanskrit is as if one should say Shannah Skreetigh, which is good Celtic as spoken by our forefathers, who taught astronomy and all manner of sciences to the Chaldeans and other Eastern Magi, who used to travel westward for the acquisition of knowledge, till they got to Ireland, beyond which you know they .could go no further: and there that original language has been preserved to this very day, as you may see it plainly proved by O'Clanchy, O'Halloran, O'Vallancey, and several other men of eminence in the learned world: and if any can trace a language beyond the period of the

that it would not have been safe to have interrupted him, and he finished his prospectus with the full conviction, on his own mind at least, that he had proved the antiquity of his nation, of the Ogham or ancient Irish writing, &c. &c.

confusion at Babel, much good may their learning do them. How this paper came to the place in which it was found I neither know nor care, but this I have no doubt of, that if the language be true Shanskrit it is the same with that in which our Psalters of Tarah and Cashel are written." My Hibernian friend who inhabits an immensely tall and bony frame, continued this speech with so mnch vehemence, both of breath and of muscular attitudes,

I have not time at present to say more; at another opportunity I will add the conjectures and opinions of some others of my friends. Bombay.

B.

To the Editor of the Asiatic Journal.

SIR, Although the death of the Raja of Nepaul was duly announced in your Journal, I do not think the following particulars of that event have yet appeared, as well as of the distressing ceremony which followed it; they are much at your service if you have room for their insertion.

Yours, &c.

S. B.

"Valley of Nepaul.-I have just returned from witnessing a sight, that has made such an impression as will not readily be effaced from my memory; and in the hopes that it may be acceptable, I take my pen to endeavour to paint to you the picture. My mind is in a right frame for it; but, O Yorick ! that I had thy imagination to trace the fact, with the imagery it requires, to convey an adequate idea of the scene to those who did not behold it.

"You will have heard, ere this, of the Lavoc the small-pox has been making, for these three months past, among the inhabitants of this delightful and interesting valley. When it first appeared, apprehensions were entertained for the safety of the Raja and his family, and measures were adopted, which for a time kept them, and the inhabitants of the city of Kathmandoo free from the infection but it was only for a time; it soon reached from the peasant to the prince, and notwithstanding vaccination had been

successfully administered to some of the principal families of the court, either superstition or a dislike to innovation had prevented a part of the Raja's family from receiving the benefits of it, though frequently tendered in a pressing manner.

"On the 2d, an infant son of the prince's died, from the effects of the raging distemper; and this morning information was brought to the Resident, that the Raja, who had for some days been labouring under it, was carried down to the holy Temple of Pusputnath, which is looked upon by all Hindus as one of the Portals of Heaven, that in breathing his last, his soul might be admitted, in its passage from its earthly frame, to the happier regions which this temple is believed to be the entrance of. Such is seldom, or ever done, until the person is supposed to be drawing to his end; and as this was the case, in the present instance, the prince was early in the morning, accompanied by the chief officers of his Government, his relations, and domestics, who as is customary on such occasions, walked with his palankeen, bare headed and bare footed, to the temple. A little after he ceased to be a prince; and the event was communicated to the Resident, who, as a mark of condolence, and in compliment to the court, proceeded with his suite, in mourning and on foot, to the spot, where much more awful scenes than had yet occurred were in a state of forwardness, I mean the preparations for the human sacrifices, that the

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