The Early History of India, from 600 B.C. to the Muhammadan Conquest, including the Invasion of Alexander the Great c12.8

c12.8

¹ The rival opinions concerning the site of Nikaia are collected by McCrindle (*op. cit.* note B). I follow General Abbot, who was clearly right, as Jalālābād marks the spot where the division of the army would naturally take place. Certain local chiefs, the Sultans of Pīch, claim descent from Alexander (Raverty, *Notes on Afghanis-tan*, pp. 48–51). See Burnes, *Travels into Bokhara*, &c., 2nd ed., 1835, vol. iii, pp. 186–90. The other claimants to descent from Alexander are:—(1) the former Mīrs of Badakshan, superseded by a Turk dynasty about 1822; (2–5) the chiefs of Darwāz, Kulāb, Shighnān, and Wakhan; and (6–8) the chiefs of Chitrāl, Gilgit and Iskardo. The last-named fort is said to have been built by Alexander. The Tungani soldiers who garrisoned Yarkand in 1835, also claimed descent from Alexander's soldier colonists.