The Early History of India, from 600 B.C. to the Muhammadan Conquest, including the Invasion of Alexander the Great c14.10

c14.10

The invader's obvious goal unquestionably would have been Jihlam, which is appreciably nearer to Taxila, and has a ferry 'infinitely more convenient, and only one-third the width of the Jalālpur ferry'.³ The road to either crossing-place is rugged and difficult, but a large force marching to Jalālpur would be more liable to entanglement in the intricate ravines of the Salt Range, and would encounter more formidable obstacles, than those met with on the road to Jihlam. The presumption, therefore, is that Alexander would have adopted the shorter and easier route and formed his camp near the town of Jihlam. The opinion that he followed this natural and obvious course of action has been advocated by Burnes, Court, and Abbott, who were all well qualified to express an authoritative opinion in virtue of their military experience and exact local knowledge.