The Ancient Geography of India. I. The Buddhist Period, including the Campaigns of Alexander, and the Travels of Hwen-Thsang c5.s1.t8.2

c5.s1.t8.2

According to Arrian, *Peukelas* was a very large and populous city, seated not far from the river Indus.† It was the capital of a chief named Astes,‡ perhaps *Hasti*, who was killed in the defence of one of his strongholds, after a siege of thirty days, by Hephæstion. Upon the death of Astes the city of Peukelaotis was delivered up to Alexander on his march towards the Indus. Its position is vaguely described by Strabo and Arrian as “near the Indus.” But the geographer Ptolemy is more exact, as he fixes it on the eastern bank of the river of Suastene, that is, the Panjkora or Swât river, which is the very locality indicated by Hwen Thsang. On leaving Parashâwar the Chinese pilgrim travelled towards the north-east for 100 *li*, or nearly 17 miles; and, crossing a great river, reached *Pu-se-kia-lo-fa-ti*, or Pushkalavati. The river here mentioned is the Kophes, or river of Kabul; and the bearing and distance from Peshâwar point to the two large towns of Parang and Chârsada, which form part of the well-known *Hashtnagar*, or "Eight Cities," that are seated close together on the eastern bank of the lower Swât river. These towns are Tangi, Shirpao, Umrzai, Turangzai, Usmânzai, Rajur, Chârsada, and Parang. They extend over a distance of fifteen miles; but the last two are seated close together in a bend of the river, and might originally have been portions of one large town. The fort of Hisâr stands on a mound above the ruins of the old town of Hashtnagar, which General Court places on an island, nearly opposite Rajur.* "All the suburbs," he says, "are scattered over with vast ruins."† The eight cities are shown in No. IV. Map.