The Ancient Geography of India. I. The Buddhist Period, including the Campaigns of Alexander, and the Travels of Hwen-Thsang c5.s4.t14.2

c5.s4.t14.2

Arrian’s account of the capture is so clear and concise that I will quote it in his own words.† On leaving the junction of the rivers Alexander “marched through a desert country against the Malii, and the first day pitched his tents on the banks of a small rivulet, about one hundred stadia distant from the river Akesines. Having there allowed his troops a little time for refreshment and rest, he ordered every one to fill all his vessels with water, which done, he continued his march the remaining part of that day and all night, and early the next morning arrived at a city, whither many of the Malii had fled for refuge, and this was about 400 stadia distant from the Akesines.” The small rivulet here mentioned I believe to be the lower course of the *Ayek* river, which rises in the outer range of hills, and flows past Syâlkot towards Sangala, below which the bed is still traceable for some distance. It appears again 18 miles to the east of *Jhang*, and is finally lost about 12 miles to the east of Shorkot.* Now somewhere between these two points Alexander must have crossed the *Ayek*, as the desert country, which he afterwards traversed, lies immediately beyond it. If he had marched to the south he would have arrived at Shorkot, but he would not have encountered any desert, as his route would have been over the *Khâdar*, or low-lying lands in the valley of the Chenâb. A march of 46 miles in a southerly direction would have carried him also right up to the bank of the Hydraotes, or Râvi, a point which Alexander only reached, according to Arrian’s narrative, after another night’s march.† As this march lasted from the first watch of the night until daylight, it cannot have been less than 18 or 20 miles, which agrees exactly with the distance of the Râvi opposite Tulamba from Kot Kamâlia. The direction of Alexander’s march must, therefore, have been to the south-east; first to the *Ayek* river, where he halted to refresh his soldiers, and to fill their water vessels, and thence across the hard clayey and waterless tract called *Sandar-bár*, that is, the *bár*, a desert of the *Sandar*, or *Chandra* river. Thus the position of the rivulet, the description of the desolate country, and the distance of the city from the confluence of the rivers, all agree in fixing the site of the fortress assaulted by Alexander with *Kot Kamâlia*.