The Ancient Geography of India. I. The Buddhist Period, including the Campaigns of Alexander, and the Travels of Hwen-Thsang c6.s1.t8.11

c6.s1.t8.11

The names of *Pátalpur* and *Páṭaṣila* further suggest the probability that Haidarâbâd may be the *Pattala* of Alexander’s historians, which they are unanimous in placing near the head of the Delta. Now, the present head of the Delta is at the old town of Mattâri, 12 miles above Haidarâbâd, where the *Phuleli* separates from the main channel of the Indus. But in ancient times, when the main stream, which is now called *Purána*, or the “Old River,” flowed past Alor and Brâhmanâbâd to Nirunkot, the first point of separation of its waters was either at Haidarâbâd itself, past which a branch is said to have flowed by Miâni to Trikal, or 15 miles to the south-east of it where the *Phuleli* now throws off the *Guni* branch to the south, and then proceeds westerly to join the present stream of the Indus at Trikal. The true head of the old Delta was therefore either at Haidarâbâd itself, or 15 miles to the south-east of it, where the *Guni*, or eastern branch of the Indus, separated from the *Phuleli*, or western branch.