'The Expedition for the survey of the rivers Euphrates and Tigris, carried on by order of the British government, in the years 1835, 1836, and 1837; preceded by geographical and historical notices of the regions situated between the rivers Nile and Indus. In four volumes. With fourteen maps and charts, and embellished with ninety-seven plates, besides numerous wood-cuts. Volume the first.' [‎172] (227/905)

172
ANCIENT GEOGRAPHY.
[CHAP. VIII.
and the main valley terminates in the remarkably rich plain
of Peshawur. 1
Paropamisus. This district, and nearly the whole of that of Bamiyan,
were included in the Paropamisus of the ancients, which, in
its restricted limits, had Aria to the west, Arachosia to the
south, the river Indus and the territory of Cathay (the an
cient seat of the Seres) to the east; and, finally, the extremity
of the Caucasian range, with the Sacse, on the north. The
hills are high and barren, 2 and the valleys indifferently fruit
ful, being overshadowed by the mountains, 3 which were so
difficult of access, that in the time of Alexander, this country
was scarcely known even to those who lived on its borders;
and the inhabitants were in consequence rude and savage. 4
Ancient This tract was peopled by the Bolitse, or Cabolitae, and Aris-
mhabitants. topholi, on the west; 5 likewise the Ambustse, Parretse, and
Parsii, all of whom were known by the general name Paro-
pamisadse, from that of the adjoining portion of the moun
tains. Including the Huzarah country to the east, and that of
the Eimaks to the west, Paropamisus extended 350 miles,
with a breadth from north to south of about 200 miles ; and
contained the city of Alexandria ad Caucasum, which we are
told 6 was built by Alexander previously to traversing the
Caucasus. This very remarkable place would seem to be
represented by the Beghram of the present day. 7 Near it
was the city of Nikaea, 8 which was passed on the return of
the conqueror from Bactria. 9 In its vicinity was also the
Kapissa of Ptolemy, now Perwan Durrah; 10 and finally the
metropolitan city Karura, or Kabura of Ptolemy, the Ortos-
pana of Strabo, whose situation and distances from some of
the principal places agree with those of the present capital : n
' Elphinstone's Kibul, p. 55.
8 K^bul in Syriac signifies unfruitful.—Ogilby's Asia, p. 197.
3 Quintus Curtius, book VII.. c. iv.
Ibid., and Heylyn's ' Little Description of the Great World,' p. 633.
5 Ptolemy, lib. VI. c. xviii. 6 Quintus Curtius, lib. VII. c. iii.
7 Mr. Masson, Journal of the Asiatic Society, Vol. V-, p. 6; and Major
Rawlinson's Letter to the Secretary of the Royal Geographical Society, from
Kandahar, May 1st, 1841. 8 Major Rawlinson.
® Nysa. -Quintus Curtius, lib. VIII. c. x. 10 Major Rawlinson's Letter.
Strabo, lib. XI., p. 514.—From Prophthasia (Perwarrun) to Arachosia
(Deh-Zangee) 4120 stadia, and from the latter to Ortospana (Kdbul) 2000 stadia.