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NOVEMBER, 1905.]
ALEXANDER, PORUS, AND THE PANJAB.
253
ALEXANDER, PORUS, AND THE PANJAB.
BY O. PEARSON, INDIAN EDUCATIONAL SERVICH (RED.). (With a Map, and a Prefatory Note by Vincent A. Smith, M.A., I.C.S., Retd.)
[Some time ago Mr. C. Pearson favoured me with rough notes commenting on the theories advocated in my Early History of India concerning the date and localities of Alexander's operations in the Panjab in 326 B, C, His observations, based on intimate personal knowledge of the country, seeming to me worthy of record, I suggested that he might recast them with a view to pablication in the Indian Antiquary. Mr. Pearson was good enongh to adopt the suggestion, and has sent me the peper now presented, accompanied by a map, drawn by a young military friend.
Mr. Pearson's remarks on Buddhist masonry' are of interest. He is clearly right in noting that Arrian's estimate of 15 stadia, or about 3000 yards, as the width of the Chinâb at the crossing-place, must be regarded as excessive. In my book (p. 53 n.) I dated Alexander's passage of the Indns in March, 326 B. C. Mr. Pearson shows reason for supposing that the event may have occurred a month earlier. This possibility supports the theory that the battle took place in April, but the very explicit testimony of the historians that the river was actually in food cannot, I think, be rejected on a priori grounds, I, therefore, adhere to the view that the battle took place at the very end of Jane, or, more probably, early in July " (Early Hist. p. 60). Mr. Pearson argues that the assumption of the earlier date allows more time for the preparation of the fleet intended to descend the rivers. But that argument has no validity, because the arrangements for ship-building were entrusted to subordinates and did not depend on Alexander's personal movements. The time available extended from March to October.
The observation that the dépôt for deodar logs prosumably was in ancient times, as now, at or near Jihlam, is of importance as indicating that the ship-building operations must have taken place high ap the river. It is true that the assumption that the voyage began near the town of Jihlam conflicts apparently with the statement that the descent to the first confluence occupied only eight days, but no conceivable theory fits all the statements on record, We can only balance them, and decide according to the cumulative weight of evidence, admitting that in any case difficulties will remain unsolved,
The map, as explained by Mr. Pearson's comments, gives the reader valuable help in anderstanding that Alexander's line of march to the river must have been determined by the position of the passes in the Salt Range and connected bills. He must have marched through either the Bakrala or Bunbår Pass, and may well have used both roads. Once he was through the hills he conld gelect any suitable ground on the river bank for his camp, A few miles' march would bring him to the neighbourhood of either Jiblam or Jalalpur. The decision as to the crossing-place consequently does not depend on the opinion formed as to the line of maroh from Taxila, but must be guided by the necessity of reconciling the ancient author's descriptions with actual topographical details. I am Atill of opinion that in all probability Abbott's view is correct, but I have not any personal knowledge of the ground.
I am indebted to Captain Talbot, Settlement Commissioner of Jammu and the Kasmir State, for the information that Major Norman has propounded a fresh theory, an abstract of which will appear in the new Gazetteer for the Jihlam (Jhelam) District, of which Captain Talbot has kindly sent me proofs. I do not feel justified in quoting textually from proof-sheete, but may say that according to Major Norman, the Greek camp should be located near Pind Dadan Khan, far below Jalálpar, and the crossing-place at the Ahmadabad bluff, about 12 miles below AhmadAbåd. This theory seems to me wholly untenable for many reasons. Captain Talbot appears to be right in holding that no conclusive determination of the problem can be
