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THE KINGDOMS OF THE AŠVAKAS
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republics. A list of the more important among these is given below :
1. The Aspasian territory (Alishang-Kūnar-Bajaur valley):
It lay in the difficult hill country north of the Kābul river watered by the Khoes, possibly the modern Alishang, and the Euaspla, apparently the Kīnar. The name of the people is derived from the Irānian "Aspa," i.e., the Sanskrit “Ašva” (horse ) or Ašvaka. The Aspasians were thus the western branch of the Aśvakas (Assakenians). The chieftain, hyparch, of the tribe dwelt in a city on or near the river Euaspla, supposed to be identical with the Kūnar, a tributary of the Kābul. Other Aspasian cities were Andaka and Arigaeum. 2
2. The country of the Guraeans :
It was watered by the river Guraeus, Gauri, or Pañj. kora, and lay between the land of the Aspasians and the country of the Assakenians.
3. The Kingdom of Assakenos (part of Swat and Buner) :
It stretched eastwards as far as the Indus and had its capital at Massaga, a "formidable fortress probably situated not very far to the north of the Malakand Pass but not yet precisely identified." The name of the Assakenians probably represents the Sanskrit Aśvaka land of horses', not Asmaka, land of stone'. The territory occupied by the tribe was also known in different ages as Suvāstu, Udyāna and, according to some, Oddiyāna. The Aśvakas do not appear to be mentioned by Pāṇini unless we regard them as belonging to the same stock as the Asmakas 3 of the south
1 Camb. Hist Ind., 352. n. 3. 2 Chinnock's Arrian pp. 230-231. 3 IV. I. 173.
