'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.' [‎169] (224/905)

CHAP. VIII.]
ARACHOSIA.
169
and Philotas, 1 which induced Alexander to invade Bactria
previously to continuing his march towards India. 2
Arachosia touches the north-eastern limits of Gedrosia, as and of
the preceding province borders those on the north-west. It Aracho8ia '
has the Paropamisus and part of Aria on the north, Dran-
giana on the west, Gedrosia on the south and south-west,
and the Indus on the east: 3 it therefore includes the modern
territories of Kandahar and Ghizni, or Ghaznein, as well as
that of Kabul.
Towards the north of this territory Ptolemy places the
Bangyetse; more southward the Rhseplutse and Eritae, 4 Ara
chosia being the capital. The site of this ancient city is sup- Supposed site
posed by Major Rawlinson to be at Deh Zangee, the Huzarah of the city '
capital, where there are extensive ruins, with cuneiform in
scriptions of the time of Darius. 5 The situation of this town
agrees also with that of Cophen (Arachosia), mentioned by
Pliny. 6
The elevated district of Ghaznein joins that of Kandahar on
the northern side. The city of that name stands upon an
eminence 7726 feet above the sea, 7 and is completely com
manded by its citadel, which is towards the north, but
within the inclosure, and on a still higher portion of the
same range. The city contains about 1500 houses, usually
two stories high, and four inferior bazaars, which are covered
with mats and wood. Both the town and citadel are sur
rounded by ditches and irregularly built walls, flanked by
semicircular towers. 8 On the low hills eastward of the town
are the remains of a city, which, only eight centuries since,
was the capital of an empire reaching from the Tigris to the
Ganges, and from the Jaxartes to the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. . Two
1 Pliny, lib. VI., c. xx.
2 Quint. Curt., lib. VI., c. vi. vii., c. 3. Diod. Sic., lib. XVII., c. Ixxviii.
Ixxix.
3 Strabo, lib. XV., p. 724. 4 Lib. VI., c. 20.
5 In Major Rawlinson's letter, dated from Kandahar, May 1, 1841, it is
stated that from Harakwatee, the Sanscrit Saraswatee, came the Greek Ara-
chotus, the Arab Rakhaj, and also the modern Unghend.
6 Lib. VI., c. xxiii. 7 Major Hough's Narrative, p. 228,
8 MS. of Mr. Masson's First Journey into Afghdnistdn.
VOL. I. Z