DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.15174#0022
G
THE RIVER OXUS.
CHAP. XII.
magnitude of 828 yards. The very topography of
the river's bank may, I almost think, be traced in
Curtius ; for there are low and peaked hillocks near
that pass of the Oxus; and we are told that Alex-
ander caused fires to be lit on the high ground,
" that the distressed in the rear might perceive they
were not far from camp." There are no hillocks
below Kilef. Curtius tells us that the Oxus was a
muddy river, that bore much slime along with it;
and I found that one fortieth of the stream is clay
suspended in the water. What an approximation
to the name of Maricanda in the modern city of
Sarmarcand ! It is described as being seventy stadia
in circumference; and we have seen that modern
Bokhara exceeds eight English miles, or about sixty-
four of the Grecian stadia. What an outline have
we not of the character of these nations in remote
ages ! " They exercised robbery, and lived by
spoil." These are the literal words of the historian ;
and they explain to us the genuine manners of the
people, be they Hun, Scythian, Goth, Tatar, Toork,
or Toorkmun. Lower down the river, we have the
name of the country ruled by Pharsamanes, which
is called Chorasmi, and in which the kingdom of
Kharasm, subverted by Jengis, is easily recognised.
Higher up, we have a description of Paraetacae,
which was a mountainous region, as we learn from
the mention of fir trees, and the formidable " rock
of Chorienes." This is the hill country of Karata-
geen, as we discover from the similarity of its name
and position. In Zeriaspes, we have I think, Shu.hr
Subz ; and I could continue to multiply the coinci-
THE RIVER OXUS.
CHAP. XII.
magnitude of 828 yards. The very topography of
the river's bank may, I almost think, be traced in
Curtius ; for there are low and peaked hillocks near
that pass of the Oxus; and we are told that Alex-
ander caused fires to be lit on the high ground,
" that the distressed in the rear might perceive they
were not far from camp." There are no hillocks
below Kilef. Curtius tells us that the Oxus was a
muddy river, that bore much slime along with it;
and I found that one fortieth of the stream is clay
suspended in the water. What an approximation
to the name of Maricanda in the modern city of
Sarmarcand ! It is described as being seventy stadia
in circumference; and we have seen that modern
Bokhara exceeds eight English miles, or about sixty-
four of the Grecian stadia. What an outline have
we not of the character of these nations in remote
ages ! " They exercised robbery, and lived by
spoil." These are the literal words of the historian ;
and they explain to us the genuine manners of the
people, be they Hun, Scythian, Goth, Tatar, Toork,
or Toorkmun. Lower down the river, we have the
name of the country ruled by Pharsamanes, which
is called Chorasmi, and in which the kingdom of
Kharasm, subverted by Jengis, is easily recognised.
Higher up, we have a description of Paraetacae,
which was a mountainous region, as we learn from
the mention of fir trees, and the formidable " rock
of Chorienes." This is the hill country of Karata-
geen, as we discover from the similarity of its name
and position. In Zeriaspes, we have I think, Shu.hr
Subz ; and I could continue to multiply the coinci-