Oxus; and Mr. Rennell's map ſpecifies both a diſtrict and a city, named Gaur, or Zout, in nearly the ſame ſituation, on the banks of a river, that runs into the Oxus, near the city of Balk, or, as it was anciently called, Bactra, or Zariaſpe, in 34° 30′ N. L. nearly, and 64° Long.
The diſtrict of Gaur joins to that of Cabul[1], a celebrated place of trade in the Eaſt Indies, as low as the laſt century. The paſſage of the goods from thence to Europe and Aſia Minor is eaſily conceived. They paſſed down the Oxus, or Jihon, northward to the Caſpian ſea. The Oxus is deſcribed by Arrian[2] to be the largeitof the Aſiatic rivers, thoſe of India excepted; and Strabo ſpeaks of it, as convenient for navigation[3], inſomuch that the goods carried down it are eaſily conveyed into Hyrcania, and from thence, by means of rivers, to the countries lying on the Pontic ſea. How, different muſt the condition of thoſe countries at that time have been from their preſent ſtate! .
The breadth of the Caſpian ſea, from the mouth of the Oxus to the mouth of the Kur, or Cyrus, on the oppoſite coait of Albania, is, according to D'Anville, about 1800 ſtadia, or rather more than 210 Engliſh miles. The Cyrus is deſcribed by Strabo, as the
- ↑ The province of Cabul is, according to Mr. Rennell, highly diverſified, being made up of mountains, covered with eternal ſnow, hills of moderate height, and eaſy aſcent, rich plains, and ſtately foreſts, and theſe enlivened by innumerable ſtreams of water. The ſituation of the city of Cabul is ſpoken of in terms of rapture by the Indian hiſtorians, it being no leſs romantic than pleaſant, enjoying a wholeſome air, and having within its reach the fruits and other products both of the temperate and torrid zone. In a political light, it is conſidered as the gate of India towards Tartary, as Candahar holds the ſame place with regard to Perfia. Rennell's Memoir of a Map of Hindoſtan, p. 152, 153.
- ↑ Exped. Alex. lib. iii. p. 146. lib. viii; p. 295.
- ↑ Strab. lib. ii. p. 73.
