Page:History of India Vol 9.djvu/50

 24 ACCOUNT OF INDIA BY STKABO panis to the Hydaspes and the station of his vessels, prepared his fleet, and set sail on the Hydaspes. All the rivers which have been mentioned (the last of which is the Hypanis) unite in one stream, the Indus. It is said that there are altogether fif- teen rivers of con- siderable size which flow into the Indus. Filled by these va- rious streams, the river Indus becomes enlarged in some places to the extent of a hundred stadia, according to writers who exaggerate, or, according to a more moderate estimate, to fifty stadia at the utmost, and at the least to seven; and they speak of many nations and cities about this river. It discharges itself by two mouths into the southern sea and forms the island called Patalene. Alexander's intention was to relinquish the march toward the parts situated to the east, first, because he was prevented from crossing the Hypanis; next, be- cause he learned by experience the falsehood of the reports he had previously received to the effect that A TENT OF THE PRIMITIVE LEPCHAS IN NORTHEAST INDIA.