Indian Antiquary Vol 13

SR No.: 032505
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: John Faithfull Fleet, Richard Carnac Temple
Publisher: Swati Publications
Publication Year: 1984
Total Pages: 492
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 22 MB

Page 443

DECEMBER, 1834.]
PTOLEMY'S GEOG. BK. VI, CH. 11,-BAKTRIA.
: 395
names five as belonging to Margiana-the Derbikkai, Massagetai, Parnoi, Däai and Ta. pouroi.
The Derbikes are mentioned by Strabo (lib. XI, C, ti, sec. 7), who gives this account of them. "The Derbikes worship the earth. They neither sacrifice nor eat the female of any animal. Per. sons who attain the age of above 70 years are put to death by them, and their nearest relations eat their flesh. Old women are strangled and then buried. Those who die under 70 years of age are not eaten, but are only buried."
The Massagetai are referred to afterwards (c. xii, sec. 3) as a tribe of nomadic Sakai, belonging to the neighbourhood of the river Askatangkøs. They are mentioned by Herodotos (lib. I, c. civ.) who says that they inhabited a great portion of the vast plain that extended eastward from the Kaspian. He then relates how Cyrus lost his life in a bloody fight against them and their queen Tomyris. Alexander came into collision with their wandering hordes during the Campaign of Sogdiana as Arrian relates (Anab. lib. IV, cc. Ivi, xvii).
As regards the origin of their name it is referred by Beal (J.R. A.S., N.S., vol. XVI, pp. 257, 279) to maisa-greater' in Moeso-Gothic) and Yue-ti (or chi). He thus reverts to the old theory of Rémusat and Klaproth, that the Yue-ti were Getae, and this notwithstanding the objection of Saint-Martin stated in Les Huns Blancs, p. 37, n. 1).
The Parnoi, according to Strabo, were & branch of the Dabai (lib. XI, c. vii, sec. 1) called by Herodotos (lib. I, c. lü) the Däoi, and by our author and Stephanos of Byzantium the Däai. Strabo (lib. XI, c. viii, 2) says of them: “Most of the Skythians beginning from the Kaspian Sea, are called Dahai Skythai, and those situated more towards the east, Massagetai and Sakai, the rest have the common appellation of Skythians, but each separate tribe has its peculiar name. All, or the greater part of them, are nomadic." Virgil (Aen. lib. VIII, 1. 728) applies to the Dahae the epithet indomiti. It is all but certain that they have left traces of their name in the province of Dahestån, adjoining to Asterabad, as this position was within the limits of their migratory range. In the name Diae, Dahae or Ta-hia (the Chinese form) it is commonly inferred that we have the term Tajik, that is Persian, for there is good reason to place Persians even in Transoxiana long before the barbarous tribes of the Kaspian plains were heard of (See Wilson's Arian. Antiq., p. 141).
The Tapouroi appear to be the same as the Tapyroi mentioned by Strabo as occupying the country between the Hyrkanoi and the
Areioi. Their position, however, varied at various times.
Nisaia or Nigaia (the Nesaia of Strabo) has been identified by Wilson (Arian. Antiq., pp. 142, 148) with the modern Nissa, & small town or village on the north of the Elburz mountains. between Asterabad and Meshd.
CAP. 11. POSITION OF BAKTRIANE. 1. Baktrian 8 is bounded on the west by Margianð along the side already described, on the north and east by Sogdiant, along the rest of tho course of the River Oxos, and on the south by the rest of Areia, extending from the extreme point towards Margianê the position of which is...... 109° 39° and by the Paropanisadai along the parallel thence prolonged, through where the range of Paropanisos diverges towards the sources of the Oxus which lie in ............ 119° 30' 39°
2. The following rivers which fall into the Oxus flow through Baktrianê:The river Okhos, whose
sources lie .................. 110° 39° and the Dargamenes, whose
sources lie ................... 116° 30' 36° 20° and the Zariaspis, whose
sources lie .................. 113° 39° and the Artamis, whose
sources lie .................. 114° 399 and the Dargoidos, whose sources lie
....... 116° 390 and the point where this
joins the Oxus lies in... ... 117° 30' 440
3. Of the other tributaries the Artamis and the Zariaspis unite in......... 113° 40° 40' before falling into the Oxos in .......... .................. 1123
......... 112° 30' 440 4. The Dargamenes and the 'Oklos also unite in ........................ 109° 40° 30' before falling into the Oxus in ...............**********
....... 109° 5. Of the Paropapisos range, the western part is situated in ............ 111° 30' 399 and the Eastern) in ......... 119° 30' 39°
6. The parts of Baktriand in the north and towards the River Oxus are inhabited by the Salaterai and the Zarias pai, and to the south of these up towards the Salaterai the Khomaroi, and below these the K8 moi, then the Akinakai, then the Tambyxoi, and below the Zariaspai the Tokharoi,