[56] The library of Alexandria was destroyed by the Arab, Amrou, a few years after Mahomet. Abulphuragicus Dynast., p. 115. This is questioned by Gibbon, (!) vol. iii. p. 478, quarto edition.
[57] The greater part of our horses had not regained much strength after the sorrowful work and starvation they had encountered during the recent campaign.
[58] In the month of April, upwards of two hundred years ago, Jehangire's army forded this river with a force of Rajaputs opposing them. Many were drowned, and most of the remainder fell into the hands of their enemies. (Dow's India, vol. iii., p. 81.)
CROSS THE CHENAB AND RAVEE—ARRIVE AT LAHORE—LAHORE—CEREMONIAL VISITS—REVIEW OF THE SIKH ARMY—RECROSS THE SUTLEJ—MARCH TO CANTONMENTS.
Having thus floundered through the Jhelum, we had passed the boundary of the Mussulmaun, and entered the Sikh division—i.e., the Punjaub. The Punjaub is bounded on the north-west by the Jhelum river, and not by the Attok, as usually marked in the charts. The five rivers, from which it derives its name,[59] are the Sutlej, the Beeas, the Ravee, the Chenab, and the Jhelum.
The country did not exhibit any sign of improvement until we neared the Chenab, being mostly overgrown with long dry grass, not unlike that which covers some of the prairies of America. But it cannot be a matter of surprise, that the inhabitants should pay more attention to war than agriculture; had it been otherwise, they would have sown only for the hardy and warlike inhabitants of the neighbouring mountains. A nation must be great in war ere it can hope to flourish in commerce and agriculture, or the nest will surely be robbed ere the progeny be full-grown and able to defend themselves—or rather, capable of learning that useful art.
The cold of a winter's morning in India, though much less severe, of course, than that of more northern latitudes, is still very smartly felt on the line of march, for it is necessary to march in the morning, to enable the cattle to go out and graze after their work is over.