Kirâtas are another of these savage tribes, which are stated by Mr. A. Barooah to have been inhabitants of the hilly tracts just below the Himalaya, near Kumaon and Nepal. In the great duel which forms the subject of the Kirâtârjuniya, and which took place, be it remembered, on the heights of the Himalaya, Arjuna's opponent was a Kirâta from whom the great epic takes its name* The Kâmboja's and the Pârasîkas are both mentioned under those names in Kâlidâsa's Raghuvams'a as tribes inhabiting the out- lying districts on the north-western frontier. The Pârasîkas are doubtless the people inhabiting Persia and the adjoining regions. Horses from their country are also mentioned under the name Vanâyudes'ya in the Raghuvams'a.## The Bâhlîkas are easily identified as the dwellers in the district of Bactria or Balkh,$$ where a Buddist Vihâra has been discovered.*| T So much for the invading army of Chandragupta, which in the classical ac- counts is described as containing vagabonds,|| and robbers, and banditti. This, doubtless, may be an exaggeration, as Professor Wilson was inclined to suppose. But it seems probable from the habitat of the peoples mentioned, if we have correctly fixed it, that they were outlying uncivilized peoples, whom Chandragupta and Chanakya formed into an army for the purpose of helping in their work of revenge.
The elements stated to constitute the army which followed Malayaketu and Râkshasa are of the same description. The Khas'as appear to be identical with the tribes still dwelling in the Khaśia$ and Garo Hills in the north-eastern parts of Bengal. The real name of the tribe seems to be Khas'a and so our text
- See further Indian Antiquary, Vol. III., pp. 178-9; Vol. VI., pp. 133, 349 n;
Vol. X., p. 321. + See Raghuvams'a, Canto IV., st. 60-69. For the Kâmbojas, see also Indran Antiquary, Vol. IV., p. 244; Vol. V., p. 275; Vol. X., p. 272; they and Yavanas are described as मुण्ड in the Gaņaratnamahodadhi, p. 157, (Eggeling's ed.++. Raghuvams'a, Canto V. st. 73. See further on this and other names Vâsavadattâ, Hall's Preface, p. 52; Aufrecht's Halâyudha, p. 47. $$ See Indian Antiquary, Vol. VI., P. 114. *|J. R. A.S., (N. S.), Vol. IX., p. 169 and Vol. XVII., (O, S., ) p. 112.|| Hindu Theatre, Vol. II, pp. 133, 149. An explanation of this statement in the classical writers is suggested by General Cunningham in his Bhilsa Topes, p. 89. $ Barooah's Dictionary, Vol. III, P. 44; see, too, Bhilsa Topes, p. 94; and Bŗihatsamhitâ Chap. LXIX, st. 26;. and J. A. S. B., Vol. XVI., p. 1237, (Mr. Brian Hodgson's paper.).
