The Gangaridai Civilization of Ancient Bengal
"India... is inhabited by very many nations among which the greatest of all is that of the Gangaridai (Γανγαρίδαι), against whom Alexander did not undertake an expedition, being deterred by the multitude of their elephants. This region is separated from Further India by the greatest river in those parts, for it has a breadth of 30 stadia, but it adjoins the rest of India which Alexander had conquered." Gangaridai in Ptolemy 's Map The river mentioned in this passage as having "a breadth of 30 stadia" and forming the boundary between Further India and the Gangaridai is doubtless the Ganges. In the light of this evidence it is more reasonable to identify the stream which, according to a passage quoted earlier, forms the boundary towards the east of the tribe of the Gandaridae, with the easternmost branch of the Ganges rather than with the westernmost mouth of the river. Incidentally the passages quoted from Diodorus seem to imply that the famous Sicil...