Cities of the Indus, Part I
A.N. Marlow describes how, four thousand years ago, a remarkably advanced civilization flourished on the north-western plains of the Indian sub-continent.
One hot day, about four thousand years ago, the streets of a new town in Northwestern India were deserted for the noonday siesta. Unbaked bricks lay in large heaps on various building sites, and scaffolding, barrows, mortar and other builder’s impedimenta littered the scene.
Suddenly the noonday silence was rent by barks; and a cat leaped from a wall on to a heap of mud bricks laid out to dry, and disappeared down an alley, closely followed by a dog. Then sultry peace descended once more.
That cat and dog have immortalized their chase by the leap from the wall on to the bricks, where each has left his footprints on a drying brick—left them so clearly that it is quite obvious from the deep impress of the pads and from their spread that both animals were racing; and, as the dog’s footprints slightly overlap the cat’s, they must have trodden on the brick at the same time.
To continue reading this article you need to purchase a subscription, available from only £5.
Start my trial subscription now
If you have already purchased access, or are a print & archive subscriber, please ensure you are logged in.
Please email digital@historytoday.com if you have any problems.
