The Dynastic History of Northern India (Early Mediaeval Period) v1.c12.22.4

v1.c12.22.4

he found the whole region, roughly from Turfan to Merv and Lake Issykkul to the Hindukush, under the control of the *Khagan* (Khan) of the western branch of this Turkish horde. Their capital city was “the town of the Su-yeh river” which “may be the present Constantinovosk, or perhaps Belasagun,⁴ the capital of the Karakhitai, on the river Chu.”⁵ Yuan Chwang describes the countries and princes south of the Hindukush, and the Punjab. From Balkh, he passed through several small principalities, and after crossing the ‘Snowy Mountains’ (Hindukush), Bāmiyān and the Black Ridge (Kōh Bābā or Siyāh Kōh), arrived in the kingdom of Kia-pi-shi (Kāpiśa). This kingdom appears to have been a powerful one. It was 4,000 li in circuit, and was bounded on the north by the ‘Snowy Mountains.’ The king, who was selected from the *Kṣatriya* caste, was a clever and shrewd man and had brought under his control some ten kingdoms. The capital of this prince was probably situated not far from the “affluence of the Kabul river flowing through the Ghorband valley.” Toward the east his authority extended over Lan-po (Lamghān or mod. Laghman), Na-kie-lo-ho (Nagarahāra = mod. Jalalabad district), and Kan-t'o-lo (Gandhāra = mod. Peshawar, Charsadda and Und). On the borders of Ta-ch'a-shi-lo (Takṣaśilā = mod.