The Ancient Geography of India. I. The Buddhist Period, including the Campaigns of Alexander, and the Travels of Hwen-Thsang c4.53

c4.53

Hwen Thsang makes the circumference of India 90,000 *li*,‡ which is more than double the truth. But in the Chinese official records,§ the circuit of India is said to be only 30,000 *li*; which is too small, if we reckon 6 *li* to the British mile, according to the usual road distance of the Chinese pilgrims. But if, as was probably the case, the measurement was made on a map, the *li* may be reckoned at the full value of 1079·12 feet which it possessed in the eighth century; then the 30,000 *li* will be equal to 6130 British miles, which is only 764 miles short of the dimensions recorded by Strabo on the authority of Alexander’s papers, and the published works of Megasthenes and Patrokles.