The Ancient Geography of India. I. The Buddhist Period, including the Campaigns of Alexander, and the Travels of Hwen-Thsang c5.s2.t3.19

c5.s2.t3.19

About fifty years after Alexander's visit, the people of Taxila rebelled against *Bindusára*, king of Magadha, who sent his eldest son *Susima* to besiege the place. On his failure, the siege was entrusted to his younger son, the celebrated Asoka; but the people came out 2½ *yojanas*, or 17½ miles, to meet the young prince and offer their submission.‡ At the time of Asoka's accession the wealth of Taxila is said to have amounted to 36 *kotis*, or 360 millions of some unnamed coin, which, even if it was the silver *tangka*, or sixpence, would have amounted to nine *karors* of rupees, or £9,000,000. It is probable, however, that the coin intended by the Indian writer was a gold one, in which case the wealth of this city would have amounted to about 90 or 100 millions of pounds. I quote this statement as a proof of the great reputed wealth of Taxila within fifty years after Alexander's expedition. It was here that Asoka himself had resided as Viceroy of the Panjab during his father's lifetime; and here also resided his own son *Kunála*, or the "fine-eyed," who is the hero of a very curious Buddhist legend, which will be described hereafter.