The Ancient Geography of India. I. The Buddhist Period, including the Campaigns of Alexander, and the Travels of Hwen-Thsang c5.s2.t4.3

c5.s2.t4.3

The name of Mânikyâla is not mentioned by any of the Chinese pilgrims, although every one of them has described the situation of the place. Fa-Hian merely states that at two days' journey to the east of Taxila is the spot where Buddha "gave his body to feed a starving tiger."[‡] But Sung-yun fixes the scene of this exploit at eight days' journey to the south-east of the capital of Gândhâra,* which is a very exact description of the bearing and distance of Mânikyâla, either from Peshâwar or from Hashtnagar. Lastly, Hwen Thsang places the site of the "Body-offering" at 200 *li*, or nearly 34 miles, to the south-east of Taxila,† which are the exact bearing and distance of Mânikyâla from Shah-dheri; but his statement that he crossed the *Sin-tu*, or Indus, is a simple mistake for the *Suhán* or *Suán* river, which flows between the two places.‡