The Ancient Geography of India. I. The Buddhist Period, including the Campaigns of Alexander, and the Travels of Hwen-Thsang c5.s4.t8.1

c5.s4.t8.1

On leaving *Tse-kia*, Hwen Thsang travelled eastward to *Na-lo-Seng-ho*, or *Nára-Sinha*, beyond which place he entered the forest of *Po-lo-she*, or *Pilu* trees (*Salvadora Persica*), where he encountered the brigands, as already related. This town of *Nara-Sinha* is, I believe, represented by the large ruined mound of *Ran-Si*, which is situated 9 miles to the south of Shekohpura, and 25 miles to the east-south-east of Asarur, and about the same distance to the west of Lahor.[*] *Si*, or *Sih*, is the usual Indian contraction for *Sinh*, and *Ran* is a well-known interchange of pronunciation with *Nar*, as in *Ranod* for *Narod*, a large town in the Gwalior territory, about 35 miles to the south of Narwar, and in *Nakhlor* for *Lakhnor*, the capital of *Katehar*, or *Rohilkhand*. In Ransi, therefore, we have not only an exact correspondence of position, but also the most precise agreement of name, with the long-sought-for *Nara-Sinha* of the Chinese pilgrim. This identification is the more valuable, as it furnishes the most conclusive evidence that could be desired of the accuracy of Hwen Thsang’s emplacement of Sangala to the westward of the Râvi, instead of to the eastward, as indicated by the classical authorities.