The Ancient Geography of India. I. The Buddhist Period, including the Campaigns of Alexander, and the Travels of Hwen-Thsang c6.s1.t12.7

c6.s1.t12.7

M. Vivien de St. Martin has identified this capital with Karâchi; but the distance from Alor is not more than 1300 *li*, or 217 miles, while only the initial syllable of the name corresponds with the Chinese transcript. The country is described by Hwen Thsang as low and wet, and the soil impregnated with salt. This is an exact description of the lowlands of Kachh, which means a "morass" (*Kachchha*), and of the salt desert, or *Ran* (in Sanskrit *Irina*), which forms about one-half of the province. But it is quite inaccurate if applied to the dry sandy soil of Karâchi. There is also a large swamp extending for many miles, immediately to the south of Koṭesar.