The Ancient Geography of India. I. The Buddhist Period, including the Campaigns of Alexander, and the Travels of Hwen-Thsang c6.s1.t15.8

c6.s1.t15.8

These districts are described by Hwen Thsang under the general name of *Lang-kie-lo*, which M. Julien renders by Langala. M. de St. Martin, however, refers it to the tribe of *Langa*, but it is extremely doubtful whether this is an ancient name. The other name of *Langalas*, quoted from the Vishnu Purâna, is only a variant reading of *Jángalas*, which is almost certainly the correct form, as it is immediately followed by *Kuru-Jángalas*. Hwen Thsang fixes the capital of *Lang-kie-lo* at 2000 *li*, or 333 miles, to the west of Kotesar in Kachh. But as this bearing would place it in the middle of the Indian Ocean, the true direction must be north-west. Now this latter bearing and distance correspond with the position of the great ruined city of *Lákorián*, which Masson* found between Khozdar and Kilât. In older maps the name is written simply *Lakúra*, which appears to me to be very fairly represented by the Chinese *Lang-kie-lo*, or *Lánkara*.† Masson describes the ruined fortifications as “remarkable for their magnitude, as well as for the solidity and the skill evident in their construction.” From the size and importance of these ruins, I conclude that they are the remains of a large city, which has at some former period been the capital of the country. The Chinese pilgrim describes the province as being many thousands of *li* in breadth as well as in length. It is clear, therefore, that it corresponded, as nearly as possible, with the modern district of Biluchistan, of which the present capital, Kilât, is only 60 miles to the north of *Lákura*. In the seventh century, the capital was called *Su-neu-li-shi-fa-lo*, and was 30 *li*, or 5 miles, in circuit. The Chinese syllables are rendered by M. Julien as *Sunuriswara*, of which he offers no translation. But as Hwen Thsang describes a magnificent temple of Siva in the middle of the city, I infer that the Chinese transcript may be intended for *Sambhuriswara*, which is a well-known title of Siva as the “lord of divine beings,” or the “god of gods.” By assuming that this name belongs properly to the temple, the other name of *Lang-kie-lo*, or *Lákara*, may be applied to the capital as well as to the province.