The Ancient Geography of India. I. The Buddhist Period, including the Campaigns of Alexander, and the Travels of Hwen-Thsang c6.s1.t8.22

c6.s1.t8.22

I cannot close the discussion on the site of this ancient city without noticing another name of which the conflicting accounts appear to me to have a confused reference to Nirunkot. This name is the *Piruz* of Istakhri, the *Kannazbur* of Ibn Haukal, and the *Firabuz* of Edrisi. According to Istakhri, *Piruz* was 4 days' journey from Debal, and 2 days from *Mehábari*, which was itself on the western bank of the Indus, at 2 days' journey from Debal. Ibn Haukal and Edrisi agree that the road to *Kannazbur*, or *Firabuz*, lay through *Manhábari*, or *Manjábari*, which was on the western bank of the Indus, at 2 days from Debal; but they make the whole distance beyond Debal 14 days instead of 4. Now, Ibn Haukal and Edrisi place their city in Mekrân, a position which they were almost forced to adopt by their long distance of 14 days, although the first two days' journey lie exactly in the opposite direction from Mekran. But if we take the shorter distance of 4 days from Debal, which is found in Istakhri, the earliest of the three geographers, the position of their unknown city will then accord exactly with that of *Nirankot*. Debal I will hereafter identify with an old city near *Lâri-bandar* and *Manhábari* with *Thatha*, which is just midway between Lâri-bandar and Haidarâbâd. Now, Ibn Haukal specially notes that *Manjábari* was situated "to the west of the Mihrân, and there any one who proceeds from Debal to Mansura will have to pass the river, the latter place being opposite to Manjábari."* This extract shows that Manjábari was on the western branch of the Indus, and therefore on the high-road to Nirankot as well as to *Piruz*, or *Kannezbur*, or *Firabuz*. I would therefore suggest that the first of these names, which is thus mentioned in conjunction with Manhâbari might possibly be intended for Nirun, and the other two for Nirunkot, as the alterations in the original Arabic characters required for these two readings are very slight. But there was certainly a place of somewhat similar name in Mekrân, as Bilâduri records that Kizbun in Mekrân submitted to Muhammad Kâsim on his march against Debâl. Comparing this name with Ibn Haukal’s Kannazbur,[*] and Edrisi’s Firabuz, I think it probable that they may be intended for Panjgúr, as suggested by M. Reinaud. The 14 days’ journey would agree very well with the position of this place.