The Ancient Geography of India. I. The Buddhist Period, including the Campaigns of Alexander, and the Travels of Hwen-Thsang c6.s3.t21.1

c6.s3.t21.1

From Srâvasti both of the Chinese pilgrims proceeded direct to Kapila, which was famous throughout India as the birth-place of Buddha. Hwen Thsang makes the distance 500 *li*, or 83 miles, to the southeast;* but according to the earlier pilgrim Fa-Hian the distance was 13 *yojanas*, or 91 miles, in the same direction.† The difference of 1 *yojana*, or 7 miles, seems to be due to some confusion as to the relative positions of Kapila, and the birth-place of Krakuchanda, which were just one *yojana* apart. Fa-Hian reached the latter place first before visiting Kapila; but Hwen Thsang went first to Kapila, and afterwards to the birth-place of Krakuchanda. As the site of this place may with great probability be identified with *Kaküa*, 8 miles to the west of *Nagar*, which I propose to identify with *Kapila-nagara*, I am inclined to adopt the narrative of Fa-Hian. Now the distance between Sâhet and Nagar is rather more than 81½ miles, as I found the road from Sâhet to Asokpur 42½ miles, and from Asokpur to Nagar the distance is 39 miles measured direct on the large map of the Indian Atlas. The actual distance by the winding roads of this part of the country cannot therefore be less than 85 miles, and is probably about 90 miles, as stated by Fa-Hian.