The Ancient Geography of India. I. The Buddhist Period, including the Campaigns of Alexander, and the Travels of Hwen-Thsang c6.s3.t28.8

c6.s3.t28.8

Hwen Thsang gives the name of the country in its Sanskrit form, as *Fo-li-shi*, or *Vriji*; but it is also stated that the people of the north called the country *San-fa-shi*, or *Samvaji*,* which is the Pali form of *Samvriji*, or the "United *Vrijis*." From this name, I infer that the *Vrijis* were a large tribe which was divided into several branches, namely, the *Lichhavis* of *Vaisâli*, the *Vaidehis* of *Mithila*, the *Tirabhuktis* of *Tirhut*, etc. Either of these divisions separately might therefore be called *Vrijis*, or any two together might be called *Vrijis*, as well as *Samvrijis*, or the "United *Vrijis*." We have a parallel case in the warlike tribe of the *Bágris*, or *Sambágris* of the Satlej, which consisted of three separate divisions. I conclude therefore that *Vaisáli* was a single district in the territories of the United *Vrijis*, or *Wajjis*, and therefore that the estimated size of Vaisâli proper, as recorded by Hwen Thsang, is a simple mistake. Perhaps we should read 1500 *li*, or 250 miles, instead of 5000 *li*, or 833 miles. In this case the district of Vaisâli would be limited to the south-west corner of the country of the Vrijis, to the westward of the little Gandak river.