The Ancient Geography of India. I. The Buddhist Period, including the Campaigns of Alexander, and the Travels of Hwen-Thsang c6.s3.t30.1

c6.s3.t30.1

From Vriji the Chinese pilgrim visited *Ni.po.lo*, or Nepâla, which he places to the north-west at 1400 or 1500 *li*, or 233 to 250 miles.[*] From Janakpur there are two routes to Nepâl, one by the *Kamalá* river, and the other by the *Bhágmati* or *Bhágavati* river; but the distance is not more than 150 miles by either of them. The circuit of the country is said to be 4000 *li*, or 667 miles, which is much too small, unless the estimate refers to the district of Nepâl Proper on the *Sapta Kausiki*, or seven streams of the Kosi river. But in this case the hill country on the Gandak river must have been a separate territory, which is very improbable. I would therefore assign to Nepâl the basins of both rivers, and alter Hwen Thsang’s estimate to 6000 *li*, or 1000 miles, which is about the actual size of the two valleys.