The Ancient Geography of India. I. The Buddhist Period, including the Campaigns of Alexander, and the Travels of Hwen-Thsang c6.s3.t5.10

c6.s3.t5.10

According to Hwen Thsang, the kingdom of *Maḍipura* was 6000 *li*, or 1000 miles, in circuit; but this estimate, as I have already pointed out, must certainly include the two neighbouring states of *Govisana* and *Ahichhatra*, as they are also in Rohilkhand, and at so short a distance that *Maḍipur* alone must have been a very small district, confined to the tract between the Ganges and Râmgaṅgâ, of not more than 250 miles in circuit. But even with the extended limits now proposed, which would include the whole of the country lying to the east of the Ganges from Haridwâr to Kanoj as far as the bank of the Ghâgra near Khairigarh, the circuit would not be increased to more than 650 or 700 miles. This is still too small; but as some large allowance must be made on the northern mountain boundary for the difference between direct measurement on the map and the actual road distance, I think that the true circuit may be not less than 850 miles. The king of Maḍâwar was a *Siu-to-lo* or Sudra, who worshipped the Devas, and cared nothing for Buddhism. As Govisana and Ahichhatra were without kings, I presume that they were tributary to Maḍâwar, and that the circuit of the territory recorded by Hwen Thsang was the political boundary of the whole State, and not that of the district proper.