The Ancient Geography of India. I. The Buddhist Period, including the Campaigns of Alexander, and the Travels of Hwen-Thsang c6.s3.t5.5

c6.s3.t5.5

According to Hwen Thsang, the kingdom of *Srughna* was 6000 *li*, or 1000, miles in circuit. On the east it extended to the Ganges, and on the north to a range of lofty mountains, while the Jumna flowed through the midst of it. From these data it would appear that *Srughna* must have comprised the hill states of Sirmor and Garhwâl, lying between the Giri river and the Ganges, with portions of the districts of Ambâla and Sahâranpur in the plains. But the circuit of this tract does not exceed 500 miles, which is only one half of Hwen Thsang’s estimate. His excess I would attribute chiefly to the difference between direct measurements on the map, and the actual road distances in a mountainous country. This would increase the boundary line by about one-half, and make the whole circuit 750 miles, which is still far short of the pilgrim’s estimate. But there is an undoubted error in his distance between the Jumna and the Ganges, which he makes 800 *li*, or 133 miles, instead of 300 *li*, or 50 miles, which is the actual distance between the two rivers from the foot of the hills down to the parallel of Delhi. As it is probable that this mistake was doubled by applying the same exaggerated distance to the northern frontier also, its correction is of importance, as the double excess amounts to 167 miles. Deducting this excess, the circuit of *Srughna* will be only 833 miles according to Hwen Thsang’s estimate, or within 83 miles of the probable measurement.