The Ancient Geography of India. I. The Buddhist Period, including the Campaigns of Alexander, and the Travels of Hwen-Thsang c6.s3.t9.18

c6.s3.t9.18

The only objection to the identification of *Atranji* with *Piloshana* is the difference between the distance of 200 *li*, or 33 miles, as stated by Hwen Thsang, and the actual distance of 43 miles direct, or about 48 or 50 miles by road. I have already suggested the possibility of there being some mistake in the recorded distance of Hwen Thsang, but perhaps an equally probable explanation may be found in the difference of the length of the *yojana*. Hwen Thsang states that he allowed 40 Chinese *li* to the *yojana*; but if the old *yojana* of Rohilkhand differed from that of the central Doâb as much as the *kos* of these districts now differ, his distances would have varied by half a mile in every *kos*, or by two miles in every *yojana*, as the Rohilkhand *kos* is only 1½ mile, while that of the Doâb is two miles; the latter being one-third greater. Now if we apply this difference to Hwen Thsang’s measurement of 200 *li*, or 33 miles, we increase the distance at once to 44 miles, which agrees with the direct measured distance on the map. I confess, however, that I am rather inclined to believe in the possibility of there being a mistake in Hwen Thsang’s recorded distance, as I find exactly the same measurement of 200 *li* given as the distance between Sankisa and Kanoj. Now, the two distances are precisely the same,—that is, Sankisa is exactly midway between Atranji and Kanoj; and as the latter distance is just 50 miles by my measurement along the high-road, the former must also be the same. I would therefore suggest the probability that both of these distances should be 300 *li*, or 50 miles, instead of 200 *li*, as recorded in the text. In favour of this proposed correction I may cite the testimony of the earlier Chinese pilgrim Fa-Hian, who makes the distance from Sankisa to Kanoj 7 *yojanas*, or 49 miles.[*] At Hwen Thsang’s own valuation of 40 *li* to the *yojana*, this measurement would give 280 *li*; and as Fa-Hian does not record half *yojanas*, we may increase the distance by half a *yojana*, or 20 *li*, which will bring the total up to 300 *li*, or 50 miles.