The Ancient Geography of India. I. The Buddhist Period, including the Campaigns of Alexander, and the Travels of Hwen-Thsang c7.s4.14

c7.s4.14

In another passage Pliny mentions the *Mandei* and *Malli* as occupying the country between the *Calingæ* and the *Ganges*.‡ Amongst the *Malli* there was a mountain named *Mallus*, which would seem to be the same as the famous Mount Maleus of the *Monedes* and *Suari*. I think it highly probable that both names may be intended for the celebrated Mount Mandar, to the south of *Bhágalpur*, which is fabled to have been used by the gods and demons at the churning of the ocean. The *Mandei* I would identify with the inhabitants of the *Mahánadi* river, which is the *Manada* of Ptolemy. The *Malli* or *Malei* would therefore be the same people as Ptolemy's *Mandalæ*, who occupied the right bank of the *Ganges* to the south of Palibothra. Or they may be the people of the *Rájmahal* hills who are called *Maler*, which would appear to be derived from the Kanarese *Male* and the Tâmil *Malei*, a “hill.” It would therefore be equivalent to the Hindu *Pahári* or *Parbatiya*, a “hill man.”