The Ancient Geography of India. I. The Buddhist Period, including the Campaigns of Alexander, and the Travels of Hwen-Thsang c8.1

c8.1

According to Hwen Thsang’s account, Southern India comprised the whole of the peninsula to the south of the *Tapti* and *Mahanadi* rivers, from Nâsik on the west, to Ganjam on the east. It was divided into nine separate kingdoms, exclusive of Ceylon, which was not considered as belonging to India. The whole of these kingdoms were visited by the pilgrim in A.D. 639 and 640. He entered Kalinga from the north-east, and turning to the north-west he visited the inland kingdoms of *Kosala* and *Andhra*. Then resuming his southern route, he passed through *Dhanakaṭa*, *Jorya*, and *Drâviḍa*, to *Malakuṭa*. At Kânchi, the capital of *Drâviḍa*, he heard of the assassination of the Raja of Ceylon, and was obliged to give up his intention of visiting that island on account of its unsettled state. Then turning to the north, he reached Konkana and *Mahârâshtra*, the last of the nine kingdoms of Southern India.¹