The Ancient Geography of India. I. The Buddhist Period, including the Campaigns of Alexander, and the Travels of Hwen-Thsang c8.s4.48

c8.s4.48

From the mention of *Dhanakaṭa* in the cave inscriptions of the first and second centuries of the Christian era, we might expect to find some trace of the name in the Geography of Ptolemy. But instead of this we find a people named *Aruarni*, or *Avarni*, occupying the country below the *Maisólus*, or Godâvari river, with a capital called *Malanga*, the residence of King *Bassaronaga*. As *Malanga* is placed between the two rivers *Maisólus* and *Tyna*, its position corresponds with that of *Ellúr*, close to which are the remains of the old capital named *Vengi*, which are still known as *Pedda* and *Chinna Vengi*, or Great and Little *Vengi*.[*] That *Malanga* was in this neighbourhood is proved by the existence of the name at the present day in *Bandar-malanga*, or the "port of *Malanga*," a small town on the coast 54 miles to the east-north-east of Masulipatam. I conclude, therefore, that Dhanakaṭa was only the seat of a great religious establishment, while Vengi was the political capital of the country.