The Ancient Geography of India. I. The Buddhist Period, including the Campaigns of Alexander, and the Travels of Hwen-Thsang c8.s5.7

c8.s5.7

Immediately under the walls of Karnúl, lies the old town of *Zora*, or *Jora*, the *Jorampur* of the maps, which answers exactly to the *Choliya* or *Joriya* of the pilgrim. The initial Chinese syllable seems to be very rarely used, but a similar letter is found in *Kajugira*, *Jutinga*, and *Jyotishka*, and I am satisfied that M. Julien’s reading of the character as *ju*, or *jo*, is correct. I am also inclined to identify Jora with Ptolemy’s *Sora regia Arcati*. In some editions the words are transposed, as *Arcati regia Sora*. But though the cart may be put before the horse, it is still the cart, and therefore, I take Sora to be the capital of King *Arkatos*, whether it be placed before or after his name. *Arkatou* has been usually identified with *Arcot*, near Madras; but the name of this city is believed to be quite modern, and the position of Sora must be far to the north of Arcot. The *Soræ Nomades* of Ptolemy may therefore be a branch of the *Sauras*, who are still located on the banks of the Kistna river. One hundred miles to the west-north-west of Karnúl, there is also a large town, named Sorapur, the Raja of which “still holds his patrimonial appanage, surrounded by his faithful tribe (*Bédars*), claiming a descent of more than thirty centuries.”*