[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Historical geography](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.geography) › [The Ancient Geography of India. I. The Buddhist Period, including the Campaigns of Alexander, and the Travels of Hwen-Thsang](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.geography.cunningham-1871) › c8.s7.4 # The Ancient Geography of India. I. The Buddhist Period, including the Campaigns of Alexander, and the Travels of Hwen-Thsang c8.s7.4 The Ancient Geography of India. I. The Buddhist Period, including the Campaigns of Alexander, and the Travels of Hwen-Thsang c8.s7.4 - **Language:** English ### [c8.s7.4](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.geography.cunningham-1871.c8.s7.4) According to the writer of the ‘Life of Hwen Thsang,’\* Malayakuṭa was not visited by the pilgrim, but described by hearsay, and the distance of 3000 \*li\* is said to be from the frontiers of Drâviḍa. But this would only increase the difficulty by placing the capital of Malayakuṭa still further to the south. In a note to this passage,† M. Julien quotes the \*Si-yu-ki\* as fixing the distance at 300 \*li\*, instead of 3000 \*li\*, as given in his translation of the Memoirs of Hwen Thsang. If this number is not a misprint, these different readings may show that there is some uncertainty as to the distance, as well as to the point of departure. I am inclined, therefore, to think that the original distances given in the memoirs and life of the pilgrim may perhaps have been 300 \*li\*, or 50 miles, from the frontiers of Drâviḍa in the latter, and 1300 \*li\*, or 217 miles, from the capital of Drâviḍa in the former. In either case, the capital of \*Malayakuṭa\* would be fixed at \*Madura\*, which has always been one of the principal cities of Southern India. - [Previous: c8.s7.3](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.geography.cunningham-1871.c8.s7.3) - [Next: c8.s7.5](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.geography.cunningham-1871.c8.s7.5) - [Up: c8.s7](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.geography.cunningham-1871.c8.s7) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.geography.cunningham-1871.c8.s7.4](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.geography.cunningham-1871.c8.s7.4) · Pramāṇa