The Ancient Geography of India. I. The Buddhist Period, including the Campaigns of Alexander, and the Travels of Hwen-Thsang c8.s7.8

c8.s7.8

Hwen Thsang’s omission of any mention of *Chola* may be explained by the fact that at the time of his visit the *Chola-desa* formed part of the great kingdom of the *Cheras*. *Chola* is, however, duly noticed by Ptolemy, whose *Orthura regia Sornati* must be *Uriúr* the capital of *Soranátha*, or the king of the *Soringæ*, that is the *Soras*, *Choras* or *Cholas*. *Uriúr* is a few miles to the south-south-east of Trichinopoli. The *Soringæ* are most probably the *Syrieni* of Pliny with their three hundred cities, as they occupied the coast between the *Pandæ* and the *Derangæ* or Dravidians.