Historical Geography of Ancient India c8.259

c8.259

According to the Chinese pilgrim Hiuen Tsang, the country of Kāmarūpa, known in Chinese as Kia-mo-leu-po, was situated above 900 li (or 150 miles) east from Puṇḍravardhana and was 10,000 li in circuit. It was low and moist, and the crops regular. The climate was genial and the people were honest. They were persevering students, and were of small stature and black-looking. The pilgrim did not see any Aśokan monument there. The people did not believe in Buddhism. But some hold that a very debased form of later Buddhism was prevalent in Kāmarūpa for some centuries (K. L. Barua, Early History of Kāmarūpa, p. 304). Deva temples were many in number, and the various systems had professed adherents. The king was a lover of learning and his subjects followed his example. Though the king was not a Buddhist, he treated the accomplished monks with due respect.