Historical Geography of Ancient India c8.446

c8.446

When Hiuen Tsang visited the country (cir. 640 A.D.), Samaṭaṭa was an important kingdom. He described it as the country having rivers with flat and level banks of equal height on both sides. This country, known to the Chinese as *San-mo-ta-cha*, was about 3,000 li in circuit. It was rich in crops, fruits and flowers. The climate was soft and the habits of the people agreeable. The men were hardy by nature, of short stature and of black complexion. They were fond of learning (Beal, *Buddhist Records of the Western World*, II, 199). There were many Buddhist *saṅghārāmas* as well as Hindu temples. This country had also many Jain ascetics. During the visits of Hiuen Tsang and Sengchi Samaṭaṭa seems to have been under the rule of the Khaḍga dynasty (M.A.S.B., Vol. I, No. 6). The Candra dynasty appears to have mastered the whole of Vaṅga including Samaṭaṭa. In the beginning of the 11th century A.D. the Candras were ousted from their possession of Samaṭaṭa by the Varmans, who, in their turn, gave place to the Senas towards the end of the same century.