On Yuan Chwang's Travels in India, 629–645 A.D. v1.c12.s6: P'O-Li-Ye-Ta-Lo (Pāryātra)
On Yuan Chwang's Travels in India, 629–645 A.D. v1.c12.s6
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P'O-Li-Ye-Ta-Lo (Pāryātra)
v1.c12.s6.1
From Śatadru the pilgrim proceeded south-west, and after a journey of over 800 *li*, reached the country called *P'o-li-ye-ta-lo* (Pāryatra). This country was above 3000 and its capital about 14 *li* in circuit. It had good crops of spring wheat and other grain, including a peculiar kind of rice which in 60 days was ready for cutting. Oxen and sheep were numerous, and fruits and flowers were scarce: the climate was hot and the people had harsh ways, they did not esteem learning and were not Buddhists. The king, who was of the *Fei-she* (吠奢) (Vaiśya stock, was a man of courage and military skill. There were eight Buddhist monasteries in a bad state of ruin: the Brethren, who were very few in number, were Hīnayānists. There were above ten Deva-Temples and the professed non-Buddhists were above 1000 in number.
v1.c12.s6.2
The district here described has been identified by M. Reinaud "with Pāryatra or Bairāt" and this identification has been accepted.²
v1.c12.s6.3
² Julien III. p. 336: A. G. I. p. 337.
v1.c12.s6.4
The rice of this country which grew and ripened in 60 days could not have been the ordinary upland or dry rice, as Jo thinks, for that was well known to the pilgrim as a product of his own country and of several lands through which he had recently passed. It must have been a special variety, as the Cochin-China rice, to which Julien refers, is a peculiar variety.