On Yuan Chwang's Travels in India, 629–645 A.D. v2.c21.s6: Tan-Mo-Lih-Ti
On Yuan Chwang's Travels in India, 629–645 A.D. v2.c21.s6
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Tan-Mo-Lih-Ti
v2.c21.s6.1
The narrative in the Records proceeds to relate that from Samataṭa the pilgrim journeyed west for over 900 *li* to *Tan-mo-lih-ti*. This country was about 1400 *li* in circuit; its capital, above ten *li* in circuit, was near an inlet of the sea; the land was low and moist, farming was good, fruit and flowers abounded, the climate was hot, the customs of the people were rude, the inhabitants were courageous, and they were believers in Buddhism and other systems. Of Deva-Temples there were more than 50, and the Non-Buddhists lived together pell-mell. There were above ten Buddhist Monasteries and more than 1000 Brethren. The country formed a bay where land and water communication met; consequently rare valuables were collected in it and so its inhabitants were generally prosperous. Beside the capital was an Asoka tope and near this were vestiges of the Four Past Buddhas' sitting and exercise grounds.
v2.c21.s6.2
The *Tan-mo-lih-ti* of this passage is for Tammalipti which corresponds to the Tāmralipti of other writers and perhaps also to the modern Tumluk. Fa-hsien travelled east to this place from Champā, and he estimated the distance as fifty yojanas.¹ I-ching, who remained here for some time, describes the Port as being 60 or 70 yojanas east from Nālanda.² Tāmralipti was the place of disembarkation for travellers to India from China by sea, and it was here that I-ching and other Chinese pilgrims landed, and from it voyagers started on their return to the south and to China.³ Fergusson gives reasons for dissenting from the common opinion that Tumluk is the modern representative of Tāmralipti, and considers that Satgaon answers better to the requirements.⁴ But a more recent investigator, Śri Rajendra Lal Gupta, has traced the history of the old Tāmralipti and its modern continuation Tumluk.⁵ There seems to be little reason for doubting that this latter is on or near the site of the Tammalitti or Tāmralipti of the Chinese pilgrims and other old writers,⁶ the physical features of the district having in the course of centuries undergone some changes.
v2.c21.s6.3
¹ Fo-kuo-chi, *ch.* 37.
v2.c21.s6.4
² Chavannes, ‘Mém.’, p. 97; Hsi-yü-ch‘iu, *ch.* 1.
v2.c21.s6.5
³ Takakusu pp. 185, 211; Nan-hai-ch‘i-kuei, *ch.* 34 and 40; Chavannes, ‘Mém.’, p. 71; Hsi-yü-ch‘iu, *ch.* 1.
v2.c21.s6.6
⁴ op. c. p. 243.
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⁵ J. Bud. Text S. Vol. V. Pt. II, p. 4.
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⁶ See ‘Anc. Geog. of India’ p. 504; J. A. S. Ben. Vol. LXVI, p. 102.