On Yuan Chwang's Travels in India, 629–645 A.D. v2.c26.s1.32

v2.c26.s1.32

On emerging from the pass he turned in a south-easterly direction through Tokhāristān (Tu-ho-lo), and, crossing the Oxus, reached Kunduz (Huo), where he was obliged to halt for more than a month. From this resting-place he made an excursion westwards to Balkh (Fo-ho, Po-ho), and thence resumed his journey to India. At a distance of about twenty miles (more than 100 *li*) to the south of Balkh, he passed through a district called Ka-chih (Kie-chih), supposed to be that now known as the valley of Gaz; and thence made his way, in a direction east of south, to the ‘Great Snowy Mountains’, or Hindū Kush range, and so arrived at the pass and city of Bāmiān (Fan-yen-na, Wang-yen). He then turned eastwards through the Ghorband Valley, crossed ‘a black range’, that is to say, mountains of moderate elevation without snow, apparently those marked on modern maps as the Paghmān Mountains, and so entered the kingdom of Kapiśa (Ka-pi-shih), roughly corresponding with Kāfiristān. Yuan-chwang fails to specify the position of the capital, which has not been identified.² The pilgrim spent the season of compulsory ‘rest’ or ‘retreat’ during the rains at a monastery named Sha-lo-ka in the capital; and, when travelling was again lawful, resumed his journey. Passing, evidently, down the valley of the Panjshīr river, and crossing a ‘black’ range (Siyāh Kōh) he entered the country of Lamghān (Lan-p'o); which, as a foreigner, he considered to be part of India.³ The traveller had then no difficulty in marching down the valley of the Kābul river until he reached India Proper.⁴ On his way he crossed a large river, the Kunar, and passed through the Na-ka-lo-ho country, or region near Jalalabad, and so entered the kingdom of Gandhara (Kan-t'o-lo), now the Peshawar District. His entry into this kingdom may be dated at the end of September or beginning of October, 630 A. D.