Public Administration in Ancient India c20.12

c20.12

Stripped of poetical embellishments, this seems to be a correct description of a capital city of the ancient times. And we are confirmed in this opinion by the fact that Bāṇa's description agrees in the main with that given by Hiuen Tsiang. The Chinese traveller says: "The City (Kanyākubja or Kanauj) has a ditch round it, with strong and lofty towers facing one another. The flowers and woods, the lakes and ponds, bright and pure, and shining like mirrors (are seen on every side). Valuable merchandise is collected here in great quantities. The people are well-off and contented, the houses are rich and well formed. Flowers and fruits abound in every place." ²