Vol. IX, Nos. 8-9.] The Date of Aéoka’s Coronation. 319 
(N.S. 
failed to do his duty there is no reason why the economic 
man should have also slackened his activity at the same 
oment 
there were resident envoys at the Courts of Asoka 
friends,' at any rate at that of Antiochus, as there had been 
Seleucid ambassadors at Pataliputra, and they would have 
sent all important political news to Pataliputra by messengers and 
couriers. The news of his death must have reached the court 
the Abhisheka.* 
Again, the fourteenth year of ASoka’s Abhisheka could not be 
dated earlier than 261 B.c., that is, the accession of Antiochus. 
The first year of the Abhisheka, therefore, could not be earlier 
than (261 +14) 275 8.c. This would be the highest possible limit 
of the Abhisheka according to our data. The exact date would 
thus be somewhere between 275 B.c. and 271 B.c., both years 
inclusive. 
Let us test the highest limit and see if we could not reduce 
was reigning over the Prachis on the Ganges 
We learn from the Pali authorities that Asoka was conse- 
years, but its details, which seem to be perfect and borne out 
in the main by other documents, appropriate only 133 years to 
the rulers individually. The difference of four years might rep- 
resent the alleged four pre-sacramental years of ASoka’s reign,* 
which would have been regarded by orthodox Hindu chroniclers 
1 It is implied in the edict (XIII) that Agoka’s envoy did go to 
Magas: ‘‘ Even those to whom the ditas of the Devanampriya do not 
go,’’ etc. 
2 The unknown passage from the Indus to Susa of Nearchus had 
taken, with its halts, about six months. A journey overland, at the rate 
i have been casily accomplished in eight 
months, even if we exclude the pace of royal couriers who exis 
India in those days (sighra-vahanas, Arth» Sastra, iI, 34. p. 141). The 
campaign of Alexander from E a taken, with all the diffi- 
aulties and delays of war, only six months. 
8 For the confirmation of this from Indian data see below, p. 322. 
4 Cf. V. Smith, E.H.1., p. 185, n. 
