
Vol. IV, No. 5.] Notes on the Geography of Old Bengal. 281 
N.S. 
likely, then the capital in the seventh century was above 20 li in 
circuit, and had by its side a magnificent monastery named Lo-to- 
wet (or mo)-chih, Rakta-vitti or -mitti (red clay). This has been 
identified with Rangamati,! a village on the Bhagirathi branch, 
six miles south-west of Berhampur town in Murshidabad district. 
The identification rests on the similarity of the name Rangamati 
with Rakta-mitti, and of an alleged older name of it Kansonagar 
with Karna-suvarna, on the location of the place in the direction 
indicated by Yuan-chwang, and on its remains, vi/z., mounds, images 
and coins. Unfortunately, the name Rangamati is not uncommon, 
being derived from the red laterite soil that extends from the 
foot of the Rajmahal hills through the Barind to Madhupur J sii 
now; but though it mi have been in use once before, to juilg e 
from the introductory papers acy verse to Sir Radhakantadeva’s 
Sabda-kalpa-druma,? mere rity is not sufficient. The village 
in the war; and the remains found in the fort might be as well 
ascribed to him or his descendants. 
On the other hand, if from the mention of Sasanka, contem- 
ee orary of Rajyavarddhana, Karna-suvar- 
Lakgmanavatl. or be identical with Ganda, then what is 
more likely to be the capital than eee ? It appears as 
a capital in the earliest Mussalman history describing Bengal. 
“ After Se heesiiiad.: -i Bakht-yar possessed Shines of that terri- 
tory, he left the city of Nadiah in desolation, and the place which 
is Lakhanawati he made the seat of government.” he pas 
indicates that the city had been existing from before ; and the fort 
of Gaur is said to have been built by Ballal eee thus suggesting 
t the town was still older. According to Jaina writers of the 
thirteenth and fourteenth centuries, Dharmma was reigning at 
Yasovarmman.® If these traditions have any historical basis, as is 
not rier then Laksmanavati existed in the Fon aged 
the time 
As regards situated 
on a subsoil of red laterite soil, flanked by Barind on the east and 
the Rajmahal hills on the west, its subsoil being now covered by 


; Beveridge, st site o ibe suvarna, J.A.8,B., 1893, pp. 315-328. 
Ditt 8  J.A.8.B., 1893, p. 327. 
§ Ain-i Akbari, Jarrett, IT, 
® Bappa- that ta Siri-Carta, ‘Prabandha-kor 0 f Rajasekhara Siri, Prabha- 
vaka-carita - Prabhacandra Siri Eandaehs's osrcoaecniga note IT of 
8. P. Pan eli. Dinath Katipayair-Gauda- tar-viharan 
Lakemanavati-nammyah puro bahir-arame samavas-asit (7), ning ‘puri Dharmo 
nama Taja, et 
