1865.] Report of the Archaeological Survey. 251 



Thsang with those preserved in the Buddhist annals of Ceylon, and I 

 have shown conclusively that Fa Hian's distance from Sankisa and 

 his bearing from Shachi or Sdket are both erroneous. We know from 

 Hwen Thsang and the Buddhist books of Ceylon, that Sravasti was 

 to the north of Sahet or Ayodhya, or in other words that it was in the 

 district of Gauda : or Uttara Kosala, which is confirmed by the state- 

 ments of no less than four of the Brahmanical Puranas. As Fa Hian 

 also says that Sheivei or Seivet was in Kosala, there can be no doubt 

 whatever that Sravasti must be looked for within a few days' journey 

 to the northward of Sdket or Ayodhya. According to Fa Hian the dis- 

 tance was 8 Yojanas, or 56 miles, which is increased by Hwen Thsang 

 to 500 li, or 83 miles. But as the latter pilgrim reduced the Indian 

 Yojana to Chinese measure at the rate of 40 li per Yojana, we may 

 correct his distance by the nearest round number of 350 li or 58 miles, 

 to bring it into accordance with the other. Now, as this is the exact 

 distance from Ajudhya of the great ruined city on the south bank 

 of the Rapti, called SdJiet-Mdhet, in which I discovered a colossal 

 statue of Buddha, with an inscription containing the name of Sravasti 

 itself, I have no hesitation in correcting Hwen Thsang's distance from 

 500 li to 350 li as proposed above. 



328. The ruined city of Sahet-Mahetis situated between Akaona and 

 Balrampur, at 5 miles from the former and 12 miles from the latter, and 

 at nearly equi-distances from Bahraich and Gonda. In shape it is an 

 almost semi-circular crescent, with its diameter of one mile and a third 

 in length curved inwards and facing the north-east, along the old bank 

 of the Rapti River. The western front, which runs due north and 

 south for three-quarters of a mile, is the only straight portion of the 

 enclosure. The ramparts vary considerably in height ; those to the 

 west being from 35 to 40 feet in height, while those on the south and 

 east are not more than 25 or 30 feet. The highest point is the great 

 north- west bastion, which is 50 feet above the fields. The north-east 

 face, or shorter curve of the crescent was defended by the Rapti, which 

 still flows down its old bed during the annual floods. The land ram- 

 parts on the longer curve of the crescent must once have been defended 

 by a ditch, the remains of which yet exist as a swamp, nearly half a 

 mile in length, at the south-west corner. Everywhere the ramparts 

 are covered with fragments of brick, of the large size peculiar to very 



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