1840.] from Bactrian and Indo-Scythian coins. 479 



any information on the political statutes of western Cabulistan. 

 Upon these, as well as upon the national relations, a much 

 clearer light is thrown by those accounts, of which we shall 

 presently make use. We allude to the reports, given by the 

 Buddhist Chinese travellers,, which are contained in Abel Re- 

 musat's posthumous work, so important to Indian geography.* 



There are three such reports, the most ancient of which is, 

 however, alone completely published. First, the report of 

 Fahian, who in the year 400 a. d. made a pilgrimage to India. f 

 Secondly, that of Soung Yuntse and Hoeiseng, who in the 

 beginning of the sixth century were in India. X Lastly, the 

 report of Hiuan Thsang, who came to India about the year 

 632 a. d. 



As these travellers were Buddhists, and pilgrims to the holy 

 places of their belief, this religious purpose is the prevailing 

 subject in their narrations, and they omit many things on which 

 it would have been of far greater importance to us to obtain in- 

 formation. But their narratives, as given by eye-witnesses, are 

 invaluable, and we observe no trace of their having told what 

 was not reported to them, or what they did not see, or imagine 

 they saw. Their estimates of distances, when referring to extend- 

 ed measurements are indistinct and exaggerated ; fortunately 

 they mention so often places easily to be recognised, that we 

 can generally set ourselves right without difficulty in the coun- 

 tries they have enumerated. 



But if I now venture to differ in many instances, as to 

 the interpretation of these Chinese narratives, from Abel Re- 

 musat and his two successors, Klaproth and Landresse, as well 

 as from our celebrated geographer Mr. Ritter, I have briefly 

 (for the detailed exposition of this Chino-Indian geography must 

 be reserved for another place) to vindicate my deviations. 



Remusat first of all displaces and alters the situation of all the 

 countries of western India by supposing, that the Indian district 

 Gandhara is the same with Kandahar (in Sanscrit Kandadhara.) 

 Then, according to him, Fahian visits Tchuchachilo or TanU 



* Foe Koueki, &c. 

 t p. 3. 

 t p. 354. 



