184/.] Periplus of the Enjthrean Sea, fyc. 59 



" Reging" of the Abors, which is so conspicuous an object from 

 Sudiya ; while the latter may refer to the high Naga hills, which 

 may have been regarded as extending to the exterior sea, or gulph 

 of Siam. India, which Amniianus Marcellinus mentions as bounding 

 Serica on the south, is evidently India extra Gang em. This, coupled 

 with the circumstance of Serica being described as extending to the 

 Ganges, seems quite conclusive of the identity of that country and 

 Assam. It is mentioned as an extensive and fertile valley, inhabited 

 by various nations, watered by large rivers, and abounding in silk, and 

 it is evident, therefore, that the description applies to no other valley 

 than Assam. The account, which Ammianus Marcellinus gives of the 

 country of the Seres (namely, as extending to the Ganges) renders it 

 probable that the eastern part of Bengal or the countries east of the 

 Brahmaputra and Tistha, as Rungpore, Mymensing, and Sylhet, were 

 designated India Serica., In the second book of •* Ravennatis Anony- 

 mi," we find mention made of an extensive region called " India Seri- 

 ca," which was traversed by numerous rivers " Per quam Indiam 

 Sericam transeunt plurima flumina : inter cetera, quae dicuntur id est 

 Ganges, Torgoris, et Accessenis quae exeunt in Oceanum," (Vide Raven- 

 natis Anonymi Geographia, Edit, by Gronovius.) 



The mountains called Anniva (the Annibi of Ptolemy) are the iVbor 

 hills. Nazavicium is the Naga range. Asmira is the range inhabited 

 by the Miris. Emodon refers to the Himalaya. Ojpurocarra (or the 

 Ottorocara of Ptolemy) is Uttararocora or Outtargorah or the moun- 

 tains on the north eastern part of this valley. 



The Oechardes and the Bautes, as I have already mentioned, are the 

 Sanpoo and the Brahmaputra, or rather the two paralled branches of 

 the latter which enclose Majuli and the other islands in Upper Assam. 

 They are mentioned as rivers " nominis famosi." This refers to the 

 Brahmaputra, or rather the Brahmakund, which has always been a cele- 

 brated place of pilgrimage among the Hindoos. " During the time of 

 the Ahoms," says Lieut. Rowlatt, " it was necessary for the king on his 

 ascension to the throne to be washed in water brought from this place, 

 and until this ceremony was completed he was not considered fit to take 

 upon himself the reins of government." (Asiatic Society's Journal, 

 Vol. XV. p. 486.) This romantic spot is described by Capt. Bedford 

 " as situated on the left bank of the river : it is formed by a projecting 



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