1848.] through Afghanistan and India. 33 



the Chinese pilgrims, its position has been looked for in the neighbour- 

 hood of the Gandak river. The recorded distances and bearings, but 

 more particularly that of the capital of Magadha, which was across the 

 Ganges to the south, point to the ruins of Bakhra and Bassar, about 20 

 miles to the N. of Patna. In Bassar, we still have the actual name of 

 Vaisdli, whose citizens are called Passalce by Ptolemy and Pliny. The 

 ruins of Bassar are described by Mr. J. Stephenson (in Prinsep's Jour- 

 nal, iv. — 128) where he expresses his belief, in accordance with the 

 general opinion, that these ruins are the remains " of a large city, at 

 a remote period inhabited by a numerous and civilized wealthy people.''* 

 At Bassar there is a brick tope still standing 40 feet in height ; and at 

 Bakhra there is a similar brick tope with a stone pillar surmounted by a 

 recumbent lion. The height of this pillar above the ground is only 32 

 feet, the circumference being 1 2 feet : but as the Radhia pillar is 39 

 feet high with a circumference of only 1 1 feet 2 inches, it seems pro- 

 bable that there must be at least 12 feet of the Bakhra pillar beneath 

 the ground. An excavation down to the base of the column would 

 almost certainly bring to light an ancient inscription. This might be 

 only a repetition of those found upon other pillars : but it is quite pos- 

 sible that it might be a record of older date, perhaps of the second con- 

 vocation which was held at this place, and which was commemorated 

 by the erection of a Stupa.) 



Thence to the N. E. at 500 li (83 miles) to 



No. 75 — Fe-li-chi ; in the north called San-fa-chi, 2000 li (333 

 miles) in extent. The capital is called Chen-chu-nu. (The Chinese 

 syllables represent faithfully the Sanskrit Vriji, ~E?m, which is the well 

 known name of a country, generally supposed to be in the neighbourhood 

 of Mathura. The Vriji of Hwan Thsang must however be the modern 

 Tirhut, or Trihutya, of which one of the chief towns, situated in the 

 position indicated, is named Jenjapura, no doubt the Chen-chu-nu of 

 the Chinese pilgrim. The ancient name of this district was Mithila.) 



Thence to the N. W. across mountains at 1400 or 1500 li (233 to 

 250 miles) to 



No. 76 — Ni-pho-lo, Nepal, Landresse ; 4000 li (666 miles) in ex- 

 tent and surrounded by snowy mountains. (The distance is too great 

 but the bearing is correct. As no details are given, Hwan Thsang does 

 not appear to have visited this country. His erroneous distance may 

 therefore be pardoned.) f 



