
1865.] Report of the Archeological 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 Srdvastv 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 Lian 
also says that Shewei or Sewet 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 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 Sdhel-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. 
828. The ruined city of Sahet-Mahetis situated between Akaona and 
Balrémpur, 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. ‘he 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 Jand 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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