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ON THE ANCIENT 



the capital of the Kekayas, situated in the neighbourhood 

 of the Himalaya mountains, near the upper Yipasa, the 

 Hyphasis of the Greek, and the modern Bias. This highway 

 passed through Hastinapura, the famous residence of the 

 Kurus. Greek and Roman writers furnish us with most 

 valuable information respecting the more frequented roads. 

 We know through Pliny that Alexander the Great employed 

 surveyors to measure the Indian roads. One road went from 

 Pushkalavati (Peukelaotis) near Attok through Takshasila, 

 Bukephala, and crossing the Hyphasis to Pataliputra (Patna). 

 We owe a description of this highway to Megasthenes, who 

 resided 295 B.C. as the Ambassador of Seleukos at the 

 last-mentioned place, the residence of Candragupta. Parti- 

 culars of the distance from Patna to the sea Megasthenes 

 received through sailors. Another road went from Pushkala- 

 vati to Indraprastha (Delhi), and then to Ujjayini (Ujain). 

 Thence over the mountain ranges of the Yindhya crossing the 

 rivers Nerbudda and Tapty to Pratishthana and further into 

 the Dekkan. Near the modern Aurungabad a road turned 

 towards the north-west to the emporiums of Barygaza (Barok) 

 and Kambaya (Kambay) , These and many other highways, 

 all which it were too long to mention, crossed the country, 

 connecting distant places with each other, while a good deal 

 of traffic followed the course of the rivers, as we know of the 

 Indus, the Ganges, the Godavery, Kavery and others. The 

 roads were kept in good repair and order, as it is certain that 

 the ancient Hindus were well acquainted with the art of 

 road-making. The Ramayana provides us with a pertinent 

 description. Bushes and trees, which obstructed the way were 

 first cut down, and the ground then levelled. Impeding 

 rocks were pierced, and rivers bridged over. To conduct 

 superfluous water from watery places canals were built, and 

 in waterless tracts wells were dug. The inscriptions of the 

 good and wise king Asoka show us the special care he took 

 to insure the welfare of travellers, Fig trees and mango 



