1899.] 
INTRODUCTORY. 
5 
liacl already the whole text of the Chronicle to refer to, and in the 
meantime a considerable amount of information about Kasmir had 
become available through tbe works of travellers like Moorcroft, 
Jacquemont, Vigne, Von Hiigel, and others. The serious shortcomings 
which characterize Mr. Troyer’s labors notwithstanding his patient devo¬ 
tion to the task, have already been fully indicated by Prof. Biihler. 1 
Detailed reference to the defects of the topographical notes is hence 
unnecessary. 
The English translation of the Chronicle published in the years 
1879-87 by Babu Jogesh Chunder Dutt makes no attempt whatever to 
elucidate the many points of topographical interest. Though the trans¬ 
lation itself is decidedly better than that of Mr. Troyer, yet it necessarily 
shares the defects arising from the use of the same corrupt text. Both 
versions strikingly demonstrate the importance of topographical re¬ 
searches by the frequent instances in which the translators have mis¬ 
taken local names for words of ordinary meaning or vice versa . 2 
The advantages offered for enquiries of this kind by a personal 
acquaintance with the country were fully illustrated by the valuable 
contributions which General (then Captain) Cunningham was able to 
make to our knowledge of ancient Kasmir in connection with his visit 
to the Valley in November 1847. Though his stay was short and pri¬ 
marily devoted to a survey of the more conspicuous of the temple-ruins 
still extant, he succeeded in identifying correctly a number of important 
ancient sites such as Puranddliisthana 1 the old capital,’ Jyesthesvara, 
Mdrtdnda, Padmapura, Pattana , Khonamvsaf 
General Cunningham subsequently had occasion to discuss compre¬ 
hensively these localities in his Ancient Geography of India , a work 
which, notwithstanding its deficiencies in detail, amply testifies to the 
great antiquarian experience and natural acumen of its author. The 
chapter on the “Kingdom of Kashmir ” 4 utilizes the evidence afforded 
by the Chinese sources and Alberuni, and indicates correctly the old 
names of the petty hill states to the south and south-east of Kasmir 
( Rdjapuri , Valldpura , Gampd , Kdsthavata ). It further adds to the 
identifications already mentioned equally important notes on Pravara- 
pura , the present STinagar, Vijayesvara , HusTcapura , JnsJcapura, Jaya- 
pura. If General Cunningham was less successful in his attempts at 
1 See Report on a tour in search of Sanskrit Manuscripts made in Kashmir 
J. Bo. B. R. A. S. 1877, pp. 55 sqq. 
2 For some of the imaginary territories and places which figure in these trans¬ 
lations, see Vienna Oriental Journal, 1898, pp. 67 sqq, 
8 See his Essay on the Arian Order of Architecture as exhibited in the temples of 
Kashmir, J. A. S. B., 1848, pp. 242-327. 
* See Ancient Geography of India, 1871, pp. 89-103, 128-141. 
