Page:The Ancient Geography of India.djvu/457

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CENTEAL INDIA. 407


houses of the neighbouring city of Faizabad. This Muhammadan city, which is two miles and a half in length by one mile in breadth, is built chiefly of ma- terials extracted from the ruins of Ajudhya. The two cities together occupy an area of nearly six square miles, or just about one-half of the probable size of the ancient capital of Kama. In Faizabad the only building of any consequence is the stuccoed brick tomb of the old Bhao Begam, whose story was dragged be- fore the public during the famous trial of Warren Hastings. Faizabad was the capital of the first Na- wabs of Oudh, but it was deserted by Asaf-ud-daolah in A.D. 1775.

In the seventh century the city of Visdkha was only 16 li, or 2|- miles, in circuit, or not more than one-half of its present size, although it probably contained a greater population, as not above one-third or perhaps less of the modern town is inhabited. Hwen Thsang assigns to the district a circuit of 4000 li, or 667 miles, which must be very much exaggerated. But, as I have already observed, the estimated dimensions of some of the districts in this part of the pilgrim's route are so great that it is quite impossible that all of them can be correct. I would therefore, in the present instance, read 400 li, or 67 miles, and restrict the territory of Visdkha to the small tract lying around Ajudhya, between the Ghagra and Gomati rivers.

18. SEAVASTI.

The ancient territory of Ayodliya, or Oudh, was divided by the Sarju or Ghagra river into two great provinces ; that to the north being called TJltara Kosala, and that to the south Banaodha. Each was again