The Ancient Geography of India/Hayamukha
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13. Hayamukha.
[p.387]:From Ayuto the pilgrim Xuanzang proceeded down the Ganges by boat for a distance of 300 li, or 50 miles, to O.ye.mu.khi which was situated on the northern bank of the river. M. Julien[1] reads this name as Hayamukha, or "Horse-face;" but it may perhaps also be read as Ayomukha, or " Iron-face," which was the name of one of the ancient Danavas, or Titans. Neither of these names, however, gives any clue to the site of the old city ; but if I am right in my identification of Ayuto with Kakupur, it is almost certain that Hayamukha must be Daundia-khera on the northern bank of the Ganges. Hwen Thsang makes the circuit of the town 20 li, or upwards of 3 miles ; but Daundia-khera presents no appearance of ever having been so large. There still exists an old ruined fort or citadel, 385 feet square, with the walls of two buildings which are called the palaces of the Raja and the Rani. But as Daundia-khera is universally allowed to have been the capital of the Bais Rajputs, who gave their name to the district of Baiswara in Oudh, it is almost certain that the place must once have been of much greater extent. Dondia or Daundia means simply a " drum-beater," and was probably applied to some mendicant, who took up his abode on the Khera or " mound," and as this name is not likely to have been imposed on the place until it was in ruins, the difference of name offers no impediment to the identification of Daundia-khera with Hayamukha.
- ↑ Julien's 'Hiouen Thsang,' ii. 274.
[p.388]: Hwen Thsang makes Hayamukha 2500 li, or 417 miles, in circuit, which is perhaps too great ; but as Daundia-Khera was the capital of the Bais Rajputs, I conclude that the district must have comprised the whole of the present Baiswra, which lies between the Sai river and the Ganges, from Kanpur to Manikpur and Salon. But as these limits would give a circuit of only 200 miles, it seems almost certain that the district must have extended to the south of the Ganges in the time of Hwen Thsang. Its probable limits were, therefore, the Ghagra river on the north, and the Jumna on the south, a determination which derives some support from Tod,[1] who describes Bais-wara as an extensive district in the Doab between the Ganges and Jumna.
- ↑ Julien's ' Hiouen Thsang," ii. 276.