“……Having crossed the river, and descended south for a yojana, came to the town of Pataliputtra, in the kingdom of Magadha, the city where King Asoka ruled. The city, which exists now as of old, was made by spirits which he employed, and which piled up the stones, reared the walls

and gates, and executed the elegant carving and inlaid sculpture-work,- in a way which no human hands of this world could accomplish…….The cities and towns of this country are the greatest of all in the Middle Kingdom……”