Page:History of India Vol 2.djvu/293

EXTENT OF THE EMPIRE 255 The Pan jab, Eastern Rajputana, and Malwa for the most part were in possession of tribes or clans living under republican institutions. The Yaudheya tribe occupied both banks of the Sutlaj, while the Madrakas held the central parts of the Pan jab. The reader may remember that in Alexander's time these regions were similarly occupied by autonomous tribes, then called the Malloi, Kathaioi, and so forth. The Jumna prob- ably formed the northwestern fron- tier of the Gupta empire. The Arju- nayanas, Malavas, and Abhiras were settled in Eastern Rajputana and Malwa, and in this direction the river Chambal may be re- garded as the impe- rial boundary. The line next turned in an easterly direction along the terri- tories of minor nations whose position cannot be exactly determined, passing probably through Bhopal, until it struck the Narmada River, which formed the southern frontier. The dominion under the direct government of Samu- dragupta in the middle of the fourth century thus com- prised all the most populous and fertile countries of Northern India. It extended from the Hooghly on the VIEW OF BOTANICAL GARDENS, CALCUTTA.