Page:History of India Vol 2.djvu/335

 CHAPTER XIH THE REIGN OF HARSHA FROM 606 TO 648 A. D. r I1HE deficiency of material which embarrasses the J- historian when dealing with the latter half of the sixth century is no longer experienced when he enters upon the seventh. For this period he is fortunate enough to possess, in addition to the ordinary epi- graphic and numismatic sources, two contemporary literary works, which shed much light upon the political condition of India generally, and supply, in particular, abundant and trustworthy information concerning the reign of Harsha, who ruled the North as paramount sovereign for more than forty years. The first of these works is the invaluable book of travels compiled by the Chinese pilgrim Hiuen Tsang, who visited almost every part of India between 630 and 645 A. D. and recorded observations more or less minute about each state and province. The narrative in the Travels is supplemented by the pilgrim's biog- raphy, written by his friend, Hwui-li, which supplies many additional details. The second work alluded to 293