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544 POLITICAL HISTORY OF ANCIENT INDIA of the Gupta Empire from A.D. 443 to A.D. 543, and was governed by a line of Uparikas as vassals of the Gupta Emperor. The identification of Davāka with certain districts of North Bengal is, therefore, probably wrong. The Northern Pratyantas were Nepal and Kartripura. The latter principality comprised probably Katarpur in the Jālandhar district, and the territory of the Katuria or Katyur rāj of Kumaun, Garhwal and Rohilkhand.
The tribal states which paid homage were situated on the western and south-western fringe of Āryāvarta proper. Among these the most important were the Mālavas, Arjunāyanas, Yaudheyas, Madrakas, Ābhiras, Prārjunas, Sanakānikas, Kākas and Kharaparikas.
The Mālavas occupied part of the Pañjāb in the time of Alexander. They were probably in Eastern Rājaputāna 2 when they came into conflict with Ushavadāta. Their exact location in the time of Samudra Gupta cannot be determined. In the time of Samudra Gupta's successors they were probably connected with the Mandasor region. We find princes of Mandasor using the reckoning, commencing B.C. 58, handed down traditionally by the Mālava-gara ( Mālava-ganūmnāta ). .
The Ārjunāyanas and the Yandheyas are placed in the northern division of India by the anthor of the BrihatSamhitā. They may have been connected with the Pandoonoi or Pāndava tribe mentioned by Ptolemy as settled in the Pañjāb. The connection of the Arjunāyanas
1 EHI4, 302 n; JRAS, 1898, 198. Ep. Ind. XIII. 114 ; cf. J. U. P. Hist. Soc, July-Dec, 1945 p.p. 217 ff, where Mr. Powell-Price suggests 'some sort of connection between the Kuņindas and the Katyurs.'
2 Cf. Smith, Catalogue, 161. Allan, CCAI, p. cv. Málava coins have been found in vast numbers in the Jaipur State (JRAS, 1897, 883):
3 Ind. Ant., XIII, 331, 349.
