The Chinese traveller Yuan Chwang (Hiuen Tsang) who visited India recorded the general conditions and culture of India at that time. In this context, which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. The roads and river routes were completely immune from robbery. 2. As regards punishment for offenses, ordeals by fire, water and poison were the instruments for determining the innocence or guilt of a person. 3. The tradesmen had to pay duties at ferries and barrier stations. Select the correct answer using the codes given below.

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Correct answer: 2 and 3 only. Yuan Chwang, the Chinese traveler, provided a detailed account of India during the 7th century, noting its thriving culture, well-organized society, and vibrant Buddhist institutions. He described India’s cities, roads, and religious life. Ancient History 47 Statement 1 is incorrect: Roads and river routes were not completely robbery-free. He described the condition of roads as generally safe, but he also noted that there were occasional dangers and robberies on certain routes. Hiuen-Tsang himself was looted a couple of times. Statement 2 is correct: Criminal law was very severe. He mentioned that the judicial system in India involved ordeals by fire, water, and poison as a way to determine guilt or innocence. Statement 3 is correct: Duties were to be paid at trade barriers without fail. It was a source of income for the kingdom. SUPER HINT For S1, “Completely immune” = extreme phrase. Red flag. In any large kingdom, especially ancient ones, some degree of theft/robbery is natural. Saying zero crime is utopian. Even in modern states with strong policing,

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