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the Hoogly。
＇3＇ Perhaps Ching ｛。｝ is used here for any portions of the Tripitaka
which he had obtained。
＇4＇ 〃The Kingdom of the Lion；〃 Ceylon。 Singhala was the name of a
merchant adventurer from India； to whom the founding of the kingdom
was ascribed。 His father was named Singha； 〃the Lion；〃 which became the
name of the country；Singhala； or Singha…Kingdom； 〃the Country of the
Lion。〃
＇5＇ Called the mani pearl or bead。 Mani is explained as meaning 〃free
from stain；〃 〃bright and growing purer。〃 It is a symbol of Buddha and of
his Law。 The most valuable rosaries are made of manis。
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CHAPTER XXXVIII
AT CEYLON。 RISE OF THE KINGDOM。 FEATS OF BUDDHA。
TOPES AND MONASTERIES。 STATUE OF BUDDHA IN JADE。 BO
TREE。 FESTIVAL OF BUDDHA'S TOOTH。
The country originally had no human inhabitants；＇1＇ but was occupied
only by spirits and nagas； with which merchants of various countries
carried on a trade。 When the trafficking was taking place； the spirits did
not show themselves。 They simply set forth their precious commodities；
with labels of the price attached to them； while the merchants made their
purchases according to the price； and took the things away。
Through the coming and going of the merchants （in this way）； when
they went away； the people of （their） various countries heard how pleasant
the land was； and flocked to it in numbers till it became a great nation。 The
（climate） is temperate and attractive； without any difference of summer
and winter。 The vegetation is always luxuriant。 Cultivation proceeds
whenever men think fit： there are no fixed seasons for it。
When Buddha came to this country；＇2＇ wishing to transform the
wicked nagas； by his supernatural power he planted one foot at the north
of the royal city； and the other on the top of a mountain；＇3＇ the two being
fifteen yojanas apart。 Over the footprint at the north of the city the king
built a large tope； 400 cubits high； grandly adorned with gold and silver；
and finished with a combination of all the precious substances。 By the side
of the top he further built a monastery； called the Abhayagiri；＇4＇ where
there are （now） five thousand monks。 There is in it a hall of Buddha；
adorned with carved and inlaid works of gold and silver； and rich in the
seven precious substances； in which there is an image （of Buddha） in
green jade； more than twenty cubits in height； glittering all over with those
substances； and having an appearance of solemn dignity which words
cannot express。 In the palm of the right hand there is a priceless pearl。
Several years had now elapsed since Fa…hien left the land of Han； the men
with whom he had been in intercourse had all been of regions strange to
him； his eyes had not rested on an old and familiar hill or river； plant or
tree； his fellow…travellers； moreover； had been separated from him； some
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A RECORD OF BUDDHISTIC KINGDOMS
by death； and others flowing off in different directions； no face or shadow
was now with him but his own； and a constant sadness was in his heart。
Suddenly （one day）； when by the side of this image of jade； he saw a
merchant presenting as his offering a fan of white silk；＇5＇ and the tears of
sorrow involuntarily filled his eyes and fell down。
A former king of the country had sent to Central India and got a slip of
the patra tree；＇6＇ which he planted by the side of the hall of Buddha； where
a tree grew up to the height of about 200 cubits。 As it bent on one side
towards the south…east； the king； fearing it would fall； propped it with a
post eight or nine spans round。 The tree began to grow at the very heart of
the prop； where it met （the trunk）； （a shoot） pierced through the post； and
went down to the ground； where it entered and formed roots； that rose （to
the surface） and were about four spans round。 Although the post was split
in the middle； the outer portions kept hold （of the shoot）； and people did
not remove them。 Beneath the tree there has been built a vihara； in which
there is an image （of Buddha） seated； which the monks and commonalty
reverence and look up to without ever becoming wearied。 In the city there
has been reared also the vihara of Buddha's tooth； on which； as well as on
the other； the seven precious substances have been employed。
The king practises the Brahmanical purifications； and the sincerity of
the faith and reverence of the population inside the city are also great。
Since the establishment of government in the kingdom there has been no
famine or scarcity； no revolution or disorder。 In the treasuries of the
monkish communities there are many precious stones； and the priceless
manis。 One of the kings （once） entered one of those treasuries； and when
he looked all round and saw the priceless pearls； his covetous greed was
excited； and he wished to take them to himself by force。 In three days；
however； he came to himself； and immediately went and bowed his head
to the ground in the midst of the monks； to show his repentance of the evil
thought。 As a sequel to this； he informed the monks （of what had been in
his mind）； and desired them to make a regulation that from that day forth
the king should not be allowed to enter the treasury and see （what it
contained）； and that no bhikshu should enter it till after he had been in
orders for a period of full forty years。＇7＇
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In the city there are many Vaisya elders and Sabaean＇8＇ merchants；
whose houses are stately and beautiful。 The lanes and passages are kept in
good order。 At the heads of the four principal streets there have been built
preaching halls； where； on the eighth； fourteenth； and fifteenth days of the
month； they spread carpets； and set forth a pulpit； while the monks and
commonalty from all quarters come together to hear the Law。 The people
say that in the kingdom there may be altogether sixty thousand monks；
who get their food from their common stores。 The king； besides； prepares
elsewhere in the city a common supply of food for five or six