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miles from Khoten。
＇4＇ The king is described here by a Buddhistic phrase； denoting the
possession of viryabala； 〃the power of energy； persevering exertion one
of the five moral powers〃 （E。 H。； p。 170）。
＇5＇ Nor has Yu…hwuy been clearly identified。 Evidently it was directly
south from Tsze…hoh； and among the 〃Onion〃 mountains。 Watters hazards
the conjecture that it was the Aktasch of our present maps。
＇6＇ This was the retreat already twice mentioned as kept by the
pilgrims in the summer； the different phraseology； 〃quiet rest；〃 without any
mention of the season； indicating their approach to India； E。 H。； p。 168。
Two； if not three； years had elapsed since they left Ch'ang…gan。 Are we
now with them in 402？
＇7＇ This is the Corean reading ｛。｝； much preferable to the ｛。｝ of the
Chinese editions。
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＇8＇ Watters approves of Klaproth's determination of K'eeh…ch'a to be
Iskardu or Skardo。 There are difficulties in connexion with the view； but it
has the advantage； to my mind very great； of bringing the pilgrims across
the Indus。 The passage might be accomplished with ease at this point of
the river's course； and therefore is not particularly mentioned。
＇9＇ Who had preceded them from Khoten。
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CHAPTER V
GREAT QUINQUENNIAL ASSEMBLY OF MONKS。 RELICS OF
BUDDHA。 PRODUCTIONS OF THE COUNTRY。
It happened that the king of the country was then holding the pancha
parishad； that is； in Chinese； the great quinquennial assembly。＇1＇ When
this is to be held； the king requests the presence of the Sramans from all
quarters （of his kingdom）。 They come （as if） in clouds； and when they are
all assembled； their place of session is grandly decorated。 Silken streamers
and canopies are hung out in； and water… lilies in gold and silver are made
and fixed up behind the places where （the chief of them） are to sit。 When
clean mats have been spread； and they are all seated； the king and his
ministers present their offerings according to rule and law。 （The assembly
takes place）； in the first； second； or third month； for the most part in the
spring。
After the king has held the assembly； he further exhorts the ministers
to make other and special offerings。 The doing of this extends over one；
two； three； five； or even seven days； and when all is finished； he takes his
own riding…horse； saddles； bridles； and waits on him himself；＇2＇ while he
makes the noblest and most important minister of the kingdom mount him。
Then； taking fine white woollen cloth； all sorts of precious things； and
articles which the Sramans require； he distributes them among them；
uttering vows at the same time along with all his ministers； and when this
distribution has taken place； he again redeems （whatever he wishes） from
the monks。＇3＇
The country； being among the hills and cold； does not produce the
other cereals； and only the wheat gets ripe。 After the monks have received
their annual （portion of this）； the mornings suddenly show the hoar…frost；
and on this account the king always begs the monks to make the wheat
ripen＇4＇ before they receive their portion。 There is in the country a spitoon
which belonged to Buddha； made of stone； and in colour like his alms…
bowl。 There is also a tooth of Buddha； for which the people have reared a
tope； connected with which there are more than a thousand monks and
their disciples；＇5＇ all students of the hinayana。 To the east of these hills the
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dress of the common people is of coarse materials； as in our country of
Ts'in； but here also＇6＇ there were among them the differences of fine
woollen cloth and of serge or haircloth。 The rules observed by the Sramans
are remarkable； and too numerous to be mentioned in detail。 The country
is in the midst of the Onion range。 As you go forward from these
mountains； the plants； trees； and fruits are all different from those of the
land of Han； excepting only the bamboo； pomegranate；＇7＇ and sugar…cane。
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NOTES
＇1＇ See Eitel； p。 89。 He describes the assembly as 〃an ecclesiastical
conference； first instituted by king Asoka for general confession of sins
and inculcation of morality。〃
＇2＇ The text of this sentence is perplexing； and all translators；
including myself； have been puzzled by it。
＇3＇ See what we are told of king Asoka's grant of all the Jambudvipa to
the monks in chapter xxvii。 There are several other instances of similar
gifts in the Mahavansa。
＇4＇ Watters calls attention to this as showing that the monks of K'eeh…
ch'a had the credit of possessing weather…controlling powers。
＇5＇ The text here has ｛。｝ ｛。｝； not ｛。｝ alone。 I often found in
monasteries boys and lads who looked up to certain of the monks as their
preceptors。
＇6＇ Compare what is said in chapter ii of the dress of the people of
Shen…shen。
＇7＇ Giles thinks the fruit here was the guava； because the ordinary
name for 〃pomegranate〃 is preceded by gan ｛。｝； but the pomegranate was
called at first Gan Shih…lau； as having been introduced into China from
Gan…seih by Chang…k'een； who is referred to in chapter vii。
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CHAPTER VI
ON TOWARDS NORTH INDIA。 DARADA。 IMAGE OF
MAITREYA BODHISATTVA。
From this （the travellers） went westwards towards North India； and
after being on the way for a month； they succeeded in getting across and
through the range of the Onion mountains。 The snow rests on them both
winter and summer。 There are also among them venomous dragons； which；
when provoked； spit forth poisonous winds； and cause showers of snow
and storms of sand and gravel。 Not one in ten thousand of those who
encounter these dangers escapes with his life。 The people of the country
call the range by the name of 〃The Snow mountains。〃 When （the travellers）
had got through them； they were in North India； and immediately on
entering its borders； found themselves in a small kingdom called T'o…
leih；＇1＇ where also there were many monks； all students of the hinayana。
In this kingdom there was formerly an Arhan；＇2＇ who by his
supernatural power＇3＇ took a clever artificer up to the Tushita heaven； to
see the height； complexion； and appearance of Maitreya Bodhisattva；＇4＇
and then return and make an image of him in wood。 First and last； this was
done three times； and then the image was completed； eighty cubits in
height； and eight cubits at the base from knee to knee of the crossed legs。
On