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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 thousand
more。 When any want； they take their great bowls； and go （to the place of
distribution）； and take as much as the vessels will hold； all returning with
them full。
The tooth of Buddha is always brought forth in the middle of the third
month。 Ten days beforehand the king grandly caparisons a large elephant；
on which he mounts a man who can speak distinctly； and is dressed in
royal robes； to beat a large drum； and make the following proclamation：
〃The Bodhisattva； during three Asankhyeya…kalpas；＇9＇ manifested his
activity； and did not spare his own life。 He gave up kingdom； city； wife；
and son； he plucked out his eyes and gave them to another；＇10＇ he cut off
a piece of his own flesh to ransom the life of a dove；＇10＇ he cut off his
head and gave it as an alms；＇11＇ he gave his body to feed a starving
tigress；＇11＇ he grudged not his marrow and his brains。 In many such ways
as these did he undergo pain for the sake of all living。 And so it was； that；
having become Buddha； he continued in the world for forty…five years；
preaching his Law； teaching and transforming； so that those who had no
rest found rest； and the unconverted were converted。 When his connexion
with the living was completed；＇12＇ he attained to pari…nirvana （and died）。
Since that event； for 1497 years； the light of the world has gone out；＇13＇
and all living beings have had long…continued sadness。 Behold！ ten days
after this； Buddha's tooth will be brought forth； and taken to the
Abhayagiri…vihara。 Let all and each； whether monks or laics； who wish to
amass merit for themselves； make the roads smooth and in good condition；
grandly adorn the lanes and by…ways； and provide abundant store of
flowers and incense to be used as offerings to it。〃
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When this proclamation is over； the king exhibits； so as to line both
sides of the road； the five hundred different bodily forms in which the
Bodhisattva has in the course of his history appeared：here as Sudana；＇14＇
there as Sama；＇15＇ now as the king of elephants；＇16＇ and then as a stag or
a horse。＇16＇ All these figures are brightly coloured and grandly executed；
looking as if they were alive。 After this the tooth of Buddha is brought
forth； and is carried along in the middle of the road。 Everywhere on the
way offerings are presented to it； and thus it arrives at the hall of Buddha
in the Abhayagiri…vihara。 There monks and laics are collected in crowds。
They burn incense； light lamps； and perform all the prescribed services；
day and night without ceasing； till ninety days have been completed； when
（the tooth） is returned to the vihara within the city。 On fast…days the door
of that vihara is opened； and the forms of ceremonial reverence are
observed according to the rules。
Forty le to the east of the Abhayagiri…vihara there is a hill； with a
vihara on it； called the Chaitya；＇17＇ where there may be 2000 monks。
Among them there is a Sramana of great virtue； named Dharma…gupta；＇18＇
honoured and looked up to by all the kingdom。 He has lived for more than
forty years in an apartment of stone； constantly showing such gentleness
of heart； that he has brought snakes and rats to stop together in the same
room； without doing one another any harm。
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NOTES
＇1＇ It is desirable to translate ｛。｝ ｛。｝； for which 〃inhabitants〃 or
〃people〃 is elsewhere sufficient； here by 〃human inhabitants。〃 According
to other accounts Singhala was originally occupied by Rakshasas or
Rakshas； 〃demons who devour men；〃 and 〃beings to be feared；〃 monstrous
cannibals or anthropophagi； the terror of the shipwrecked mariner。 Our
author's 〃spirits〃 ｛。｝ ｛。｝ were of a gentler type。 His dragons or nagas have
come before us again and again。
＇2＇ That Sakyamuni ever visited Ceylon is to me more than doubtful。
Hardy； in M。 B。； pp。 207…213； has brought together the legends of three
visits；in the first； fifth； and eighth years of his Buddhaship。 It is plain；
however； from Fa…hien's narrative； that in the beginning of our fifth
century； Buddhism prevailed throughout the island。 Davids in the last
chapter of his 〃Buddhism〃 ascribes its introduction to one of Asoka's
missions； after the Council of Patna