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＇4＇ The pyre served the purpose of a burial…ground or grave； and hence
our author writes of it as such。
＇5＇ This king must have been Maha…nana （A。D。 410…432）。 In the time
of his predecessor； Upatissa （A。D。 368…410）； the pitakas were first
translated into Singhalese。 Under Maha…nana； Buddhaghosha wrote his
commentaries。 Both were great builders of viharas。 See the Mahavansa； pp。
247； foll。
＇6＇ See chapter xii。 Fa…hien had seen it at Purushapura； which Eitel
says was 〃the ancient capital of Gandhara。〃
＇7＇ Western Tukhara （｛。｝ ｛。｝） is the same probably as the Tukhara （｛。｝）
of chapter xii； a king of which is there described as trying to carry off the
bowl from Purushapura。
＇8＇ North of the Bosteng lake at the foot of the Thien…shan range （E。 H。；
p。 56）。
＇9＇ See chap。 xii； note 9。 Instead of 〃Anna〃 the Chinese recensions
have Vina； but Vina or Vinataka； and Ana for Sudarsana are names of one
or other of the concentric circles of rocks surrounding mount Meru； the
fabled home of the deva guardians of the bowl。
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＇10＇ That is； those whose Karma in the past should be rewarded by
such conversion in the present。
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CHAPTER XL
AFTER TWO YEARS TAKES SHIP FOR CHINA。 DISASTROUS
PASSAGE TO JAVA； AND THENCE TO CHINA； ARRIVES AT SHAN…
TUNG； AND GOES TO NANKING。 CONCLUSION OR L'ENVOI BY
ANOTHER WRITER。
Fa…hien abode in this country two years； and； in addition （to his
acquisitions in Patna）； succeeded in getting a copy of the Vinaya… pitaka of
the Mahisasakah （school）；＇1＇ the Dirghagama and Samyuktagama＇2＇
（Sutras）； and also the Samyukta…sanchaya…pitaka；＇3＇ all being works
unknown in the land of Han。 Having obtained these Sanskrit works； he
took passage in a large merchantman； on board of which there were more
than 200 men； and to which was attached by a rope a smaller vessel； as a
provision against damage or injury to the large one from the perils of the
navigation。 With a favourable wind； they proceeded eastwards for three
days； and then they encountered a great wind。 The vessel sprang a leak and
the water came in。 The merchants wished to go to the small vessel； but the
men on board it； fearing that too many would come； cut the connecting
rope。 The merchants were greatly alarmed； feeling their risk of instant
death。 Afraid that the vessel would fill； they took their bulky goods and
threw them into the water。 Fa…hien also took his pitcher＇4＇ and washing…
basin； with some other articles； and cast them into the sea； but fearing that
the merchants would cast overboard his books and images； he could only
think with all his heart of Kwan…she…yin；＇5＇ and commit his life to （the
protection of） the church of the land of Han；＇6＇ （saying in effect）； 〃I have
travelled far in search of our Law。 Let me； by your dread and supernatural
（power）； return from my wanderings； and reach my resting…place！〃
In this way the tempest＇7＇ continued day and night； till on the
thirteenth day the ship was carried to the side of an island； where； on the
ebbing of the tide； the place of the leak was discovered； and it was stopped；
on which the voyage was resumed。 On the sea （hereabouts） there are many
pirates； to meet with whom is speedy death。 The great ocean spreads out； a
boundless expanse。 There is no knowing east or west； only by observing
the sun； moon； and stars was it possible to go forward。 If the weather were
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dark and rainy； （the ship） went as she was carried by the wind； without any
definite course。 In the darkness of the night； only the great waves were to
be seen； breaking on one another； and emitting a brightness like that of fire；
with huge turtles and other monsters of the deep （all about）。 The
merchants were full of terror； not knowing where they were going。 The sea
was deep and bottomless； and there was no place where they could drop
anchor and stop。 But when the sky became clear； they could tell east and
west； and （the ship） again went forward in the right direction。 If she had
come on any hidden rock； there would have been no way of escape。
After proceeding in this way for rather more than ninety days； they
arrived at a country called Java…dvipa； where various forms of error and
Brahmanism are flourishing； while Buddhism in it is not worth speaking
of。 After staying there for five months； （Fa…hien） again embarked in
another large merchantman； which also had on board more than 200 men。
They carried provisions for fifty days； and commenced the voyage on the
sixteenth day of the fourth month。
Fa…hien kept his retreat on board the ship。 They took a course to the
north…east； intending to fetch Kwang…chow。 After more than a month；
when the night…drum had sounded the second watch； they encountered a
black wind and tempestuous rain； which threw the merchants and
passengers into consternation。 Fa…hien again with all his heart directed his
thoughts to Kwan…she…yin and the monkish communities of the land of
Han； and； through their dread and mysterious protection； was preserved to
day…break。 After day…break； the Brahmans deliberated together and said；
〃It is having this Sramana on board which has occasioned our misfortune
and brought us this great and bitter suffering。 Let us land the bhikshu and
place him on some island…shore。 We must not for the sake of one man
allow ourselves to be exposed to such imminent peril。〃 A patron of Fa…hien；
however； said to them； 〃If you land the bhikshu； you must at the same time
land me； and if you do not； then you must kill me。 If you land this
Sramana； when I get to the land of Han； I will go to the king； and inform
against you。 The king also reveres and believes the Law of Buddha； and
honours the bhikshus。〃 The merchants hereupon were perplexed； and did
not dare immediately to land （Fa…hien）。
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At this time the sky continued very dark and gloomy； and the sailing…
masters looked at one another and made mistakes。 More than seventy days
passed （from their leaving Java）； and the provisions and water were nearly
exhausted。 They used the salt…water of the sea for cooking； and carefully
divided the （fresh） water； each man getting two pints。 Soon the whole was
nearly gone； and the merchants took counsel and said； 〃At the ordinary
rate of sailing we ought to have reached Kwang…chow； and now the time is
passed by many days；must we not have held a wrong course？〃
Immediately they directed the ship to the north… west； looking out for land；
and after sailing day and night for twelve days； they reached the shore on
the south of mount Lao；＇8＇ on the borders of the prefecture of Ch'ang…
kwang；＇8＇ and immediately got good water and vegetables。 They had
passed through many perils and h