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through wild deserts and dangerous defiles about 1900 li, crossing the great river Sin-tu, we come to the kingdom of Sin-tu (Sine h).

Sin-tit (sindh).

This country is about 7000 li in circuit; the capital city, called P'i-shen-p'o-pu-lo,83 is about 30 li round. The soil is favourable for the growth of cereals and produces abundance of wheat and millet. It also abounds in gold and silver and native copper. It is suitable for the breeding of oxen, sheep, camels, mules, and other kinds of beasts. The camels are small in size and have only one hump. They find here a great quantity of salt, which is red like cinnabar; also white salt, black salt and rock salt. In different places, both far and near, this salt is used for medicine. The disposition of the men is hard and impulsive; but they are honest and upright, They quarrel and are much given to contradiction. They study without aiming to excel; they have faith in the law of Buddha. There are several hundred salighardmas, occupied by about io,oco priests. They study the Little Vehicle according to the Sammatiya school. As a rule, they are indolent and given to indulgence and debauchery. Those who are very earnest as followers of the virtue of the sages live alone in desert places, dwelling far off in the mountains and the forests. There night and day they exert themselves in aiming after the acquirement of the holy fruit (of Arhatship). There are about thirty De1 va temples, in which bectaries of various kinds congregate.

The king is of the Sudra (Shu-t'o-lo) caste. He is by nature honest and sincere, and he reverences the law of Buddha.

"When Tathagata was in the world, he frequently passed through this country, therefore As"6ka-raja has founded several tens of sttipas in places where the sacred traces of

83 Vichavapura—Julien. Rein- pura and Minagara. See Ind. Ant., and suggests Vasmapura or Balma- vol. viii. p. 336 f.

his presence were found. TJpagupta,8* the great Arhat, sojourned very frequently in this kingdom, explaining the law and convincing and guiding men. The places where he stopped and the traces he left are all commemorated bjr the building of saftghdrdmas or the erection of sMpas. These buildings are seen everywhere; we can only speak of them briefly.

By the side of the river Sindh, along the flat marshy' lowlands for some thousand li, there are several hundreds of thousands (a very great many) of families settled. They are of an unfeeling and hasty temper, and are given to bloodshed only. They give themselves exclusively to. tending cattle, and from this derive their livelihood. They have no masters, and, whether men or women, have neither rich nor poor; they shave their heads and wear the Kashdya robes of Bhikshus, whom they resemble outwardly, whilst they engage themselves in the ordinary, affairs of lay life. They hold to their narrow {little) views and attack the Great Vehicle.

The old reports state that formerly these people were extremely hasty (irnpatient), and only practised violence and cruelty. At this time there was an Arhat, who, pitying their perversity, and desiring to convert them, mounted in the air and came amongst them. He exhibited his miraculous powers and displayed his wonderful capabilities. Thus he led the people to believe and accept the doctrine, and gradually he taught them in words; all of them joyfully accepted his teaching and respectfully prayed him to direct them in their religious life. The Arhat perceiving that the hearts of the people had become submissive, delivered to them the three " Eefuges" and restrained their cruel tendencies; they entirely gave up "taking life," they shaved their heads, and assumed the soiled robes of a Bhikshu, and obediently walked according to the doctrine of religion. Since then, generations have passed by and the changed times have weakened

84 Bk. viii.; Burnouf, Introd., pp. 118, 197, 378 f. VOL. II. S their virtue, but as for the rest, they retain their old customs. But though they wear the robes of religion, they live without any moral rules, and their sons and grandsons continue to live as worldly people, without any regard to their religious profession.

Going from this eastward 900 li or so, crossing the Sindh river and proceeding along the eastern bank, we corne to the kingdom of Mu-lo-san-p'u-lu.

Mu-lo-san-p'tj-lu (MtTLASTHANAPURA).

This country85 is about 4COO li in circuit; the capital town is some 30 li round. It is thickly populated. The establishments are wealthy. This country is in dependence on the kingdom of Cheka (Tse-kia). The soil is rich and fertile. The climate is soft and agreeable; the manners of the people are simple and honest; they love learning and honour the virtuous. The greater part sacrifice to the spirits; few believe in the law of Buddha. There are about ten safoghdrdmas, mostly in ruins; there are a few priests, who study indeed, but without any wish to excel. There are eight D£va temples, in which sectaries of various classes dwell. There is a temple dedicated to the sun,86 very magnificent and profusely decorated. The image of the Sun-deVa is cast in yellow gold and ornamented with rare gems. Its divine insight is mysteriously manifested and its spiritual power made plain to all. Women play their music, light their torches, offer their flowers and perfumes to honour it. This custom has been continued from the very first. The kings and high families of the five Indies never fail to make their offerings of gems and precious stones (to this Diva). They have founded a house of mercy (happiness), in which they provide food, and drink, and medicines for the poor and sick, affording succour and sustenance. Men from all

85 Mtilasthanapur or MuMn (see Reinaud, Mem. s. I. Inde, p. 98). 85 Aditya or Sftrya.

countries come here to offer up their prayers; there are always some thousands doing so. Gn the four sides of the temple are tanks with flowering groves where one can wander about without restraint.

From this going north-east 700 li or so, we come to the country of Po-fa-to.

PO-FA-TO (PARVATA).87

This country is 5000 li or so in circuit, its capital is about 20 li. It is thickly populated, and depends on the country of Ch6ka (Tse-kia). A great deal of dry-ground rice is here grown. The soil is also fit for beans and wheat. The climate is temperate, the disposition of the people honest and upright. They are naturally quick and hasty; their language is low and common. They are well versed in composition and literature. There are heretics and believers in commqn. There are some ten saiigh&r&mas with about 1000 priests; they study both the Great and Little Vehicle. There are four sttipas built by A^oka-raja. There are also some twenty De~va temples frequented by sectaries of different sorts.

By the side of the chief town is a great sanghdrdma with about 100 priests in it; they study the teaching of the Great Vehicle. It was here that Jinaputra, a master of idstras^ composed the Yogdchdryabhtimi $dstraMrikd; here also Bhadraruchi and Gunaprabha, masters of idstras, embraced the religious life. This great sanghdrdma has been destroyed by fire, and is now waste and ruined.

Leaving the Sindh country, and going south-west 1500 or 1600 li, we come to the kingdom of 'O-tin-p'o-chilo (Atyanabakela).

87 Parvata is given by Panini shing-tszu; his work, the Yit-chie(iv. 2, 143) as the name of a coun- sk'-ti-lun-shih, is a commentary on try in the Panjab under the group the YdgdcMryabhUmi ffdstra (YiiTaksha&ladi (iv. 3, 93). Ind. Ant., chie-sh'-tt-hm) of Maitreya. Both vol. i. p. 22. works were translated into Chinese

88 Jinaputra, in Chinese Tsui- by Hiuen Tsiang.

276 RECORDS OF WESTERN COUNTRIES. [book Xt.

'O-TIEN-P'O-CHI-LO.

This country is about 5000 li in circuit. The chief town is called Khie-tsi-shi-fa-lo, and is about 30 li round. It lies on the river Sindh, and borders on the ocean. The houses are richly ornamented, and mostly possess rare and costly substances. Lately there has been no ruler; it is-under the protection of Sindh. The. soil is low and damp and the ground is impregnated with salt. It is covered with wild shrubs, and is mostly waste land: it is little cultivated, yet it produces some sorts of grain, but principally beans and wheat,-of which there is a great quantity. The climate is rather cold and subject to violent storms of wind. It is fit. for raising oxen, sheep, camels, asses, - and other kinds of beasts. The disposition of the people is violent and hasty. They have no love for learning. Their language differs slightly from that of Mid-India. The people are generally honest and sincere. They deeply reverence the three precious objects of worship. There are about eighty sa?\gharamas with some 5000 priests. They mostly study the Little Vehicle according to the Sammatiya school. There are ten Deiva temples, mostly occupied by heretics belonging to the Pasupatas.

In the capital town is a temple of Ta-tsz'-tsai-tin (Mahe vara Deva). The temple is ornamented with rich sculptures, and the image of the D&va is possessed of great spiritual powers. The Paiupata heretics dwell in this temple. In old days TatMgata often travelled through this country to preach the law and convert men, leading the multitude and benefiting the people. On this account Asoka-raja built stdpas on the spots consecrated by the sacred traces, six in number.

Going west from this less than 2000 li, we come to the country ofLong-kie-lo (Langala).

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