violent and impulsive, and he does not know clearly the difference between right and wrong.:

Going from this south-east, skirting the mountains and Crossing the valleys, traversing thus by narrow and difficult ways a distance of 300 li or so, we arrive at the country of Kiu-lang-na.

KlU-LANG-NA (KUKAN).

This country80 is an old territory of Tu-ho-lo; it is about 2000 li' round. As regards the character of the soil, the mountains and the valleys, the climate and the seasons, it resembles the kingdom of In-po-kien* (Invakan). The customs of the people are without rule, their disposition is rough (common) and violent; the greater portion do not attend to religion; a few believe in the law of Buddha. The appearance of the people is displeasing and ungainly. They wear principally woollen garments. There is a mountain cavern from which much pure gold is procured (dug out). They break the stones and afterwards procure the gold. There are few saiighdrdmas, and scarcely any priests. The king is honest and simple-minded. He deeply reverences , the three precious objects of worship.

Going north-east from this, after climbing the mountains and penetrating valleys, and going along a precipitous and dangerous road for 500 li or so, we come to the kingdom ef Ta-mo-si-tie-ti.

Ta-mo-si-tie-ti (tamasthiti ?).

This country31 is situated between two mountains. It is an old territory of Tu-ho-lo. From east to west it extends about 1500 or 1600 li; from north to south its width is only 4 or 5 li, and in its narrowest part not more than one li. . It lies upon the Oxus (Fo-t'su) river, which it follows along its winding course. It is broken up with

30 See Book i., n. 138.

31 See Book i., n. 135.

Book xii.] KINGDOM OF TA -MO-SI-TIE-TI. 293

hills of different heights, whilst sand and stones lie scattered over the surface of the soil. The wind is icy cold and blows fiercely. Though they sow the ground, it produces but a- little wheat and pulse. There are few trees {forest trees), but plenty of flowers and fruits. Here the slien horse is bred. The horse, though small in size, yet easily travels a long distance. The manners of the people have no regard to propriety. The men are rough and violent; their appearance low and ignoble. They wear woollen garments. Their eyes are mostly of a blue colour,82 and in this respect they differ from people of other countries. There are some ten sangkdrdmas, with very few priests {religions foVx-ioers).

The capital of the country is called Hwa n-t'o-to. In the middle of it is a safighdrdma built by a former king of this country. .In its construction33 he excavated the side of. the hill and filled up the valley. The early kings of this country were not believers in Buddha, but sacrificed only to the spirits worshipped by unbelievers; but for some centuries the converting power of the true law has been diffused. At the beginning, the sou of the king of this country, who was much loved by him, fell sick of a serious disease; he employed the utmost skill of the medicine art, hut it brought no benefit. Then the king went personally to the Deva temple to worship and ask for some means of recovering his child. On this the chief of the temple, speaking in the name of the spirit, said, "Your son will certainly recover; let your mind rest in peace." The king having heard it, was greatly pleased, and returned homewards. On his way he met a Shaman, his demeanour staid and remarkable. Astonished at his appearance and dress, the king asked him whence he came and whither he was going. The Shaman having already reached the holy fruit {ofanArhat), desired to spread the law of Buddha, and therefore he had

32 Pih, either blue or green, like 33 In constructing and shaping its the deep sea. courts and halls.

assumed this deportment and appearance; so replying he said, "I am a disciple of Tathagata, and am called a Bhikshu." The king, who was in great anxiety, at once asked him, "My son is grievously afflicted; I scarcely know whether he is living or dead. (Will he recover ?") The Shaman said, "You might raise (from the dead) the spirits of your ancestors, hut your loved son it is difficult to deliver." The king replied, "A spirit of heaven has assured me he will not die, and the Shaman says he will die; it is difficult to know what to believe, coming from these masters of religion."34 Coming to his palace, he found that his loved son was already dead. Hiding the corpse and making no funeral preparations, he again asked the priest of the DSva temple respecting him. In reply he said, "He will not die; he will certainly recover." The king in a rage seized the priest and held him fast, and then upbraiding him he said, "You and your accomplices are monstrous cheats; you pretend to be religious, but you practise lying. My son is dead, and yet you say he will certainly recover. Such lying cannot be endured; the priest (master) of the temple shall die and the building be destroyed." On this he killed the priest and took the image and flung it into the Oxus. On his return, he once more met the Shaman; on seeing him he was glad, and respectfully prostrated himself before him, as he gratefully said," Hitherto I have ignorantly followed (my guide), and trod the path of false teaching. Although I have for a long time followed the windings of error, now the change has come from this.35 I pray you condescend to come with me to my dwelling." The Shaman accepted the invitation and went to the palace. The funeral ceremonies being over, (the king) addressed the Shaman and said, "The world of men is in confusion, birth and death flow on ceaselessly; my son was sick, and I asked whether he would remain with me or depart, and the lying spirit said he would surely re

Kwei tsuh che jin, men who reprove the world.
35 I.e., from this interview.

cover; but the first words of indication you gave were true and not false. Therefore the system of religion you teach is to be reverenced. Deign to receive me, deceived as I have been, as a disciple." He, moreover, begged the Shaman to plan and measure out a saHghdrdma; then, according to the right dimensions, he constructed this building, and from that time till now the law of Buddha has been in a flourishing condition.

In the middle of the old saitghdrdma is the vihdra built by this Arhat. In the vihdra is a statue of Buddha in stone above the statue is a circular cover of gilded copper, and ornamented with gems; when men walk round the statue in worship, the cover also turns; when they stop, the cover stops. The miracle cannot be explained. According to the account given by the old people, it is said that the force of a prayer of a holy man effects the miracle. Others say there is some secret mechanism in the matter; but when looking at the solid stone walls of the hall, and inquiring from the people as to their knowledge (of such mechanism), it is difficult to arrive at any satisfaction about the matter.

Leaving this country, and traversing a great mountain northward, we arrive at the country of Shi-k'i-ni (Shikhnan).

Shi-k'i-ni (shikhnan).

This country 38 is about 2000 li in circuit, the chief city is S or 6 li. Mountains and valleys follow each other in a connected succession; sand and stones lie scattered over the waste lands. Much wheat and beans are grown, but little rice. The trees are thin, flowers and fruits not abundant. The climate is icy-cold; the men are fierce and intrepid. They think nothing of murder and robbery; they are ignorant of good manners or justice, and cannot distinguish between right and wrong. They are deceived as to the happiness and misery of the future,

86 See Book i., n. 133

and only fear present calamities. Their figure and appearance are poor and ignoble; their garments are made of wool or skin; their writing is the same as that of the Turks, but the spoken language is different.

Passing along a great mountain to the south of the kingdom of Ta-mo-si-tie-ti (Tamasthiti?37), we Come to the country of S hang-mi.

Shang-mi (sambhi ?).

This country88 is about 2500 or 2600 li in circuit. It is intersected with mountains and valleys; with hills of various heights. Every kind of grain is cultivated; beans and wheat are abundant. Grapes are plentiful. The country produces yellow arsenic. They bore into the cliffs and break the stones, and so obtain it. The mountain spirits are cruel and wicked; they frequently cause calamities to befall the kindgom.

On entering the country, sacrifice is offered up to them, after which good success attends the persons in coming and going. If no sacrifice is offered them, the wind and the hail attack the travellers. The climate is very cold; the ways of the people are quick, their disposition is honest and simple. They have no rules of propriety or justice in their behaviour; their wisdom is small, and in the arts they have very little ability. Their writing is the same as that of the kingdom of Tu-ho-lo, but the spoken language is somewhat different. Their clothes are mostly made of woollen stuff. Their king is of the race of Silky a.39 He greatly esteems the law of Buddha.

37 Tamasthiti, according to Eitel reigned (see ante, p. 21). It is re(Handhook, s. v.), was "an ancient stored by Julien to Sambhi in the province of Tukhara, noted for passage before us, but to SamM, the ferocious character of its in- vol. ii. p. 318. Eitel (op. tit., s. v.) habitants." But this is probably speaks of this kingdom as founded derived from Julien's restoration by refugees of the Sakya family, and in the text, which he gives doubt- situated near Chitral, lat. 35° 35' fully. N., and long. 72° 27' E.

38 This is the country over which 39 See previous note, one of the banished Sakya youths