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of the monks with the population； fields； and houses； writing the grant on plates of metal； （to the effect） that from that time onwards； from generation to generation； no one should venture to annul or alter it。
In this country Fa…hien heard an Indian devotee； who was reciting a Sutra from the pulpit； say：〃Buddha's alms…bowl was at first in Vaisali； and now it is in Gandhara。＇6＇ After so many hundred years' （he gave； when Fa…hien heard him； the exact number of years； but he has forgotten it）； 〃it will go to Western Tukhara；＇7＇ after so many hundred years； to Khoten； after so many hundred years； to Kharachar；＇8＇ after so many hundred years； to the land of Han； after so many hundred years； it will come to Sinhala； and after so many hundred years； it will return to Central India。 After that； it will ascend to the Tushita heaven； and when the Bodhisattva Maitreya sees it； he will say with a sigh； 'The alms…bowl of Sakyamuni Buddha is come；' and with all the devas he will present to it flowers and incense for seven days。 When these have expired； it will return to Jambudvipa； where it will be received by the king of the sea nagas； and taken into his naga palace。 When Maitreya shall be about to attain to perfect Wisdom （and become Buddha）； it will again separate into four bowls；＇9＇ which will return to the top of mount Anna；＇9＇ whence they came。 After Maitreya has become Buddha； the four deva kings will again think of the Buddha （with their bowls as they did in the case of the previous Buddha）。 The thousand Buddhas of this Bhadra…kalpa； indeed； will all use the same alms…bowl； and when the bowl has disappeared； the Law of Buddha will go on gradually to be extinguished。 After that extinction has taken place； the life of man will be shortened； till it is only a period of five years。 During this period of a five years' life； rice； butter； and oil will all vanish away； and men will become exceedingly wicked。 The grass and trees which they lay hold of will change into swords and clubs； with which they will hurt； cut； and kill one another。 Those among them on whom there is blessing will withdraw from society among the hills； and when the wicked have exterminated one another； they will again come forth； and say among themselves； 'The men of former times enjoyed a very great longevity； but through becoming exceedingly wicked； and doing all lawless things； the length of our life has been shortened and reduced even to five years。 Let us now unite together in the practice of what is good； cherishing a gentle and sympathising heart； and carefully cultivating good faith and righteousness。 When each one in this way practises that faith and righteousness； life will go on to double its length till it reaches 80；000 years。 When Maitreya appears in the world； and begins to turn the wheel of his Law； he will in the first place save those among the disciples of the Law left by the Sakya who have quitted their families； and those who have accepted the three Refuges； undertaken the five Prohibitions and the eight Abstinences； and given offerings to the three Precious Ones； secondly and thirdly； he will save those between whom and conversion there is a connexion transmitted from the past。'〃＇10＇
（Such was the discourse）； and Fa…hien wished to write it down as a portion of doctrine； but the man said； 〃This is taken from no Sutra； it is only the utterance of my own mind。〃
NOTES
＇1＇ Possibly； 〃and asked the bhikshu；〃 &c。 I prefer the other way of construing； however。
＇2＇ It seems strange that this should have been understood as a wrapping of the immense pyre with the cloth。 There is nothing in the text to necessitate such a version； but the contrary。 Compare 〃Buddhist Suttas；〃 pp。 92； 93。
＇3＇ See the description of a funeral car and its decorations in the Sacred Books of the East； vol。 xxviii； the Li Ki； Book XIX。 Fa…hien's ｛。｝ ｛。｝； 〃in this （country）；〃 which I have expressed by 〃our；〃 shows that whatever notes of this cremation he had taken at the time； the account in the text was composed after his return to China； and when he had the usages there in his mind and perhaps before his eyes。 This disposes of all difficulty occasioned by the 〃dragons〃 and 〃fishes。〃 The ｛。｝ at the end is merely the concluding particle。
＇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。
＇10＇ That is； those whose Karma in the past should be rewarded by such conversion in the present。
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 e