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was in the world； have been handed down to the present day。
All south from this is named the Middle Kingdom。＇3＇ In it the cold
and heat are finely tempered； and there is neither hoarfrost nor snow。 The
people are numerous and happy； they have not to register their households；
or attend to any magistrates and their rules； only those who cultivate the
royal land have to pay （a portion of） the grain from it。 If they want to go；
they go； if they want to stay on； they stay。 The king governs without
decapitation or （other） corporal punishments。 Criminals are simply fined；
lightly or heavily； according to the circumstances （of each case）。 Even in
cases of repeated attempts at wicked rebellion； they only have their right
hands cut off。 The king's body…guards and attendants all have salaries。
Throughout the whole country the people do not kill any living creature；
nor drink intoxicating liquor； nor eat onions or garlic。 The only exception
is that of the Chandalas。＇4＇ That is the name for those who are （held to be）
wicked men； and live apart from others。 When they enter the gate of a city
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or a market…place； they strike a piece of wood to make themselves known；
so that men know and avoid them； and do not come into contact with them。
In that country they do not keep pigs and fowls； and do not sell live cattle；
in the markets there are no butchers' shops and no dealers in intoxicating
drink。 In buying and selling commodities they use cowries。＇5＇ Only the
Chandalas are fishermen and hunters； and sell flesh meat。
After Buddha attained to pari…nirvana；＇6＇ the kings of the various
countries and the heads of the Vaisyas＇7＇ built viharas for the priests； and
endowed them with fields； houses； gardens； and orchards； along with the
resident populations and their cattle； the grants being engraved on plates of
metal；＇8＇ so that afterwards they were handed down from king to king；
without any daring to annul them； and they remain even to the present
time。
The regular business of the monks is to perform acts of meritorious
virtue； and to recite their Sutras and sit wrapt in meditation。 When stranger
monks arrive （at any monastery）； the old residents meet and receive them；
carry for them their clothes and alms…bowl； give them water to wash their
feet； oil with which to anoint them； and the liquid food permitted out of
the regular hours。＇9＇ When （the stranger） has enjoyed a very brief rest；
they further ask the number of years that he has been a monk； after which
he receives a sleeping apartment with its appurtenances； according to his
regular order； and everything is done for him which the rules
prescribe。＇10＇
Where a community of monks resides； they erect topes to
Sariputtra；＇11＇ to Maha…maudgalyayana；＇12＇ and to Ananda；＇13＇ and also
topes （in honour） of the Abhidharma； the Vinaya； and the Sutras。 A month
after the （annual season of） rest； the families which are looking out for
blessing stimulate one another＇14＇ to make offerings to the monks； and
send round to them the liquid food which may be taken out of the ordinary
hours。 All the monks come together in a great assembly； and preach the
Law；＇15＇ after which offerings are presented at the tope of Sariputtra； with
all kinds of flowers and incense。 All through the night lamps are kept
burning； and skilful musicians are employed to perform。＇16＇
When Sariputtra was a great Brahman； he went to Buddha； and begged
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A RECORD OF BUDDHISTIC KINGDOMS
（to be permitted） to quit his family （and become a monk）。 The great
Mugalan and the great Kasyapa＇17＇ also did the same。 The bhikshunis＇18＇
for the most part make their offerings at the tope of Ananda； because it
was he who requested the World…honoured one to allow females to quit
their families （and become nuns）。 The Sramaneras＇19＇ mostly make their
offerings to Rahula。＇20＇ The professors of the Abhidharma make their
offerings to it； those of the Vinaya to it。 Every year there is one such
offering； and each class has its own day for it。 Students of the mahayana
present offerings to the Prajna…paramita；＇21＇ to Manjusri；＇22＇ and to
Kwan…she…yin。＇23＇ When the monks have done receiving their annual
tribute （from the harvests）；＇24＇ the Heads of the Vaisyas and all the
Brahmans bring clothes and other such articles as the monks require for
use； and distribute among them。 The monks； having received them； also
proceed to give portions to one another。 From the nirvana of Buddha；＇25＇
the forms of ceremony； laws； and rules； practised by the sacred
communities； have been handed down from one generation to another
without interruption。
From the place where （the travellers） crossed the Indus to Southern
India； and on to the Southern Sea； a distance of forty or fifty thousand le；
all is level plain。 There are no large hills with streams （among them）； there
are simply the waters of the rivers。
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NOTES
＇1＇ Muttra； 〃the peacock city；〃 lat。 27d 30s N。； lon。 77d 43s E。
（Hunter）； the birthplace of Krishna； whose emblem is the peacock。
＇2＇ This must be the Jumna； or Yamuna。 Why it is called； as here； the
P'oo…na has yet to be explained。
＇3＇ In Pali； Majjhima…desa； 〃the Middle Country。〃 See Davids'
〃Buddhist Birth Stories；〃 page 61； note。
＇4＇ Eitel （pp。 145； 6） says； 〃The name Chandalas is explained by
'butchers；' 'wicked men；' and those who carry 'the awful flag；' to warn off
their betters；the lowest and most despised caste of India； members of
which； however； when converted； were admitted even into the ranks of the
priesthood。〃
＇5＇ 〃Cowries；〃 ｛。｝ ｛。｝； not 〃shells and ivory；〃 as one might suppose；
but cowries alone； the second term entering into the name from the marks
inside the edge of the shell； resembling 〃the teeth of fishes。〃
＇6＇ See chapter xii； note 3；