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XIII. Sketch of Buddhism, derived from the Bauddha Scriptures of Nipdl. 

 By Brian Houghton Hodgson, Esq., M.R.A.S. 



Read June 28, 1828. 



Extract of a Letter from Brian Houghton Hodgson, Esq. 

 to Dr. Nathaniel Wallich. 



" Nipal, 11th of August 182?. 



" Soon after my arrival in Nipil (now six years ago), I began to devise 

 " means of procuring some accurate information relative to Buddhism : 

 " for, though the regular investigation of such a subject was foreign 

 " to my pursuits, my respect for sci ence in general led me cheerfully 

 " to avail myself of the opportunity afforded, by my residence in a 

 •' Bauddha country, for collecting and transmitting to Calcutta the 

 " materials for such investigation. There were, however, serious 

 " obstacles in my way, arising out of the jealousy of the people in 

 " regard to any profanation of their sacred things by an European, and 

 " yet more, resulting from the Chinese notions of policy adopted by this 

 " government. I nevertheless persevered ; and time, patience, and 

 " dexterous applications to the superior intelligence of tlie chief minister, 

 " at length rewarded my toils. 



" My first object was to ascertain the existence or otherwise of Bauddha 

 " Scriptures in Nipal ; and to this end I privately instituted inquiries in 

 " various directions, in the course of which the reputation for knowledge 

 " of an old Bauddha residing in the city of Pdtan, drew one of my people 

 " to his abode. This old man assured me that Nipal contained many large 

 " works relating to Buddhism ; and of some of these lie gave me a list. 

 " Subsequently, when better acquainted, he volunteered to procure me 

 " copies of them. His list gradually enlarged as his confidence increased ; 

 " and at length, chiefly through his kindness, and his influence with his 

 " brethren in the Bauddha faith, I was enabled to procure and transmit 

 " to Calcutta a large collection of important Bauddha scriptures. 



