634 NOTES ET INFORMATIONS 
The Indians use fine white cloth for straining water ; and in China fine 
silk may be used, aîter having slightly boiled it with rice-cream ; for 
small Insects easily pass through the meshes of raw silk. Taking a piece 
of softened silk about four feet of the Hu-ch'ih (name of a Common measure) 
lay it lengthwise by taking its edges, then double it by taking both ends, 
and sew them together so as to form them into the shape of a net. Then 
attach cords to its two corners, and loops to both sides; and put across it 
a stick about one foot and six inches long, in order to stretch it wide. 
Now fasten its two ends to posts, while placing a basin under it. When 
you pour water into it from a pot, its bottom must be inside the strainer, 
lest some Insects drop off together with the drops of water, and should 
hardly escape destruction by falling on the ground or into the basin. 
When water comes out through the strainer, scoop and examine it, and, if 
it contains some Insects, the return the water, and, il it is clean enough, 
use it. As soon as enough water has been obtained, turn up the strainer, 
which is to be held at both ends by two persons, put it into the « life-pre- 
serving vessel », rinse it with water three times, and again pour water 
over it outside. Pour in water once more in order to see, by means of 
straining it, whether some Insects still remain in it. If no Insects be 
found, remove them in any manner. Even aîter being thus filtered, the 
water, when a night has passed, is liable to need examining again ; 
for one who neglects to examine the water that has stood through a 
night, whether it contains Insects or not, is said, in the Vinaya, to be 
guilty. 
There are many ways of protecting life while drawing water.The strainer 
just described is suitable in case of drawing water from a well. In a river 
or a poud you may filter the water by a double jar (1) within the willow 
vessel safely placed in the water. During the sixth or the seventh month 
the Insects are so minute, and difierent from what they are in the other 
seasons, that they can pass even through ten folds of raw silk. 
Those who wish to protect lifes hould try to set the Insect free by some 
means or other. A plate-like tray may be used for the purpose, but the 
silk strainer is also very useful. The tray is generally made of copper, 
in Indian, in accordance with the rules laid down by the Buddha: one 
must not neglect these points. The life-preserving vessel is a small water- 
pot with an open mouth as wide as the vessel itself. It has two knobs on 
the sides of the bottom-part, to wich cords are fastened. When it is let 
down into water, it is turned upside down, and, after having been 
plunged into water twice or thrice, it is drawn up. 
The high priests must not touch the filters used in the temple, nor the 
water kept in a room for filtering purposes. The lower priests who have 
not yet received full ordination, can take and drink any water ; but if they 
drink at an improper time they ought to use a clean strainer, clean jar, 
(4) This may be the Danda-parissaävanam (a double strainer) of Kullavagga, \f 
3, 3, though the way of straining seems very difierent. 
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