76 Gleanings in Buddhism. [July, 



It appears that there were eight kings who received relics. But the 

 Brahman just alluded to, proved himself to he a zealous Buddhist, 

 for he " secreted a relic in the tuft of hair on the top of his head." 

 " Indra perceived the theft and purloined the treasure, unknown to the 

 Brahman ; which he carried to Tavatinsa and assigned to it a chamber 

 in a bright fane in the constellation of the Alligator. When the Brah- 

 man discovered his loss he raved and tore his hair, but tried to console 

 himself by searching at the burning place in the hope of procuring a 

 few cinders of the body of Buddha. But every remnant had been 

 swept of by Mali Raja, with the exception of some very fine ashes. 

 These had been licked up by a cow. The Brahman followed the ani- 

 mal and collected its dung. This Brahman ever afterwards held cow- 

 dung in veneration and often daubed it over his body HI" 



If there be no other better reason for the Hindii practice of the 

 present day of smearing the body with cow-dung, the above may not 

 perhaps be an unplausible one, although derived to them from an unor- 

 thodox source. 



" Kasapa likewise concealed a relic in his mouth. Raja Naga also 

 secured the left upper canine tooth, and constructed over it a magnificent 

 Chaitya in his empire, Patala." 



Kusinarake is described in the Pali, (but I have not seen the work, 

 and here only rely on an extract given to me in Siamese,) as having 

 extended seven yojana in length, and having nearly the same breadth. 

 The gates were numerous. The walls were eight cubits high, and were 

 surrounded by spiral turrets, and a deep fosse encompassed the whole 

 A king or raja named Moulara, founded the dynasty here, which was 

 carried on through twenty successive reigns at the least, until the ap- 

 pearance of Buddha, when Baramma Chakka reigned (Vicramaditya, 

 perhaps.) 



This king possessed seven precious things or gems, which like those 

 belonging to the court of Vicramaditya according to Wilford in his 

 paper in the Astatic Researches, and which were necessary for his state. 

 But the poet is omitted. These were. — A white elephant endowed with 

 reason : — a horse of pure pedigree : — a Muniratanang : — the Chakkra: — 

 a Muntri or Prime Minister : — a General and a beautiful Queen. 



" Ajatasatru inclosed the relics in a magnificent casket, and placing it 

 in a superb howda on an elephant, retraced his steps. 



