86 Gleanings in Buddhism. [July, 



The Siamese have placed the Diamond Sands near Ligor, and the 

 ignorant amongst them, including most of the priests, consider this 

 history as one of that country ; and some of the latter were much 

 mortified when I pointed out the absurdity of the supposition. The 

 accounts however which they have of the history of Buddha and of 

 Buddhism, afterwards closely accord with the Ceylonese Mahawanso, 

 and other Indian Pali writings. 



"When the ship cast anchor at Lanka the commander took his 

 passengers on shore at a place where there was a temple called Lohak 

 Phra Satsi, and where presided the chief priest or Sanghara, whose 

 name was Thassakam Phra Muni, and who was allied to the royal family 

 of Lanka. This priest hospitably received the strangers. When 

 night arrived, an extraordinary light spread over the temple, and the 

 astonished priests found that it emanated from the place where the 

 Prince and Princess reposed. The latter then disclosed their names 

 and the cause of their arrival, saying that they must deliver the relic 

 into the hands of the king. A young priest was therefore despatched 

 to acquaint his Majesty with the fortunate occurrence, who happened to 

 be then eight yoj ana distant on a hunting excursion.* He no sooner 

 however received the information than he was seized with a holy fer- 

 vour, and dismounting from his elephant he walked seven of the eight 

 yojanaf to his palace, and was lamed by the exertion. The royal 

 pair, a brother and sister, were now presented to him, and he allowed 

 them a retinue of 500 persons and a suitable establishment to uphold 

 their state. 



By his Majesty's orders a brick and mortar Chetti or Chaittya, or 

 pyramidal building, was constructed and was adorned inside^ with 

 precious stones. The relic brought by the Prince and Princess was 

 then deposited in it with great solemnity. 



Three years had passed away when the king of Lanka perceived from 

 an ancient prophesy that in seven years from that date a certain king, 

 Dhammasoka Raja, would erect a temple at " The Diamond Sands." 

 He likewise recollected that there were two Dona of the relics of Bud- 

 dha still concealed in the country of Raja Naga. He therefore direct- 



* Yet the killing- of animals was forbidden by his faith, 

 t This cannot be the yojana which is reckoned at 9 miles. 

 % The receptacle for relics probably. 



