96 Gleanings in Buddhism. [July, 



this dangerous custom of supporting one half only of their Dagobas 

 with iron rods, and this too while they have learned enough of science 

 as to lead them to place on the pinnacles of these rods small glass 

 phials as nonconductors. Their preservative properties would I should 

 suppose be of small amount. 



" The stucco having been put on the Dagoba was guilded from top 

 to bottom, and the four chief priests constructed eight figures of Ara- 

 han (the head of a powerful Buddhist sect), and placed them in the 

 area of the temple in the attitude of adoration of Buddha. Representa- 

 tions of elephants were likewise made and fixed with their heads direct- 

 ed from the temple."* 



"The Prince of Rome now set sail and departed." 



" When the people of the neighbouring countries heard of the fame 

 of this new Chaittya they flocked to it in order to make offerings. 

 They came in carriages and on elephants," (and in other ways) " and 

 some even cast gold under the ground for those who should afterwards 

 find it. The Princes of these states also brought their offerings, and 

 before departing they erected small Chaittyas, but not having any sur- 

 rounding pillars (pariwenas.) 



"The king of Lanka being desirous of knowing what had become of 

 the temple at the Diamond Sands, despatched P'haliti and Phalabui, 

 who were men of rank, to that place. They were provided with gifts of 

 gold, silver, and precious commodities for Dhammasoka Raja. 



When they had waited upon this king they acquainted him that the 

 two young Princes of Lanka had quarrelled at a cockpit where white 

 men were present, (probably Turks or Arabs,) and that both had died 

 of the wounds they had received, and their father the king had sent 

 their ashes and bones with a request that His Majesty would allow these 

 to be disposed of thus. They were all to be pounded up with mortar 

 into a paste, and of this two busts or images were to be formed, one of 

 Phra Sri Dhatta" [or Buddha, when a Prince,] another of his consort 

 Bhimb'ha, and a third of his son, Rahura. Two figures were also 

 to be made resembling the deceased Princes, one of which would 

 occupy the right hand, and the other the left hand of the image 

 of Phra Sri Dhatta. They also expressed the king's desire, that an 



* I shall also given along- with these fragments of Indian History, a few notes respect- 

 ing Buddha and these Arahans, or Arahat. 



