182 Bibliographical Notice. [No. 2. 



title of Moxadeva, ' God of deliverance' and was overwhelmed by 

 Qiladitya and Kumara with other marks of distinction. His reputa- 

 tion for talents and virtue was indeed spread far and wide by this 

 achievement. 



" The remaining events of his life p. 257, require but short notice 

 here. After, nearly sixteen years' residence in different parts of India 

 he returned to his country rich in knowledge and carrying with him 

 a valuable collection of sacred books and several statues of Buddha, 

 Ciladitya's influence so far as it extended, provided for the safety of 

 his journey. A second time he traversed the interior of India the 

 Panjab, Kabulistan and Bactria, but returning by a different route, 

 he followed the course of the Oxus, and as far as we know was the 

 first traveller who ever visited the high table-land of Pamer, where 

 the Oxus issues from the lake Sir-i-cul. He sojourned for some time 

 in the three well known towns of East Turkistan Kashgar, Jarkand 

 and Khoten. Thence by a very circuitous route, he reached his 

 native country, where he was received with great ceremony by the 

 emperor Thien-nu-ching-hoang-ti, then residing at Sojang. At the 

 request of the Emperor he composed in 648, a narrative of his travels 

 entitled Si-jii-ki, or rather to give the title in full Ta-thang-si-ju-ki, 

 i. e. a report on the Western countries published under the Thang. 

 The sacred books and statues which Hiouen Thsang had brought 

 with him, were preserved in the Convent of Great Benevolence. The 

 Emperor moreover had a special building erected for him, in which 

 to translate the sacred writings which he had collected in India. 

 He translated into Chinese several most important works, the titles 

 of which need not be mentioned here. He died in 6G4<, and was 

 solemnly buried by order of the Emperor at the public expense. 



" From this biographical sketch of the Chinese Pilgrim, it will be 

 seen that his acquaintance with the language and literature of 

 India and his residence in that country, qualified him to give a very 

 exact description of this country and of its then condition. The ex- 

 pectation which we formed of the great value attaching to a work 

 drawn like the present from original sources is fully borne out. Still 

 in judging its merits it must be borne in mind that Hiouen Thsang 

 was a zealous disciple of ^akyasinha, and therefore that he is not free 

 from prejudice in dealing with subjects in which the interests of 

 his faith are concerned. 



