156 Report of the Archeological Survey. [No. 3, 
perfumes, and before which they kept lamps burning the whole night. 
Hwen Thsang describes these processions as carrying flying streamers 
and stately parasols, while the mists of perfumes and the showers of 
flowers darkened the sun and moon! I can easily realize the pomp and 
glittering show of these ceremonies from the similar scenes which 
I have witnessed in Barma. I have seen streamers from 100 to 200 
feet in length carried in processions, and afterwards suspended from 
pillars or holy trees. I have beheld hundreds of gorgeous parasols of 
gold and silver brocade flashing in the sun; and I have witnessed the 
burning of thousands of candles day after day before the great Stupa 
of Shwe-Dagon at Rangoon, which is devoutly believed to contain 
eight hairs of Buddha. Before this sacred tower, I have seen flowers 
and fruits offered by thousands of people, until they formed large 
heaps around it, while thousands of votaries still came thronging in 
with their offerings of candles, and gold leaf, and little flags, with 
plantains and rice, and flowers of all kinds. 
161. From these accounts of the Chinese pilgrims it would appear 
that the Buddhist establishments at Mathura must have been of consi- 
derable importance, and this conclusion is fully borne out by the 
number and interest of the recent discoveries. Contrary to his usual 
practice, Hwen Thsang has unfortunately given us but few details 
regarding the monasteries and temples of Mathura. This is the more 
to be regretted, as we now know that one of the monasteries was 
established by the great Indo-Scythian King Huvishka, about the 
beginning of the Christian era, and that one of the stone statues, 
judging by the size of its hand, could not have been less than 20 feet 
in height. 
162. The first place described by Hwen Thsang is a monastery 
situated on a mound, at 5 or 6 li, or about one mile, to the east of the 
city. Cells were formed in the sides of the mound, which was ap- 
proached through a hollow, and in the midst was a Stupa containing 
the nails of Buddha. This monastery is said to have been built by 
the holy Upagupta, who, as we learn from one of the legends of Patale 
Putra, was a contemporary of Asoka. The nails and beard of the 
holy man were still preserved. : 
163. On another mound to the north of this monastery, there was 
a cave containing a stone chamber, 20 feet high and 30 feet long, 

