16 



Having said this, he wept. 



Again, said he: ,/I then heard that you liad risen to avenge yourselves and, therefore, I came 

 on purpose to join you. I fervently hope that you, my brethern, will help the force of my 

 single arm. 



When I have regained my empire and have settled the foundations of the house of Ming, 

 in order to revere the temple of my ancestors, I shall requite the monks of the Shao-lin convent. 



I shall build anew the convent and restore the statue of Budha, as a thanksoffering for 

 the divine help. I then shall enjoy glory and fame with all the patriotic brethern, and we 

 shall obtain perfection. Our name will be known all over the world and be propagated for 

 myriads of ages. Is this not excellent?" 



Having said this, bis breast was soaked by his tears, and he lamented and moaned in such 

 a war, that all were moved by his grief. 



They then asked him to give some proof of his origin. The prince produced a precious purse 

 and a perfume-bag of imperial mak e {}), in order to prove his assertion. All were moved to 

 tears in seing this: they üfted him upon a high seat, and kneeled down before him on the 

 ground; but the prince raised the brethern from the ground and said: //Tou don 't want to 

 show me so much honour. How should I dare to accept of it?" 



They all exclaimed: ,/ Heaven bas sent the prince imperial, that his name may be renowned! 



This is according to the will of God! Let us obey Heaven, and act righteously, and goto all 

 the regions of the world!" 



They immediately made him their leader and, having engaged some troops and bought horses 

 and victuals, they looked about for a good opportunity to begin the great affair. 



Oneday they came to the town Shih-ching ( 2 ), in the prefecture of Hwui-chao ( 3 ), in the pro- 

 vince of Canton, where they saw in the white-heronwood ( 4 ), in the camp of universal peace ( 5 ) , 

 a new built convent. 



In this convent lived an abbot, called Wan-yun-lung ( 6 ), who passed his life in worshipping 

 Budha. Hearing the noise of men and horses, he came out of his convent, and made signs 

 with his hand. 



Suddenly all these men approached him. Wan-yun-lung said then to them: //Gentlemen! 

 whither do you go with all these troops? Be pleased to enter my convent and rest awhile." 



All the brethern then entered the convent, and whilst they were partaking of some tea, Wan- 

 yun-lung asked them the eire ums tan ces of the destruction of the Shao-lin convent. They having 

 detailed everything to him, he exclaimed with a loud voice: „O finish, finish!" 



The brethern hearing Wan-yun-lung pronounce these compassionate words, and seing, that he 



o # M 9 M # S i 2 ) 5 



(3) ^ M\ £f 23°02'24" Lat. 111°52'30" Lon. 



iJÜ» 



( 4 ) ö % # ( 5 ) ie ¥ M ( 6 ) 



^5* 





