The first notice of this country is found in the itinerary of the Buddhist 

 priest Fahien, who, in the year 400 of our era, went from. China to India overland 

 and returned by sea to his native country, on which occasion he visited Java, in 

 414. The book containing his travels, called //An account of the Buddhist coun- 

 tries 11 (*) has been translated into French by Abel Bémusat, whilst afterwards the Rev. 

 S. Beal has given a much improved English version of it." Of Java the writer says 

 not much , but the account of his sea voyage is sufficiently interesting to give it in 

 his own words. 



Fahien left Ceylon on board a great merchant vessel, which carried 

 about two hundred men. Astern of the great snip a smaller one was fast- 

 ened, as a provision in case of the large vessel being injured or wrecked 

 during the voyage. Having got a fair wind they sailed eastward for two 

 days , when they encountered a storm and the ship sprang a leak. The mer- 

 chants then wanted to rush into the smaller vessel, but the crew of that 

 ship, fearing that it would become too crowded, cut the towing cable and 

 feil off. The merchants were very much afraad "and their lives stood in the 

 greatest danger. Then dreading lest the leak should gain upon them, they 

 forthwith took. their goocls and merchandize and cast them overboard. Fa- 

 hien also flung overboard his waterpitcher and his washing basin, as well 

 as other portions of his property. He was only afraid lest the merchants 

 should throw into the sea his sacred books and images. And so , with earn- 

 estness of heart, he invoked Avalokitêshwara and paid reverence to the 

 Buddhist saints of China — speaking thus : ui have wandered so far in 

 search of the law; may you by your spiritual power drive back the water 

 and cause us to reach some resting place." The gale lasted thirteen days 

 and nights, when they arrived at the shore of an island, and, on the tide 

 going out , they found the place of the leak ; having forthwith stopped it up, 

 they again put to sea and continued their voyage. In this sea there are 

 many pirates, when one falls in with them, he is lost. The sea is bound- 

 less in extent — it is impossible to know east or west and one can only ad- 

 vance by observing the sim, moon or stars; if it is dark rainy weather vou 



(') fcfc |f|j j$> |gj =3 Relatiou des royaumes bouddhiques (Rémusat), or Records 

 of Buddhist countries (Beal). 



