126 



CEYLON BRANCH 



chant engaged in the same trade, but who was dull, silly, and 

 unskilfu.1 in expedients, Bodisat having collected very valua- 

 ble merchandise in Benares, laded 500 waggons and prepared 

 for his journey. The unwise merchant, also, had filled 500 

 waggons with goods, and was prepared to go to the same mart. 

 Bodisat thought, if this unwise merchant go with me, the road 

 will not be sufficient for 1000 waggons : either he or I should 

 go first. Jle mentioned his views to the other, and said, we 

 cannot go together, will you go first or last ? The other mer- 

 chant thought, I shall derive great advantage from going the 

 first : the road will not be cut up, the bullocks will have green 

 provender, and the men will have a supply of fruits and ver- 

 getables ; there will also be a plentiful supply of water, and I 

 shall sell the goods at my own price : he therefore said, friend, 

 I will go first. Bodisat saw many advantages connected with, 

 going the last, and thought, those who go first will repair the 

 bad parts of the road upon which I shall travel : the old rank 

 grass will have been eaten by the cattle of the first caravan, 

 while my oxen will have that which is tender and newly 

 grown : in place of the leaves and vegetables plucked by the 

 men who go first, fresh and sweet leaves and vegetables will 

 be obtained : where there is no water, they will dig, and I shall 

 drink from those wells : the fixing a price for articles is kill- 

 ing work, but I going afterwards shall sell my goods at the 

 established price. Seeing so many advantages, he said, well, 

 friend, you may go first. 



The unwise traveller, agreeing to this, made ready his 

 waggons and departed. By degrees he came to the entrance 

 of the desert, beyond the inhabited boundary. There are five 

 kinds of deserts, 1, the robber desert ; 2, the wild-beast desert ; 

 3, the arid desert ; 4, the demon desert ; and 5, the foodless 

 desert. The desert occupied by bands of thieves and robbers 



