COMMERCE OF INDIA. 



199 



is first mentioned in the Chinese annals in the reign of 

 the Emperor Wuti, who, belonging to the dynasty of the 

 Han, reigned from 140 to 86 B.C. The powerful Hiugnu 

 obstructed the road from China to the west, and he sent in 

 1 24, his General Tchangkien against them. Although at first 

 unsuccessful, Tchangkien gained at last his object through 

 the assistance of the Usun, and accompanied by ambassadors 

 of this nation, he returned to China. Since then the Chinese 

 themselves became acquainted with the road to Balkh and to 

 India. When the Emperor Wuti was able to annex the 

 previously independent province of Shensi, the above men- 

 tioned pass of Yumen became secure, and large caravans 

 travelled now regularly from China to the West. The first 

 Chinese caravan reached Bokhara in 114, and the favorable 

 reception it obtained there, in the country of the Asi, induced 

 the Emperor to despatch caravans also to other countries, e.g., 

 to Tawan or Ferghana. In these days the cultivation of the 

 vine and of a peculiar kind of excellent clover was introduced 

 into China, while in Ferghana and Khoten the breeding of 

 silkworms was inaugurated. In the former country the art 

 of preparing Chinese varnish and of iron founding was more- 

 over learnt. The successors of Wuti followed his example, 

 and extended their empire as well as their commercial system 

 over Asia, the latter up to the Caspian Sea. During the 

 reign of the Wei and Tsin dynasties (204-419) the intercourse 

 between China and India was interrupted, but it revived under 

 the Song Emperors. Wenti who belonged to this race, 

 received in 428 an embassy from Candrapriya, King of 

 Kapilavastu. The travels of the famous Buddhist pilgrim 

 Hiuentsang furnish us with the most important and complete 

 information about the relations between China and India in 

 the 7th century. Having been consecrated a Buddhist priest, 

 622, he visited many convents, till he started six years later 

 on his great expedition towards the West. Full of enthusiasm 

 for the doctrine of Buddha he desired to listen to the 



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