Chinese and Arabian Literature - E. Wilson - The Search For Mecca

26o
THE TRAVELS OF FA-HIEN
under such and such a patra tree. She watched for a time
when the king was not there, and then sent men to cut the tree
down. When the king came, and saw what had been done,
he swooned away with sorrow, and fell to the ground. His
ministers sprinkled water on his face, and after a considerable
time he revived. He then built all round the stump with
bricks, and poured a hundred pitchers of cows' milk on the
roots ; and as he lay with his four limbs spread out on the
ground, he took this oath, " If the tree do not live, I will never
rise from this." When he had uttered this oath, the tree im-
mediately began to grow from the roots, and it has continued
to grow till now, when it is nearly one hundred cubits in
height.
CHAPTER XXXni
Kasyapa Buddha's Skeleton on Mount Gurupada
The travellers, going on from this three li to the south,
came to a mountain named Gurupada, inside which Mahakasyapa
even now is. He made a cleft, and went down into it,
though the place where he entered would not now admit a
man. Having gone down very far, there was a hole on one
side, and there the complete body of Kasyapa still abides.
Outside the hole at which he entered is the earth with which
he had washed his hands. If the people living thereabouts
have a sore on their heads, they plaster on it some of the earth
from this, and feel immediately easier. On this mountain,
now as of old, there are Arhats abiding. Devotees of our
Law from the various countries in that quarter go year by year
to the mountain, and present offerings to Kasyapa ; and to
those whose hearts are strong in faith there come Arhats at
night, and talk with them, discussing and explaining their
doubts, and disappearing suddenly afterwards.
On this hill hazels grow luxuriantly ; and there are many
lions, tigers, and wolves, so that people should not travel in-
cautiously.