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

THE TRAVELS OF FA-HIEN 275
indeed that it was the land of Han. Not seeing, however, any
inhabitants nor any traces of them, they did not know where-
abouts they were. Some said that they had not yet got to
Kwang-chow, and others that they had passed it. Unable to
come to a definite conclusion, some of them got into a small
boat and entered a creek, to look for someone of whom they
might ask what the place was. They found two hunters, whom
they brought back with them, and then called on Fa-hien to
act as interpreter and question them. Fa-hien first spoke as-
suringly to them, and then slowly and distinctly asked them,
" Who are you? " They replied, " We are disciples of Buddha."
He then asked, " What are you looking for among
these hills?" They began to lie,- and said, "To-morrow is
the fifteenth day of the seventh month. We wanted to get
some peaches to present to Buddha." He asked further,
"What country is this?" They replied, "This is the border
of the prefecture of Ch'ang-kwang, a part of Ts'ing-chow
under the ruling House of Ts'in." When they heard this, the
merchants were glad, immediately asked for a portion of their
money and goods, and sent men to Ch'ang-kwang city.
The prefect Le E was a reverent believer in the Law of Bud-
dha. When he heard that a Sramana had arrived in a ship
across the sea, bringing with him books and images, he imme-
diately came to the sea-shore with an escort to meet the traveller,
and receive the books and images, and took them back
with him to the seat of his government. On this the merchants
went back in the direction of Yang-chow ; but when
Fa-hien arrived at Ts'ing-chow, the prefect there begged him
to remain with him for a winter and a summer. After the
summer retreat was ended, Fa-hien, having been separated for
a long time from his fellows, wished to hurry to Ch'ang-gan
but as the business which he had in hand was important, he
went south to the Capital ;
and at an interview with the masters
there exhibited the Sutras and the collection of the Vinaya
which he had procured.
After Fa-hien set out from Ch'ang-gan, it took him six years
to reach Central India ; stoppages there extended over six
' It is likely that these men were But what had disciples of Buddha to do
really hunters; and, when brought be- with hunting and taking life? They
fore Fa-hien, because he was a Sramana, were caught in their own trap, and said
they thought they would please him by they were looking for peaclies.
saying they were disciples of Buddha.
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