e liquid
food permitted out of the regular hours. [1] When the stranger has
enjoyed a very brief rest, they further ask the number of years that he
has been a monk, after which he receives a sleeping apartment with its
appurtenances, according to his regular order, and everything is done
for him which the rules prescribe.

Where a community of monks resides, they erect topes to Sariputtra, [2]
to Maha-maudgalyayana, [3] and to Ananda, and also topes in honor of the
Abhidharma, [4] the Vinaya, [4] and the Sutras. [4] A month after the
annual season of rest, the families which are looking out for blessing
stimulate one another to make offerings to the monks, and send round to
them the liquid food which may be taken out of the ordinary hours. All
the monks come together in a great assembly, and preach the Law; after
which offerings are presented at the tope of Sariputtra, with all kinds
of flowers and incense. All through the night lamps are kept burning,
and skilful musicians are employed to perform.

When Sariputtra was a great Brahman, he went to Buddha, and begged to be
permitted to quit his family and become a monk. The great Mugalan and
the great Kas'yapa also did the same. The bhikshunis [5] for the most
part make their offerings at the tope of Ananda, because it was he who
requested the World-honored one to allow females to quit their families
and become nuns. The Sramaneras [6] mostly make their offerings to
Rahula. [7] The professors of the Abhidharma make their offerings to it;
those of the Vinaya to it. Every year there is one such offering, and
each class has its own day for it. Students of the mahayana present
offerings to the Prajna-paramita, to Manjus'ri, and to Kwan-she-yin.
When the monks have done receiving their annual tribute from the
harvests, the Heads of the Vaisyas and all the Brahmans bring clothes
and such other articles as the monks require for use, and distribute
among them. The monks, having received them, also proceed to give
portions to one another. From the nirvana of Buddha, the forms of
ceremony, laws, and rules, practised by the sacred communities, have
been handed down from one generation to another without interruption.

From the place where the travellers crossed the Indus to South India,
and on to the Southern Sea, a distance of forty or fifty thousand li,
all is level plain. There are no large hills with streams among them;
there are simply the waters of the rivers.

[Footnote