stic arrangements in them are worthy of
observation.

Shamans of the highest virtue from all quarters, and students, inquirers
wishing to find out truth and the grounds of it, all resort to these
monasteries. There also resides in this monastery a Brahman teacher,
whose name also is Manjusri, whom the Shamans of greatest virtue in
the kingdom, and the mahayana Bhikshus honor and look up to.

The cities and towns of this country are the greatest of all in the
Middle Kingdom. The inhabitants are rich and prosperous, and vie with
one another in the practice of benevolence and righteousness. Every year
on the eighth day of the second month they celebrate a procession of
images. They make a four-wheeled car, and on it erect a structure of
five stories by means of bamboos tied together. This is supported by a
king-post, with poles and lances slanting from it, and is rather more
than twenty cubits high, having the shape of a tope. White and silk-like
cloth of hair is wrapped all round it, which is then painted in various
colors. They make figures of devas, with gold, silver, and lapis lazuli
grandly blended and having silken streamers and canopies hung out over
them. On the four sides are niches, with a Buddha seated in each, and a
Bodhisattva standing in attendance on him. There may be twenty cars, all
grand and imposing, but each one different from the others. On the day
mentioned, the monks and laity within the borders all come together;
they have singers and skilful musicians: they say their devotions with
flowers and incense. The Brahmans come and invite the Buddhas to enter
the city. These do so in order, and remain two nights in it. All through
the night they keep lamps burning, have skilful music, and present
offerings. This is the practice in all the other kingdoms as well. The
Heads of the Vaisya families in them establish in the cities houses for
dispensing charity and medicines. All the poor and destitute in the
country, orphans, widowers, and childless men, maimed people and
cripples, and all who are diseased, go to those houses, and are provided
with every kind of help, and doctors examine their diseases. They get
the food and medicines which their cases require, and are made to feel
at ease; and when they are better, they go away of themselves.

When king Asoka destroyed the seven topes, intending to make eighty-four
thousand, the first which he made was the great tope, more than three li
to the south of this