at is, those whose Karma in the past should be rewarded
by such conversion in the present.]

CHAPTER XL

~After Two Years Fa-hien Takes Ship for China~

Fa-hien abode in this country two years; and, in addition to his
acquisitions in Patna, succeeded in getting a copy of the Vinaya-pitaka
of the Mahisasakah school; the Dirghagama and Samyuktagama Sutras; and
also the Samyukta-sanchaya-pitaka;--all being works unknown in the land
of Han. Having obtained these Sanscrit works, he took passage in a large
merchantman, on board of which there were more than two hundred men, and
to which was attached by a rope a smaller vessel, as a provision against
damage or injury to the large one from the perils of the navigation.
With a favorable wind, they proceeded eastward for three days, and then
they encountered a great wind. The vessel sprang a leak and the water
came in. The merchants wished to go to the smaller vessel; but the men
on board it, fearing that too many would come, cut the connecting rope.
The merchants were greatly alarmed, feeling their risk of instant death.
Afraid that the vessel would fill, they took their bulky goods and threw
them into the water. Fa-hien also took his pitcher and washing-basin,
with some other articles, and cast them into the sea; but fearing that
the merchants would cast overboard his books and images, he could only
think with all his heart of Kwan-she-yin, and commit his life to the
protection of the church of the land of Han, saying in effect, "I have
travelled far in search of our Law. Let me, by your dread and
supernatural power, return from my wanderings, and reach my
resting-place!"

In this way the tempest continued day and night, till on the thirteenth
day the ship was carried to the side of an island, where, on the ebbing
of the tide, the place of the leak was discovered, and it was stopped,
on which the voyage was resumed. On the sea hereabouts there are many
pirates, to meet with whom is speedy death. The great ocean spreads out,
a boundless expanse. There is no knowing east or west; only by observing
the sun, moon, and stars was it possible to go forward. If the weather
were dark and rainy, the ship went as she was carried by the wind,
without any definite course. In the darkness of the night, only the
great waves were to be seen, breaking on one another, and emitting a
brightness like that of fire, with huge turtles and other monsters of
the deep all about. The merchants