ON TO MATHURA OR MUTTRA.

CONDITION AND CUSTOMS OF CENTRAL INDIA; OF THE MONKS, VIHARAS, AND MONASTERIES.
From this place they travelled south-east, passing by a succession of very many monasteries, with a multitude of monks, who might be counted by myriads.

After passing all these places, they came to a country named Ma-t'aou-lo.( 1) They still followed the course of the P'oo-na( 2) river, on the banks of which, left and right, there were twenty monasteries, which might contain three thousand monks; and (here) the Law of Buddha was still more flourishing.

Everywhere, from the Sandy Desert, in all the countries of India, the kings had been firm believers in that Law.

When they make their offerings to a community of monks, they take off their royal caps, and along with their relatives and ministers, supply them with food with their own hands.
That done, (the king) has a carpet spread for himself on the ground, and sits down in front of the chairman;--they dare not presume to sit on couches in front of the community.