Born in a border-land, along with their like-minded friends, they had travelled through so many kingdoms; some of those friends had returned (to their own land), and some had (died), proving the impermanence and uncertainty of life; and to-day they saw the place where Buddha had lived now unoccupied by him.

They were melancholy through their pain of heart, and the crowd of monks came out, and asked them from what kingdom they were come.

"We are come," they replied, "from the land of Han." "Strange," said the monks with a sigh, "that men of a border country should be able to come here in search of our Law!" Then they said to one another, "During all the time that we, preceptors and monks,( 11) have succeeded to one another, we have never seen men of Han, followers of our system, arrive here." Four le to the north-west of the vihara there is a grove called "The Getting of Eyes." Formerly there were five hundred blind men, who lived here in order that they might be near the vihara.( 12) Buddha preached his Law to them, and they all got back their eyesight.

Full of joy, they stuck their staves in the earth, and with their heads and faces on the ground, did reverence.

The staves immediately began to grow, and they grew to be great.