his design, he crossed the peninsula from east to west, ascended the Malabar
coast, reached the Indus, and after numerous excursions to scenes of interest in
North-Western India, returned to Magadha to enjoy, with his old friends, the
delights of learned leisure and intellectual companionship.
Eventually, his return to China became necessary, and traversing the Punjab,
Kabulistan, and Bactria, he struck the river Oxus, following its course nearly up
to its springhead on the remote Pamir tableland; and after a residence of some
duration in the three chief towns of Turkistan, Khasgar, Yarkand, and Khoten, he
found himself again, after sixteen years of varied experience, in his native land.
By this time he had attained a world-wide reputation, and he was received by the
Emperor with the honours usually accorded to a military hero. His entry into the
capital was marked by public rejoicings; the streets were decked with gay
carpets, festoons of flowers, and waving banners. The splendour of martial pomp
was not wanting; the civic magistrates lent the dignity of their presence to the
scene; and all the monks of the district issued forth in solemn procession.
If this were a triumph of unusual character, not less unaccustomed were the
trophies which figured in it.
First, 150 grains of Buddha’s dust;
Second, a golden statue of Buddha;
Third, another statue of sandal-wood;
Fourth, a statue of sandal-wood, representing Buddha as descending from
heaven;
Fifth, a statue of silver;
Sixth, a golden statue, representing Buddha victorious over the dragon;
Seventh, a statue of sandal-wood, representing Buddha as a preacher; and
Eighth, a collection of 657 Buddhist works in 520 volumes.
Admitted to an audience of the Emperor in the Phœnix Palace, he was offered,
but declined, a high position in the Government. “The doctrine of Confucius,” he