Chapter VI

From this going onwards towards North India, after being a month on the road, we managed to cross Ts’ung-ling. In Ts’ung-ling there is snow both in winter and summer. Moreover there are poison-dragons, who when evil-purposed spit poison, winds, rain, snow, drifting sand, and gravel-stones; not one of ten thousand meeting these calamities, escapes. The people of that land are also called Snowy-mountain men (Tukharas?). Having crossed (Ts’ung)-ling, we arrive at North India. On entering the borders there is a little country called To-li, where there is again a society of priests all belonging to the Little Vehicle. There was formerly an Arhat in this country who by magic power took up to the. Tusita heaven a skilful carver of wood to observe the length and breadth (size), the colour and look, of Maitreya Bodhisattva, that returning below he might carve wood and make his image (that is, carve a wooden image of him). First and last he made three ascents for observation, and at last finished the figure. Its length is 80 feet, and its upturned foot 8 feet; on fast-days it ever shines brightly. The kings of the countries round vie with each other in their religious offerings to it. Now, as of yore, it is in this country.