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On hearing this, as hunger was more powerfal than the pain of impalement, the man ate the food with eagerness ; and when he had finished, asked her to wipe his mouth. Whilst she was in the act of doing so, he 220 A MANUAX OF BUDHISM. seized her Hair with his teeth ; and as she could not otherwise release herself, she cat off the lock with the sword she had brought, and left it in his teeth. On returning to the king she informed him that she had executed his command ; but he said that he must have some proof ; on which she told him that a lock of her hair would be found between the malefactor's teeth, and further informed him respecting the treasure. Next day the king found out by her token that what she said was true, and also sent men, who dug up the treasure, and brought it to the palace. On seeing it he said that the woman must be pos- sessed of great merit to have met with such good fortune; and he therefore, in the presence of the citizens, ennobled her, by which she was rewarded for her gift to the priest, and the words of G6tama were accomplished. (SadhaiinniaratnaJcdrS.) 15. Budha attends a TlougMn^ Festival. When Budha resided at the wihara called Dakshinagii-i, belonging to the village of EknAlaka, near Bajagaha, a ploughing festival was held by the brahman Kasibhdradw^ja.* There were a thousand oxen, the hoofs of which were cased with silver, and their necks were adorned with sweet-scented flowers; five hundred ploughs and goads tipped with gold; * It is well known that in China and some other countries of Western Asia, ploughing festiyals are still held. The following narrative is taken from C5rawford^ Embassy to Siam. " April 27, 1822.— This was a day of some celebrity in the Siamese Calendar, being that on which the kings of Siam, in former times, were wont to hold the plough, like the emperors of China, either as a religious ceremony, or as an example of agricultural industry to their subjects. This rite has long &llen into disuse, and given place to one which, to say the least of it, is of less dignity. The ceremony took place about two miles from Bangkok, and I am sorry to say we were not apprised of it in time to be present. A Siamese, however, who had often witnessed it, gave me the following description : A person is chosen for this occasion, to represent the king. This monarch of a day is known by the name of the ^ng of the Husbandmen. He stands in the midst of a rice- field, on one foot only, it being incumbent on him to continue in this uneasy attitude during the time that a common peasant takes in ploughing onoe round him in a circle. Dropping the other foot, until the circle is completed, is looked upon as a most unlucky omen ; and the penalty to the King of the Husbandinen is not only the loss of his ephemeral dignity, but also of his permanent rank, whatever that may be, with what is more serious, the con- nscation of his property. The nominal authority of this person lasts from morning to evening. During the whole of this day the shops are shut ; nothing is allowed to be bought or sold, and whatever is disposed of in con- travention of this interdict is forfeited, and becomes the perquisite of the King of the Husbandmen." VII. LEGENDS OF g6tAMA BUDHA. 221 &Ye bnndred plonghmen in gay attire ; and many thousands of spectators. The wife of the brahman prepared a hundred thousand vessels of food, which were placed npon a wagon; and accompanied by a retinue of maidens, beautiful a d^wis, she went to the field. The brahman took a yermilion wand in his hand, and directed that to this person rice should be given, and to that ghee, and to another some sweetmeat, whilst his wife dealt out the rice with a golden spoon. On the same day, early in the morning, Budha looked round the world with his divine eyes to see whom he should assist, when he perceived that the brahman who would hold a ploughing festival had the merit necessary to enable him to become a rahat. He therefore went to the field, and remained in an elevated place, whence he could be seen by the brahman. The rays from his person spread to every part of the field, causing all that was within it to appear of the colour of gold. This attracted the attention of the people, who having finished their repast, collected around Budha, and did him reverence. But the brahman was displeased when he saw what was going on, and said, ** See now, this great mendicant has come to spoil our sport." When he had seen his person, he said again, **Were he to work like us who are husbandmen, he might become the king of all Jambudwipa ; but now he does nothing, spending his time in idleness, and coming to ploughing festivals and such like places, that he may beg something to eat ;" and then addressing himself to Budha, he said " Sramana, I plough and sow, and from my ploughing and sowing I receive grain, and enjoy the produce ; priest, it would be better if you were in like manner to plough and to sow, and then you would have food to eat." Budha knew when the time had come in which it would be proper for him to speak, and replied, "Brahman, I do plough and sow; and from my ploughing and sowing I reap immortal fruit." On hearing this, the brahman thought thus, " The sramana says that he ploughs and sows ; but he has neither plough nor any other implement ; he must have spoken falsely." Yet on looking at the beauties of his person, he thought it impossible that he could tell an untruth ; and he therefore said, " Bhagawat Gdtama, I see no plough ; no goad ; no oxen ; if you perform the work of the husbandman, where are your implements ?" In reply to this question, Budha informed him that his field was the dharmma ; 222 A MANUAL OF BUDHISM. the weeds that be plucked up, the cleaving to existence ; the plough that he used, wisdom ; the seed that he sowed, purily ; the work that he performed, attention to the precepts; the harvest that he reaped, nirwana ; and when he had explained these matters at greater length, he exhorted the brahman to sow in the same field, unfolding before him the benefits of nirwana. The brahman, after hearing this discourse, brought forth the most excellent food, and with a joyful mind reverently presented it to Budha ; but the sage informed him that he coald not receive it, as it was not the custom of the Budhas to receive ofOerings after they had been setting forth the excellencies of the dharmma, and proclaiming its advantages, or they would be like musicians and dancers, who make a collection after they have amused the people. The brahman was therefore in doubt, as he thought that it would not be proper to present to any one else the food that had been ofEered to Budha. The sage perceived his thoughts, and told him that as the d^was had imparted to it the flavor they were accustomed to give to all food received by the Budhas, he might take it and place it upon the top of a rock where there was no grass, or throw it into water that was free from worms. Kasibhdradwaja, accordingly, threw it into pure water, where it continued warm a whole day ; first making a noise, as if it said **chiti, chita," like liquid boiling, and then sending forth smoke. The brahman took notice o^ this wonderful occurrence ; then went to Budha, embraced the priesthood, and afterwards became a rahat. {MUinda Prasna.) 16. The History of An&pidu. There resided in Rajagaha a rich merchant, who was intimate with An^pidu, a merchant of Sewet.* The two friends were accustomed to visit each other, with 500 wagons of merchandize, for the purpose of traffic. When they drew near to each other's city, it was the practice for one to go and meet the other at a distance of sixteen miles. One day Anepidu approached Raja- gaha, but there was no friend to meet him ; he came to the city, * This city, which is also called S&wathi and SriLwasti, was the metropolis of Kdeala. It is termed by Fa Fian, She-wei ; by Hiuan-tsang, She-Io-va- si-ti ; and is placed by both nearly on the site of Fyzabad, in Oude. When Tiaited by Fa Hian, there were in it not more than 200 fiaznilies or hoiues. VII. LEGENDS OF G6TAMA BUDHA. 223 the street, the house, but saw no one to welcome him, as had been usual. When he entered the house, his friend was there ; but his greeting was hurried and brief.