Book VIII.

The country of Magadha (Mo-kie-t'o) ¹ is about 5000 li in circuit. The walled cities have but few inhabitants, but the towns ² are thickly populated. The soil is rich and fertile and the grain cultivation abundant. There is an unusual sort of rice grown here, the grains of which are large and scented and of an exquisite taste. It is specially remarkable for its shining colour. It is commonly called “the rice for the use of the great.” ³ As the ground is low and damp, the inhabited towns are built on the high uplands. After the first month of summer and before the second month of autumn, the level country is flooded, and communication can be kept up by boats. The manners, of the people are simple and honest. The temperature is pleasantly hot; they esteem very much the pursuit of learning and profoundly respect the religion of Buddha. There are some fifty saṅghârâmas, with about 10,000 priests, of whom the greater number study ther teaching of the Great Vehicle. There are ten Dêva temples, occupied by sectaries of different persuasions, who are very numerous.