occasioned by your not possessing the merit of having made offerings, and accordingly you raised a pagoda of the white sand, placed in front of it, as an offering, one-half of the rice you had with you, and gave the remaining half to the crows to eat, as an offering to the Rahans. These two crows, husband and wife, are the very same two crows who ate the rice of which you made the offering when you were a poor man.” When the king heard this, he exclaimed, “Oh, how unstable is prosperity! I have obtained the position of king only from making offerings at a sand pagoda!” So saying, he made an offering to the Law of the putzo he was wearing. Seven days afterwards, the five rewards came to the king. The five rewards were these: The Nats, wrapping up in a thingan the relics of an excellent Rahanda who had obtained Paranibbāna while he was up in the sky, and which were like a jasmine-bud, came and laid them down before the king. In front of his palace a mountain of gold arose. The Nats brought a virgin from the island of Uttarakuru. This woman was ten cubits in stature. She brought with her a kunsā of rice, which, though one were to cook it and eat it during a whole lifetime, would never be exhausted. An elephant of priceless value, which could travel a hundred yoganas even before breakfast. Seven vessels arrived at the port completely filled with valuable putzos. BUDDHIST COUNTRIES OF THE PRESENT DAY. Buddhism in India has almost died out. In Ceylon, and among the sect of the Jains, in Western India, it still remains; but, excepting these parts of the country, Brahminism has triumphed in putting down Buddhism. In Farther India, that is, in Burmah and Malacca, Buddhism is very strong. Among the Karens of Burmah, Buddhism never gained any acceptance. In Siam, Cambodia and Cochin China, Buddhism is prevalent. In China proper and in Corea it is associated with Confucianism and Taoism. In Thibet it has taken the peculiar form called Lamaism, a regular hierarchy having developed. In Japan it is often associated with Shintoism. The Loo Choo Islands are also Buddhist. CHAPTER XXIX. BUDDHISM IN INDIA AND CEYLON. They sat in silent watchfulness The sacred cypress-tree about, And, from beneath old wrinkled brows, Their failing eyes looked out. They waited for that falling leaf Of which the wandering Jogees sing: Which lends once more to wintry age The greenness of its spring. JOHN GREENLEAF WHITTIER. [Illustration: RELIGIOUS MEETING OF THE JAINS, THE ONLY BUDDHISTS LEFT IN INDIA.]