The grotto of Phong-nha[366] in the extreme north of Champa (province of Quang Binh) must have been a Buddhist shrine. Numerous medallions in clay bearing representations of Buddhas, Bodhisattvas and Dagobas have been found there but dates are wanting. It does not appear that the Hinayanist influence which became predominant in Camboja extended to Champa. That influence came from Siam and before it had time to traverse Camboja, Champa was already in the grip of the Annamites, whose religion with the rest of their civilization came from China rather than India. Chinese culture and writing spread to the Cambojan frontier and after the decay of Champa, Camboja marks the permanent limit within which an Indian alphabet and a form of Buddhism not derived through China have maintained themselves. A large number of the Chams were converted to Mohammedanism but the time and circumstances of the event are unknown. When Friar Gabriel visited the country at the end of the sixteenth century a form of Hinduism seems to have been still prevalent[367]. It would be of interest to know how the change of religion was effected, for history repeats itself and it is likely that the Moslims arrived in Champa by the route followed centuries before by the Hindu invaders. There are still about 130,000 Chams in the south of Annam and Camboja. In the latter country they are all Mohammedans. In Annam some traces of Hinduism remain, such as mantras in broken Sanskrit and hereditary priests called Baśaih. Both religions have become unusually corrupt but are interesting as showing how beliefs which are radically distinct become distorted and combined in Eastern Asia[368]. FOOTNOTES: [Footnote 329: Also spelt Campâ and Tchampa. It seems safer to use Ch for C in names which though of Indian origin are used outside India. The final _a_ though strictly speaking long is usually written without an accent. The following are the principal works which I have consulted about Champa. (a) G. Maspéro, _Le Royaume de Champa_. Published in _T'oung Pao_, 1910-1912. Cited as Maspéro. (b) A. Bergaigne, "Inscriptions Sanskrites de Champa" in _Notices et Extraits des Manuscrits de la Bibliothèque Nationale_, tome XXVII. 1^re partie. 2^e fascicule, 1893, pp. 181-292. Cited as _Corpus_, II. (c) H. Parmentier, _Inventaire descriptif des Monuments Ćams de l'Annam_. 1899. (d) L. Finot, "La Religion des Chams," _B.E.F.E.O_, 1901, and _Notes d'Epigraphie_. "Les Inscriptions de Mi-son," _ib_. 1904. Numerous other papers by this author, Durand, Parmentier and others in the same periodical can be consulted with advantage. (e) _Id., Notes d'Epigraphie Indo-Chinoise_, 1916.] [Footnote 330: _Corpus_, II. p. 11, and Finot, _Notes d'Epig._ pp. 227 ff.] [Footnote 331: See authorities quoted by Maspéro, _T'oung Pao_, 1910, p. 329.] [Footnote 332: Finot in _B.E.F.E.O._ 1904, pp. 918 and 922.] [Footnote 333: _Corpus_, II. _Stêle de Po Nagar_, pp. 252 ff. and _Stêle de Yang Tikuh_, p. 208, etc.]