In the later sections of the book I consider the expansion of Indian influence in the north.  A chapter on Central Asia endeavours to summarize our rapidly increasing knowledge of this meeting place of nations.  Its history is closely connected with China and naturally leads me to a somewhat extended review of the fortunes and achievements of Buddhism in that great land, and also to a special study of Tibet and of Lamaism.  I have treated of Nepal elsewhere.  For the history of religion it is not a new province, but simply the extreme north of the Indian region where the last phase of decadent Indian Buddhism which practically disappeared in Bengal still retains a nominal existence.

FOOTNOTES: 

[Footnote 1:  Geog.  Jour.  Aug., 1916, p. 362.]

[Footnote 2:  The presence of Brahmans at the Courts of Burma and Siam is a different matter.  They were expressly invited as more skilled in astrology and state ceremonies than Buddhists.]

[Footnote 3:  Watters, Yuan Chuang, vol.  II. p. 228.]

[Footnote 4:  But not contemporary Annals.  The Liang Annals make the statement about the reign of Hsuan Li 73-49 B.C.]

[Footnote 5:  Especially at Ligor or Dharmaraja.]

[Footnote 6:  The statement of I-Ching that a wicked king destroyed Buddhism in Funan is important.]

[Footnote 7:  See Fleet in J.R.A.S. 1901, p. 548.]

[Footnote 8:  There are settlements of Kalmuks near Astrakhan who have Lama temples and maintain a connection with Tibet.]

[Footnote 9:  The existence of a Hindu kingdom on the East Coast of Borneo in 400 A.D. or earlier is a strong argument in favour of colonization from Java.  Expeditions from any other quarter would naturally have gone to the West Coast.  Also there is some knowledge of Java in India, but apparently none of Camboja or Champa.  This suggests that Java may have been the first halting place and kept up some slight connection with the mother country.]

CHAPTER XXXV

CEYLON

1

The island of Ceylon, perhaps the most beautiful tropical country in the world, lies near the end of the Indian peninsula but a little to the east.  At one point a chain of smaller islands and rocks said to have been built by Rama as a passage for his army of monkeys leads to the mainland.  It is therefore natural that the population should have relations with southern India.  Sinhalese art, religion and language show traces of Tamil influence but it is somewhat surprising to find that in these and in all departments of civilization the influence of northern India is stronger.  The traditions which explain the connection of Ceylon with this distant region seem credible and the Sinhalese, who were often at war with the Tamils, were not disposed to imitate their usages, although juxtaposition and invasion brought about much involuntary resemblance.