大唐西域記 5.39

5.39

憍賞彌國，周六千餘里。國大都城周三十餘里。土稱沃壤，地利豐植，粳稻多，甘蔗茂。氣序暑熱，風俗剛猛。好學典藝，崇樹福善。伽藍十餘所，傾頓荒蕪，僧徒三百餘人，學小乘教。天祠五十餘所，外道寔多。

The heretics who practise asceticism have raised a high column in the middle of the river; when the sun is about to go down they immediately climb up the pillar; then clinging on to the pillar with one hand and one foot, they wonderfully hold themselves out with one foot and one arm; and so they keep themselves stretched out in the air with their eyes fixed on the sun, and their heads turning with it to the right as it sets. When the evening has darkened, then they come down. There are many dozens of ascetics who practise this rite. They hope by these means to escape from birth and death, and many continue to practise this ordeal through several decades of years. Going from this country south-west, we enter into a great forest infested with savage beasts and wild elephants, which congregate in numbers and molest travellers, so that unless in large numbers it is difficult (dangerous) to pass this way. Going 500 li or so, we come to the country Kiau-shang-mi (Kausambi). This country is about 6000 li in circuit, and the capital about 30 li. The land is famous for its productiveness; the increase is very wonderful. Rice and sugar-canes are plentiful. The climate is very hot, the manners of the people hard and rough. They cultivate learning and are very earnest in their religious life and in virtue. There are ten sanghârâmas, all in ruins and deserted; the priests are about 300; they study the Little Vehicle. There are fifty Deva temples, and the number of heretics is enormous.