CHANDRAGUPTA VIKRAMADITYA'S GOVERNMENT 269 three thousand residents. Buddhism was growing in favour in this, part of the country. The region to the south of Mathura, that is to say, Malwa, specially excited the admiration of the trav- eller, who was delighted alike with the natural advan- tages of the country, the disposition of the people, and the moderation of the govern- ment. The climate seemed to him very agreeable, being temperate and free from the discomforts of frost and snow with which he was fa- miliar at home and in the course of his journey. The large population lived hap- pily under a sensible govern- ment which did not worry. With a glance at Chinese in- stitutions, Fa-hien congratu- lates the Indians that " they have not to register their households, or attend to any magistrates and rules. (After Cunningham.) They were not troubled with passport regulations, or, as the pilgrim bluntly puts it: " Those who want to go away, may go; those who want to stop, may stop." The administration of the criminal law seemed to him mild in comparison with the Chinese system. Most crimes were punished only by fines, varying in amount according to the gravity of the offence, and capital BUDDHIST 8CCLPTTRE ON THE BHARA- HAT 8TDPA, SHOWING THE ERECTION OF THE JETAVANA MONASTERY.
