M.Csoma, an Hungarian physician, discovered in the Buddhist monasteries of Thibet an immense collection of sacred books, which had been translated from the Sanskrit works previously studied by Mr.Hodgson.In 1829 M.Schmidt found the same works in the Mongolian.

M.Stanislas Julien, an eminent student of the Chinese, has also translated works on Buddhism from that language, which ascend to the year 76 of our era.[99] More recently inscriptions cut upon rocks, columns, and other monuments in Northern India, have been transcribed and translated.

Mr.James Prinsep deciphered these inscriptions, and found them to be in the ancient language of the province of Magadha where Buddhism first appeared.

They contain the decrees of a king, or raja, named Pyadasi, whom Mr.Turnour has shown to be the same as the famous Asoka, before alluded to.

This king appears to have come to the throne somewhere between B.C.319 and B.C.260.