It is the second half of the seventh century A.D. and a Buddhist monk escorted by three well laden Chinamen are being detained at a customs post on the Kashmiri border. The commanding officer of the post is gently inquiring about the knowledge they gained during their stay. They discuss the best techniques of meditation and Ayurveda, the art of maintaining long life, as well as the Vedic sciences of Jyotish and Yagya. SUMMARY AND ILLUSTRATIONS