Page:History of India Vol 2.djvu/203

ANIMAL HOSPITALS 165 rats, mice, bugs, and other noxious vermin, for whom suitable food was provided." The active official propaganda carried on by vari- ous agencies throughout the empire and protected states did not satisfy the zeal of Asoka, who burned with a desire to diffuse the blessings of both his ethical system ANIMAL HOSPITAL. and distinctive Buddhist teaching in all the independent kingdoms with which he was in touch. For this pur- pose he organized an efficient system of foreign mis- sions under his personal supervision, the results of which are visible to this day. His conception of the idea of foreign missions on a grand scale was absolutely original, and produced a well-considered and successful scheme, carried out with method and thoroughness in