This study has a limited object, but it touches upon apregnant theme. Not long ago it was supposed thatIndian texts which resembled Western were either soclearly older than the latter that, if contact couldbe posited, the latter must have learnt from theformer, or the themes must be testimony to a commoninheritance of the sundered portions of anIndo-European “race”. The relative dates of textshave come into question, and the prospect thatIndian authors could have been inspired, at least inpart, by Western authors (obvious in some contexts)is no longer alarming. That Buddhist authors couldhave learned from Judaeo-Christian stories is nolonger surprising, or baffling.A later movement ofBuddhist stories westwards is proved (as is wellknown) by the story of Barlaam andIoasaph attributed to St John Damascene;and I recently stumbled across a piece of Buddhistmythology adapted to a Jewish situation. 4 Sincethis is the immediate cause of the presentdisclosure a very brief summary is needed.