Salomon (Asian languages and literature, U. of Washington) presents an update on a project to decipher and interpret a set of 29 fragmentary birch-bark scrolls dating from around the beginning of the Christian era and probably constituting the oldest Buddhist manuscripts ever discovered. Provides a detailed description of the manuscripts, a survey of their contents, and a preliminary evaluation of their significance. B&w illustrations, plus 34 quality color plates. Includes a foreword by the Dalai Lama. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)