beasts, men and gods-第1章

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Beasts；　Men　and　Gods

by　Ferdinand　Ossendowski




EXPLANATORY　NOTE


When　one　of　the　leading　publicists　in　America；　Dr。　Albert　Shaw　of　the　Review　of　Reviews；　after　reading　the　manuscript　of　Part　I　of　this　volume；　characterized　the　author　as　〃The　Robinson　Crusoe　of　the　Twentieth　Century；〃　he　touched　the　feature　of　the　narrative　which　is　at　once　most　attractive　and　most　dangerous；　for　the　succession　of　trying　and　thrilling　experiences　recorded　seems　in　places　too　highly　colored　to　be　real　or；　sometimes；　even　possible　in　this　day　and　generation。　　I　desire；　therefore；　to　assure　the　reader　at　the　outset　that　Dr。　Ossendowski　is　a　man　of　long　and　diverse　experience　as　a　scientist　and　writer　with　a　training　for　careful　observation　which　should　put　the　stamp　of　accuracy　and　reliability　on　his　chronicle。　　Only　the　extraordinary　events　of　these　extraordinary　times　could　have　thrown　one　with　so　many　talents　back　into　the　surroundings　of　the　〃Cave　Man〃　and　thus　given　to　us　this　unusual　account　of　personal　adventure；　of　great　human　mysteries　and　of　the　political　and　religious　motives　which　are　energizing　the　〃Heart　of　Asia。〃

My　share　in　the　work　has　been　to　induce　Dr。　Ossendowski　to　write　his　story　at　this　time　and　to　assist　him　in　rendering　his　experiences　into　English。

LEWIS　STANTON　PALEN。




CONTENTS


PART　I。　　DRAWING　LOTS　WITH　DEATH


CHAPTER

I。　　INTO　THE　FORESTS

II。　　THE　SECRET　OF　MY　FELLOW　TRAVELER

III。　　THE　STRUGGLE　FOR　LIFE

IV。　　A　FISHERMAN

V。　　A　DANGEROUS　NEIGHBOR

VI。　　A　RIVER　IN　TRAVAIL

VII。　　THROUGH　SOVIET　SIBERIA

VIII。　　THREE　DAYS　ON　THE　EDGE　OF　A　PRECIPICE

IX。　　TO　THE　SAYANS　AND　SAFETY

X。　　THE　BATTLE　OF　THE　SEYBI

XI。　　THE　BARRIER　OF　RED　PARTISANS

XII。　　IN　THE　COUNTRY　OF　ETERNAL　PEACE

XIII。　　MYSTERIES；　MIRACLES　AND　A　NEW　FIGHT

XIV。　　THE　RIVER　OF　THE　DEVIL

XV。　　THE　MARCH　OF　GHOSTS

XVI。　　IN　MYSTERIOUS　TIBET



PART　II。　　THE　LAND　OF　DEMONS


XVII。　　MYSTERIOUS　MONGOLIA

XVIII。　　THE　MYSTERIOUS　LAMA　AVENGER

XIX。　　WILD　CHAHARS

XX。　　THE　DEMON　OF　JAGISSTAI

XXI。　　THE　NEST　OF　DEATH

XXII。　　AMONG　THE　MURDERERS

XXIII。　　ON　A　VOLCANO

XXIV。　　A　BLOODY　CHASTISEMENT

XXV。　　HARASSING　DAYS

XXVI。　　THE　BAND　OF　WHITE　HUNGHUTZES

XXVII。　　MYSTERY　IN　A　SMALL　TEMPLE

XXVIII。　　THE　BREATH　OF　DEATH



PART　III。　　THE　STRAINING　HEART　OF　ASIA


XXIX。　　ON　THE　ROAD　OF　GREAT　CONQUERORS

XXX。　　ARRESTED！

XXXI。　　TRAVELING　BY　〃URGA〃

XXXII。　　AN　OLD　FORTUNE　TELLER

XXXIII。　　〃DEATH　FROM　THE　WHITE　MAN　WILL　STAND　BEHIND　YOU〃

XXXIV。　　THE　HORROR　OF　WAR！

XXXV。　　IN　THE　CITY　OF　LIVING　GODS；　30；000　BUDDHAS　AND　60；000　MONKS

XXXVI。　　A　SON　OF　CRUSADERS　AND　PRIVATEERS

XXXVII。　　THE　CAMP　OF　MARTYRS

XXXVIII。　　BEFORE　THE　FACE　OF　BUDDHA

XXXIX。　　〃THE　MAN　WITH　A　HEAD　LIKE　A　SADDLE〃



PART　IV。　　THE　LIVING　BUDDHA


XL。　　IN　THE　BLISSFUL　GARDEN　OF　A　THOUSAND　JOYS

XLI。　　THE　DUST　OF　CENTURIES

XLII。　　THE　BOOKS　OF　MIRACLES

XLIII。　　THE　BIRTH　OF　THE　LIVING　BUDDHA

XLIV。　　A　PAGE　IN　THE　HISTORY　OF　THE　PRESENT　LIVING　BUDDHA

XLV。　　THE　VISION　OF　THE　LIVING　BUDDHA　OF　MAY　17；　1921



PART　V。　　MYSTERY　OF　MYSTERIESTHE　KING　OF　THE　WORLD


XLVI。　　THE　SUBTERRANEAN　KINGDOM

XLVII。　　THE　KING　OF　THE　WORLD　BEFORE　THE　FACE　OF　GOD

XLVIII。　　REALITY　OR　RELIGIOUS　FANTASY？

XLIX。　　THE　PROPHECY　OF　THE　KING　OF　THE　WORLD　IN　1890




There　are　times；　men　and　events　about　which　History　alone　can　record　the　final　judgments；　contemporaries　and　individual　observers　must　only　write　what　they　have　seen　and　heard。　　The　very　truth　demands　it。

TITUS　LIVIUS。




BEASTS；　MEN　AND　GODS



Part　I

DRAWING　LOTS　WITH　DEATH


CHAPTER　I

INTO　THE　FORESTS


In　the　beginning　of　the　year　1920　I　happened　to　be　living　in　the　Siberian　town　of　Krasnoyarsk；　situated　on　the　shores　of　the　River　Yenisei；　that　noble　stream　which　is　cradled　in　the　sun…bathed　mountains　of　Mongolia　to　pour　its　warming　life　into　the　Arctic　Ocean　and　to　whose　mouth　Nansen　has　twice　come　to　open　the　shortest　road　for　commerce　from　Europe　to　the　heart　of　Asia。　　There　in　the　depths　of　the　still　Siberian　winter　I　was　suddenly　caught　up　in　the　whirling　storm　of　mad　revolution　raging　all　over　Russia；　sowing　in　this　peaceful　and　rich　land　vengeance；　hate；　bloodshed　and　crimes　that　go　unpunished　by　the　law。　　No　one　could　tell　the　hour　of　his　fate。　　The　people　lived　from　day　to　day　and　left　their　homes　not　knowing　whether　they　should　return　to　them　or　whether　they　should　be　dragged　from　the　streets　and　thrown　into　the　dungeons　of　that　travesty　of　courts；　the　Revolutionary　Committee；　more　terrible　and　more　bloody　than　those　of　the　Mediaeval　Inquisition。　　We　who　were　strangers　in　this　distraught　land　were　not　saved　from　its　persecutions　and　I　personally　lived　through　them。

One　morning；　when　I　had　gone　out　to　see　a　friend；　I　suddenly　received　the　news　that　twenty　Red　soldiers　had　surrounded　my　house　to　arrest　me　and　that　I　must　escape。　　I　quickly　put　on　one　of　my　friend's　old　hunting　suits；　took　some　money　and　hurried　away　on　foot　along　the　back　ways　of　the　town　till　I　struck　the　open　road；　where　I　engaged　a　peasant；　who　in　four　hours　had　driven　me　twenty　miles　from　the　town　and　set　me　down　in　the　midst　of　a　deeply　forested　region。　　On　the　way　I　bought　a　rifle；　three　hundred　cartridges；　an　ax；　a　knife；　a　sheepskin　overcoat；　tea；　salt；　dry　bread　and　a　kettle。　　I　penetrated　into　the　heart　of　the　wood　to　an　abandoned　half…burned　hut。　　From　this　day　I　became　a　genuine　trapper　but　I　never　dreamed　that　I　should　follow　this　role　as　long　as　I　did。　　The　next　morning　I　went　hunting　and　had　the　good　fortune　to　kill　two　heathcock。　　I　found　deer　tracks　in　plenty　and　felt　sure　that　I　should　not　want　for　food。　　However；　my　sojourn　in　this　place　was　not　for　long。　　Five　days　later　when　I　returned　from　hunting　I　noticed　smoke　curling　up　out　of　the　chimney　of　my　hut。　　I　stealthily　crept　along　closer　to　the　cabin　and　discovered　two　saddled　horses　with　soldiers'　rifles　slung　to　the　saddles。　　Two　disarmed　men　were　not　dangerous　for　me　with　a　weapon；　so　I　quickly　rushed　across　the　open　and　entered　the　hut。　　From　the　bench　two　soldiers　started　up　in　fright。　　They　were　Bolsheviki。　　On　their　big　Astrakhan　caps　I　made　out　the　red　stars　of　Bolshevism　and　on　their　blouses　the　dirty　red　bands。　　We　greeted　each　other　and　sat　down。　The　soldiers　had　already　prepared　tea　and　so　we　drank　this　ever　welcome　hot　beverage　and　chatted；　suspiciously　eyeing　one　another　the　while。　　To　disarm　this　suspicion　on　their　part；　I　told　them　that　I　was　a　hunter　from　a　distant　place　and　was　living　there　because　I　found　it　good　country　for　sables。　　They　announced　to　me　that　they　were　soldiers　of　a　detachment　sent　from　a　town　into　the　woods　to　pursue　all　suspicious　people。

〃Do　you　understand；　'Comrade；'〃　said　one　of　them　to　me；　〃we　are　looking　for　counter…revolutionists　to　shoot　them？〃

I　knew　it　without　his　explanations。　　All　my　forces　were　directed　to　assuring　them　by　my　conduct　that　I　was　a　simple　peasant　hunter　and　that　I　had　nothing　in　common　with　the　counter…revolutionists。　　I　was　thinking　also　all　the　time　of　where　I　should　go　after　the　departure　of　my　unwelcome　guests。　　It　grew　dark。　　In　the　darkness　their　faces　were　even　less　attractive。　　They　took　out　bottles　of　vodka　and　drank　and　the　alcohol　began　to　act　very　noticeably。　　They　talked　loudly　and　constantly　interrupted　each　other；　boasting　how　many　bourgeoisie　they　had　killed　in　Krasnoyarsk　and　how　many　Cossacks　they　had　slid　under　the　ice　in　the　river。　　Afterwards　they　began　to　quarrel　but　soon　they　were　tired　and　prepared　to　sleep。　All　of　a　sudden　and　without　any　warning　the　door　of　the　hut　swung　wide　open　and　the　steam　of　the　heated　room　rolled　out　in　a　great　cloud；　out　of　which　seemed　to　rise　like　a　genie；　as　the　steam　settled；　the　figure　of　a　tall；　gaunt　peasant　impressively　crowned　with　the　high　Astrakhan　cap　and　wrapped　in　the　great　sheepskin　overcoat　that　added　to　the　massiveness　of　his　figure。　　He　stood　with　his　rifle　ready　to　fire。　　Under　his　girdle　lay　the　sharp　ax　without　which　the　Siberian　peasant　cannot　exist。　　Eyes；　quick　and　glimmering　like　those　of　a　wild　beast；　fixed　themselves　alternately　on　each　of　us。　　In　a　moment　he　took　off　his　cap；　made　the　sign　of　the　cross　on　his　breast　and　asked　of　us：　〃Who　is　the　master　here？〃

I　answered　him。

〃May　I　stop　the　night？〃

〃Yes；〃　I　replied；　〃places　enough　for　all。　　Take　a　cup　of　tea。　　It　is　still　hot。〃

The　stranger；　running　his　eyes　constantly　over　all　of　us　and　over　everything　about　the　room；　began　to　take　off　his　skin　coat　after　putting　his　rifle　in　the　corner。　　He　was　dressed　in　an　old　leather　blouse　with　trousers　of　the　same　material　tucked　in　high　felt　boots。　　His　face　was　quite　young；　fine　and　tinged　with　something　akin　to　mockery。　　His　white；　sharp　teeth　glimmered　as　his　eyes　penetrated　everything　they　rested　upon。　　I　noticed　the　locks　of　grey　in　his　shaggy　head。　　Lines　of　bitterness　circled　his　mouth。　They　showed　his　life　had　been　very　stormy　and　full　of　danger。　　He　took　a　seat　beside　his　rifle　and　laid　his　ax　on　the　floor　below。

〃What？　　Is　it　your　wife？〃　asked　one　of　the　drunken　soldiers；　pointing　to　the　ax。

The　tall　peasant　looked　calmly　at　him　from　the　quiet　eyes　under　their　heavy　brows　and　as　calmly　answered：

〃One　meets　a　different　folk　these　days　and　with　an　ax　it　is　much　safer。〃

He　began　to　drink　tea　very　greedily；　while　his　eyes　looked　at　me　many　times　with　sharp　inquiry　in　them　and　ran　often　round　the　whole　cabin　in　search　of　the　answer　to　his　doubts。　　Very　slowly　and　with　a　guarded　drawl　he　answered　all　the　questions　of　the　soldiers　between　gulps　of　the　hot　tea；　then　he　turned　his　glass　upside　down　as　evidence　of　having　finished；　placed　on　the　top　of　it　the　small　lump　of　sugar　left　and　remarked　to　the　soldiers：

〃I　am　going　out　to　look　after　my　horse　and　will　unsaddle　your　horses　for　you　also。〃

〃All　right；〃　exclaimed　the　half…sleeping　young　soldier；　〃bring　in　our　rifles　as　well。〃

The　soldiers　were　lying　on　the　benches　and　thus　left　for　us　only　the　floor。　　The　stranger　soon　came　back；　brought　the　rifles　and　set　them　in　the　dark　corner。　　He　dropped　the　saddle　pads　on　the　floor；　sat　down　on　them　and　began　to　take　off　his　boots。　　The　soldiers　and　my　guest　soon　were　snoring　but　I　did　not　sleep　for　thinking　of　what　next　to　do。　　Finally　as　dawn　was　breaking；　I　dozed　off　only　to　awake　in　the　broad　daylight　and　find　my　stranger　gone。　　I　went　outside　the　hut　and　discovered　him　saddling　a　fine　bay　stallion。

〃Are　you　going　away？〃　I　asked。

〃Yes；　but　I　want　to　go　together　with　these　　comrades；'〃　he　whispered；　〃and　afterwards　I　shall　come　back。〃

I　did　not　ask　him　anything　further　and　told　him　only　that　I　would　wait　for　him。　　He　took　off　the　bags　that　had　been　hanging　on　his　saddle；　put　them　away　out　of　sight　in　the　burned　corner　of　the　cabin；　looked　over　the　stirrups　and　bridle　and；　as　he　finished　saddling；　smiled　and　said：

〃I　am　ready。　　I'm　going　to　awake　my　'comrades。'〃　　Half　an　hour　after　the　morning　drink　of　tea；　my　three　guests　took　their　leave。　I　remained　out　of　doors　and　was　engaged　in　splitting　wood　for　my　stove。　　Suddenly；　from　a　distance；　rifle　shots　rang　through　the　woods；　first　one；　then　a　second。　　Afterwards　all　was　still。　　From　the　place　near　the　shots　a　frightened　covey