beasts, men and gods-第26章

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ointed　out　a　mountain　peak　brightly　lighted　by　the　full　moon　and　recounted　to　us　the　story　of　one　of　the　sons　of　Jenghiz；　afterwards　Emperor　of　China；　Indo…China　and　Mongolia；　who　had　been　attracted　by　the　beautiful　scenery　and　grazing　lands　of　Djirgalantu　and　had　founded　here　a　town。　　This　was　soon　left　without　inhabitants；　for　the　Mongol　is　a　nomad　who　cannot　live　in　artificial　cities。　　The　plain　is　his　house　and　the　world　his　town。　　For　a　time　this　town　witnessed　battles　between　the　Chinese　and　the　troops　of　Jenghiz　Khan　but　afterwards　it　was　forgotten。　　At　present　there　remains　only　a　half…ruined　tower；　from　which　in　the　early　days　the　heavy　rocks　were　hurled　down　upon　the　heads　of　the　enemy；　and　the　dilapidated　gate　of　Kublai；　the　grandson　of　Jenghiz　Khan。　　Against　the　greenish　sky　drenched　with　the　rays　of　the　moon　stood　out　the　jagged　line　of　the　mountains　and　the　black　silhouette　of　the　tower　with　its　loopholes；　through　which　the　alternate　scudding　clouds　and　light　flashed。

When　our　party　left　Uliassutai；　we　traveled　on　leisurely；　making　thirty…five　to　fifty　miles　a　day　until　we　were　within　sixty　miles　of　Zain　Shabi；　where　I　took　leave　of　the　others　to　go　south　to　this　place　in　order　to　keep　my　engagement　with　Colonel　Kazagrandi。　　The　sun　had　just　risen　as　my　single　Mongol　guide　and　I　without　any　pack　animals　began　to　ascend　the　low；　timbered　ridges；　from　the　top　of　which　I　caught　the　last　glimpses　of　my　companions　disappearing　down　the　valley。　　I　had　no　idea　then　of　the　many　and　almost　fatal　dangers　which　I　should　have　to　pass　through　during　this　trip　by　myself；　which　was　destined　to　prove　much　longer　than　I　had　anticipated。　　As　we　were　crossing　a　small　river　with　sandy　shores；　my　Mongol　guide　told　me　how　the　Mongolians　came　there　during　the　summer　to　wash　gold；　in　spite　of　the　prohibitions　of　the　Lamas。　The　manner　of　working　the　placer　was　very　primitive　but　the　results　testified　clearly　to　the　richness　of　these　sands。　　The　Mongol　lies　flat　on　the　ground；　brushes　the　sand　aside　with　a　feather　and　keeps　blowing　into　the　little　excavation　so　formed。　　From　time　to　time　he　wets　his　finger　and　picks　up　on　it　a　small　bit　of　grain　gold　or　a　diminutive　nugget　and　drops　these　into　a　little　bag　hanging　under　his　chin。　　In　such　manner　this　primitive　dredge　wins　about　a　quarter　of　an　ounce　or　five　dollars'　worth　of　the　yellow　metal　per　day。

I　determined　to　make　the　whole　distance　to　Zain　Shabi　in　a　single　day。　　At　the　ourtons　I　hurried　them　through　the　catching　and　saddling　of　the　horses　as　fast　as　I　could。　　At　one　of　these　stations　about　twenty…five　miles　from　the　monastery　the　Mongols　gave　me　a　wild　horse；　a　big；　strong　white　stallion。　　Just　as　I　was　about　to　mount　him　and　had　already　touched　my　foot　to　the　stirrup；　he　jumped　and　kicked　me　right　on　the　leg　which　had　been　wounded　in　the　Ma…chu　fight。　　The　leg　soon　began　to　swell　and　ache。　　At　sunset　I　made　out　the　first　Russian　and　Chinese　buildings　and　later　the　monastery　at　Zain。　　We　dropped　into　the　valley　of　a　small　stream　which　flowed　along　a　mountain　on　whose　peak　were　set　white　rocks　forming　the　words　of　a　Tibetan　prayer。　　At　the　bottom　of　this　mountain　was　a　cemetery　for　the　Lamas；　that　is；　piles　of　bones　and　a　pack　of　dogs。　　At　last　the　monastery　lay　right　below　us；　a　common　square　surrounded　with　wooden　fences。　　In　the　middle　rose　a　large　temple　quite　different　from　all　those　of　western　Mongolia；　not　in　the　Chinese　but　in　the　Tibetan　style　of　architecture；　a　white　building　with　perpendicular　walls　and　regular　rows　of　windows　in　black　frames；　with　a　roof　of　black　tiles　and　with　a　most　unusual　damp　course　laid　between　the　stone　walls　and　the　roof　timbers　and　made　of　bundles　of　twigs　from　a　Tibetan　tree　which　never　rots。　Another　small　quadrangle　lay　a　little　to　the　east　and　contained　Russian　buildings　connected　with　the　monastery　by　telephone。

〃That　is　the　house　of　the　Living　God　of　Zain；〃　the　Mongol　explained；　pointing　to　this　smaller　quadrangle。　　〃He　likes　Russian　customs　and　manners。〃

To　the　north　on　a　conical…shaped　hill　rose　a　tower　that　recalled　the　Babylonian　zikkurat。　　It　was　the　temple　where　the　ancient　books　and　manuscripts　were　kept　and　the　broken　ornaments　and　objects　used　in　the　religious　ceremonies　together　with　the　robes　of　deceased　Hutuktus　preserved。　　A　sheer　cliff　rose　behind　this　museum；　which　it　was　impossible　for　one　to　climb。　　On　the　face　of　this　were　carved　images　of　the　Lamaite　gods；　scattered　about　without　any　special　order。　　They　were　from　one　to　two　and　a　half　metres　high。　At　night　the　monks　lighted　lamps　before　them；　so　that　one　could　see　these　images　of　the　gods　and　goddesses　from　far　away。

We　entered　the　trading　settlement。　　The　streets　were　deserted　and　from　the　windows　only　women　and　children　looked　out。　　I　stopped　with　a　Russian　firm　whose　other　branches　I　had　known　throughout　the　country。　　Much　to　my　astonishment　they　welcomed　me　as　an　acquaintance。　　It　appeared　that　the　Hutuktu　of　Narabanchi　had　sent　word　to　all　the　monasteries　that；　whenever　I　should　come；　they　must　all　render　me　aid；　inasmuch　as　I　had　saved　the　Narabanchi　Monastery　and；　by　the　clear　signs　of　the　divinations；　I　was　an　incarnate　Buddha　beloved　of　the　Gods。　　This　letter　of　this　kindly　disposed　Hutuktu　helped　me　very　muchperhaps　I　should　even　say　more；　that　it　saved　me　from　death。　　The　hospitality　of　my　hosts　proved　of　great　and　much　needed　assistance　to　me　because　my　injured　leg　had　swelled　and　was　aching　severely。　　When　I　took　off　my　boot；　I　found　my　foot　all　covered　with　blood　and　my　old　wound　re…opened　by　the　blow。　　A　felcher　was　called　to　assist　me　with　treatment　and　bandaging；　so　that　I　was　able　to　walk　again　three　days　later。

I　did　not　find　Colonel　Kazagrandi　at　Zain　Shabi。　　After　destroying　the　Chinese　gamins　who　had　killed　the　local　Commandant；　he　had　returned　via　Van　Kure。　　The　new　Commandment　handed　me　the　letter　of　Kazagrandi；　who　very　cordially　asked　me　to　visit　him　after　I　had　rested　in　Zain。　　A　Mongolian　document　was　enclosed　in　the　letter　giving　me　the　right　to　receive　horses　and　carts　from　herd　to　herd　by　means　of　the　〃urga；〃　which　I　shall　later　describe　and　which　opened　for　me　an　entirely　new　vista　of　Mongolian　life　and　country　that　I　should　otherwise　never　have　seen。　　The　making　of　this　journey　of　over　two　hundred　miles　was　a　very　disagreeable　task　for　me；　but　evidently　Kazagrandi；　whom　I　had　never　met；　had　serious　reasons　for　wishing　this　meeting。

At　one　o'clock　the　day　after　my　arrival　I　was　visited　by　the　local　〃Very　God；〃　Gheghen　Pandita　Hutuktu。　　A　more　strange　and　extraordinary　appearance　of　a　god　I　could　not　imagine。　　He　was　a　short；　thin　young　man　of　twenty　or　twenty…two　years　with　quick；　nervous　movements　and　with　an　expressive　face　lighted　and　dominated；　like　the　countenances　of　all　the　Mongol　gods；　by　large；　frightened　eyes。　　He　was　dressed　in　a　blue　silk　Russian　uniform　with　yellow　epaulets　with　the　sacred　sign　of　Pandita　Hutuktu；　in　blue　silk　trousers　and　high　boots；　all　surmounted　by　a　white　Astrakhan　cap　with　a　yellow　pointed　top。　　At　his　girdle　a　revolver　and　sword　were　slung。　　I　did　not　know　quite　what　to　think　of　this　disguised　god。　　He　took　a　cup　of　tea　from　the　host　and　began　to　talk　with　a　mixture　of　Mongolian　and　Russian。

〃Not　far　from　my　Kure　is　located　the　ancient　monastery　of　Erdeni　Dzu；　erected　on　the　site　of　the　ruins　of　Karakorum；　the　ancient　capital　of　Jenghiz　Khan　and　afterwards　frequently　visited　by　Kublai　Kahn　for　sanctuary　and　rest　after　his　labors　as　Emperor　of　China；　India；　Persia；　Afghanistan；　Mongolia　and　half　of　Europe。　　Now　only　ruins　and　tombs　remain　to　mark　this　former　'Garden　of　Beatific　Days。'　　The　pious　monks　of　Baroun　Kure　found　in　the　underground　chambers　of　the　ruins　manuscripts　that　were　much　older　than　Erdeni　Dzu　itself。　　In　these　my　Maramba　Meetchik…Atak　found　the　prediction　that　the　Hutuktu　of　Zain　who　should　carry　the　title　of　'Pandita；'　should　be　but　twenty…one　years　of　age；　be　born　in　the　heart　of　the　lands　of　Jenghiz　Khan　and　have　on　his　chest　the　natural　sign　of　the　swastikasuch　Hutuktu　would　be　honored　by　the　people　in　the　days　of　a　great　war　and　trouble；　would　begin　the　fight　with　the　servants　of　Red　evil　and　would　conquer　them　and　bring　order　into　the　universe；　celebrating　this　happy　day　in　the　city　with　white　temples　and　with　the　songs　of　ten　thousand　bells。　　It　is　I；　Pandita　Hutuktu！　　The　signs　and　symbols　have　met　in　me。　　I　shall　destroy　the　Bolsheviki；　the　bad　'servants　of　the　Red　evil；'　and　in　Moscow　I　shall　rest　from　my　glorious　and　great　work。　　Therefore　I　have　asked　Colonel　Kazagrandi　to　enlist　me　in　the　troops　of　Baron　Ungern　and　give　me　the　chance　to　fight。　　The　Lamas　seek　to　prevent　me　from　going　but　who　is　the　god　here？〃

He　very　sternly　stamped　his　foot；　while　the　Lamas　and　guard　who　accompanied　him　reverently　bowed　their　heads。

As　he　left　he　presented　me　with　a　hatyk　and；　rummaging　through　my　saddle　bags；　I　found　a　single　article　that　might　be　considered　worthy　as　a　gift　for　a　Hutuktu；　a　small　bottle　of　osmiridium；　this　rare；　natural　concomitant　of　platinum。

〃This　is　the　most　stable　and　hardest　of　metals；〃　I　said。　　〃Let　it　be　the　sign　of　your　glory　and　strength；　Hutuktu！〃

The　Pandita　thanked　me　and　invited　me　to　visit　him。　　When　I　had　recovered　a　little；　I　went　to　his　house；　which　was　arranged　in　European　style：　electric　lights；　push　bells　and　telephone。　　He　feasted　me　with　wine　and　sweets　and　introduced　me　to　two　very　interesting　personages；　one　an　old　Tibetan　surgeon　with　a　face　deeply　pitted　by　smallpox；　a　heavy　thick　nose　and　crossed　eyes。　　He　was　a　peculiar　surgeon；　consecrated　in　Tibet。　　His　duties　consisted　in　treating　and　curing　Hutuktus　when　they　were　ill　and　。　。　。　in　poisoning　them　when　they　became　too　independent　or　extravagant　or　when　their　policies　were　not　in　accord　with　the　wishes　of　the　Council　of　Lamas　of　the　Living　Buddha　or　the　Dalai　Lama。　　By　now　Pandita　Hutuktu　probably　rests　in　eternal　peace　on　the　top　of　some　sacred　mountain；　sent　thither　by　the　solicitude　of　his　extraordinary　court　physician。　　The　martial　spirit　of　Pandita　Hutuktu　was　very　unwelcome　to　the　Council　of　Lamas；　who　protested　against　the　adventuresomeness　of　this　〃Living　God。〃

Pandita　liked　wine　and　cards。　　One　day　when　he　was　in　the　company　of　Russians　and　dressed　in　a　European　suit；　some　Lamas　came　running　to　announce　that　divine　service　had　begun　and　that　the　〃Living　God〃　must　take　his　place　on　the　altar　to　be　prayed　to　but　he　had　gone　out　from　his　abode　and　was　playing　cards！　　Without　any　confusion　Pandita　drew　his　red　mantle　of　the　Hutuktu　over　his　European　coat　and　long　grey　trousers　and　allowed　the　shocked　Lamas　to　carry　their　〃God〃　away　in　his　palanquin。

Besides　the　surgeon…poisoner　I　met　at　the　Hutuktu's　a　lad　of　thirteen　years；　whose　youthfulness；　red　robe　and　cropped　hair　led　me　to　suppose　he　was　a　Bandi　or　student　servant　in　the　home　of　the　Hutuktu；　but　it　turned　out　otherwise。　　This　boy　was　the　first　Hubilgan；　also　an　incarnate　Buddha；　an　artful　teller　of　fortunes　and　the　successor　of　Pandita　Hutuktu。　　He　was　drunk　all　the　time　and　a　great　card　player；　always　making　side…splitting　jokes　that　greatly　offended　the　Lamas。

That　same　evening　I　made　the　acquaintance　of　the　second　Hubilgan　who　called　on　me；　the　real　administrator　of　Zain　Shabi；　which　is　an　independen