beasts, men and gods-第27章

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That　same　evening　I　made　the　acquaintance　of　the　second　Hubilgan　who　called　on　me；　the　real　administrator　of　Zain　Shabi；　which　is　an　independent　dominion　subject　directly　to　the　Living　Buddha。　　This　Hubilgan　was　a　serious　and　ascetic　man　of　thirty…two；　well　educated　and　deeply　learned　in　Mongol　lore。　　He　knew　Russian　and　read　much　in　that　language；　being　interested　chiefly　in　the　life　and　stories　of　other　peoples。　　He　had　a　high　respect　for　the　creative　genius　of　the　American　people　and　said　to　me：

〃When　you　go　to　America；　ask　the　Americans　to　come　to　us　and　lead　us　out　from　the　darkness　that　surrounds　us。　　The　Chinese　and　Russians　will　lead　us　to　destruction　and　only　the　Americans　can　save　us。〃

It　is　a　deep　satisfaction　for　me　to　carry　out　the　request　of　this　influential　Mongol；　Hubilgan；　and　to　urge　his　appeal　to　the　American　people。　　Will　you　not　save　this　honest；　uncorrupted　but　dark；　deceived　and　oppressed　people？　　They　should　not　be　allowed　to　perish；　for　within　their　souls　they　carry　a　great　store　of　strong　moral　forces。　　Make　of　them　a　cultured　people；　believing　in　the　verity　of　humankind；　teach　them　to　use　the　wealth　of　their　land；　and　the　ancient　people　of　Jenghiz　Khan　will　ever　be　your　faithful　friends。

When　I　had　sufficiently　recovered；　the　Hutuktu　invited　me　to　travel　with　him　to　Erdeni　Dzu；　to　which　I　willingly　agreed。　　On　the　following　morning　a　light　and　comfortable　carriage　was　brought　for　me。　　Our　trip　lasted　five　days；　during　which　we　visited　Erdeni　Dzu；　Karakorum；　Hoto…Zaidam　and　Hara…Balgasun。　　All　these　are　the　ruins　of　monasteries　and　cities　erected　by　Jenghiz　Khan　and　his　successors；　Ugadai　Khan　and　Kublai　in　the　thirteenth　century。　　Now　only　the　remnants　of　walls　and　towers　remain；　some　large　tombs　and　whole　books　of　legends　and　stories。

〃Look　at　these　tombs！〃　said　the　Hutuktu　to　me。　　〃Here　the　son　of　Khan　Uyuk　was　buried。　　This　young　prince　was　bribed　by　the　Chinese　to　kill　his　father　but　was　frustrated　in　his　attempt　by　his　own　sister；　who　killed　him　in　her　watchful　care　of　her　old　father；　the　Emperor　and　Khan。　　There　is　the　tomb　of　Tsinilla；　the　beloved　spouse　of　Khan　Mangu。　　She　left　the　capital　of　China　to　go　to　Khara　Bolgasun；　where　she　fell　in　love　with　the　brave　shepherd　Damcharen；　who　overtook　the　wind　on　his　steed　and　who　captured　wild　yaks　and　horses　with　his　bare　hands。　　The　enraged　Khan　ordered　his　unfaithful　wife　strangled　but　afterwards　buried　her　with　imperial　honors　and　frequently　came　to　her　tomb　to　weep　for　his　lost　love。〃

〃And　what　happened　to　Damcharen？〃　I　inquired。

The　Hutuktu　himself　did　not　know；　but　his　old　servant；　the　real　archive　of　legends；　answered：

〃With　the　aid　of　ferocious　Chahar　brigands　he　fought　with　China　for　a　long　time。　　It　is；　however；　unknown　how　he　died。〃

Among　the　ruins　the　monks　pray　at　certain　fixed　times　and　they　also　search　for　sacred　books　and　objects　concealed　or　buried　in　the　debris。　　Recently　they　found　here　two　Chinese　rifles　and　two　gold　rings　and　big　bundles　of　old　manuscripts　tied　with　leather　thongs。

〃Why　did　this　region　attract　the　powerful　emperors　and　Khans　who　ruled　from　the　Pacific　to　the　Adriatic？〃　I　asked　myself。　　Certainly　not　these　mountains　and　valleys　covered　with　larch　and　birch；　not　these　vast　sands；　receding　lakes　and　barren　rocks。　　It　seems　that　I　found　the　answer。

The　great　emperors；　remembering　the　vision　of　Jenghiz　Khan；　sought　here　new　revelations　and　predictions　of　his　miraculous；　majestic　destiny；　surrounded　by　the　divine　honors；　obeisance　and　hate。　Where　could　they　come　into　touch　with　the　gods；　the　good　and　bad　spirits？　　Only　there　where　they　abode。　　All　the　district　of　Zain　with　these　ancient　ruins　is　just　such　a　place。

〃On　this　mountain　only　such　men　can　ascend　as　are　born　of　the　direct　line　of　Jenghiz　Khan；〃　the　Pandita　explained　to　me。　　〃Half　way　up　the　ordinary　man　suffocates　and　dies；　if　he　ventures　to　go　further。　　Recently　Mongolian　hunters　chased　a　pack　of　wolves　up　this　mountain　and；　when　they　came　to　this　part　of　the　mountainside；　they　all　perished。　　There　on　the　slopes　of　the　mountain　lie　the　bones　of　eagles；　big　horned　sheep　and　the　kabarga　antelope；　light　and　swift　as　the　wind。　　There　dwells　the　bad　demon　who　possesses　the　book　of　human　destinies。〃

〃This　is　the　answer；〃　I　thought。

In　the　Western　Caucasus　I　once　saw　a　mountain　between　Soukhoum　Kale　and　Tuopsei　where　wolves；　eagles　and　wild　goats　also　perish；　and　where　men　would　likewise　perish　if　they　did　not　go　on　horseback　through　this　zone。　　There　the　earth　breathes　out　carbonic　acid　gas　through　holes　in　the　mountainside；　killing　all　animal　life。　　The　gas　clings　to　the　earth　in　a　layer　about　half　a　metre　thick。　　Men　on　horseback　pass　above　this　and　the　horses　always　hold　their　heads　way　up　and　snuff　and　whinny　in　fear　until　they　cross　the　dangerous　zone。　　Here　on　the　top　of　this　mountain　where　the　bad　demon　peruses　the　book　of　human　destinies　is　the　same　phenomenon；　and　I　realized　the　sacred　fear　of　the　Mongols　as　well　as　the　stern　attraction　of　this　place　for　the　tall；　almost　gigantic　descendants　of　Jenghiz　Khan。　　Their　heads　tower　above　the　layers　of　poisonous　gas；　so　that　they　can　reach　the　top　of　this　mysterious　and　terrible　mountain。　Also　it　is　possible　to　explain　this　phenomenon　geologically；　because　here　in　this　region　is　the　southern　edge　of　the　coal　deposits　which　are　the　source　of　carbonic　acid　and　swamp　gases。

Not　far　from　the　ruins　in　the　lands　of　Hun　Doptchin　Djamtso　there　is　a　small　lake　which　sometimes　burns　with　a　red　flame；　terrifying　the　Mongols　and　herds　of　horses。　　Naturally　this　lake　is　rich　with　legends。　　Here　a　meteor　formerly　fell　and　sank　far　into　the　earth。　In　the　hole　this　lake　appeared。　　Now；　it　seems；　the　inhabitants　of　the　subterranean　passages；　semi…man　and　semi…demon；　are　laboring　to　extract　this　〃stone　of　the　sky〃　from　its　deep　bed　and　it　is　setting　the　water　on　fire　as　it　rises　and　falls　back　in　spite　of　their　every　effort。　　I　did　not　see　the　lake　myself　but　a　Russian　colonist　told　me　that　it　may　be　petroleum　on　the　lake　that　is　fired　either　from　the　campfires　of　the　shepherds　or　by　the　blazing　rays　of　the　sun。

At　any　rate　all　this　makes　it　very　easy　to　understand　the　attractions　for　the　great　Mongol　potentates。　　The　strongest　impression　was　produced　upon　me　by　Karakorum；　the　place　where　the　cruel　and　wise　Jenghiz　Khan　lived　and　laid　his　gigantic　plans　for　overrunning　all　the　west　with　blood　and　for　covering　the　east　with　a　glory　never　before　seen。　　Two　Karakorums　were　erected　by　Jenghiz　Khan；　one　here　near　Tatsa　Gol　on　the　Caravan　Road　and　the　other　in　Pamir；　where　the　sad　warriors　buried　the　greatest　of　human　conquerors　in　the　mausoleum　built　by　five　hundred　captives　who　were　sacrificed　to　the　spirit　of　the　deceased　when　their　work　was　done。

The　warlike　Pandita　Hutuktu　prayed　on　the　ruins　where　the　shades　of　these　potentates　who　had　ruled　half　the　world　wandered；　and　his　soul　longed　for　the　chimerical　exploits　and　for　the　glory　of　Jenghiz　and　Tamerlane。

On　the　return　journey　we　were　invited　not　far　from　Zain　to　visit　a　very　rich　Mongol　by　the　way。　　He　had　already　prepared　the　yurtas　suitable　for　Princes；　ornamented　with　rich　carpets　and　silk　draperies。　　The　Hutuktu　accepted。　　We　arranged　ourselves　on　the　soft　pillows　in　the　yurtas　as　the　Hutuktu　blessed　the　Mongol；　touching　his　head　with　his　holy　hand；　and　received　the　hatyks。　　The　host　then　had　a　whole　sheep　brought　in　to　us；　boiled　in　a　huge　vessel。　　The　Hutuktu　carved　off　one　hind　leg　and　offered　it　to　me；　while　he　reserved　the　other　for　himself。　　After　this　he　gave　a　large　piece　of　meat　to　the　smallest　son　of　the　host；　which　was　the　sign　that　Pandita　Hutuktu　invited　all　to　begin　the　feast。　　In　a　trice　the　sheep　was　entirely　carved　or　torn　up　and　in　the　hands　of　the　banqueters。　　When　the　Hutuktu　had　thrown　down　by　the　brazier　the　white　bones　without　a　trace　of　meat　left　on　them；　the　host　on　his　knees　withdrew　from　the　fire　a　piece　of　sheepskin　and　ceremoniously　offered　it　on　both　his　hands　to　the　Hutuktu。　　Pandita　began　to　clean　off　the　wool　and　ashes　with　his　knife　and；　cutting　it　into　thin　strips；　fell　to　eating　this　really　tasty　course。　　It　is　the　covering　from　just　above　the　breast　bone　and　is　called　in　Mongolian　tarach　or　〃arrow。〃　　When　a　sheep　is　skinned；　this　small　section　is　cut　out　and　placed　on　the　hot　coals；　where　it　is　broiled　very　slowly。　　Thus　prepared　it　is　considered　the　most　dainty　bit　of　the　whole　animal　and　is　always　presented　to　the　guest　of　honor。　　It　is　not　permissible　to　divide　it；　such　is　the　strength　of　the　custom　and　ceremony。

After　dinner　our　host　proposed　a　hunt　for　bighorns；　a　large　herd　of　which　was　known　to　graze　in　the　mountains　within　less　than　a　mile　from　the　yurtas。　　Horses　with　rich　saddles　and　bridles　were　led　up。　All　the　elaborate　harness　of　the　Hutuktu's　mount　was　ornamented　with　red　and　yellow　bits　of　cloth　as　a　mark　of　his　rank。　　About　fifty　Mongol　riders　galloped　behind　us。　　When　we　left　our　horses；　we　were　placed　behind　the　rocks　roughly　three　hundred　paces　apart　and　the　Mongols　began　the　encircling　movement　around　the　mountain。　After　about　half　an　hour　I　noticed　way　up　among　the　rocks　something　flash　and　soon　made　out　a　fine　bighorn　jumping　with　tremendous　springs　from　rock　to　rock；　and　behind　him　a　herd　of　some　twenty　odd　head　leaping　like　lightning　over　the　ground。　　I　was　vexed　beyond　words　when　it　appeared　that　the　Mongols　had　made　a　mess　of　it　and　pushed　the　herd　out　to　the　side　before　having　completed　their　circle。　　But　happily　I　was　mistaken。　　Behind　a　rock　right　ahead　of　the　herd　a　Mongol　sprang　up　and　waved　his　hands。　　Only　the　big　leader　was　not　frightened　and　kept　right　on　past　the　unarmed　Mongol　while　all　the　rest　of　the　herd　swung　suddenly　round　and　rushed　right　down　upon　me。　　I　opened　fire　and　dropped　two　of　them。　　The　Hutuktu　also　brought　down　one　as　well　as　a　musk　antelope　that　came　unexpectedly　from　behind　a　rock　hard　by。　　The　largest　pair　of　horns　weighed　about　thirty　pounds；　but　they　were　from　a　young　sheep。

The　day　following　our　return　to　Zain　Shabi；　as　I　was　feeling　quite　recovered；　I　decided　to　go　on　to　Van　Kure。　　At　my　leave…taking　from　the　Hutuktu　I　received　a　large　hatyk　from　him　together　with　warmest　expressions　of　thanks　for　the　present　I　had　given　him　on　the　first　day　of　our　acquaintance。

〃It　is　a　fine　medicine！〃　he　exclaimed。　　〃After　our　trip　I　felt　quite　exhausted　but　I　took　your　medicine　and　am　now　quite　rejuvenated。　　Many；　many　thanks！〃

The　poor　chap　had　swallowed　my　osmiridium。　　To　be　sure　it　could　not　harm　him；　but　to　have　helped　him　was　wonderful。　　Perhaps　doctors　in　the　Occident　may　wish　to　try　this　new；　harmless　and　very　cheap　remedyonly　eight　pounds　of　it　in　the　whole　worldand　I　merely　ask　that　they　leave　me　the　patent　rights　for　it　for　Mongolia；　Barga；　Sinkiang；　Koko　Nor　and　all　the　other　lands　of　Central　Asia。

An　old　Russian　colonist　went　as　guide　for　me。　　They　gave　me　a　big　but　light　and　comfortable　cart　hitched　and　drawn　in　a　marvelous　way。　　A　straight　pole　four　metres　long　was　fastened　athwart　the　front　of　the　shafts。　　On　either　side　two　riders　took　this　pole　across　their　saddle　pommels　and　galloped　away　with　me　across　the　plains。　　Behind　us　galloped　four　other　riders　with　four　extra　horses。


CHAPTER　XXX

ARRESTED！


About　twelve　m