beasts, men and gods-第31章

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Fifteen　miles　further　on　we　crossed　a　battlefield；　where　the　third　great　battle　for　the　independence　of　Mongolia　had　been　fought。　Here　the　troops　of　Baron　Ungern　clashed　with　six　thousand　Chinese　moving　down　from　Kiakhta　to　the　aid　of　Urga。　　The　Chinese　were　completely　defeated　and　four　thousand　prisoners　taken。　　However；　these　surrendered　Chinese　tried　to　escape　during　the　night。　　Baron　Ungern　sent　the　Transbaikal　Cossacks　and　Tibetans　in　pursuit　of　them　and　it　was　their　work　which　we　saw　on　this　field　of　death。　There　were　still　about　fifteen　hundred　unburied　and　as　many　more　interred；　according　to　the　statements　of　our　Cossacks；　who　had　participated　in　this　battle。　　The　killed　showed　terrible　sword　wounds；　everywhere　equipment　and　other　debris　were　scattered　about。　The　Mongols　with　their　herds　moved　away　from　the　neighborhood　and　their　place　was　taken　by　the　wolves　which　hid　behind　every　stone　and　in　every　ditch　as　we　passed。　　Packs　of　dogs　that　had　become　wild　fought　with　the　wolves　over　the　prey。

At　last　we　left　this　place　of　carnage　to　the　cursed　god　of　war。　Soon　we　approached　a　shallow；　rapid　stream；　where　the　Mongols　slipped　from　their　camels；　took　off　their　caps　and　began　drinking。　It　was　a　sacred　stream　which　passed　beside　the　abode　of　the　Living　Buddha。　　From　this　winding　valley　we　suddenly　turned　into　another　where　a　great　mountain　ridge　covered　with　dark；　dense　forest　loomed　up　before　us。

〃Holy　Bogdo…Ol！〃　exclaimed　the　Lama。　　〃The　abode　of　the　Gods　which　guard　our　Living　Buddha！〃

Bogdo…Ol　is　the　huge　knot　which　ties　together　here　three　mountain　chains：　Gegyl　from　the　southwest；　Gangyn　from　the　south；　and　Huntu　from　the　north。　　This　mountain　covered　with　virgin　forest　is　the　property　of　the　Living　Buddha。　　The　forests　are　full　of　nearly　all　the　varieties　of　animals　found　in　Mongolia；　but　hunting　is　not　allowed。　　Any　Mongol　violating　this　law　is　condemned　to　death；　while　foreigners　are　deported。　　Crossing　the　Bogdo…Ol　is　forbidden　under　penalty　of　death。　　This　command　was　transgressed　by　only　one　man；　Baron　Ungern；　who　crossed　the　mountain　with　fifty　Cossacks；　penetrated　to　the　palace　of　the　Living　Buddha；　where　the　Pontiff　of　Urga　was　being　held　under　arrest　by　the　Chinese；　and　stole　him。


CHAPTER　XXXV

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


At　last　before　our　eyes　the　abode　of　the　Living　Buddha！　　At　the　foot　of　Bogdo…Ol　behind　white　walls　rose　a　white　Tibetan　building　covered　with　greenish…blue　tiles　that　glittered　under　the　sunshine。　It　was　richly　set　among　groves　of　trees　dotted　here　and　there　with　the　fantastic　roofs　of　shrines　and　small　palaces；　while　further　from　the　mountain　it　was　connected　by　a　long　wooden　bridge　across　the　Tola　with　the　city　of　monks；　sacred　and　revered　throughout　all　the　East　as　Ta　Kure　or　Urga。　　Here　besides　the　Living　Buddha　live　whole　throngs　of　secondary　miracle　workers；　prophets；　sorcerers　and　wonderful　doctors。　　All　these　people　have　divine　origin　and　are　honored　as　living　gods。　　At　the　left　on　the　high　plateau　stands　an　old　monastery　with　a　huge；　dark　red　tower；　which　is　known　as　the　〃Temple　Lamas　City；〃　containing　a　gigantic　bronze　gilded　statue　of　Buddha　sitting　on　the　golden　flower　of　the　lotus；　tens　of　smaller　temples；　shrines；　obo；　open　altars；　towers　for　astrology　and　the　grey　city　of　the　Lamas　consisting　of　single…storied　houses　and　yurtas；　where　about　60；000　monks　of　all　ages　and　ranks　dwell；　schools；　sacred　archives　and　libraries；　the　houses　of　Bandi　and　the　inns　for　the　honored　guests　from　China；　Tibet；　and　the　lands　of　the　Buriat　and　Kalmuck。

Down　below　the　monastery　is　the　foreign　settlement　where　the　Russian；　foreign　and　richest　Chinese　merchants　live　and　where　the　multi…colored　and　crowded　oriental　bazaar　carries　forward　its　bustling　life。　　A　kilometre　away　the　greyish　enclosure　of　Maimachen　surrounds　the　remaining　Chinese　trading　establishments；　while　farther　on　one　sees　a　long　row　of　Russian　private　houses；　a　hospital；　church；　prison　and；　last　of　all；　the　awkward　four…storied　red　brick　building　that　was　formerly　the　Russian　Consulate。

We　were　already　within　a　short　distance　of　the　monastery；　when　I　noticed　several　Mongol　soldiers　in　the　mouth　of　a　ravine　nearby；　dragging　back　and　concealing　in　the　ravine　three　dead　bodies。

〃What　are　they　doing？〃　I　asked。

The　Cossacks　only　smiled　without　answering。　　Suddenly　they　straightened　up　with　a　sharp　salute。　　Out　of　the　ravine　came　a　small；　stocky　Mongolian　pony　with　a　short　man　in　the　saddle。　　As　he　passed　us；　I　noticed　the　epaulets　of　a　colonel　and　the　green　cap　with　a　visor。　　He　examined　me　with　cold；　colorless　eyes　from　under　dense　brows。　　As　he　went　on　ahead；　he　took　off　his　cap　and　wiped　the　perspiration　from　his　bald　head。　　My　eyes　were　struck　by　the　strange　undulating　line　of　his　skull。　　It　was　the　man　〃with　the　head　like　a　saddle；〃　against　whom　I　had　been　warned　by　the　old　fortune　teller　at　the　last　ourton　outside　Van　Kure！

〃Who　is　this　officer？〃　I　inquired。

Although　he　was　already　quite　a　distance　in　front　of　us；　the　Cossacks　whispered：　　〃Colonel　Sepailoff；　Commandant　of　Urga　City。〃

Colonel　Sepailoff；　the　darkest　person　on　the　canvas　of　Mongolian　events！　　Formerly　a　mechanician；　afterwards　a　gendarme；　he　had　gained　quick　promotion　under　the　Czar's　regime。　　He　was　always　nervously　jerking　and　wriggling　his　body　and　talking　ceaselessly；　making　most　unattractive　sounds　in　his　throat　and　sputtering　with　saliva　all　over　his　lips；　his　whole　face　often　contracted　with　spasms。　　He　was　mad　and　Baron　Ungern　twice　appointed　a　commission　of　surgeons　to　examine　him　and　ordered　him　to　rest　in　the　hope　he　could　rid　the　man　of　his　evil　genius。　　Undoubtedly　Sepailoff　was　a　sadist。　　I　heard　afterwards　that　he　himself　executed　the　condemned　people；　joking　and　singing　as　he　did　his　work。　　Dark；　terrifying　tales　were　current　about　him　in　Urga。　　He　was　a　bloodhound；　fastening　his　victims　with　the　jaws　of　death。　　All　the　glory　of　the　cruelty　of　Baron　Ungern　belonged　to　Sepailoff。　　Afterwards　Baron　Ungern　once　told　me　in　Urga　that　this　Sepailoff　annoyed　him　and　that　Sepailoff　could　kill　him　just　as　well　as　others。　　Baron　Ungern　feared　Sepailoff；　not　as　a　man；　but　dominated　by　his　own　superstition；　because　Sepailoff　had　found　in　Transbaikalia　a　witch　doctor　who　predicted　the　death　of　the　Baron　if　he　dismissed　Sepailoff。　　Sepailoff　knew　no　pardon　for　Bolshevik　nor　for　any　one　connected　with　the　Bolsheviki　in　any　way。　　The　reason　for　his　vengeful　spirit　was　that　the　Bolsheviki　had　tortured　him　in　prison　and；　after　his　escape；　had　killed　all　his　family。　　He　was　now　taking　his　revenge。

I　put　up　with　a　Russian　firm　and　was　at　once　visited　by　my　associates　from　Uliassutai；　who　greeted　me　with　great　joy　because　they　had　been　much　exercised　about　the　events　in　Van　Kure　and　Zain　Shabi。　　When　I　had　bathed　and　spruced　up；　I　went　out　with　them　on　the　street。　　We　entered　the　bazaar。　　The　whole　market　was　crowded。　To　the　lively　colored　groups　of　men　buying；　selling　and　shouting　their　wares；　the　bright　streamers　of　Chinese　cloth；　the　strings　of　pearls；　the　earrings　and　bracelets　gave　an　air　of　endless　festivity；　while　on　another　side　buyers　were　feeling　of　live　sheep　to　see　whether　they　were　fat　or　not；　the　butcher　was　cutting　great　pieces　of　mutton　from　the　hanging　carcasses　and　everywhere　these　sons　of　the　plain　were　joking　and　jesting。　　The　Mongolian　women　in　their　huge　coiffures　and　heavy　silver　caps　like　saucers　on　their　heads　were　admiring　the　variegated　silk　ribbons　and　long　chains　of　coral　beads；　an　imposing　big　Mongol　attentively　examined　a　small　herd　of　splendid　horses　and　bargained　with　the　Mongol　zahachine　or　owner　of　the　horses；　a　skinny；　quick；　black　Tibetan；　who　had　come　to　Urga　to　pray　to　the　Living　Buddha　or；　maybe；　with　a　secret　message　from　the　other　〃God〃　in　Lhasa；　squatted　and　bargained　for　an　image　of　the　Lotus　Buddha　carved　in　agate；　in　another　corner　a　big　crowd　of　Mongols　and　Buriats　had　collected　and　surrounded　a　Chinese　merchant　selling　finely　painted　snuff…bottles　of　glass；　crystal；　porcelain；　amethyst；　jade；　agate　and　nephrite；　for　one　of　which　made　of　a　greenish　milky　nephrite　with　regular　brown　veins　running　through　it　and　carved　with　a　dragon　winding　itself　around　a　bevy　of　young　damsels　the　merchant　was　demanding　of　his　Mongol　inquirers　ten　young　oxen；　and　everywhere　Buriats　in　their　long　red　coats　and　small　red　caps　embroidered　with　gold　helped　the　Tartars　in　black　overcoats　and　black　velvet　caps　on　the　back　of　their　heads　to　weave　the　pattern　of　this　Oriental　human　tapestry。　　Lamas　formed　the　common　background　for　it　all；　as　they　wandered　about　in　their　yellow　and　red　robes；　with　capes　picturesquely　thrown　over　their　shoulders　and　caps　of　many　forms；　some　like　yellow　mushrooms；　others　like　the　red　Phrygian　bonnets　or　old　Greek　helmets　in　red。　They　mingled　with　the　crowd；　chatting　serenely　and　counting　their　rosaries；　telling　fortunes　for　those　who　would　hear　but　chiefly　searching　out　the　rich　Mongols　whom　they　could　cure　or　exploit　by　fortune　telling；　predictions　or　other　mysteries　of　a　city　of　60；000　Lamas。　　Simultaneously　religious　and　political　espionage　was　being　carried　out。　　Just　at　this　time　many　Mongols　were　arriving　from　Inner　Mongolia　and　they　were　continuously　surrounded　by　an　invisible　but　numerous　network　of　watching　Lamas。　　Over　the　buildings　around　floated　the　Russian；　Chinese　and　Mongolian　national　flags　with　a　single　one　of　the　Stars　and　Stripes　above　a　small　shop　in　the　market；　while　over　the　nearby　tents　and　yurtas　streamed　the　ribbons；　the　squares；　the　circles　and　triangles　of　the　princes　and　private　persons　afflicted　or　dying　from　smallpox　and　leprosy。　　All　were　mingled　and　mixed　in　one　bright　mass　strongly　lighted　by　the　sun。　　Occasionally　one　saw　the　soldiers　of　Baron　Ungern　rushing　about　in　long　blue　coats；　Mongols　and　Tibetans　in　red　coats　with　yellow　epaulets　bearing　the　swastika　of　Jenghiz　Khan　and　the　initials　of　the　Living　Buddha；　and　Chinese　soldiers　from　their　detachment　in　the　Mongolian　army。　　After　the　defeat　of　the　Chinese　army　two　thousand　of　these　braves　petitioned　the　Living　Buddha　to　enlist　them　in　his　legions；　swearing　fealty　and　faith　to　him。　　They　were　accepted　and　formed　into　two　regiments　bearing　the　old　Chinese　silver　dragons　on　their　caps　and　shoulders。

As　we　crossed　this　market；　from　around　a　corner　came　a　big　motor　car　with　the　roar　of　a　siren。　　There　was　Baron　Ungern　in　the　yellow　silk　Mongolian　coat　with　a　blue　girdle。　　He　was　going　very　fast　but　recognized　me　at　once；　stopping　and　getting　out　to　invite　me　to　go　with　him　to　his　yurta。　　The　Baron　lived　in　a　small；　simply　arranged　yurta；　set　up　in　the　courtyard　of　a　Chinese　hong。　　He　had　his　headquarters　in　two　other　yurtas　nearby；　while　his　servants　occupied　one　of　the　Chinese　fang…tzu。　　When　I　reminded　him　of　his　promise　to　help　me　to　reach　the　open　ports；　the　General　looked　at　me　with　his　bright　eyes　and　spoke　in　French：

〃My　work　here　is　coming　to　an　end。　　In　nine　days　I　shall　begin　the　war　with　the　Bolsheviki　and　shall　go　into　the　Transbaikal。　　I　beg　that　you　will　spend　this　time　here。　　For　many　years　I　have　lived　without　civilized　society。　　I　am　alone　with　my　thoughts　and　I　would　like　to　have　you　know　them；　speaking　with　me　not　as　the　'bloody　mad　Baron；'　as　my　enem