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diff --git a/old/bmgds10.txt b/old/bmgds10.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..10710ff --- /dev/null +++ b/old/bmgds10.txt @@ -0,0 +1,9252 @@ +Project Gutenberg Etext Beasts, Men and Gods, by F. Ossendowski + + +Copyright laws are changing all over the world, be sure to check +the copyright laws for your country before posting these files!! + +Please take a look at the important information in this header. +We encourage you to keep this file on your own disk, keeping an +electronic path open for the next readers. Do not remove this. + + +**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts** + +**Etexts Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971** + +*These Etexts Prepared By Hundreds of Volunteers and Donations* + +Information on contacting Project Gutenberg to get Etexts, and +further information is included below. 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FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN ETEXTS*Ver.04.29.93*END* + + + + + +This etext was prepared by Donald Lainson, charlie@idirect.com. + + + + + +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 MYSTERIES--THE 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 of blackcock broke and +came over me. At the top of a high pine a jay cried out. I +listened for a long time to see if anyone was approaching my hut +but everything was still. + +On the lower Yenisei it grows dark very early. I built a fire in +my stove and began to cook my soup, constantly listening for every +noise that came from beyond the cabin walls. Certainly I +understood at all times very clearly that death was ever beside me +and might claim me by means of either man, beast, cold, accident or +disease. I knew that nobody was near me to assist and that all my +help was in the hands of God, in the power of my hands and feet, in +the accuracy of my aim and in my presence of mind. However, I +listened in vain. I did not notice the return of my stranger. +Like yesterday he appeared all at once on the threshold. Through +the steam I made out his laughing eyes and his fine face. He +stepped into the hut and dropped with a good deal of noise three +rifles into the corner. + +"Two horses, two rifles, two saddles, two boxes of dry bread, half +a brick of tea, a small bag of salt, fifty cartridges, two +overcoats, two pairs of boots," laughingly he counted out. "In +truth today I had a very successful hunt." + +In astonishment I looked at him. + +"What are you surprised at?" he laughed. "Komu nujny eti +tovarischi? Who's got any use for these fellows? Let us have tea +and go to sleep. Tomorrow I will guide you to another safer place +and then go on." + + +CHAPTER II + +THE SECRET OF MY FELLOW TRAVELER + + +At the dawn of day we started forth, leaving my first place of +refuge. Into the bags we packed our personal estate and fastened +them on one of the saddles. + +"We must go four or five hundred versts," very calmly announced my +fellow traveler, who called himself "Ivan," a name that meant +nothing to my mind or heart in this land where every second man +bore the same. + +"We shall travel then for a very long time," I remarked +regretfully. + +"Not more than one week, perhaps even less," he answered. + +That night we spent in the woods under the wide spreading branches +of the fir trees. It was my first night in the forest under the +open sky. How many like this I was destined to spend in the year +and a half of my wanderings! During the day there was very sharp +cold. Under the hoofs of the horses the frozen snow crunched and +the balls that formed and broke from their hoofs rolled away over +the crust with a sound like crackling glass. The heathcock flew +from the trees very idly, hares loped slowly down the beds of +summer streams. At night the wind began to sigh and whistle as it +bent the tops of the trees over our heads; while below it was still +and calm. We stopped in a deep ravine bordered by heavy trees, +where we found fallen firs, cut them into logs for the fire and, +after having boiled our tea, dined. + +Ivan dragged in two tree trunks, squared them on one side with his +ax, laid one on the other with the squared faces together and then +drove in a big wedge at the butt ends which separated them three or +four inches. Then we placed live coals in this opening and watched +the fire run rapidly the whole length of the squared faces vis-a- +vis. + +"Now there will be a fire in the morning," he announced. "This is +the 'naida' of the gold prospectors. We prospectors wandering in +the woods summer and winter always sleep beside this 'naida.' +Fine! You shall see for yourself," he continued. + +He cut fir branches and made a sloping roof out of them, resting it +on two uprights toward the naida. Above our roof of boughs and our +naida spread the branches of protecting fir. More branches were +brought and spread on the snow under the roof, on these were placed +the saddle cloths and together they made a seat for Ivan to rest on +and to take off his outer garments down to his blouse. Soon I +noticed his forehead was wet with perspiration and that he was +wiping it and his neck on his sleeves. + +"Now it is good and warm!" he exclaimed. + +In a short time I was also forced to take off my overcoat and soon +lay down to sleep without any covering at all, while through the +branches of the fir trees and our roof glimmered the cold bright +stars and just beyond the naida raged a stinging cold, from which +we were cosily defended. After this night I was no longer +frightened by the cold. Frozen during the days on horseback, I was +thoroughly warmed through by the genial naida at night and rested +from my heavy overcoat, sitting only in my blouse under the roofs +of pine and fir and sipping the ever welcome tea. + +During our daily treks Ivan related to me the stories of his +wanderings through the mountains and woods of Transbaikalia in the +search for gold. These stories were very lively, full of +attractive adventure, danger and struggle. Ivan was a type of +these prospectors who have discovered in Russia, and perhaps in +other countries, the richest gold mines, while they themselves +remain beggars. He evaded telling me why he left Transbaikalia to +come to the Yenisei. I understood from his manner that he wished +to keep his own counsel and so did not press him. However, the +blanket of secrecy covering this part of his mysterious life was +one day quite fortuitously lifted a bit. We were already at the +objective point of our trip. The whole day we had traveled with +difficulty through a thick growth of willow, approaching the shore +of the big right branch of the Yenisei, the Mana. Everywhere we +saw runways packed hard by the feet of the hares living in this +bush. These small white denizens of the wood ran to and fro in +front of us. Another time we saw the red tail of a fox hiding +behind a rock, watching us and the unsuspecting hares at the same +time. + +Ivan had been silent for a long while. Then he spoke up and told +me that not far from there was a small branch of the Mana, at the +mouth of which was a hut. + +"What do you say? Shall we push on there or spend the night by the +naida?" + +I suggested going to the hut, because I wanted to wash and because +it would be agreeable to spend the night under a genuine roof +again. Ivan knitted his brows but acceded. + +It was growing dark when we approached a hut surrounded by the +dense wood and wild raspberry bushes. It contained one small room +with two microscopic windows and a gigantic Russian stove. Against +the building were the remains of a shed and a cellar. We fired the +stove and prepared our modest dinner. Ivan drank from the bottle +inherited from the soldiers and in a short time was very eloquent, +with brilliant eyes and with hands that coursed frequently and +rapidly through his long locks. He began relating to me the story +of one of his adventures, but suddenly stopped and, with fear in +his eyes, squinted into a dark corner. + +"Is it a rat?" he asked. + +"I did not see anything," I replied. + +He again became silent and reflected with knitted brow. Often we +were silent through long hours and consequently I was not +astonished. Ivan leaned over near to me and began to whisper. + +"I want to tell you an old story. I had a friend in Transbaikalia. +He was a banished convict. His name was Gavronsky. Through many +woods and over many mountains we traveled in search of gold and we +had an agreement to divide all we got into even shares. But +Gavronsky suddenly went out to the 'Taiga' on the Yenisei and +disappeared. After five years we heard that he had found a very +rich gold mine and had become a rich man; then later that he and +his wife with him had been murdered. . . ." Ivan was still for a +moment and then continued: + +"This is their old hut. Here he lived with his wife and somewhere +on this river he took out his gold. But he told nobody where. All +the peasants around here know that he had a lot of money in the +bank and that he had been selling gold to the Government. Here +they were murdered." + +Ivan stepped to the stove, took out a flaming stick and, bending +over, lighted a spot on the floor. + +"Do you see these spots on the floor and on the wall? It is their +blood, the blood of Gavronsky. They died but they did not disclose +the whereabouts of the gold. It was taken out of a deep hole which +they had drifted into the bank of the river and was hidden in the +cellar under the shed. But Gavronsky gave nothing away. . . . AND +LORD HOW I TORTURED THEM! I burned them with fire; I bent back +their fingers; I gouged out their eyes; but Gavronsky died in +silence." + +He thought for a moment, then quickly said to me: + +"I have heard all this from the peasants." He threw the log into +the stove and flopped down on the bench. "It's time to sleep," he +snapped out, and was still. + +I listened for a long time to his breathing and his whispering to +himself, as he turned from one side to the other and smoked his +pipe. + +In the morning we left this scene of so much suffering and crime +and on the seventh day of our journey we came to the dense cedar +wood growing on the foothills of a long chain of mountains. + +"From here," Ivan explained to me, "it is eighty versts to the next +peasant settlement. The people come to these woods to gather cedar +nuts but only in the autumn. Before then you will not meet anyone. +Also you will find many birds and beasts and a plentiful supply of +nuts, so that it will be possible for you to live here. Do you see +this river? When you want to find the peasants, follow along this +stream and it will guide you to them." + +Ivan helped me build my mud hut. But it was not the genuine mud +hut. It was one formed by the tearing out of the roots of a great +cedar, that had probably fallen in some wild storm, which made for +me the deep hole as the room for my house and flanked this on one +side with a wall of mud held fast among the upturned roots. +Overhanging ones formed also the framework into which we interlaced +the poles and branches to make a roof, finished off with stones for +stability and snow for warmth. The front of the hut was ever open +but was constantly protected by the guardian naida. In that snow- +covered den I spent two months like summer without seeing any other +human being and without touch with the outer world where such +important events were transpiring. In that grave under the roots +of the fallen tree I lived before the face of nature with my trials +and my anxiety about my family as my constant companions, and in +the hard struggle for my life. Ivan went off the second day, +leaving for me a bag of dry bread and a little sugar. I never saw +him again. + + +CHAPTER III + +THE STRUGGLE FOR LIFE + + +Then I was alone. Around me only the wood of eternally green +cedars covered with snow, the bare bushes, the frozen river and, as +far as I could see out through the branches and the trunks of the +trees, only the great ocean of cedars and snow. Siberian taiga! +How long shall I be forced to live here? Will the Bolsheviki find +me here or not? Will my friends know where I am? What is +happening to my family? These questions were constantly as burning +fires in my brain. Soon I understood why Ivan guided me so long. +We passed many secluded places on the journey, far away from all +people, where Ivan could have safely left me but he always said +that he would take me to a place where it would be easier to live. +And it was so. The charm of my lone refuge was in the cedar wood +and in the mountains covered with these forests which stretched to +every horizon. The cedar is a splendid, powerful tree with wide- +spreading branches, an eternally green tent, attracting to its +shelter every living being. Among the cedars was always +effervescent life. There the squirrels were continually kicking up +a row, jumping from tree to tree; the nut-jobbers cried shrilly; a +flock of bullfinches with carmine breasts swept through the trees +like a flame; or a small army of goldfinches broke in and filled +the amphitheatre of trees with their whistling; a hare scooted from +one tree trunk to another and behind him stole up the hardly +visible shadow of a white ermine, crawling on the snow, and I +watched for a long time the black spot which I knew to be the tip +of his tail; carefully treading the hard crusted snow approached a +noble deer; at last there visited me from the top of the mountain +the king of the Siberian forest, the brown bear. All this +distracted me and carried away the black thoughts from my brain, +encouraging me to persevere. It was good for me also, though +difficult, to climb to the top of my mountain, which reached up out +of the forest and from which I could look away to the range of red +on the horizon. It was the red cliff on the farther bank of the +Yenisei. There lay the country, the towns, the enemies and the +friends; and there was even the point which I located as the place +of my family. It was the reason why Ivan had guided me here. And +as the days in this solitude slipped by I began to miss sorely this +companion who, though the murderer of Gavronsky, had taken care of +me like a father, always saddling my horse for me, cutting the wood +and doing everything to make me comfortable. He had spent many +winters alone with nothing except his thoughts, face to face with +nature--I should say, before the face of God. He had tried the +horrors of solitude and had acquired facility in bearing them. I +thought sometimes, if I had to meet my end in this place, that I +would spend my last strength to drag myself to the top of the +mountain to die there, looking away over the infinite sea of +mountains and forest toward the point where my loved ones were. + +However, the same life gave me much matter for reflection and yet +more occupation for the physical side. It was a continuous +struggle for existence, hard and severe. The hardest work was the +preparation of the big logs for the naida. The fallen trunks of +the trees were covered with snow and frozen to the ground. I was +forced to dig them out and afterwards, with the help of a long +stick as a lever, to move them from their place. For facilitating +this work I chose the mountain for my supplies, where, although +difficult to climb, it was easy to roll the logs down. Soon I made +a splendid discovery. I found near my den a great quantity of +larch, this beautiful yet sad forest giant, fallen during a big +storm. The trunks were covered with snow but remained attached to +their stumps, where they had broken off. When I cut into these +stumps with the ax, the head buried itself and could with +difficulty be drawn and, investigating the reason, I found them +filled with pitch. Chips of this wood needed only a spark to set +them aflame and ever afterward I always had a stock of them to +light up quickly for warming my hands on returning from the hunt or +for boiling my tea. + +The greater part of my days was occupied with the hunt. I came to +understand that I must distribute my work over every day, for it +distracted me from my sad and depressing thoughts. Generally, +after my morning tea, I went into the forest to seek heathcock or +blackcock. After killing one or two I began to prepare my dinner, +which never had an extensive menu. It was constantly game soup +with a handful of dried bread and afterwards endless cups of tea, +this essential beverage of the woods. Once, during my search for +birds, I heard a rustle in the dense shrubs and, carefully peering +about, I discovered the points of a deer's horns. I crawled along +toward the spot but the watchful animal heard my approach. With a +great noise he rushed from the bush and I saw him very clearly, +after he had run about three hundred steps, stop on the slope of +the mountain. It was a splendid animal with dark grey coat, with +almost a black spine and as large as a small cow. I laid my rifle +across a branch and fired. The animal made a great leap, ran +several steps and fell. With all my strength I ran to him but he +got up again and half jumped, half dragged himself up the mountain. +The second shot stopped him. I had won a warm carpet for my den +and a large stock of meat. The horns I fastened up among the +branches of my wall, where they made a fine hat rack. + +I cannot forget one very interesting but wild picture, which was +staged for me several kilometres from my den. There was a small +swamp covered with grass and cranberries scattered through it, +where the blackcock and sand partridges usually came to feed on the +berries. I approached noiselessly behind the bushes and saw a +whole flock of blackcock scratching in the snow and picking out the +berries. While I was surveying this scene, suddenly one of the +blackcock jumped up and the rest of the frightened flock +immediately flew away. To my astonishment the first bird began +going straight up in a spiral flight and afterwards dropped +directly down dead. When I approached there sprang from the body +of the slain cock a rapacious ermine that hid under the trunk of a +fallen tree. The bird's neck was badly torn. I then understood +that the ermine had charged the cock, fastened itself on his neck +and had been carried by the bird into the air, as he sucked the +blood from its throat, and had been the cause of the heavy fall +back to the earth. Thanks to his aeronautic ability I saved one +cartridge. + +So I lived fighting for the morrow and more and more poisoned by +hard and bitter thoughts. The days and weeks passed and soon I +felt the breath of warmer winds. On the open places the snow began +to thaw. In spots the little rivulets of water appeared. Another +day I saw a fly or a spider awakened after the hard winter. The +spring was coming. I realized that in spring it was impossible to +go out from the forest. Every river overflowed its banks; the +swamps became impassable; all the runways of the animals turned +into beds for streams of running water. I understood that until +summer I was condemned to a continuation of my solitude. Spring +very quickly came into her rights and soon my mountain was free +from snow and was covered only with stones, the trunks of birch and +aspen trees and the high cones of ant hills; the river in places +broke its covering of ice and was coursing full with foam and +bubbles. + + +CHAPTER IV + +A FISHERMAN + + +One day during the hunt, I approached the bank of the river and +noticed many very large fish with red backs, as though filled with +blood. They were swimming on the surface enjoying the rays of the +sun. When the river was entirely free from ice, these fish +appeared in enormous quantities. Soon I realized that they were +working up-stream for the spawning season in the smaller rivers. I +thought to use a plundering method of catching, forbidden by the +law of all countries; but all the lawyers and legislators should be +lenient to one who lives in a den under the roots of a fallen tree +and dares to break their rational laws. + +Gathering many thin birch and aspen trees I built in the bed of the +stream a weir which the fish could not pass and soon I found them +trying to jump over it. Near the bank I left a hole in my barrier +about eighteen inches below the surface and fastened on the up- +stream side a high basket plaited from soft willow twigs, into +which the fish came as they passed the hole. Then I stood cruelly +by and hit them on the head with a strong stick. All my catch were +over thirty pounds, some more than eighty. This variety of fish is +called the taimen, is of the trout family and is the best in the +Yenisei. + +After two weeks the fish had passed and my basket gave me no more +treasure, so I began anew the hunt. + + +CHAPTER V + +A DANGEROUS NEIGHBOR + + +The hunt became more and more profitable and enjoyable, as spring +animated everything. In the morning at the break of day the forest +was full of voices, strange and undiscernible to the inhabitant of +the town. There the heathcock clucked and sang his song of love, +as he sat on the top branches of the cedar and admired the grey hen +scratching in the fallen leaves below. It was very easy to +approach this full-feathered Caruso and with a shot to bring him +down from his more poetic to his more utilitarian duties. His +going out was an euthanasia, for he was in love and heard nothing. +Out in the clearing the blackcocks with their wide-spread spotted +tails were fighting, while the hens strutting near, craning and +chattering, probably some gossip about their fighting swains, +watched and were delighted with them. From the distance flowed in +a stern and deep roar, yet full of tenderness and love, the mating +call of the deer; while from the crags above came down the short +and broken voice of the mountain buck. Among the bushes frolicked +the hares and often near them a red fox lay flattened to the ground +watching his chance. I never heard any wolves and they are usually +not found in the Siberian regions covered with mountains and +forest. + +But there was another beast, who was my neighbor, and one of us had to go +away. One day, coming back from the hunt with a big heathcock, I +suddenly noticed among the trees a black, moving mass. I stopped +and, looking very attentively, saw a bear, digging away at an ant- +hill. Smelling me, he snorted violently, and very quickly shuffled +away, astonishing me with the speed of his clumsy gait. The +following morning, while still lying under my overcoat, I was +attracted by a noise behind my den. I peered out very carefully +and discovered the bear. He stood on his hind legs and was noisily +sniffing, investigating the question as to what living creature had +adopted the custom of the bears of housing during the winter under +the trunks of fallen trees. I shouted and struck my kettle with +the ax. My early visitor made off with all his energy; but his +visit did not please me. It was very early in the spring that this +occurred and the bear should not yet have left his hibernating +place. He was the so-called "ant-eater," an abnormal type of bear +lacking in all the etiquette of the first families of the bear +clan. + +I knew that the "ant-eaters" were very irritable and audacious and +quickly I prepared myself for both the defence and the charge. My +preparations were short. I rubbed off the ends of five of my +cartridges, thus making dum-dums out of them, a sufficiently +intelligible argument for so unwelcome a guest. Putting on my coat +I went to the place where I had first met the bear and where there +were many ant-hills. I made a detour of the whole mountain, looked +in all the ravines but nowhere found my caller. Disappointed and +tired, I was approaching my shelter quite off my guard when I +suddenly discovered the king of the forest himself just coming out +of my lowly dwelling and sniffing all around the entrance to it. I +shot. The bullet pierced his side. He roared with pain and anger +and stood up on his hind legs. As the second bullet broke one of +these, he squatted down but immediately, dragging the leg and +endeavoring to stand upright, moved to attack me. Only the third +bullet in his breast stopped him. He weighed about two hundred to +two hundred fifty pounds, as near as I could guess, and was very +tasty. He appeared at his best in cutlets but only a little less +wonderful in the Hamburg steaks which I rolled and roasted on hot +stones, watching them swell out into great balls that were as light +as the finest souffle omelettes we used to have at the "Medved" in +Petrograd. On this welcome addition to my larder I lived from then +until the ground dried out and the stream ran down enough so that I +could travel down along the river to the country whither Ivan had +directed me. + +Ever traveling with the greatest precautions I made the journey +down along the river on foot, carrying from my winter quarters all +my household furniture and goods, wrapped up in the deerskin bag +which I formed by tying the legs together in an awkward knot; and +thus laden fording the small streams and wading through the swamps +that lay across my path. After fifty odd miles of this I came to +the country called Sifkova, where I found the cabin of a peasant +named Tropoff, located closest to the forest that came to be my +natural environment. With him I lived for a time. + + * * * * * + +Now in these unimaginable surroundings of safety and peace, summing +up the total of my experience in the Siberian taiga, I make the +following deductions. In every healthy spiritual individual of our +times, occasions of necessity resurrect the traits of primitive +man, hunter and warrior, and help him in the struggle with nature. +It is the prerogative of the man with the trained mind and spirit +over the untrained, who does not possess sufficient science and +will power to carry him through. But the price that the cultured +man must pay is that for him there exists nothing more awful than +absolute solitude and the knowledge of complete isolation from +human society and the life of moral and aesthetic culture. One +step, one moment of weakness and dark madness will seize a man and +carry him to inevitable destruction. I spent awful days of +struggle with the cold and hunger but I passed more terrible days +in the struggle of the will to kill weakening destructive thoughts. +The memories of these days freeze my heart and mind and even now, +as I revive them so clearly by writing of my experiences, they +throw me back into a state of fear and apprehension. Moreover, I +am compelled to observe that the people in highly civilized states +give too little regard to the training that is useful to man in +primitive conditions, in conditions incident to the struggle +against nature for existence. It is the single normal way to +develop a new generation of strong, healthy, iron men, with at the +same time sensitive souls. + +Nature destroys the weak but helps the strong, awakening in the +soul emotions which remain dormant under the urban conditions of +modern life. + + +CHAPTER VI + +A RIVER IN TRAVAIL + + +My presence in the Sifkova country was not for long but I used it +in full measure. First, I sent a man in whom I had confidence and +whom I considered trustworthy to my friends in the town that I had +left and received from them linen, boots, money and a small case of +first aid materials and essential medicines, and, what was most +important, a passport in another name, since I was dead for the +Bolsheviki. Secondly, in these more or less favorable conditions I +reflected upon the plan for my future actions. Soon in Sifkova the +people heard that the Bolshevik commissar would come for the +requisition of cattle for the Red Army. It was dangerous to remain +longer. I waited only until the Yenisei should lose its massive +lock of ice, which kept it sealed long after the small rivulets had +opened and the trees had taken on their spring foliage. For one +thousand roubles I engaged a fisherman who agreed to take me fifty- +five miles up the river to an abandoned gold mine as soon as the +river, which had then only opened in places, should be entirely +clear of ice. At last one morning I heard a deafening roar like a +tremendous cannonade and ran out to find the river had lifted its +great bulk of ice and then given way to break it up. I rushed on +down to the bank, where I witnessed an awe-inspiring but +magnificent scene. The river had brought down the great volume of +ice that had been dislodged in the south and was carrying it +northward under the thick layer which still covered parts of the +stream until finally its weight had broken the winter dam to the +north and released the whole grand mass in one last rush for the +Arctic. The Yenisei, "Father Yenisei," "Hero Yenisei," is one of +the longest rivers in Asia, deep and magnificent, especially +through the middle range of its course, where it is flanked and +held in canyon-like by great towering ranges. The huge stream had +brought down whole miles of ice fields, breaking them up on the +rapids and on isolated rocks, twisting them with angry swirls, +throwing up sections of the black winter roads, carrying down the +tepees built for the use of passing caravans which in the Winter +always go from Minnusinsk to Krasnoyarsk on the frozen river. From +time to time the stream stopped in its flow, the roar began and the +great fields of ice were squeezed and piled upward, sometimes as +high as thirty feet, damming up the water behind, so that it +rapidly rose and ran out over the low places, casting on the shore +great masses of ice. Then the power of the reinforced waters +conquered the towering dam of ice and carried it downward with a +sound like breaking glass. At the bends in the river and round the +great rocks developed terrifying chaos. Huge blocks of ice jammed +and jostled until some were thrown clear into the air, crashing +against others already there, or were hurled against the curving +cliffs and banks, tearing out boulders, earth and trees high up the +sides. All along the low embankments this giant of nature flung +upward with a suddenness that leaves man but a pigmy in force a +great wall of ice fifteen to twenty feet high, which the peasants +call "Zaberega" and through which they cannot get to the river +without cutting out a road. One incredible feat I saw the giant +perform, when a block many feet thick and many yards square was +hurled through the air and dropped to crush saplings and little +trees more than a half hundred feet from the bank. + +Watching this glorious withdrawal of the ice, I was filled with +terror and revolt at seeing the awful spoils which the Yenisei bore +away in this annual retreat. These were the bodies of the executed +counter-revolutionaries--officers, soldiers and Cossacks of the +former army of the Superior Governor of all anti-Bolshevik Russia, +Admiral Kolchak. They were the results of the bloody work of the +"Cheka" at Minnusinsk. Hundreds of these bodies with heads and +hands cut off, with mutilated faces and bodies half burned, with +broken skulls, floated and mingled with the blocks of ice, looking +for their graves; or, turning in the furious whirlpools among the +jagged blocks, they were ground and torn to pieces into shapeless +masses, which the river, nauseated with its task, vomited out upon +the islands and projecting sand bars. I passed the whole length of +the middle Yenisei and constantly came across these putrifying and +terrifying reminders of the work of the Bolsheviki. In one place +at a turn of the river I saw a great heap of horses, which had been +cast up by the ice and current, in number not less than three +hundred. A verst below there I was sickened beyond endurance by +the discovery of a grove of willows along the bank which had raked +from the polluted stream and held in their finger-like drooping +branches human bodies in all shapes and attitudes with a semblance +of naturalness which made an everlasting picture on my distraught +mind. Of this pitiful gruesome company I counted seventy. + +At last the mountain of ice passed by, followed by the muddy +freshets that carried down the trunks of fallen trees, logs and +bodies, bodies, bodies. The fisherman and his son put me and my +luggage into their dugout made from an aspen tree and poled +upstream along the bank. Poling in a swift current is very hard +work. At the sharp curves we were compelled to row, struggling +against the force of the stream and even in places hugging the +cliffs and making headway only by clutching the rocks with our +hands and dragging along slowly. Sometimes it took us a long while +to do five or six metres through these rapid holes. In two days we +reached the goal of our journey. I spent several days in this gold +mine, where the watchman and his family were living. As they were +short of food, they had nothing to spare for me and consequently my +rifle again served to nourish me, as well as contributing something +to my hosts. One day there appeared here a trained +agriculturalist. I did not hide because during my winter in the +woods I had raised a heavy beard, so that probably my own mother +could not have recognized me. However, our guest was very shrewd +and at once deciphered me. I did not fear him because I saw that +he was not a Bolshevik and later had confirmation of this. We +found common acquaintances and a common viewpoint on current +events. He lived close to the gold mine in a small village where +he superintended public works. We determined to escape together +from Russia. For a long time I had puzzled over this matter and +now my plan was ready. Knowing the position in Siberia and its +geography, I decided that the best way to safety was through +Urianhai, the northern part of Mongolia on the head waters of the +Yenisei, then through Mongolia and out to the Far East and the +Pacific. Before the overthrow of the Kolchak Government I had +received a commission to investigate Urianhai and Western Mongolia +and then, with great accuracy, I studied all the maps and +literature I could get on this question. To accomplish this +audacious plan I had the great incentive of my own safety. + + +CHAPTER VII + +THROUGH SOVIET SIBERIA + + +After several days we started through the forest on the left bank +of the Yenisei toward the south, avoiding the villages as much as +possible in fear of leaving some trail by which we might be +followed. Whenever we did have to go into them, we had a good +reception at the hands of the peasants, who did not penetrate our +disguise; and we saw that they hated the Bolsheviki, who had +destroyed many of their villages. In one place we were told that a +detachment of Red troops had been sent out from Minnusinsk to chase +the Whites. We were forced to work far back from the shore of the +Yenisei and to hide in the woods and mountains. Here we remained +nearly a fortnight, because all this time the Red soldiers were +traversing the country and capturing in the woods half-dressed +unarmed officers who were in hiding from the atrocious vengeance of +the Bolsheviki. Afterwards by accident we passed a meadow where we +found the bodies of twenty-eight officers hung to the trees, with +their faces and bodies mutilated. There we determined never to +allow ourselves to come alive into the hands of the Boisheviki. To +prevent this we had our weapons and a supply of cyanide of +potassium. + +Passing across one branch of the Yenisei, once we saw a narrow, +miry pass, the entrance to which was strewn with the bodies of men +and horses. A little farther along we found a broken sleigh with +rifled boxes and papers scattered about. Near them were also torn +garments and bodies. Who were these pitiful ones? What tragedy +was staged in this wild wood? We tried to guess this enigma and we +began to investigate the documents and papers. These were official +papers addressed to the Staff of General Pepelaieff. Probably one +part of the Staff during the retreat of Kolchak's army went through +this wood, striving to hide from the enemy approaching from all +sides; but here they were caught by the Reds and killed. Not far +from here we found the body of a poor unfortunate woman, whose +condition proved clearly what had happened before relief came +through the beneficent bullet. The body lay beside a shelter of +branches, strewn with bottles and conserve tins, telling the tale +of the bantering feast that had preceded the destruction of this +life. + +The further we went to the south, the more pronouncedly hospitable +the people became toward us and the more hostile to the Bolsheviki. +At last we emerged from the forests and entered the spacious +vastness of the Minnusinsk steppes, crossed by the high red +mountain range called the "Kizill-Kaiya" and dotted here and there +with salt lakes. It is a country of tombs, thousands of large and +small dolmens, the tombs of the earliest proprietors of this land: +pyramids of stone ten metres high, the marks set by Jenghiz Khan +along his road of conquest and afterwards by the cripple Tamerlane- +Temur. Thousands of these dolmens and stone pyramids stretch in +endless rows to the north. In these plains the Tartars now live. +They were robbed by the Bolsheviki and therefore hated them +ardently. We openly told them that we were escaping. They gave us +food for nothing and supplied us with guides, telling us with whom +we might stop and where to hide in case of danger. + +After several days we looked down from the high bank of the Yenisei +upon the first steamer, the "Oriol," from Krasnoyarsk to +Minnusinsk, laden with Red soldiers. Soon we came to the mouth of +the river Tuba, which we were to follow straight east to the Sayan +mountains, where Urianhai begins. We thought the stage along the +Tuba and its branch, the Amyl, the most dangerous part of our +course, because the valleys of these two rivers had a dense +population which had contributed large numbers of soldiers to the +celebrated Communist Partisans, Schetinkin and Krafcheno. + +A Tartar ferried us and our horses over to the right bank of the +Yenisei and afterwards sent us some Cossacks at daybreak who guided +us to the mouth of the Tuba, where we spent the whole day in rest, +gratifying ourselves with a feast of wild black currants and +cherries. + + +CHAPTER VIII + +THREE DAYS ON THE EDGE OF A PRECIPICE + + +Armed with our false passports, we moved along up the valley of the +Tuba. Every ten or fifteen versts we came across large villages of +from one to six hundred houses, where all administration was in the +hands of Soviets and where spies scrutinized all passers-by. We +could not avoid these villages for two reasons. First, our +attempts to avoid them when we were constantly meeting the peasants +in the country would have aroused suspicion and would have caused +any Soviet to arrest us and send us to the "Cheka" in Minnusinsk, +where we should have sung our last song. Secondly, in his +documents my fellow traveler was granted permission to use the +government post relays for forwarding him on his journey. +Therefore, we were forced to visit the village Soviets and change +our horses. Our own mounts we had given to the Tartar and Cossack +who helped us at the mouth of the Tuba, and the Cossack brought us +in his wagon to the first village, where we received the post +horses. All except a small minority of the peasants were against +the Bolsheviki and voluntarily assisted us. I paid them for their +help by treating their sick and my fellow traveler gave them +practical advice in the management of their agriculture. Those who +helped us chiefly were the old dissenters and the Cossacks. + +Sometimes we came across villages entirely Communistic but very +soon we learned to distinguish them. When we entered a village +with our horse bells tinkling and found the peasants who happened +to be sitting in front of their houses ready to get up with a frown +and a grumble that here were more new devils coming, we knew that +this was a village opposed to the Communists and that here we could +stop in safety. But, if the peasants approached and greeted us +with pleasure, calling us "Comrades," we knew at once that we were +among the enemy and took great precautions. Such villages were +inhabited by people who were not the Siberian liberty-loving +peasants but by emigrants from the Ukraine, idle and drunk, living +in poor dirty huts, though their village were surrounded with the +black and fertile soil of the steppes. Very dangerous and pleasant +moments we spent in the large village of Karatuz. It is rather a +town. In the year 1912 two colleges were opened here and the +population reached 15,000 people. It is the capital of the South +Yenisei Cossacks. But by now it is very difficult to recognize +this town. The peasant emigrants and Red army murdered all the +Cossack population and destroyed and burned most of the houses; and +it is at present the center of Bolshevism and Communism in the +eastern part of the Minnusinsk district. In the building of the +Soviet, where we came to exchange our horses, there was being held +a meeting of the "Cheka." We were immediately surrounded and +questioned about our documents. We were not any too calm about the +impression which might be made by our papers and attempted to avoid +this examination. My fellow traveler afterwards often said to me: + +"It is great good fortune that among the Bolsheviki the good-for- +nothing shoemaker of yesterday is the Governor of today and +scientists sweep the streets or clean the stables of the Red +cavalry. I can talk with the Bolsheviki because they do not know +the difference between 'disinfection' and 'diphtheria,' +'anthracite' and 'appendicitis' and can talk them round in all +things, even up to persuading them not to put a bullet into me." + +And so we talked the members of the "Cheka" round to everything +that we wanted. We presented to them a bright scheme for the +future development of their district, when we would build the roads +and bridges which would allow them to export the wood from +Urianhai, iron and gold from the Sayan Mountains, cattle and furs +from Mongolia. What a triumph of creative work for the Soviet +Government! Our ode occupied about an hour and afterwards the +members of the "Cheka," forgetting about our documents, personally +changed our horses, placed our luggage on the wagon and wished us +success. It was the last ordeal within the borders of Russia. + +When we had crossed the valley of the river Amyl, Happiness smiled +on us. Near the ferry we met a member of the militia from Karatuz. +He had on his wagon several rifles and automatic pistols, mostly +Mausers, for outfitting an expedition through Urianhai in quest of +some Cossack officers who had been greatly troubling the +Bolsheviki. We stood upon our guard. We could very easily have +met this expedition and we were not quite assured that the soldiers +would be so appreciative of our high-sounding phrases as were the +members of the "Cheka." Carefully questioning the militiaman, we +ferreted out the route their expedition was to take. In the next +village we stayed in the same house with him. I had to open my +luggage and suddenly I noticed his admiring glance fixed upon my +bag. + +"What pleases you so much?" I asked. + +He whispered: "Trousers . . . Trousers." + +I had received from my townsmen quite new trousers of black thick +cloth for riding. Those trousers attracted the rapt attention of +the militiaman. + +"If you have no other trousers. . . ." I remarked, reflecting upon +my plan of attack against my new friend. + +"No," he explained with sadness, "the Soviet does not furnish +trousers. They tell me they also go without trousers. And my +trousers are absolutely worn out. Look at them." + +With these words he threw back the corner of his overcoat and I was +astonished how he could keep himself inside these trousers, for +they had such large holes that they were more of a net than +trousers, a net through which a small shark could have slipped. + +"Sell me," he whispered, with a question in his voice. + +"I cannot, for I need them myself," I answered decisively. + +He reflected for a few minutes and afterward, approaching me, said: +"Let us go out doors and talk. Here it is inconvenient." + +We went outside. "Now, what about it?" he began. "You are going +into Urianhai. There the Soviet bank-notes have no value and you +will not be able to buy anything, where there are plenty of sables, +fox-skins, ermine and gold dust to be purchased, which they very +willingly exchange for rifles and cartridges. You have each of you +a rifle and I will give you one more rifle with a hundred +cartridges if you give me the trousers." + +"We do not need weapons. We are protected by our documents," I +answered, as though I did not understand. + +"But no," he interrupted, "you can change that rifle there into +furs and gold. I shall give you that rifle outright." + +"Ah, that's it, is it? But it's very little for those trousers. +Nowhere in Russia can you now find trousers. All Russia goes +without trousers and for your rifle I should receive a sable and +what use to me is one skin?" + +Word by word I attained to my desire. The militia-man got my +trousers and I received a rifle with one hundred cartridges and two +automatic pistols with forty cartridges each. We were armed now so +that we could defend ourselves. Moreover, I persuaded the happy +possessor of my trousers to give us a permit to carry the weapons. +Then the law and force were both on our side. + +In a distant village we bought three horses, two for riding and one +for packing, engaged a guide, purchased dried bread, meat, salt and +butter and, after resting twenty-four hours, began our trip up the +Amyl toward the Sayan Mountains on the border of Urianhai. There +we hoped not to meet Bolsheviki, either sly or silly. In three +days from the mouth of the Tuba we passed the last Russian village +near the Mongolian-Urianhai border, three days of constant contact +with a lawless population, of continuous danger and of the ever +present possibility of fortuitous death. Only iron will power, +presence of mind and dogged tenacity brought us through all the +dangers and saved us from rolling back down our precipice of +adventure, at whose foot lay so many others who had failed to make +this same climb to freedom which we had just accomplished. Perhaps +they lacked the persistence or the presence of mind, perhaps they +had not the poetic ability to sing odes about "roads, bridges and +gold mines" or perhaps they simply had no spare trousers. + + +CHAPTER IX + +TO THE SAYANS AND SAFETY + + +Dense virgin wood surrounded us. In the high, already yellow grass +the trail wound hardly noticeable in among bushes and trees just +beginning to drop their many colored leaves. It is the old, +already forgotten Amyl pass road. Twenty-five years ago it carried +the provisions, machinery and workers for the numerous, now +abandoned, gold mines of the Amyl valley. The road now wound along +the wide and rapid Amyl, then penetrated into the deep forest, +guiding us round the swampy ground filled with those dangerous +Siberian quagmires, through the dense bushes, across mountains and +wide meadows. Our guide probably did not surmise our real +intention and sometimes, apprehensively looking down at the ground, +would say: + +"Three riders on horses with shoes on have passed here. Perhaps +they were soldiers." + +His anxiety was terminated when he discovered that the tracks led +off to one side and then returned to the trail. + +"They did not proceed farther," he remarked, slyly smiling. + +"That's too bad," we answered. "It would have been more lively to +travel in company." + +But the peasant only stroked his beard and laughed. Evidently he +was not taken in by our statement. + +We passed on the way a gold mine that had been formerly planned and +equipped on splendid lines but was now abandoned and the buildings +all destroyed. The Bolsheviki had taken away the machinery, +supplies and also some parts of the buildings. Nearby stood a dark +and gloomy church with windows broken, the crucifix torn off and +the tower burned, a pitifully typical emblem of the Russia of +today. The starving family of the watchman lived at the mine in +continuing danger and privation. They told us that in this forest +region were wandering about a band of Reds who were robbing +anything that remained on the property of the gold mine, were +working the pay dirt in the richest part of the mine and, with a +little gold washed, were going to drink and gamble it away in some +distant villages where the peasants were making the forbidden vodka +out of berries and potatoes and selling it for its weight in gold. +A meeting with this band meant death. After three days we crossed +the northern ridge of the Sayan chain, passed the border river +Algiak and, after this day, were abroad in the territory of +Urianhai. + +This wonderful land, rich in most diverse forms of natural wealth, +is inhabited by a branch of the Mongols, which is now only sixty +thousand and which is gradually dying off, speaking a language +quite different from any of the other dialects of this folk and +holding as their life ideal the tenet of "Eternal Peace." Urianhai +long ago became the scene of administrative attempts by Russians, +Mongols and Chinese, all of whom claimed sovereignty over the +region whose unfortunate inhabitants, the Soyots, had to pay +tribute to all three of these overlords. It was due to this that +the land was not an entirely safe refuge for us. We had heard +already from our militiaman about the expedition preparing to go +into Urianhai and from the peasants we learned that the villages +along the Little Yenisei and farther south had formed Red +detachments, who were robbing and killing everyone who fell into +their hands. Recently they had killed sixty-two officers +attempting to pass Urianhai into Mongolia; robbed and killed a +caravan of Chinese merchants; and killed some German war prisoners +who escaped from the Soviet paradise. On the fourth day we reached +a swampy valley where, among open forests, stood a single Russian +house. Here we took leave of our guide, who hastened away to get +back before the snows should block his road over the Sayans. The +master of the establishment agreed to guide us to the Seybi River +for ten thousand roubles in Soviet notes. Our horses were tired +and we were forced to give them a rest, so we decided to spend +twenty-four hours here. + +We were drinking tea when the daughter of our host cried: + +"The Soyots are coming!" Into the room with their rifles and +pointed hats came suddenly four of them. + +"Mende," they grunted to us and then, without ceremony, began +examining us critically. Not a button or a seam in our entire +outfit escaped their penetrating gaze. Afterwards one of them, who +appeared to be the local "Merin" or governor, began to investigate +our political views. Listening to our criticisms of the +Bolsheviki, he was evidently pleased and began talking freely. + +"You are good people. You do not like Bolsheviki. We will help +you." + +I thanked him and presented him with the thick silk cord which I +was wearing as a girdle. Before night they left us saying that +they would return in the morning. It grew dark. We went to the +meadow to look after our exhausted horses grazing there and came +back to the house. We were gaily chatting with the hospitable host +when suddenly we heard horses' hoofs in the court and raucous +voices, followed by the immediate entry of five Red soldiers armed +with rifles and swords. Something unpleasant and cold rolled up +into my throat and my heart hammered. We knew the Reds as our +enemies. These men had the red stars on their Astrakhan caps and +red triangles on their sleeves. They were members of the +detachment that was out to look for Cossack officers. Scowling at +us they took off their overcoats and sat down. We first opened the +conversation, explaining the purpose of our journey in exploring +for bridges, roads and gold mines. From them we then learned that +their commander would arrive in a little while with seven more men +and that they would take our host at once as a guide to the Seybi +River, where they thought the Cossack officers must be hidden. +Immediately I remarked that our affairs were moving fortunately and +that we must travel along together. One of the soldiers replied +that that would depend upon the "Comrade-officer." + +During our conversation the Soyot Governor entered. Very +attentively he studied again the new arrivals and then asked: "Why +did you take from the Soyots the good horses and leave bad ones?" + +The soldiers laughed at him. + +"Remember that you are in a foreign country!" answered the Soyot, +with a threat in his voice. + +"God and the Devil!" cried one of the soldiers. + +But the Soyot very calmly took a seat at the table and accepted the +cup of tea the hostess was preparing for him. The conversation +ceased. The Soyot finished the tea, smoked his long pipe and, +standing up, said: + +"If tomorrow morning the horses are not back at the owner's, we +shall come and take them." And with these words he turned and went +out. + +I noticed an expression of apprehension on the faces of the +soldiers. Shortly one was sent out as a messenger while the others +sat silent with bowed heads. Late in the night the officer arrived +with his other seven men. As he received the report about the +Soyot, he knitted his brows and said: + +"It's a bad mess. We must travel through the swamp where a Soyot +will be behind every mound watching us." + +He seemed really very anxious and his trouble fortunately prevented +him from paying much attention to us. I began to calm him and +promised on the morrow to arrange this matter with the Soyots. The +officer was a coarse brute and a silly man, desiring strongly to be +promoted for the capture of the Cossack officers, and feared that +the Soyot could prevent him from reaching the Seybi. + +At daybreak we started together with the Red detachment. When we +had made about fifteen kilometers, we discovered behind the bushes +two riders. They were Soyots. On their backs were their flint +rifles. + +"Wait for me!" I said to the officer. "I shall go for a parley +with them." + +I went forward with all the speed of my horse. One of the horsemen +was the Soyot Governor, who said to me: + +"Remain behind the detachment and help us." + +"All right," I answered, "but let us talk a little, in order that +they may think we are parleying." + +After a moment I shook the hand of the Soyot and returned to the +soldiers. + +"All right," I exclaimed, "we can continue our journey. No +hindrance will come from the Soyots." + +We moved forward and, when we were crossing a large meadow, we +espied at a long distance two Soyots riding at full gallop right up +the side of a mountain. Step by step I accomplished the necessary +manoeuvre to bring me and my fellow traveler somewhat behind the +detachment. Behind our backs remained only one soldier, very +brutish in appearance and apparently very hostile to us. I had +time to whisper to my companion only one word: "Mauser," and saw +that he very carefully unbuttoned the saddle bag and drew out a +little the handle of his pistol. + +Soon I understood why these soldiers, excellent woodsmen as they +were, would not attempt to go to the Seybi without a guide. All +the country between the Algiak and the Seybi is formed by high and +narrow mountain ridges separated by deep swampy valleys. It is a +cursed and dangerous place. At first our horses mired to the +knees, lunging about and catching their feet in the roots of bushes +in the quagmires, then falling and pinning us under their sides, +breaking parts of their saddles and bridles. Then we would go in +up to the riders' knees. My horse went down once with his whole +breast and head under the red fluid mud and we just saved it and no +more. Afterwards the officer's horse fell with him so that he +bruised his head on a stone. My companion injured one knee against +a tree. Some of the men also fell and were injured. The horses +breathed heavily. Somewhere dimly and gloomily a crow cawed. +Later the road became worse still. The trail followed through the +same miry swamp but everywhere the road was blocked with fallen +tree trunks. The horses, jumping over the trunks, would land in an +unexpectedly deep hole and flounder. We and all the soldiers were +covered with blood and mud and were in great fear of exhausting our +mounts. For a long distance we had to get down and lead them. At +last we entered a broad meadow covered with bushes and bordered +with rocks. Not only horses but riders also began to sink to their +middle in a quagmire with apparently no bottom. The whole surface +of the meadow was but a thin layer of turf, covering a lake with +black putrefying water. When we finally learned to open our column +and proceed at big intervals, we found we could keep on this +surface that undulated like rubber ice and swayed the bushes up and +down. In places the earth buckled up and broke. + +Suddenly, three shots sounded. They were hardly more than the +report of a Flobert rifle; but they were genuine shots, because the +officer and two soldiers fell to the ground. The other soldiers +grabbed their rifles and, with fear, looked about for the enemy. +Four more were soon unseated and suddenly I noticed our rearguard +brute raise his rifle and aim right at me. However, my Mauser +outstrode his rifle and I was allowed to continue my story. + +"Begin!" I cried to my friend and we took part in the shooting. +Soon the meadow began to swarm with Soyots, stripping the fallen, +dividing the spoils and recapturing their horses. In some forms of +warfare it is never safe to leave any of the enemy to renew +hostilities later with overwhelming forces. + +After an hour of very difficult road we began to ascend the +mountain and soon arrived on a high plateau covered with trees. + +"After all, Soyots are not a too peaceful people," I remarked, +approaching the Governor. + +He looked at me very sharply and replied: + +"It was not Soyots who did the killing." + +He was right. It was the Abakan Tartars in Soyot clothes who +killed the Bolsheviki. These Tartars were running their herds of +cattle and horses down out of Russia through Urianhai to Mongolia. +They had as their guide and negotiator a Kalmuck Lamaite. The +following morning we were approaching a small settlement of Russian +colonists and noticed some horsemen looking out from the woods. +One of our young and brave Tartars galloped off at full speed +toward these men in the wood but soon wheeled and returned with a +reassuring smile. + +"All right," he exclaimed, laughing, "keep right on." + +We continued our travel on a good broad road along a high wooden +fence surrounding a meadow filled with a fine herd of wapiti or +izubr, which the Russian colonists breed for the horns that are so +valuable in the velvet for sale to Tibetan and Chinese medicine +dealers. These horns, when boiled and dried, are called panti and +are sold to the Chinese at very high prices. + +We were received with great fear by the settlers. + +"Thank God!" exclaimed the hostess, "we thought. . ." and she broke +off, looking at her husband. + + +CHAPTER X + +THE BATTLE ON THE SEYBI + + +Constant dangers develop one's watchfulness and keenness of +perception. We did not take off our clothes nor unsaddle our +horses, tired as we were. I put my Mauser inside my coat and began +to look about and scrutinize the people. The first thing I +discovered was the butt end of a rifle under the pile of pillows +always found on the peasants' large beds. Later I noticed the +employees of our host constantly coming into the room for orders +from him. They did not look like simple peasants, although they +had long beards and were dressed very dirtily. They examined me +with very attentive eyes and did not leave me and my friend alone +with the host. We could not, however, make out anything. But then +the Soyot Governor came in and, noticing our strained relations, +began explaining in the Soyot language to the host all about us. + +"I beg your pardon," the colonist said, "but you know yourself that +now for one honest man we have ten thousand murderers and robbers." + +With this we began chatting more freely. It appeared that our host +knew that a band of Bolsheviki would attack him in the search for +the band of Cossack officers who were living in his house on and +off. He had heard also about the "total loss" of one detachment. +However, it did not entirely calm the old man to have our news, for +he had heard of the large detachment of Reds that was coming from +the border of the Usinsky District in pursuit of the Tartars who +were escaping with their cattle south to Mongolia. + +"From one minute to another we are awaiting them with fear," said +our host to me. "My Soyot has come in and announced that the Reds +are already crossing the Seybi and the Tartars are prepared for the +fight." + +We immediately went out to look over our saddles and packs and then +took the horses and hid them in the bushes not far off. We made +ready our rifles and pistols and took posts in the enclosure to +wait for our common enemy. An hour of trying impatience passed, +when one of the workmen came running in from the wood and +whispered: + +"They are crossing our swamp. . . . The fight is on." + +In fact, like an answer to his words, came through the woods the +sound of a single rifle-shot, followed closely by the increasing +rat-tat-tat of the mingled guns. Nearer to the house the sounds +gradually came. Soon we heard the beating of the horses' hoofs and +the brutish cries of the soldiers. In a moment three of them burst +into the house, from off the road where they were being raked now +by the Tartars from both directions, cursing violently. One of +them shot at our host. He stumbled along and fell on his knee, as +his hand reached out toward the rifle under his pillows. + +"Who are YOU?" brutally blurted out one of the soldiers, turning to +us and raising his rifle. We answered with Mausers and +successfully, for only one soldier in the rear by the door escaped, +and that merely to fall into the hands of a workman in the +courtyard who strangled him. The fight had begun. The soldiers +called on their comrades for help. The Reds were strung along in +the ditch at the side of the road, three hundred paces from the +house, returning the fire of the surrounding Tartars. Several +soldiers ran to the house to help their comrades but this time we +heard the regular volley of the workmen of our host. They fired as +though in a manoeuvre calmly and accurately. Five Red soldiers lay +on the road, while the rest now kept to their ditch. Before long +we discovered that they began crouching and crawling out toward the +end of the ditch nearest the wood where they had left their horses. +The sounds of shots became more and more distant and soon we saw +fifty or sixty Tartars pursuing the Reds across the meadow. + +Two days we rested here on the Seybi. The workmen of our host, +eight in number, turned out to be officers hiding from the +Bolsheviks. They asked permission to go on with us, to which we +agreed. + +When my friend and I continued our trip we had a guard of eight +armed officers and three horses with packs. We crossed a beautiful +valley between the Rivers Seybi and Ut. Everywhere we saw splendid +grazing lands with numerous herds upon them, but in two or three +houses along the road we did not find anyone living. All had +hidden away in fear after hearing the sounds of the fight with the +Reds. The following day we went up over the high chain of +mountains called Daban and, traversing a great area of burned +timber where our trail lay among the fallen trees, we began to +descend into a valley hidden from us by the intervening foothills. +There behind these hills flowed the Little Yenisei, the last large +river before reaching Mongolia proper. About ten kilometers from +the river we spied a column of smoke rising up out of the wood. +Two of the officers slipped away to make an investigation. For a +long time they did not return and we, fearful lest something had +happened, moved off carefully in the direction of the smoke, all +ready for a fight if necessary. We finally came near enough to +hear the voices of many people and among them the loud laugh of one +of our scouts. In the middle of a meadow we made out a large tent +with two tepees of branches and around these a crowd of fifty or +sixty men. When we broke out of the forest all of them rushed +forward with a joyful welcome for us. It appeared that it was a +large camp of Russian officers and soldiers who, after their escape +from Siberia, had lived in the houses of the Russian colonists and +rich peasants in Urianhai. + +"What are you doing here?" we asked with surprise. + +"Oh, ho, you know nothing at all about what has been going on?" +replied a fairly old man who called himself Colonel Ostrovsky. "In +Urianhai an order has been issued from the Military Commissioner to +mobilize all men over twenty-eight years of age and everywhere +toward the town of Belotzarsk are moving detachments of these +Partisans. They are robbing the colonists and peasants and killing +everyone that falls into their hands. We are hiding here from +them." + +The whole camp counted only sixteen rifles and three bombs, +belonging to a Tartar who was traveling with his Kalmuck guide to +his herds in Western Mongolia. We explained the aim of our journey +and our intention to pass through Mongolia to the nearest port on +the Pacific. The officers asked me to bring them out with us. I +agreed. Our reconnaissance proved to us that there were no +Partisans near the house of the peasant who was to ferry us over +the Little Yenisei. We moved off at once in order to pass as +quickly as possible this dangerous zone of the Yenisei and to sink +ourselves into the forest beyond. It snowed but immediately +thawed. Before evening a cold north wind sprang up, bringing with +it a small blizzard. Late in the night our party reached the +river. Our colonist welcomed us and offered at once to ferry us +over and swim the horses, although there was ice still floating +which had come down from the head-waters of the stream. During +this conversation there was present one of the peasant's workmen, +red-haired and squint-eyed. He kept moving around all the time and +suddenly disappeared. Our host noticed it and, with fear in his +voice, said: + +"He has run to the village and will guide the Partisans here. We +must cross immediately." + +Then began the most terrible night of my whole journey. We +proposed to the colonist that he take only our food and ammunition +in the boat, while we would swim our horses across, in order to +save the time of the many trips. The width of the Yenisei in this +place is about three hundred metres. The stream is very rapid and +the shore breaks away abruptly to the full depth of the stream. +The night was absolutely dark with not a star in the sky. The wind +in whistling swirls drove the snow and sleet sharply against our +faces. Before us flowed the stream of black, rapid water, carrying +down thin, jagged blocks of ice, twisting and grinding in the +whirls and eddies. For a long time my horse refused to take the +plunge down the steep bank, snorted and braced himself. With all +my strength I lashed him with my whip across his neck until, with a +pitiful groan, he threw himself into the cold stream. We both went +all the way under and I hardly kept my seat in the saddle. Soon I +was some metres from the shore with my horse stretching his head +and neck far forward in his efforts and snorting and blowing +incessantly. I felt the every motion of his feet churning the +water and the quivering of his whole body under me in this trial. +At last we reached the middle of the river, where the current +became exceedingly rapid and began to carry us down with it. Out +of the ominous darkness I heard the shoutings of my companions and +the dull cries of fear and suffering from the horses. I was chest +deep in the icy water. Sometimes the floating blocks struck me; +sometimes the waves broke up over my head and face. I had no time +to look about or to feel the cold. The animal wish to live took +possession of me; I became filled with the thought that, if my +horse's strength failed in his struggle with the stream, I must +perish. All my attention was turned to his efforts and to his +quivering fear. Suddenly he groaned loudly and I noticed he was +sinking. The water evidently was over his nostrils, because the +intervals of his frightened snorts through the nostrils became +longer. A big block of ice struck his head and turned him so that +he was swimming right downstream. With difficulty I reined him +around toward the shore but felt now that his force was gone. His +head several times disappeared under the swirling surface. I had +no choice. I slipped from the saddle and, holding this by my left +hand, swam with my right beside my mount, encouraging him with my +shouts. For a time he floated with lips apart and his teeth set +firm. In his widely opened eyes was indescribable fear. As soon +as I was out of the saddle, he had at once risen in the water and +swam more calmly and rapidly. At last under the hoofs of my +exhausted animal I heard the stones. One after another my +companions came up on the shore. The well-trained horses had +brought all their burdens over. Much farther down our colonist +landed with the supplies. Without a moment's loss we packed our +things on the horses and continued our journey. The wind was +growing stronger and colder. At the dawn of day the cold was +intense. Our soaked clothes froze and became hard as leather; our +teeth chattered; and in our eyes showed the red fires of fever: but +we traveled on to put as much space as we could between ourselves +and the Partisans. Passing about fifteen kilometres through the +forest we emerged into an open valley, from which we could see the +opposite bank of the Yenisei. It was about eight o'clock. Along +the road on the other shore wound the black serpent-like line of +riders and wagons which we made out to be a column of Red soldiers +with their transport. We dismounted and hid in the bushes in order +to avoid attracting their attention. + +All the day with the thermometer at zero and below we continued our +journey, only at night reaching the mountains covered with larch +forests, where we made big fires, dried our clothes and warmed +ourselves thoroughly. The hungry horses did not leave the fires +but stood right behind us with drooped heads and slept. Very early +in the morning several Soyots came to our camp. + +"Ulan? (Red?)" asked one of them. + +"No! No!" exclaimed all our company. + +"Tzagan? (White?)" followed the new question. + +"Yes, yes," said the Tartar, "all are Whites." + +"Mende! Mende!" they grunted and, after starting their cups of +tea, began to relate very interesting and important news. It +appeared that the Red Partisans, moving from the mountains Tannu +Ola, occupied with their outposts all the border of Mongolia to +stop and seize the peasants and Soyots driving out their cattle. +To pass the Tannu Ola now would be impossible. I saw only one way-- +to turn sharp to the southeast, pass the swampy valley of the +Buret Hei and reach the south shore of Lake Kosogol, which is +already in the territory of Mongolia proper. It was very +unpleasant news. To the first Mongol post in Samgaltai was not +more than sixty miles from our camp, while to Kosogol by the +shortest line not less than two hundred seventy-five. The horses +my friend and I were riding, after having traveled more than six +hundred miles over hard roads and without proper food or rest, +could scarcely make such an additional distance. But, reflecting +upon the situation and studying my new fellow travelers, I +determined not to attempt to pass the Tannu Ola. They were +nervous, morally weary men, badly dressed and armed and most of +them were without weapons. I knew that during a fight there is no +danger so great as that of disarmed men. They are easily caught by +panic, lose their heads and infect all the others. Therefore, I +consulted with my friends and decided to go to Kosogol. Our +company agreed to follow us. After luncheon, consisting of soup +with big lumps of meat, dry bread and tea, we moved out. About two +o'clock the mountains began to rise up before us. They were the +northeast outspurs of the Tannu Ola, behind which lay the Valley of +Buret Hei. + + +CHAPTER XI + +THE BARRIER OF RED PARTISANS + + +In a valley between two sharp ridges we discovered a herd of yaks +and cattle being rapidly driven off to the north by ten mounted +Soyots. Approaching us warily they finally revealed that Noyon +(Prince) of Todji had ordered them to drive the herds along the +Buret Hei into Mongolia, apprehending the pillaging of the Red +Partisans. They proceeded but were informed by some Soyot hunters +that this part of the Tannu Ola was occupied by the Partisans from +the village of Vladimirovka. Consequently they were forced to +return. We inquired from them the whereabouts of these outposts +and how many Partisans were holding the mountain pass over into +Mongolia. We sent out the Tartar and the Kalmuck for a +reconnaissance while all of us prepared for the further advance by +wrapping the feet of our horses in our shirts and by muzzling their +noses with straps and bits of rope so that they could not neigh. +It was dark when our investigators returned and reported to us that +about thirty Partisans had a camp some ten kilometers from us, +occupying the yurtas of the Soyots. At the pass were two outposts, +one of two soldiers and the other of three. From the outposts to +the camp was a little over a mile. Our trail lay between the two +outposts. From the top of the mountain one could plainly see the +two posts and could shoot them all. When we had come near to the +top of this mountain, I left our party and, taking with me my +friend, the Tartar, the Kalmuck and two of the young officers, +advanced. From the mountain I saw about five hundred yards ahead +two fires. At each of the fires sat a soldier with his rifle and +the others slept. I did not want to fight with the Partisans but +we had to do away with these outposts and that without firing or we +never should get through the pass. I did not believe the Partisans +could afterwards track us because the whole trail was thickly +marked with the spoors of horses and cattle. + +"I shall take for my share these two," whispered my friend, +pointing to the left outpost. + +The rest of us were to take care of the second post. I crept along +through the bushes behind my friend in order to help him in case of +need; but I am bound to admit that I was not at all worried about +him. He was about seven feet tall and so strong that, when a horse +used to refuse sometimes to take the bit, he would wrap his arm +around its neck, kick its forefeet out from under it and throw it +so that he could easily bridle it on the ground. When only a +hundred paces remained, I stood behind the bushes and watched. I +could see very distinctly the fire and the dozing sentinel. He sat +with his rifle on his knees. His companion, asleep beside him, did +not move. Their white felt boots were plainly visible to me. For +a long time I did not remark my friend. At the fire all was quiet. +Suddenly from the other outpost floated over a few dim shouts and +all was still. Our sentinel slowly raised his head. But just at +this moment the huge body of my friend rose up and blanketed the +fire from me and in a twinkling the feet of the sentinel flashed +through the air, as my companion had seized him by the throat and +swung him clear into the bushes, where both figures disappeared. +In a second he re-appeared, flourished the rifle of the Partisan +over his head and I heard the dull blow which was followed by an +absolute calm. He came back toward me and, confusedly smiling, +said: + +"It is done. God and the Devil! When I was a boy, my mother +wanted to make a priest out of me. When I grew up, I became a +trained agronome in order . . . to strangle the people and smash +their skulls. Revolution is a very stupid thing!" + +And with anger and disgust he spit and began to smoke his pipe. + +At the other outpost also all was finished. During this night we +reached the top of the Tannu Ola and descended again into a valley +covered with dense bushes and twined with a whole network of small +rivers and streams. It was the headwaters of the Buret Hei. About +one o'clock we stopped and began to feed our horses, as the grass +just there was very good. Here we thought ourselves in safety. We +saw many calming indications. On the mountains were seen the +grazing herds of reindeers and yaks and approaching Soyots +confirmed our supposition. Here behind the Tannu Ola the Soyots +had not seen the Red soldiers. We presented to these Soyots a +brick of tea and saw them depart happy and sure that we were +"Tzagan," a "good people." + +While our horses rested and grazed on the well-preserved grass, we +sat by the fire and deliberated upon our further progress. There +developed a sharp controversy between two sections of our company, +one led by a Colonel who with four officers were so impressed by +the absence of Reds south of the Tannu Ola that they determined to +work westward to Kobdo and then on to the camp on the Emil River +where the Chinese authorities had interned six thousand of the +forces of General Bakitch, which had come over into Mongolian +territory. My friend and I with sixteen of the officers chose to +carry through our old plan to strike for the shores of Lake Kosogol +and thence out to the Far East. As neither side could persuade the +other to abandon its ideas, our company was divided and the next +day at noon we took leave of one another. It turned out that our +own wing of eighteen had many fights and difficulties on the way, +which cost us the lives of six of our comrades, but that the +remainder of us came through to the goal of our journey so closely +knit by the ties of devotion which fighting and struggling for our +very lives entailed that we have ever preserved for one another the +warmest feelings of friendship. The other group under Colonel +Jukoff perished. He met a big detachment of Red cavalry and was +defeated by them in two fights. Only two officers escaped. They +related to me this sad news and the details of the fights when we +met four months later in Urga. + +Our band of eighteen riders with five packhorses moved up the +valley of the Buret Hei. We floundered in the swamps, passed +innumerable miry streams, were frozen by the cold winds and were +soaked through by the snow and sleet; but we persisted +indefatigably toward the south end of Kosogol. As a guide our +Tartar led us confidently over these trails well marked by the feet +of many cattle being run out of Urianhai to Mongolia. + + +CHAPTER XII + +IN THE COUNTRY OF ETERNAL PEACE + + +The inhabitants of Urianhai, the Soyots, are proud of being the +genuine Buddhists and of retaining the pure doctrine of holy Rama +and the deep wisdom of Sakkia-Mouni. They are the eternal enemies +of war and of the shedding of blood. Away back in the thirteenth +century they preferred to move out from their native land and take +refuge in the north rather than fight or become a part of the +empire of the bloody conqueror Jenghiz Khan, who wanted to add to +his forces these wonderful horsemen and skilled archers. Three +times in their history they have thus trekked northward to avoid +struggle and now no one can say that on the hands of the Soyots +there has ever been seen human blood. With their love of peace +they struggled against the evils of war. Even the severe Chinese +administrators could not apply here in this country of peace the +full measure of their implacable laws. In the same manner the +Soyots conducted themselves when the Russian people, mad with blood +and crime, brought this infection into their land. They avoided +persistently meetings and encounters with the Red troops and +Partisans, trekking off with their families and cattle southward +into the distant principalities of Kemchik and Soldjak. The +eastern branch of this stream of emigration passed through the +valley of the Buret Hei, where we constantly outstrode groups of +them with their cattle and herds. + +We traveled quickly along the winding trail of the Buret Hei and in +two days began to make the elevations of the mountain pass between +the valleys of the Buret Hei and Kharga. The trail was not only +very steep but was also littered with fallen larch trees and +frequently intercepted, incredible as it may seem, with swampy +places where the horses mired badly. Then again we picked our +dangerous road over cobbles and small stones that rolled away under +our horses' feet and bumped off over the precipice nearby. Our +horses fatigued easily in passing this moraine that had been strewn +by ancient glaciers along the mountain sides. Sometimes the trail +led right along the edge of the precipices where the horses started +great slides of stones and sand. I remember one whole mountain +covered with these moving sands. We had to leave our saddles and, +taking the bridles in our hands, to trot for a mile or more over +these sliding beds, sometimes sinking in up to our knees and going +down the mountain side with them toward the precipices below. One +imprudent move at times would have sent us over the brink. This +destiny met one of our horses. Belly down in the moving trap, he +could not work free to change his direction and so slipped on down +with a mass of it until he rolled over the precipice and was lost +to us forever. We heard only the crackling of breaking trees along +his road to death. Then with great difficulty we worked down to +salvage the saddle and bags. Further along we had to abandon one +of our pack horses which had come all the way from the northern +border of Urianhai with us. We first unburdened it but this did +not help; no more did our shouting and threats. He only stood with +his head down and looked so exhausted that we realized he had +reached the further bourne of his land of toil. Some Soyots with +us examined him, felt of his muscles on the fore and hind legs, +took his head in their hands and moved it from side to side, +examined his head carefully after that and then said: + +"That horse will not go further. His brain is dried out." So we +had to leave him. + +That evening we came to a beautiful change in scene when we topped +a rise and found ourselves on a broad plateau covered with larch. +On it we discovered the yurtas of some Soyot hunters, covered with +bark instead of the usual felt. Out of these ten men with rifles +rushed toward us as we approached. They informed us that the +Prince of Soldjak did not allow anyone to pass this way, as he +feared the coming of murderers and robbers into his dominions. + +"Go back to the place from which you came," they advised us with +fear in their eyes. + +I did not answer but I stopped the beginnings of a quarrel between +an old Soyot and one of my officers. I pointed to the small stream +in the valley ahead of us and asked him its name. + +"Oyna," replied the Soyot. "It is the border of the principality +and the passage of it is forbidden." + +"All right," I said, "but you will allow us to warm and rest +ourselves a little." + +"Yes, yes!" exclaimed the hospitable Soyots, and led us into their +tepees. + +On our way there I took the opportunity to hand to the old Soyot a +cigarette and to another a box of matches. We were all walking +along together save one Soyot who limped slowly in the rear and was +holding his hand up over his nose. + +"Is he ill?" I asked. + +"Yes," sadly answered the old Soyot. "That is my son. He has been +losing blood from the nose for two days and is now quite weak." + +I stopped and called the young man to me. + +"Unbutton your outer coat," I ordered, "bare your neck and chest +and turn your face up as far as you can." I pressed the jugular +vein on both sides of his head for some minutes and said to him: + +"The blood will not flow from your nose any more. Go into your +tepee and lie down for some time." + +The "mysterious" action of my fingers created on the Soyots a +strong impression. The old Soyot with fear and reverence +whispered: + +"Ta Lama, Ta Lama! (Great Doctor)." + +In the yurta we were given tea while the old Soyot sat thinking +deeply about something. Afterwards he took counsel with his +companions and finally announced: + +"The wife of our Prince is sick in her eyes and I think the Prince +will be very glad if I lead the 'Ta Lama' to him. He will not +punish me, for he ordered that no 'bad people' should be allowed to +pass; but that should not stop the 'good people' from coming to us. + +"Do as you think best," I replied rather indifferently. "As a +matter of fact, I know how to treat eye diseases but I would go +back if you say so." + +"No, no!" the old man exclaimed with fear. "I shall guide you +myself." + +Sitting by the fire, he lighted his pipe with a flint, wiped the +mouthpiece on his sleeve and offered it to me in true native +hospitality. I was "comme il faut" and smoked. Afterwards he +offered his pipe to each one of our company and received from each +a cigarette, a little tobacco or some matches. It was the seal on +our friendship. Soon in our yurta many persons piled up around us, +men, women, children and dogs. It was impossible to move. From +among them emerged a Lama with shaved face and close cropped hair, +dressed in the flowing red garment of his caste. His clothes and +his expression were very different from the common mass of dirty +Soyots with their queues and felt caps finished off with squirrel +tails on the top. The Lama was very kindly disposed towards us but +looked ever greedily at our gold rings and watches. I decided to +exploit this avidity of the Servant of Buddha. Supplying him with +tea and dried bread, I made known to him that I was in need of +horses. + +"I have a horse. Will you buy it from me?" he asked. "But I do +not accept Russian bank notes. Let us exchange something." + +For a long time I bargained with him and at last for my gold +wedding ring, a raincoat and a leather saddle bag I received a fine +Soyot horse--to replace one of the pack animals we had lost--and a +young goat. We spent the night here and were feasted with fat +mutton. In the morning we moved off under the guidance of the old +Soyot along the trail that followed the valley of the Oyna, free +from both mountains and swamps. But we knew that the mounts of my +friend and myself, together with three others, were too worn down +to make Kosogol and determined to try to buy others in Soldjak. +Soon we began to meet little groups of Soyot yurtas with their +cattle and horses round about. Finally we approached the shifting +capital of the Prince. Our guide rode on ahead for the parley with +him after assuring us that the Prince would be glad to welcome the +Ta Lama, though at the time I remarked great anxiety and fear in +his features as he spoke. Before long we emerged on to a large +plain well covered with small bushes. Down by the shore of the +river we made out big yurtas with yellow and blue flags floating +over them and easily guessed that this was the seat of government. +Soon our guide returned to us. His face was wreathed with smiles. +He flourished his hands and cried: + +"Noyon (the Prince) asks you to come! He is very glad!" + +From a warrior I was forced to change myself into a diplomat. As +we approached the yurta of the Prince, we were met by two +officials, wearing the peaked Mongol caps with peacock feathers +rampants behind. With low obeisances they begged the foreign +"Noyon" to enter the yurta. My friend the Tartar and I entered. +In the rich yurta draped with expensive silk we discovered a +feeble, wizen-faced little old man with shaven face and cropped +hair, wearing also a high pointed beaver cap with red silk apex +topped off with a dark red button with the long peacock feathers +streaming out behind. On his nose were big Chinese spectacles. He +was sitting on a low divan, nervously clicking the beads of his +rosary. This was Ta Lama, Prince of Soldjak and High Priest of the +Buddhist Temple. He welcomed us very cordially and invited us to +sit down before the fire burning in the copper brazier. His +surprisingly beautiful Princess served us with tea and Chinese +confections and cakes. We smoked our pipes, though the Prince as a +Lama did not indulge, fulfilling, however, his duty as a host by +raising to his lips the pipes we offered him and handing us in +return the green nephrite bottle of snuff. Thus with the etiquette +accomplished we awaited the words of the Prince. He inquired +whether our travels had been felicitous and what were our further +plans. I talked with him quite frankly and requested his +hospitality for the rest of our company and for the horses. He +agreed immediately and ordered four yurtas set up for us. + +"I hear that the foreign Noyon," the Prince said, "is a good +doctor." + +"Yes, I know some diseases and have with me some medicines," I +answered, "but I am not a doctor. I am a scientist in other +branches." + +But the Prince did not understand this. In his simple directness a +man who knows how to treat disease is a doctor. + +"My wife has had constant trouble for two months with her eyes," he +announced. "Help her." + +I asked the Princess to show me her eyes and I found the typical +conjunctivitis from the continual smoke of the yurta and the +general uncleanliness. The Tartar brought me my medicine case. I +washed her eyes with boric acid and dropped a little cocaine and a +feeble solution of sulphurate of zinc into them. + +"I beg you to cure me," pleaded the Princess. "Do not go away +until you have cured me. We shall give you sheep, milk and flour +for all your company. I weep now very often because I had very +nice eyes and my husband used to tell me they shone like the stars +and now they are red. I cannot bear it, I cannot!" + +She very capriciously stamped her foot and, coquettishly smiling at +me, asked: + +"Do you want to cure me? Yes?" + +The character and manners of lovely woman are the same everywhere: +on bright Broadway, along the stately Thames, on the vivacious +boulevards of gay Paris and in the silk-draped yurta of the Soyot +Princess behind the larch covered Tannu Ola. + +"I shall certainly try," assuringly answered the new oculist. + +We spent here ten days, surrounded by the kindness and friendship +of the whole family of the Prince. The eyes of the Princess, which +eight years ago had seduced the already old Prince Lama, were now +recovered. She was beside herself with joy and seldom left her +looking-glass. + +The Prince gave me five fairly good horses, ten sheep and a bag of +flour, which was immediately transformed into dry bread. My friend +presented him with a Romanoff five-hundred-rouble note with a +picture of Peter the Great upon it, while I gave to him a small +nugget of gold which I had picked up in the bed of a stream. The +Prince ordered one of the Soyots to guide us to the Kosogol. The +whole family of the Prince conducted us to the monastery ten +kilometres from the "capital." We did not visit the monastery but +we stopped at the "Dugun," a Chinese trading establishment. The +Chinese merchants looked at us in a very hostile manner though they +simultaneously offered us all sorts of goods, thinking especially +to catch us with their round bottles (lanhon) of maygolo or sweet +brandy made from aniseed. As we had neither lump silver nor +Chinese dollars, we could only look with longing at these +attractive bottles, till the Prince came to the rescue and ordered +the Chinese to put five of them in our saddle bags. + + +CHAPTER XIII + +MYSTERIES, MIRACLES AND A NEW FIGHT + + +In the evening of the same day we arrived at the Sacred Lake of +Teri Noor, a sheet of water eight kilometres across, muddy and +yellow, with low unattractive shores studded with large holes. In +the middle of the lake lay what was left of a disappearing island. +On this were a few trees and some old ruins. Our guide explained +to us that two centuries ago the lake did not exist and that a very +strong Chinese fortress stood here on the plain. A Chinese chief +in command of the fortress gave offence to an old Lama who cursed +the place and prophesied that it would all be destroyed. The very +next day the water began rushing up from the ground, destroyed the +fortress and engulfed all the Chinese soldiers. Even to this day +when storms rage over the lake the waters cast up on the shores the +bones of men and horses who perished in it. This Teri Noor +increases its size every year, approaching nearer and nearer to the +mountains. Skirting the eastern shore of the lake, we began to +climb a snow-capped ridge. The road was easy at first but the +guide warned us that the most difficult bit was there ahead. We +reached this point two days later and found there a steep mountain +side thickly set with forest and covered with snow. Beyond it lay +the lines of eternal snow--ridges studded with dark rocks set in +great banks of the white mantle that gleamed bright under the clear +sunshine. These were the eastern and highest branches of the Tannu +Ola system. We spent the night beneath this wood and began the +passage of it in the morning. At noon the guide began leading us +by zigzags in and out but everywhere our trail was blocked by deep +ravines, great jams of fallen trees and walls of rock caught in +their mad tobogganings from the mountain top. We struggled for +several hours, wore out our horses and, all of a sudden, turned up +at the place where we had made our last halt. It was very evident +our Soyot had lost his way; and on his face I noticed marked fear. + +"The old devils of the cursed forest will not allow us to pass," he +whispered with trembling lips. "It is a very ominous sign. We +must return to Kharga to the Noyon." + +But I threatened him and he took the lead again evidently without +hope or effort to find the way. Fortunately, one of our party, an +Urianhai hunter, noticed the blazes on the trees, the signs of the +road which our guide had lost. Following these, we made our way +through the wood, came into and crossed a belt of burned larch +timber and beyond this dipped again into a small live forest +bordering the bottom of the mountains crowned with the eternal +snows. It grew dark so that we had to camp for the night. The +wind rose high and carried in its grasp a great white sheet of snow +that shut us off from the horizon on every side and buried our camp +deep in its folds. Our horses stood round like white ghosts, +refusing to eat or to leave the circle round our fire. The wind +combed their manes and tails. Through the niches in the mountains +it roared and whistled. From somewhere in the distance came the +low rumble of a pack of wolves, punctuated at intervals by the +sharp individual barking that a favorable gust of wind threw up +into high staccato. + +As we lay by the fire, the Soyot came over to me and said: "Noyon, +come with me to the obo. I want to show you something." + +We went there and began to ascend the mountain. At the bottom of a +very steep slope was laid up a large pile of stones and tree +trunks, making a cone of some three metres in height. These obo +are the Lamaite sacred signs set up at dangerous places, the altars +to the bad demons, rulers of these places. Passing Soyots and +Mongols pay tribute to the spirits by hanging on the branches of +the trees in the obo hatyk, long streamers of blue silk, shreds +torn from the lining of their coats or simply tufts of hair cut +from their horses' manes; or by placing on the stones lumps of meat +or cups of tea and salt. + +"Look at it," said the Soyot. "The hatyks are torn off. The +demons are angry, they will not allow us to pass, Noyon. . . ." + +He caught my hand and with supplicating voice whispered: "Let us +go back, Noyon; let us! The demons do not wish us to pass their +mountains. For twenty years no one has dared to pass these +mountains and all bold men who have tried have perished here. The +demons fell upon them with snowstorm and cold. Look! It is +beginning already. . . . Go back to our Noyon, wait for the warmer +days and then. . . ." + +I did not listen further to the Soyot but turned back to the fire, +which I could hardly see through the blinding snow. Fearing our +guide might run away, I ordered a sentry to be stationed for the +night to watch him. Later in the night I was awakened by the +sentry, who said to me: "Maybe I am mistaken, but I think I heard +a rifle." + +What could I say to it? Maybe some stragglers like ourselves were +giving a sign of their whereabouts to their lost companions, or +perhaps the sentry had mistaken for a rifle shot the sound of some +falling rock or frozen ice and snow. Soon I fell asleep again and +suddenly saw in a dream a very clear vision. Out on the plain, +blanketed deep with snow, was moving a line of riders. They were +our pack horses, our Kalmuck and the funny pied horse with the +Roman nose. I saw us descending from this snowy plateau into a +fold in the mountains. Here some larch trees were growing, close +to which gurgled a small, open brook. Afterwards I noticed a fire +burning among the trees and then woke up. + +It grew light. I shook up the others and asked them to prepare +quickly so as not to lose time in getting under way. The storm was +raging. The snow blinded us and blotted out all traces of the +road. The cold also became more intense. At last we were in the +saddles. The Soyot went ahead trying to make out the trail. As we +worked higher the guide less seldom lost the way. Frequently we +fell into deep holes covered with snow; we scrambled up over +slippery rocks. At last the Soyot swung his horse round and, +coming up to me, announced very positively: "I do not want to die +with you and I will not go further." + +My first motion was the swing of my whip back over my head. I was +so close to the "Promised Land" of Mongolia that this Soyot, +standing in the way of fulfilment of my wishes, seemed to me my +worst enemy. But I lowered my flourishing hand. Into my head +flashed a quite wild thought. + +"Listen," I said. "If you move your horses, you will receive a +bullet in the back and you will perish not at the top of the +mountain but at the bottom. And now I will tell you what will +happen to us. When we shall have reached these rocks above, the +wind will have ceased and the snowstorm will have subsided. The +sun will shine as we cross the snowy plain above and afterwards we +shall descend into a small valley where there are larches growing +and a stream of open running water. There we shall light our fires +and spend the night." + +The Soyot began to tremble with fright. + +"Noyon has already passed these mountains of Darkhat Ola?" he asked +in amazement. + +"No," I answered, "but last night I had a vision and I know that we +shall fortunately win over this ridge." + +"I will guide you!" exclaimed the Soyot, and, whipping his horse, +led the way up the steep slope to the top of the ridge of eternal +snows. + +As we were passing along the narrow edge of a precipice, the Soyot +stopped and attentively examined the trail. + +"Today many shod horses have passed here!" he cried through the +roar of the storm. "Yonder on the snow the lash of a whip has been +dragged. These are not Soyots." + +The solution of this enigma appeared instantly. A volley rang out. +One of my companions cried out, as he caught hold of his right +shoulder; one pack horse fell dead with a bullet behind his ear. +We quickly tumbled out of our saddles, lay down behind the rocks +and began to study the situation. We were separated from a +parallel spur of the mountain by a small valley about one thousand +paces across. There we made out about thirty riders already +dismounted and firing at us. I had never allowed any fighting to +be done until the initiative had been taken by the other side. Our +enemy fell upon us unawares and I ordered my company to answer. + +"Aim at the horses!" cried Colonel Ostrovsky. Then he ordered the +Tartar and Soyot to throw our own animals. We killed six of theirs +and probably wounded others, as they got out of control. Also our +rifles took toll of any bold man who showed his head from behind +his rock. We heard the angry shouting and maledictions of Red +soldiers who shot up our position more and more animatedly. + +Suddenly I saw our Soyot kick up three of the horses and spring +into the saddle of one with the others in leash behind. Behind him +sprang up the Tartar and the Kalmuck. I had already drawn my rifle +on the Soyot but, as soon as I saw the Tartar and Kalmuck on their +lovely horses behind him, I dropped my gun and knew all was well. +The Reds let off a volley at the trio but they made good their +escape behind the rocks and disappeared. The firing continued more +and more lively and I did not know what to do. From our side we +shot rarely, saving our cartridges. Watching carefully the enemy, +I noticed two black points on the snow high above the Reds. They +slowly approached our antagonists and finally were hidden from view +behind some sharp hillocks. When they emerged from these, they +were right on the edge of some overhanging rocks at the foot of +which the Reds lay concealed from us. By this time I had no doubt +that these were the heads of two men. Suddenly these men rose up +and I watched them flourish and throw something that was followed +by two deafening roars which re-echoed across the mountain valley. +Immediately a third explosion was followed by wild shouts and +disorderly firing among the Reds. Some of the horses rolled down +the slope into the snow below and the soldiers, chased by our +shots, made off as fast as they could down into the valley out of +which we had come. + +Afterward the Tartar told me the Soyot had proposed to guide them +around behind the Reds to fall upon their rear with the bombs. +When I had bound up the wounded shoulder of the officer and we had +taken the pack off the killed animal, we continued our journey. +Our position was complicated. We had no doubt that the Red +detachment came up from Mongolia. Therefore, were there Red troops +in Mongolia? What was their strength? Where might we meet them? +Consequently, Mongolia was no more the Promised Land? Very sad +thoughts took possession of us. + +But Nature pleased us. The wind gradually fell. The storm ceased. +The sun more and more frequently broke through the scudding clouds. +We were traveling upon a high, snow-covered plateau, where in one +place the wind blew it clean and in another piled it high with +drifts which caught our horses and held them so that they could +hardly extricate themselves at times. We had to dismount and wade +through the white piles up to our waists and often a man or horse +was down and had to be helped to his feet. At last the descent +began and at sunset we stopped in the small larch grove, spent the +night at the fire among the trees and drank the tea boiled in the +water carried from the open mountain brook. In various places we +came across the tracks of our recent antagonists. + +Everything, even Nature herself and the angry demons of Darkhat +Ola, had helped us: but we were not gay, because again before us +lay the dread uncertainty that threatened us with new and possibly +destructive dangers. + + +CHAPTER XIV + +THE RIVER OF THE DEVIL + + +Ulan Taiga with Darkhat Ola lay behind us. We went forward very +rapidly because the Mongol plains began here, free from the +impediments of mountains. Everywhere splendid grazing lands +stretched away. In places there were groves of larch. We crossed +some very rapid streams but they were not deep and they had hard +beds. After two days of travel over the Darkhat plain we began +meeting Soyots driving their cattle rapidly toward the northwest +into Orgarkha Ola. They communicated to us very unpleasant news. + +The Bolsheviki from the Irkutsk district had crossed the Mongolian +border, captured the Russian colony at Khathyl on the southern +shore of Lake Kosogol and turned, off south toward Muren Kure, a +Russian settlement beside a big Lamaite monastery sixty miles south +of Kosogol. The Mongols told us there were no Russian troops +between Khathyl and Muren Kure, so we decided to pass between these +two points to reach Van Kure farther to the east. We took leave of +our Soyot guide and, after having sent three scouts in advance, +moved forward. From the mountains around the Kosogol we admired +the splendid view of this broad Alpine lake. It was set like a +sapphire in the old gold of the surrounding hills, chased with +lovely bits of rich dark forestry. At night we approached Khathyl +with great precaution and stopped on the shore of the river that +flows from Kosogol, the Yaga or Egingol. We found a Mongol who +agreed to transport us to the other bank of the frozen stream and +to lead us by a safe road between Khathyl and Muren Kure. +Everywhere along the shore of the river were found large obo and +small shrines to the demons of the stream. + +"Why are there so many obo?" we asked the Mongol. + +"It is the River of the Devil, dangerous and crafty," replied the +Mongol. "Two days ago a train of carts went through the ice and +three of them with five soldiers were lost." + +We started to cross. The surface of the river resembled a thick +piece of looking-glass, being clear and without snow. Our horses +walked very carefully but some fell and floundered before they +could regain their feet. We were leading them by the bridle. With +bowed heads and trembling all over they kept their frightened eyes +ever on the ice at their feet. I looked down and understood their +fear. Through the cover of one foot of transparent ice one could +clearly see the bottom of the river. Under the lighting of the +moon all the stones, the holes and even some of the grasses were +distinctly visible, even though the depth was ten metres and more. +The Yaga rushed under the ice with a furious speed, swirling and +marking its course with long bands of foam and bubbles. Suddenly I +jumped and stopped as though fastened to the spot. Along the +surface of the river ran the boom of a cannon, followed by a second +and a third. + +"Quicker, quicker!" cried our Mongol, waving us forward with his +hand. + +Another cannon boom and a crack ran right close to us. The horses +swung back on their haunches in protest, reared and fell, many of +them striking their heads severely on the ice. In a second it +opened up two feet wide, so that I could follow its jagged course +along the surface. Immediately up out of the opening the water +spread over the ice with a rush. + +"Hurry, hurry!" shouted the guide. + +With great difficulty we forced our horses to jump over this +cleavage and to continue on further. They trembled and disobeyed +and only the strong lash forced them to forget this panic of fear +and go on. + +When we were safe on the farther bank and well into the woods, our +Mongol guide recounted to us how the river at times opens in this +mysterious way and leaves great areas of clear water. All the men +and animals on the river at such times must perish. The furious +current of cold water will always carry them down under the ice. +At other times a crack has been known to pass right under a horse +and, where he fell in with his front feet in the attempt to get +back to the other side, the crack has closed up and ground his legs +or feet right off. + +The valley of Kosogol is the crater of an extinct volcano. Its +outlines may be followed from the high west shore of the lake. +However, the Plutonic force still acts and, asserting the glory of +the Devil, forces the Mongols to build obo and offer sacrifices at +his shrines. We spent all the night and all the next day hurrying +away eastward to avoid a meeting with the Reds and seeking good +pasturage for our horses. At about nine o'clock in the evening a +fire shone out of the distance. My friend and I made toward it +with the feeling that it was surely a Mongol yurta beside which we +could camp in safety. We traveled over a mile before making out +distinctly the lines of a group of yurtas. But nobody came out to +meet us and, what astonished us more, we were not surrounded by the +angry black Mongolian dogs with fiery eyes. Still, from the +distance we had seen the fire and so there must be someone there. +We dismounted from our horses and approached on foot. From out of +the yurta rushed two Russian soldiers, one of whom shot at me with +his pistol but missed me and wounded my horse in the back through +the saddle. I brought him to earth with my Mauser and the other +was killed by the butt end of my friend's rifle. We examined the +bodies and found in their pockets the papers of soldiers of the +Second Squadron of the Communist Interior Defence. Here we spent +the night. The owners of the yurtas had evidently run away, for +the Red soldiers had collected and packed in sacks the property of +the Mongols. Probably they were just planning to leave, as they +were fully dressed. We acquired two horses, which we found in the +bushes, two rifles and two automatic pistols with cartridges. In +the saddle bags we also found tea, tobacco, matches and cartridges-- +all of these valuable supplies to help us keep further hold on our +lives. + +Two days later we were approaching the shore of the River Uri when +we met two Russian riders, who were the Cossacks of a certain +Ataman Sutunin, acting against the Bolsheviki in the valley of the +River Selenga. They were riding to carry a message from Sutunin to +Kaigorodoff, chief of the Anti-Bolsheviki in the Altai region. +They informed us that along the whole Russian-Mongolian border the +Bolshevik troops were scattered; also that Communist agitators had +penetrated to Kiakhta, Ulankom and Kobdo and had persuaded the +Chinese authorities to surrender to the Soviet authorities all the +refugees from Russia. We knew that in the neighborhood of Urga and +Van Kure engagements were taking place between the Chinese troops +and the detachments of the Anti-Bolshevik Russian General Baron +Ungern Sternberg and Colonel Kazagrandi, who were fighting for the +independence of Outer Mongolia. Baron Ungern had now been twice +defeated, so that the Chinese were carrying on high-handed in Urga, +suspecting all foreigners of having relations with the Russian +General. + +We realized that the whole situation was sharply reversed. The +route to the Pacific was closed. Reflecting very carefully over +the problem, I decided that we had but one possible exit left. We +must avoid all Mongolian cities with Chinese administration, cross +Mongolia from north to south, traverse the desert in the southern +part of the Principality of Jassaktu Khan, enter the Gobi in the +western part of Inner Mongolia, strike as rapidly as possible +through sixty miles of Chinese territory in the Province of Kansu +and penetrate into Tibet. Here I hoped to search out one of the +English Consuls and with his help to reach some English port in +India. I understood thoroughly all the difficulties incident to +such an enterprise but I had no other choice. It only remained to +make this last foolish attempt or to perish without doubt at the +hands of the Boisheviki or languish in a Chinese prison. When I +announced my plan to my companions, without in any way hiding from +them all its dangers and quixotism, all of them answered very +quickly and shortly: "Lead us! We will follow." + +One circumstance was distinctly in our favor. We did not fear +hunger, for we had some supplies of tea, tobacco and matches and a +surplus of horses, saddles, rifles, overcoats and boots, which were +an excellent currency for exchange. So then we began to initiate +the plan of the new expedition. We should start to the south, +leaving the town of Uliassutai on our right and taking the +direction of Zaganluk, then pass through the waste lands of the +district of Balir of Jassaktu Khan, cross the Naron Khuhu Gobi and +strike for the mountains of Boro. Here we should be able to take a +long rest to recuperate the strength of our horses and of +ourselves. The second section of our journey would be the passage +through the western part of Inner Mongolia, through the Little +Gobi, through the lands of the Torguts, over the Khara Mountains, +across Kansu, where our road must be chosen to the west of the +Chinese town of Suchow. From there we should have to enter the +Dominion of Kuku Nor and then work on southward to the head waters +of the Yangtze River. Beyond this I had but a hazy notion, which +however I was able to verify from a map of Asia in the possession +of one of the officers, to the effect that the mountain chains to +the west of the sources of the Yangtze separated that river system +from the basin of the Brahmaputra in Tibet Proper, where I expected +to be able to find English assistance. + + +CHAPTER XV + +THE MARCH OF GHOSTS + + +In no other way can I describe the journey from the River Ero to +the border of Tibet. About eleven hundred miles through the snowy +steppes, over mountains and across deserts we traveled in forty- +eight days. We hid from the people as we journeyed, made short +stops in the most desolate places, fed for whole weeks on nothing +but raw, frozen meat in order to avoid attracting attention by the +smoke of fires. Whenever we needed to purchase a sheep or a steer +for our supply department, we sent out only two unarmed men who +represented to the natives that they were the workmen of some +Russian colonists. We even feared to shoot, although we met a +great herd of antelopes numbering as many as five thousand head. +Behind Balir in the lands of the Lama Jassaktu Khan, who had +inherited his throne as a result of the poisoning of his brother at +Urga by order of the Living Buddha, we met wandering Russian +Tartars who had driven their herds all the way from Altai and +Abakan. They welcomed us very cordially, gave us oxen and thirty- +six bricks of tea. Also they saved us from inevitable destruction, +for they told us that at this season it was utterly impossible for +horses to make the trip across the Gobi, where there was no grass +at all. We must buy camels by exchanging for them our horses and +some other of our bartering supplies. One of the Tartars the next +day brought to their camp a rich Mongol with whom he drove the +bargain for this trade. He gave us nineteen camels and took all +our horses, one rifle, one pistol and the best Cossack saddle. He +advised us by all means to visit the sacred Monastery of +Narabanchi, the last Lamaite monastery on the road from Mongolia to +Tibet. He told us that the Holy Hutuktu, "the Incarnate Buddha," +would be greatly offended if we did not visit the monastery and his +famous "Shrine of Blessings," where all travelers going to Tibet +always offered prayers. Our Kalmuck Lamaite supported the Mongol +in this. I decided to go there with the Kalmuck. The Tartars gave +me some big silk hatyk as presents and loaned us four splendid +horses. Although the monastery was fifty-five miles distant, by +nine o'clock in the evening I entered the yurta of this holy +Hutuktu. + +He was a middle-aged, clean shaven, spare little man, laboring +under the name of Jelyb Djamsrap Hutuktu. He received us very +cordially and was greatly pleased with the presentation of the +hatyk and with my knowledge of the Mongol etiquette in which my +Tartar had been long and persistently instructing me. He listened +to me most attentively and gave valuable advice about the road, +presenting me then with a ring which has since opened for me the +doors of all Lamaite monasteries. The name of this Hutuktu is +highly esteemed not only in all Mongolia but in Tibet and in the +Lamaite world of China. We spent the night in his splendid yurta +and on the following morning visited the shrines where they were +conducting very solemn services with the music of gongs, tom-toms +and whistling. The Lamas with their deep voices were intoning the +prayers while the lesser priests answered with their antiphonies. +The sacred phrase: "Om! Mani padme Hung!" was endlessly repeated. + +The Hutuktu wished us success, presented us with a large yellow +hatyk and accompanied us to the monastery gate. When we were in +our saddles he said: + +"Remember that you are always welcome guests here. Life is very +complicated and anything may happen. Perhaps you will be forced in +future to re-visit distant Mongolia and then do not miss Narabanchi +Kure." + +That night we returned to the Tartars and the next day continued +our journey. As I was very tired, the slow, easy motion of the +camel was welcome and restful to me. All the day I dozed off at +intervals to sleep. It turned out to be very disastrous for me; +for, when my camel was going up the steep bank of a river, in one +of my naps I fell off and hit my head on a stone, lost +consciousness and woke up to find my overcoat covered with blood. +My friends surrounded me with their frightened faces. They +bandaged my head and we started off again. I only learned long +afterwards from a doctor who examined me that I had cracked my +skull as the price of my siesta. + +We crossed the eastern ranges of the Altai and the Karlik Tag, +which are the most oriental sentinels the great Tian Shan system +throws out into the regions of the Gobi; and then traversed from +the north to the south the entire width of the Khuhu Gobi. Intense +cold ruled all this time and fortunately the frozen sands gave us +better speed. Before passing the Khara range, we exchanged our +rocking-chair steeds for horses, a deal in which the Torguts +skinned us badly like the true "old clothes men" they are. + +Skirting around these mountains we entered Kansu. It was a +dangerous move, for the Chinese were arresting all refugees and I +feared for my Russian fellow-travelers. During the days we hid in +the ravines, the forests and bushes, making forced marches at +night. Four days we thus used in this passage of Kansu. The few +Chinese peasants we did encounter were peaceful appearing and most +hospitable. A marked sympathetic interest surrounded the Kalmuck, +who could speak a bit of Chinese, and my box of medicines. +Everywhere we found many ill people, chiefly afflicted with eye +troubles, rheumatism and skin diseases. + +As we were approaching Nan Shan, the northeast branch of the Altyn +Tag (which is in turn the east branch of the Pamir and Karakhorum +system), we overhauled a large caravan of Chinese merchants going +to Tibet and joined them. For three days we were winding through +the endless ravine-like valleys of these mountains and ascending +the high passes. But we noticed that the Chinese knew how to pick +the easiest routes for caravans over all these difficult places. +In a state of semi-consciousness I made this whole journey toward +the large group of swampy lakes, feeding the Koko Nor and a whole +network of large rivers. From fatigue and constant nervous strain, +probably helped by the blow on my head, I began suffering from +sharp attacks of chills and fever, burning up at times and then +chattering so with my teeth that I frightened my horse who several +times threw me from the saddle. I raved, cried out at times and +even wept. I called my family and instructed them how they must +come to me. I remember as though through a dream how I was taken +from the horse by my companions, laid on the ground, supplied with +Chinese brandy and, when I recovered a little, how they said to me: + +"The Chinese merchants are heading for the west and we must travel +south." + +"No! To the north," I replied very sharply. + +"But no, to the south," my companions assured me. + +"God and the Devil!" I angrily ejaculated, "we have just swum the +Little Yenisei and Algyak is to the north!" + +"We are in Tibet," remonstrated my companions. "We must reach the +Brahmaputra." + +Brahmaputra. . . . Brahmaputra. . . . This word revolved in my +fiery brain, made a terrible noise and commotion. Suddenly I +remembered everything and opened my eyes. I hardly moved my lips +and soon I again lost consciousness. My companions brought me to +the monastery of Sharkhe, where the Lama doctor quickly brought me +round with a solution of fatil or Chinese ginseng. In discussing +our plans he expressed grave doubt as to whether we would get +through Tibet but he did not wish to explain to me the reason for +his doubts. + + +CHAPTER XVI + +IN MYSTERIOUS TIBET + + +A fairly broad road led out from Sharkhe through the mountains and +on the fifth day of our two weeks' march to the south from the +monastery we emerged into the great bowl of the mountains in whose +center lay the large lake of Koko Nor. If Finland deserves the +ordinary title of the "Land of Ten Thousand Lakes," the dominion of +Koko Nor may certainly with justice be called the "Country of a +Million Lakes." We skirted this lake on the west between it and +Doulan Kitt, zigzagging between the numerous swamps, lakes and +small rivers, deep and miry. The water was not here covered with +ice and only on the tops of the mountains did we feel the cold +winds sharply. We rarely met the natives of the country and only +with greatest difficulty did our Kalmuck learn the course of the +road from the occasional shepherds we passed. From the eastern +shore of the Lake of Tassoun we worked round to a monastery on the +further side, where we stopped for a short rest. Besides ourselves +there was also another group of guests in the holy place. These +were Tibetans. Their behavior was very impertinent and they +refused to speak with us. They were all armed, chiefly with the +Russian military rifles and were draped with crossed bandoliers of +cartridges with two or three pistols stowed beneath belts with more +cartridges sticking out. They examined us very sharply and we +readily realized that they were estimating our martial strength. +After they had left on that same day I ordered our Kalmuck to +inquire from the High Priest of the temple exactly who they were. +For a long time the monk gave evasive answers but when I showed him +the ring of Hutuktu Narabanchi and presented him with a large +yellow hatyk, he became more communicative. + +"Those are bad people," he explained. "Have a care of them." + +However, he was not willing to give their names, explaining his +refusal by citing the Law of Buddhist lands against pronouncing the +name of one's father, teacher or chief. Afterwards I found out +that in North Tibet there exists the same custom as in North China. +Here and there bands of hunghutze wander about. They appear at the +headquarters of the leading trading firms and at the monasteries, +claim tribute and after their collections become the protectors of +the district. Probably this Tibetan monastery had in this band +just such protectors. + +When we continued our trip, we frequently noticed single horsemen +far away or on the horizon, apparently studying our movements with +care. All our attempts to approach them and enter into +conversation with them were entirely unsuccessful. On their speedy +little horses they disappeared like shadows. As we reached the +steep and difficult Pass on the Hamshan and were preparing to spend +the night there, suddenly far up on a ridge above us appeared about +forty horsemen with entirely white mounts and without formal +introduction or warning spattered us with a hail of bullets. Two +of our officers fell with a cry. One had been instantly killed +while the other lived some few minutes. I did not allow my men to +shoot but instead I raised a white flag and started forward with +the Kalmuck for a parley. At first they fired two shots at us but +then ceased firing and sent down a group of riders from the ridge +toward us. We began the parley. The Tibetans explained that +Hamshan is a holy mountain and that here one must not spend the +night, advising us to proceed farther where we could consider +ourselves in safety. They inquired from us whence we came and +whither we were going, stated in answer to our information about +the purpose of our journey that they knew the Bolsheviki and +considered them the liberators of the people of Asia from the yoke +of the white race. I certainly did not want to begin a political +quarrel with them and so turned back to our companions. Riding +down the slope toward our camp, I waited momentarily for a shot in +the back but the Tibetan hunghutze did not shoot. + +We moved forward, leaving among the stones the bodies of two of our +companions as sad tribute to the difficulties and dangers of our +journey. We rode all night, with our exhausted horses constantly +stopping and some lying down under us, but we forced them ever +onward. At last, when the sun was at its zenith, we finally +halted. Without unsaddling our horses, we gave them an opportunity +to lie down for a little rest. Before us lay a broad, swampy +plain, where was evidently the sources of the river Ma-chu. Not +far beyond lay the Lake of Aroung Nor. We made our fire of cattle +dung and began boiling water for our tea. Again without any +warning the bullets came raining in from all sides. Immediately we +took cover behind convenient rocks and waited developments. The +firing became faster and closer, the raiders appeared on the whole +circle round us and the bullets came ever in increasing numbers. +We had fallen into a trap and had no hope but to perish. We +realized this clearly. I tried anew to begin the parley; but when +I stood up with my white flag, the answer was only a thicker rain +of bullets and unfortunately one of these, ricocheting off a rock, +struck me in the left leg and lodged there. At the same moment +another one of our company was killed. We had no other choice and +were forced to begin fighting. The struggle continued for about +two hours. Besides myself three others received slight wounds. We +resisted as long as we could. The hunghutze approached and our +situation became desperate. + +"There's no choice," said one of my associates, a very expert +Colonel. "We must mount and ride for it . . . anywhere." + +"Anywhere. . . ." It was a terrible word! We consulted for but an +instant. It was apparent that with this band of cut-throats behind +us the farther we went into Tibet, the less chance we had of saving +our lives. + +We decided to return to Mongolia. But how? That we did not know. +And thus we began our retreat. Firing all the time, we trotted our +horses as fast as we could toward the north. One after another +three of my companions fell. There lay my Tartar with a bullet +through his neck. After him two young and fine stalwart officers +were carried from their saddles with cries of death, while their +scared horses broke out across the plain in wild fear, perfect +pictures of our distraught selves. This emboldened the Tibetans, +who became more and more audacious. A bullet struck the buckle on +the ankle strap of my right foot and carried it, with a piece of +leather and cloth, into my leg just above the ankle. My old and +much tried friend, the agronome, cried out as he grasped his +shoulder and then I saw him wiping and bandaging as best as he +could his bleeding forehead. A second afterward our Kalmuck was +hit twice right through the palm of the same hand, so that it was +entirely shattered. Just at this moment fifteen of the hunghutze +rushed against us in a charge. + +"Shoot at them with volley fire!" commanded our Colonel. + +Six robber bodies lay on the turf, while two others of the gang +were unhorsed and ran scampering as fast as they could after their +retreating fellows. Several minutes later the fire of our +antagonists ceased and they raised a white flag. Two riders came +forward toward us. In the parley it developed that their chief had +been wounded through the chest and they came to ask us to "render +first aid." At once I saw a ray of hope. I took my box of +medicines and my groaning, cursing, wounded Kalmuck to interpret +for me. + +"Give that devil some cyanide of potassium," urged my companions. + +But I devised another scheme. + +We were led to the wounded chief. There he lay on the saddle +cloths among the rocks, represented to us to be a Tibetan but I at +once recognized him from his cast of countenance to be a Sart or +Turcoman, probably from the southern part of Turkestan. He looked +at me with a begging and frightened gaze. Examining him, I found +the bullet had passed through his chest from left to right, that he +had lost much blood and was very weak. Conscientiously I did all +that I could for him. In the first place I tried on my own tongue +all the medicines to be used on him, even the iodoform, in order to +demonstrate that there was no poison among them. I cauterized the +wound with iodine, sprinkled it with iodoform and applied the +bandages. I ordered that the wounded man be not touched nor moved +and that he be left right where he lay. Then I taught a Tibetan +how the dressing must be changed and left with him medicated +cotton, bandages and a little iodoform. To the patient, in whom +the fever was already developing, I gave a big dose of aspirin and +left several tablets of quinine with them. Afterwards, addressing +myself to the bystanders through my Kalmuck, I said very solemnly: + +"The wound is very dangerous but I gave to your Chief very strong +medicine and hope that he will recover. One condition, however, is +necessary: the bad demons which have rushed to his side for his +unwarranted attack upon us innocent travelers will instantly kill +him, if another shot is let off against us. You must not even keep +a single cartridge in your rifles." + +With these words I ordered the Kalmuck to empty his rifle and I, at +the same time, took all the cartridges out of my Mauser. The +Tibetans instantly and very servilely followed my example. + +"Remember that I told you: 'Eleven days and eleven nights do not +move from this place and do not charge your rifles.' Otherwise the +demon of death will snatch off your Chief and will pursue you!"-- +and with these words I solemnly drew forth and raised above their +heads the ring of Hutuktu Narabanchi. + +I returned to my companions and calmed them. I told them we were +safe against further attack from the robbers and that we must only +guess the way to reach Mongolia. Our horses were so exhausted and +thin that on their bones we could have hung our overcoats. We +spent two days here, during which time I frequently visited my +patient. It also gave us opportunity to bandage our own +fortunately light wounds and to secure a little rest; though +unfortunately I had nothing but a jackknife with which to dig the +bullet out of my left calf and the shoemaker's accessories from my +right ankle. Inquiring from the brigands about the caravan roads, +we soon made our way out to one of the main routes and had the good +fortune to meet there the caravan of the young Mongol Prince +Pounzig, who was on a holy mission carrying a message from the +Living Buddha in Urga to the Dalai Lama in Lhasa. He helped us to +purchase horses, camels and food. + +With all our arms and supplies spent in barter during the journey +for the purchase of transport and food, we returned stripped and +broken to the Narabanchi Monastery, where we were welcomed by the +Hutuktu. + +"I knew you would come back," said he. "The divinations revealed +it all to me." + +With six of our little band left behind us in Tibet to pay the +eternal toll of our dash for the south we returned but twelve to +the Monastery and waited there two weeks to re-adjust ourselves and +learn how events would again set us afloat on this turbulent sea to +steer for any port that Destiny might indicate. The officers +enlisted in the detachment which was then being formed in Mongolia +to fight against the destroyers of their native land, the +Bolsheviki. My original companion and I prepared to continue our +journey over Mongolian plains with whatever further adventures and +dangers might come in the struggle to escape to a place of safety. + +And now, with the scenes of that trying march so vividly recalled, +I would dedicate these chapters to my gigantic, old and ruggedly +tried friend, the agronome, to my Russian fellow-travelers, and +especially, to the sacred memory of those of our companions whose +bodies lie cradled in the sleep among the mountains of Tibet-- +Colonel Ostrovsky, Captains Zuboff and Turoff, Lieutenant +Pisarjevsky, Cossack Vernigora and Tartar Mahomed Spirin. Also +here I express my deep thanks for help and friendship to the Prince +of Soldjak, Hereditary Noyon Ta Lama and to the Kampo Gelong of +Narabanchi Monastery, the honorable Jelyb Djamsrap Hutuktu. + + + +Part II + +THE LAND OF DEMONS + + +CHAPTER XVII + +MYSTERIOUS MONGOLIA + + +In the heart of Asia lies the enormous, mysterious and rich country +of Mongolia. From somewhere on the snowy slopes of the Tian Shan +and from the hot sands of Western Zungaria to the timbered ridges +of the Sayan and to the Great Wall of China it stretches over a +huge portion of Central Asia. The cradle of peoples, histories and +legends; the native land of bloody conquerors, who have left here +their capitals covered by the sand of the Gobi, their mysterious +rings and their ancient nomad laws; the states of monks and evil +devils, the country of wandering tribes administered by the +descendants of Jenghiz Khan and Kublai Khan--Khans and Princes of +the Junior lines: that is Mongolia. + +Mysterious country of the cults of Rama, Sakkia-Mouni, Djonkapa and +Paspa, cults guarded by the very person of the living Buddha-- +Buddha incarnated in the third dignitary of the Lamaite religion-- +Bogdo Gheghen in Ta Kure or Urga; the land of mysterious doctors, +prophets, sorcerers, fortune-tellers and witches; the land of the +sign of the swastika; the land which has not forgotten the thoughts +of the long deceased great potentates of Asia and of half of +Europe: that is Mongolia. + +The land of nude mountains, of plains burned by the sun and killed +by the cold, of ill cattle and ill people; the nest of pests, +anthrax and smallpox; the land of boiling hot springs and of +mountain passes inhabited by demons; of sacred lakes swarming with +fish; of wolves, rare species of deer and mountain goats, marmots +in millions, wild horses, wild donkeys and wild camels that have +never known the bridle, ferocious dogs and rapacious birds of prey +which devour the dead bodies cast out on the plains by the people: +that is Mongolia. + +The land whose disappearing primitive people gaze upon the bones of +their forefathers whitening in the sands and dust of their plains; +where are dying out the people who formerly conquered China, Siam, +Northern India and Russia and broke their chests against the iron +lances of the Polish knights, defending then all the Christian +world against the invasion of wild and wandering Asia: that is +Mongolia. + +The land swelling with natural riches, producing nothing, in need +of everything, destitute and suffering from the world's cataclysm: +that is Mongolia. + +In this land, by order of Fate, after my unsuccessful attempt to +reach the Indian Ocean through Tibet, I spent half a year in the +struggle to live and to escape. My old and faithful friend and I +were compelled, willy-nilly, to participate in the exceedingly +important and dangerous events transpiring in Mongolia in the year +of grace 1921. Thanks to this, I came to know the calm, good and +honest Mongolian people; I read their souls, saw their sufferings +and hopes; I witnessed the whole horror of their oppression and +fear before the face of Mystery, there where Mystery pervades all +life. I watched the rivers during the severe cold break with a +rumbling roar their chains of ice; saw lakes cast up on their +shores the bones of human beings; heard unknown wild voices in the +mountain ravines; made out the fires over miry swamps of the will- +o'-the-wisps; witnessed burning lakes; gazed upward to mountains +whose peaks could not be scaled; came across great balls of +writhing snakes in the ditches in winter; met with streams which +are eternally frozen, rocks like petrified caravans of camels, +horsemen and carts; and over all saw the barren mountains whose +folds looked like the mantle of Satan, which the glow of the +evening sun drenched with blood. + +"Look up there!" cried an old shepherd, pointing to the slope of +the cursed Zagastai. "That is no mountain. It is HE who lies in +his red mantle and awaits the day when he will rise again to begin +the fight with the good spirits." + +And as he spoke I recalled the mystic picture of the noted painter +Vroubel. The same nude mountains with the violet and purple robes +of Satan, whose face is half covered by an approaching grey cloud. +Mongolia is a terrible land of mystery and demons. Therefore it is +no wonder that here every violation of the ancient order of life of +the wandering nomad tribes is transformed into streams of red blood +and horror, ministering to the demonic pleasure of Satan couched on +the bare mountains and robed in the grey cloak of dejection and +sadness, or in the purple mantle of war and vengeance. + +After returning from the district of Koko Nor to Mongolia and +resting a few days at the Narabanchi Monastery, we went to live in +Uliassutai, the capital of Western Outer Mongolia. It is the last +purely Mongolian town to the west. In Mongolia there are but three +purely Mongolian towns, Urga, Uliassutai and Ulankom. The fourth +town, Kobdo, has an essentially Chinese character, being the center +of Chinese administration in this district inhabited by the +wandering tribes only nominally recognizing the influence of either +Peking or Urga. In Uliassutai and Ulankom, besides the unlawful +Chinese commissioners and troops, there were stationed Mongolian +governors or "Saits," appointed by the decree of the Living Buddha. + +When we arrived in that town, we were at once in the sea of +political passions. The Mongols were protesting in great agitation +against the Chinese policy in their country; the Chinese raged and +demanded from the Mongolians the payment of taxes for the full +period since the autonomy of Mongolia had been forcibly extracted +from Peking; Russian colonists who had years before settled near +the town and in the vicinity of the great monasteries or among the +wandering tribes had separated into factions and were fighting +against one another; from Urga came the news of the struggle for +the maintenance of the independence of Outer Mongolia, led by the +Russian General, Baron Ungern von Sternberg; Russian officers and +refugees congregated in detachments, against which the Chinese +authorities protested but which the Mongols welcomed; the +Bolsheviki, worried by the formation of White detachments in +Mongolia, sent their troops to the borders of Mongolia; from +Irkutsk and Chita to Uliassutai and Urga envoys were running from +the Bolsheviki to the Chinese commissioners with various proposals +of all kinds; the Chinese authorities in Mongolia were gradually +entering into secret relations with the Bolsheviki and in Kiakhta +and Ulankom delivered to them the Russian refugees, thus violating +recognized international law; in Urga the Bolsheviki set up a +Russian communistic municipality; Russian Consuls were inactive; +Red troops in the region of Kosogol and the valley of the Selenga +had encounters with Anti-Bolshevik officers; the Chinese +authorities established garrisons in the Mongolian towns and sent +punitive expeditions into the country; and, to complete the +confusion, the Chinese troops carried out house-to-house searches, +during which they plundered and stole. + +Into what an atmosphere we had fallen after our hard and dangerous +trip along the Yenisei, through Urianhai, Mongolia, the lands of +the Turguts, Kansu and Koko Nor! + +"Do you know," said my old friend to me, "I prefer strangling +Partisans and fighting with the hunghutze to listening to news and +more anxious news!" + +He was right; for the worst of it was that in this bustle and whirl +of facts, rumours and gossip the Reds could approach troubled +Uliassutai and take everyone with their bare hands. We should very +willingly have left this town of uncertainties but we had no place +to go. In the north were the hostile Partisans and Red troops; to +the south we had already lost our companions and not a little of +our own blood; to the west raged the Chinese administrators and +detachments; and to the east a war had broken out, the news of +which, in spite of the attempts of the Chinese authorities at +secrecy, had filtered through and had testified to the seriousness +of the situation in this part of Outer Mongolia. Consequently we +had no choice but to remain in Uliassutai. Here also were living +several Polish soldiers who had escaped from the prison camps in +Russia, two Polish families and two American firms, all in the same +plight as ourselves. We joined together and made our own +intelligence department, very carefully watching the evolution of +events. We succeeded in forming good connections with the Chinese +commissioner and with the Mongolian Sait, which greatly helped us +in our orientation. + +What was behind all these events in Mongolia? The very clever +Mongol Sait of Uliassutai gave me the following explanation. + +"According to the agreements between Mongolia, China and Russia of +October 21, 1912, of October 23, 1913, and of June 7, 1915, Outer +Mongolia was accorded independence and the Moral Head of our +'Yellow Faith,' His Holiness the Living Buddha, became the Suzerain +of the Mongolian people of Khalkha or Outer Mongolia with the title +of 'Bogdo Djebtsung Damba Hutuktu Khan.' While Russia was still +strong and carefully watched her policy in Asia, the Government of +Peking kept the treaty; but, when, at the beginning of the war with +Germany, Russia was compelled to withdraw her troops from Siberia, +Peking began to claim the return of its lost rights in Mongolia. +It was because of this that the first two treaties of 1912 and 1913 +were supplemented by the convention of 1915. However, in 1916, +when all the forces of Russia were pre-occupied in the unsuccessful +war and afterwards when the first Russian revolution broke out in +February, 1917, overthrowing the Romanoff Dynasty, the Chinese +Government openly retook Mongolia. They changed all the Mongolian +ministers and Saits, replacing them with individuals friendly to +China; arrested many Mongolian autonomists and sent them to prison +in Peking; set up their administration in Urga and other Mongol +towns; actually removed His Holiness Bogdo Khan from the affairs of +administration; made him only a machine for signing Chinese +decrees; and at last introduced into Mongolia their troops. From +that moment there developed an energetic flow of Chinese merchants +and coolies into Mongolia. The Chinese began to demand the payment +of taxes and dues from 1912. The Mongolian population were rapidly +stripped of their wealth and now in the vicinities of our towns and +monasteries you can see whole settlements of beggar Mongols living +in dugouts. All our Mongol arsenals and treasuries were +requisitioned. All monasteries were forced to pay taxes; all +Mongols working for the liberty of their country were persecuted; +through bribery with Chinese silver, orders and titles the Chinese +secured a following among the poorer Mongol Princes. It is easy to +understand how the governing class, His Holiness, Khans, Princes, +and high Lamas, as well as the ruined and oppressed people, +remembering that the Mongol rulers had once held Peking and China +in their hands and under their reign had given her the first place +in Asia, were definitely hostile to the Chinese administrators +acting thus. Insurrection was, however, impossible. We had no +arms. All our leaders were under surveillance and every movement +by them toward an armed resistance would have ended in the same +prison at Peking where eighty of our Nobles, Princes and Lamas died +from hunger and torture after a previous struggle for the liberty +of Mongolia. Some abnormally strong shock was necessary to drive +the people into action. This was given by the Chinese +administrators, General Cheng Yi and General Chu Chi-hsiang. They +announced that His Holiness Bogdo Khan was under arrest in his own +palace, and they recalled to his attention the former decree of the +Peking Government--held by the Mongols to be unwarranted and +illegal--that His Holiness was the last Living Buddha. This was +enough. Immediately secret relations were made between the people +and their Living God, and plans were at once elaborated for the +liberation of His Holiness and for the struggle for liberty and +freedom of our people. We were helped by the great Prince of the +Buriats, Djam Bolon, who began parleys with General Ungern, then +engaged in fighting the Bolsheviki in Transbaikalia, and invited +him to enter Mongolia and help in the war against the Chinese. +Then our struggle for liberty began." + +Thus the Sait of Uliassutai explained the situation to me. +Afterwards I heard that Baron Ungern, who had agreed to fight for +the liberty of Mongolia, directed that the mobilization of the +Mongolians in the northern districts be forwarded at once and +promised to enter Mongolia with his own small detachment, moving +along the River Kerulen. Afterwards he took up relations with the +other Russian detachment of Colonel Kazagrandi and, together with +the mobilized Mongolian riders, began the attack on Urga. Twice he +was defeated but on the third of February, 1921, he succeeded in +capturing the town and replaced the Living Buddha on the throne of +the Khans. + +At the end of March, however, these events were still unknown in +Uliassutai. We knew neither of the fall of Urga nor of the +destruction of the Chinese army of nearly 15,000 in the battles of +Maimachen on the shore of the Tola and on the roads between Urga +and Ude. The Chinese carefully concealed the truth by preventing +anybody from passing westward from Urga. However, rumours existed +and troubled all. The atmosphere became more and more tense, while +the relations between the Chinese on the one side and the +Mongolians and Russians on the other became more and more strained. +At this time the Chinese Commissioner in Uliassutai was Wang Tsao- +tsun and his advisor, Fu Hsiang, both very young and inexperienced +men. The Chinese authorities had dismissed the Uliassutai Sait, +the prominent Mongolian patriot, Prince Chultun Beyle, and had +appointed a Lama Prince friendly to China, the former Vice-Minister +of War in Urga. Oppression increased. The searching of Russian +officers' and colonists' houses and quarters commenced, open +relations with the Bolsheviki followed and arrest and beatings +became common. The Russian officers formed a secret detachment of +sixty men so that they could defend themselves. However, in this +detachment disagreements soon sprang up between Lieutenant-Colonel +M. M. Michailoff and some of his officers. It was evident that in +the decisive moment the detachment must separate into factions. + +We foreigners in council decided to make a thorough reconnaissance +in order to know whether there was danger of Red troops arriving. +My old companion and I agreed to do this scouting. Prince Chultun +Beyle gave us a very good guide--an old Mongol named Tzeren, who +spoke and read Russian perfectly. He was a very interesting +personage, holding the position of interpreter with the Mongolian +authorities and sometimes with the Chinese Commissioner. Shortly +before he had been sent as a special envoy to Peking with very +important despatches and this incomparable horseman had made the +journey between Uliassutai and Peking, that is 1,800 miles, in nine +days, incredible as it may seem. He prepared himself for the +journey by binding all his abdomen and chest, legs, arms and neck +with strong cotton bandages to protect himself from the wracks and +strains of such a period in the saddle. In his cap he bore three +eagle feathers as a token that he had received orders to fly like a +bird. Armed with a special document called a tzara, which gave him +the right to receive at all post stations the best horses, one to +ride and one fully saddled to lead as a change, together with two +oulatchen or guards to accompany him and bring back the horses from +the next station or ourton, he made the distance of from fifteen to +thirty miles between stations at full gallop, stopping only long +enough to have the horses and guards changed before he was off +again. Ahead of him rode one oulatchen with the best horses to +enable him to announce and prepare in advance the complement of +steeds at the next station. Each oulatchen had three horses in +all, so that he could swing from one that had given out and release +him to graze until his return to pick him up and lead or ride him +back home. At every third ourton, without leaving his saddle, he +received a cup of hot green tea with salt and continued his race +southward. After seventeen or eighteen hours of such riding he +stopped at the ourton for the night or what was left of it, +devoured a leg of boiled mutton and slept. Thus he ate once a day +and five times a day had tea; and so he traveled for nine days! + +With this servant we moved out one cold winter morning in the +direction of Kobdo, just over three hundred miles, because from +there we had received the disquieting rumours that the Red troops +had entered Ulankom and that the Chinese authorities had handed +over to them all the Europeans in the town. We crossed the River +Dzaphin on the ice. It is a terrible stream. Its bed is full of +quicksands, which in summer suck in numbers of camels, horses and +men. We entered a long, winding valley among the mountains covered +with deep snow and here and there with groves of the black wood of +the larch. About halfway to Kobdo we came across the yurta of a +shepherd on the shore of the small Lake of Baga Nor, where evening +and a strong wind whirling gusts of snow in our faces easily +persuaded us to stop. By the yurta stood a splendid bay horse with +a saddle richly ornamerited with silver and coral. As we turned in +from the road, two Mongols left the yurta very hastily; one of them +jumped into the saddle and quickly disappeared in the plain behind +the snowy hillocks. We clearly made out the flashing folds of his +yellow robe under the great outer coat and saw his large knife +sheathed in a green leather scabbard and handled with horn and +ivory. The other man was the host of the yurta, the shepherd of a +local prince, Novontziran. He gave signs of great pleasure at +seeing us and receiving us in his yurta. + +"Who was the rider on the bay horse?" we asked. + +He dropped his eyes and was silent. + +"Tell us," we insisted. "If you do not wish to speak his name, it +means that you are dealing with a bad character." + +"No! No!" he remonstrated, flourishing his hands. "He is a good, +great man; but the law does not permit me to speak his name." + +We at once understood that the man was either the chief of the +shepherd or some high Lama. Consequently we did not further insist +and began making our sleeping arrangements. Our host set three +legs of mutton to boil for us, skillfully cutting out the bones +with his heavy knife. We chatted and learned that no one had seen +Red troops around this region but in Kobdo and in Ulankom the +Chinese soldiers were oppressing the population, and were beating +to death with the bamboo Mongol men who were defending their women +against the ravages of these Chinese troops. Some of the Mongols +had retreated to the mountains to join detachments under the +command of Kaigordoff, an Altai Tartar officer who was supplying +them with weapons. + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +THE MYSTERIOUS LAMA AVENGER + + +We rested soundly in the yurta after the two days of travel which +had brought us one hundred seventy miles through the snow and sharp +cold. Round the evening meal of juicy mutton we were talking +freely and carelessly when suddenly we heard a low, hoarse voice: + +"Sayn--Good evening!" + +We turned around from the brazier to the door and saw a medium +height, very heavy set Mongol in deerskin overcoat and cap with +side flaps and the long, wide tying strings of the same material. +Under his girdle lay the same large knife in the green sheath which +we had seen on the departing horseman. + +"Amoursayn," we answered. + +He quickly untied his girdle and laid aside his overcoat. He stood +before us in a wonderful gown of silk, yellow as beaten gold and +girt with a brilliant blue sash. His cleanly shaven face, short +hair, red coral rosary on the left hand and his yellow garment +proved clearly that before us stood some high Lama Priest,--with a +big Colt under his blue sash! + +I turned to my host and Tzeren and read in their faces fear and +veneration. The stranger came over to the brazier and sat down. + +"Let's speak Russian," he said and took a bit of meat. + +The conversation began. The stranger began to find fault with the +Government of the Living Buddha in Urga. + +"There they liberate Mongolia, capture Urga, defeat the Chinese +army and here in the west they give us no news of it. We are +without action here while the Chinese kill our people and steal +from them. I think that Bogdo Khan might send us envoys. How is +it the Chinese can send their envoys from Urga and Kiakhta to +Kobdo, asking for assistance, and the Mongol Government cannot do +it? Why?" + +"Will the Chinese send help to Urga?" I asked. + +Our guest laughed hoarsely and said: "I caught all the envoys, +took away their letters and then sent them back . . . into the +ground." + +He laughed again and glanced around peculiarly with his blazing +eyes. Only then did I notice that his cheekbones and eyes had +lines strange to the Mongols of Central Asia. He looked more like +a Tartar or a Kirghiz. We were silent and smoked our pipes. + +"How soon will the detachment of Chahars leave Uliassutai?" he +asked. + +We answered that we had not heard about them. Our guest explained +that from Inner Mongolia the Chinese authorities had sent out a +strong detachment, mobilized from among the most warlike tribe of +Chahars, which wander about the region just outside the Great Wall. +Its chief was a notorious hunghutze leader promoted by the Chinese +Government to the rank of captain on promising that he would bring +under subjugation to the Chinese authorities all the tribes of the +districts of Kobdo and Urianhai. When he learned whither we were +going and for what purpose, he said he could give us the most +accurate news and relieve us from the necessity of going farther. + +"Besides that, it is very dangerous," he said, "because Kobdo will +be massacred and burned. I know this positively." + +When he heard of our unsuccessful attempt to pass through Tibet, he +became attentive and very sympathetic in his bearing toward us and, +with evident feeling of regret, expressed himself strongly: + +"Only I could have helped you in this enterprise, but not the +Narabanchi Hutuktu. With my laissez-passer you could have gone +anywhere in Tibet. I am Tushegoun Lama." + +Tushegoun Lama! How many extraordinary tales I had heard about +him. He is a Russian Kalmuck, who because of his propaganda work +for the independence of the Kalmuck people made the acquaintance of +many Russian prisons under the Czar and, for the same cause, added +to his list under the Bolsheviki. He escaped to Mongolia and at +once attained to great influence among the Mongols. It was no +wonder, for he was a close friend and pupil of the Dalai Lama in +Potala (Lhasa), was the most learned among the Lamites, a famous +thaumaturgist and doctor. He occupied an almost independent +position in his relationship with the Living Buddha and achieved to +the leadership of all the old wandering tribes of Western Mongolia +and Zungaria, even extending his political domination over the +Mongolian tribes of Turkestan. His influence was irresistible, +based as it was on his great control of mysterious science, as he +expressed it; but I was also told that it has its foundation +largely in the panicky fear which he could produce in the Mongols. +Everyone who disobeyed his orders perished. Such an one never knew +the day or the hour when, in his yurta or beside his galloping +horse on the plains, the strange and powerful friend of the Dalai +Lama would appear. The stroke of a knife, a bullet or strong +fingers strangling the neck like a vise accomplished the justice of +the plans of this miracle worker. + +Without the walls of the yurta the wind whistled and roared and +drove the frozen snow sharply against the stretched felt. Through +the roar of the wind came the sound of many voices in mingled +shouting, wailing and laughter. I felt that in such surroundings +it were not difficult to dumbfound a wandering nomad with miracles, +because Nature herself had prepared the setting for it. This +thought had scarcely time to flash through my mind before Tushegoun +Lama suddenly raised his head, looked sharply at me and said: + +"There is very much unknown in Nature and the skill of using the +unknown produces the miracle; but the power is given to few. I +want to prove it to you and you may tell me afterwards whether you +have seen it before or not." + +He stood up, pushed back the sleeves of his yellow garment, seized +his knife and strode across to the shepherd. + +"Michik, stand up!" he ordered. + +When the shepherd had risen, the Lama quickly unbuttoned his coat +and bared the man's chest. I could not yet understand what was his +intention, when suddenly the Tushegoun with all his force struck +his knife into the chest of the shepherd. The Mongol fell all +covered with blood, a splash of which I noticed on the yellow silk +of the Lama's coat. + +"What have you done?" I exclaimed. + +"Sh! Be still," he whispered turning to me his now quite blanched +face. + +With a few strokes of the knife he opened the chest of the Mongol +and I saw the man's lungs softly breathing and the distinct +palpitations of the heart. The Lama touched these organs with his +fingers but no more blood appeared to flow and the face of the +shepherd was quite calm. He was lying with his eyes closed and +appeared to be in deep and quiet sleep. As the Lama began to open +his abdomen, I shut my eyes in fear and horror; and, when I opened +them a little while later, I was still more dumbfounded at seeing +the shepherd with his coat still open and his breast normal, +quietly sleeping on his side and Tushegoun Lama sitting peacefully +by the brazier, smoking his pipe and looking into the fire in deep +thought. + +"It is wonderful!" I confessed. "I have never seen anything like +it!" + +"About what are you speaking?" asked the Kalmuck. + +"About your demonstration or 'miracle,' as you call it," I +answered. + +"I never said anything like that," refuted the Kalmuck, with +coldness in his voice. + +"Did you see it?" I asked of my companion. + +"What?" he queried in a dozing voice. + +I realized that I had become the victim of the hypnotic power of +Tushegoun Lama; but I preferred this to seeing an innocent +Mongolian die, for I had not believed that Tushegoun Lama, after +slashing open the bodies of his victims, could repair them again so +readily. + +The following day we took leave of our hosts. We decided to +return, inasmuch as our mission was accomplished; and Tushegoun +Lama explained to us that he would "move through space." He +wandered over all Mongolia, lived both in the single, simple yurta +of the shepherd and hunter and in the splendid tents of the princes +and tribal chiefs, surrounded by deep veneration and panic-fear, +enticing and cementing to him rich and poor alike with his miracles +and prophecies. When bidding us adieu, the Kalmuck sorcerer slyly +smiled and said: + +"Do not give any information about me to the Chinese authorities." + +Afterwards he added: "What happened to you yesterday evening was a +futile demonstration. You Europeans will not recognize that we +dark-minded nomads possess the powers of mysterious science. If +you could only see the miracles and power of the Most Holy Tashi +Lama, when at his command the lamps and candles before the ancient +statue of Buddha light themselves and when the ikons of the gods +begin to speak and prophesy! But there exists a more powerful and +more holy man. . ." + +"Is it the King of the World in Agharti?" I interrupted. + +He stared and glanced at me in amazement. + +"Have you heard about him?" he asked, as his brows knit in thought. + +After a few seconds he raised his narrow eyes and said: "Only one +man knows his holy name; only one man now living was ever in +Agharti. That is I. This is the reason why the Most Holy Dalai +Lama has honored me and why the Living Buddha in Urga fears me. +But in vain, for I shall never sit on the Holy Throne of the +highest priest in Lhasa nor reach that which has come down from +Jenghiz Khan to the Head of our yellow Faith. I am no monk. I am +a warrior and avenger." + +He jumped smartly into the saddle, whipped his horse and whirled +away, flinging out as he left the common Mongolian phrase of adieu: +"Sayn! Sayn-bayna!" + +On the way back Tzeren related to us the hundreds of legends +surrounding Tushegoun Lama. One tale especially remained in my +mind. It was in 1911 or 1912 when the Mongols by armed force tried +to attain their liberty in a struggle with the Chinese. The +general Chinese headquarters in Western Mongolia was Kobdo, where +they had about ten thousand soldiers under the command of their +best officers. The command to capture Kobdo was sent to Hun +Baldon, a simple shepherd who had distinguished himself in fights +with the Chinese and received from the Living Buddha the title of +Prince of Hun. Ferocious, absolutely without fear and possessing +gigantic strength, Baldon had several times led to the attack his +poorly armed Mongols but each time had been forced to retreat after +losing many of his men under the machine-gun fire. Unexpectedly +Tushegoun Lama arrived. He collected all the soldiers and then +said to them: + +"You must not fear death and must not retreat. You are fighting +and dying for Mongolia, for which the gods have appointed a great +destiny. See what the fate of Mongolia will be!" + +He made a great sweeping gesture with his hand and all the soldiers +saw the country round about set with rich yurtas and pastures +covered with great herds of horses and cattle. On the plains +appeared numerous horsemen on richly saddled steeds. The women +were gowned in the finest of silk with massive silver rings in +their ears and precious ornaments in their elaborate head dresses. +Chinese merchants led an endless caravan of merchandise up to +distinguished looking Mongol Saits, surrounded by the gaily dressed +tzirik or soldiers and proudly negotiating with the merchants for +their wares. + +Shortly the vision disappeared and Tushegoun began to speak. + +"Do not fear death! It is a release from our labor on earth and +the path to the state of constant blessings. Look to the East! Do +you see your brothers and friends who have fallen in battle?" + +"We see, we see!" the Mongol warriors exclaimed in astonishment, as +they all looked upon a great group of dwellings which might have +been yurtas or the arches of temples flushed with a warm and kindly +light. Red and yellow silk were interwoven in bright bands that +covered the walls and floor, everywhere the gilding on pillars and +walls gleamed brightly; on the great red altar burned the thin +sacrificial candles in gold candelabra, beside the massive silver +vessels filled with milk and nuts; on soft pillows about the floor +sat the Mongols who had fallen in the previous attack on Kobdo. +Before them stood low, lacquered tables laden with many dishes of +steaming, succulent flesh of the lamb and the kid, with high jugs +of wine and tea, with plates of borsuk, a kind of sweet, rich +cakes, with aromatic zatouran covered with sheep's fat, with bricks +of dried cheese, with dates, raisins and nuts. These fallen +soldiers smoked golden pipes and chatted gaily. + +This vision in turn also disappeared and before the gazing Mongols +stood only the mysterious Kalmuck with his hand upraised. + +"To battle and return not without victory! I am with you in the +fight." + +The attack began. The Mongols fought furiously, perished by the +hundreds but not before they had rushed into the heart of Kobdo. +Then was re-enacted the long forgotten picture of Tartar hordes +destroying European towns. Hun Baldon ordered carried over him a +triangle of lances with brilliant red streamers, a sign that he +gave up the town to the soldiers for three days. Murder and +pillage began. All the Chinese met their death there. The town +was burned and the walls of the fortress destroyed. Afterwards Hun +Baldon came to Uliassutai and also destroyed the Chinese fortress +there. The ruins of it still stand with the broken embattlements +and towers, the useless gates and the remnants of the burned +official quarters and soldiers' barracks. + + +CHAPTER XIX + +WILD CHAHARS + + +After our return to Uliassutai we heard that disquieting news had +been received by the Mongol Sait from Muren Kure. The letter +stated that Red Troops were pressing Colonel Kazagrandi very hard +in the region of Lake Kosogol. The Sait feared the advance of the +Red troops southward to Uliassutai. Both the American firms +liquidated their affairs and all our friends were prepared for a +quick exit, though they hesitated at the thought of leaving the +town, as they were afraid of meeting the detachment of Chahars sent +from the east. We decided to await the arrival of this detachment, +as their coming could change the whole course of events. In a few +days they came, two hundred warlike Chahar brigands under the +command of a former Chinese hunghutze. He was a tall, skinny man +with hands that reached almost to his knees, a face blackened by +wind and sun and mutilated with two long scars down over his +forehead and cheek, the making of one of which had also closed one +of his hawklike eyes, topped off with a shaggy coonskin cap--such +was the commander of the detachment of Chahars. A personage very +dark and stern, with whom a night meeting on a lonely street could +not be considered a pleasure by any bent of the imagination. + +The detachment made camp within the destroyed fortress, near to the +single Chinese building that had not been razed and which was now +serving as headquarters for the Chinese Commissioner. On the very +day of their arrival the Chahars pillaged a Chinese dugun or +trading house not half a mile from the fortress and also offended +the wife of the Chinese Commissioner by calling her a "traitor." +The Chahars, like the Mongols, were quite right in their stand, +because the Chinese Commissioner Wang Tsao-tsun had on his arrival +in Uliassutai followed the Chinese custom of demanding a Mongolian +wife. The servile new Sait had given orders that a beautiful and +suitable Mongolian girl be found for him. One was so run down and +placed in his yamen, together with her big wrestling Mongol brother +who was to be a guard for the Commissioner but who developed into +the nurse for the little white Pekingese pug which the official +presented to his new wife. + +Burglaries, squabbles and drunken orgies of the Chahars followed, +so that Wang Tsoa-tsun exerted all his efforts to hurry the +detachment westward to Kobdo and farther into Urianhai. + +One cold morning the inhabitants of Uliassutai rose to witness a +very stern picture. Along the main street of the town the +detachment was passing. They were riding on small, shaggy ponies, +three abreast; were dressed in warm blue coats with sheepskin +overcoats outside and crowned with the regulation coonskin caps; +armed from head to foot. They rode with wild shouts and cheers, +very greedily eyeing the Chinese shops and the houses of the +Russian colonists. At their head rode the one-eyed hunghutze chief +with three horsemen behind him in white overcoats, who carried +waving banners and blew what may have been meant for music through +great conch shells. One of the Chahars could not resist and so +jumped out of his saddle and made for a Chinese shop along the +street. Immediately the anxious cries of the Chinese merchants +came from the shop. The hunghutze swung round, noticed the horse +at the door of the shop and realized what was happening. +Immediately he reined his horse and made for the spot. With his +raucous voice he called the Chahar out. As he came, he struck him +full in the face with his whip and with all his strength. Blood +flowed from the slashed cheek. But the Chahar was in the saddle in +a second without a murmur and galloped to his place in the file. +During this exit of the Chahars all the people were hidden in their +houses, anxiously peeping through cracks and corners of the +windows. But the Chahars passed peacefully out and only when they +met a caravan carrying Chinese wine about six miles from town did +their native tendency display itself again in pillaging and +emptying several containers. Somewhere in the vicinity of Hargana +they were ambushed by Tushegoun Lama and so treated that never +again will the plains of Chahar welcome the return of these warrior +sons who were sent out to conquer the Soyot descendants of the +ancient Tuba. + +The day the column left Uliassutai a heavy snow fell, so that the +road became impassable. The horses first were up to their knees, +tired out and stopped. Some Mongol horsemen reached Uliassutai the +following day after great hardship and exertion, having made only +twenty-five miles in forty-eight hours. Caravans were compelled to +stop along the routes. The Mongols would not consent even to +attempt journeys with oxen and yaks which made but ten or twelve +miles a day. Only camels could be used but there were too few and +their drivers did not feel that they could make the first railway +station of Kuku-Hoto, which was about fourteen hundred miles away. +We were forced again to wait: for which? Death or salvation? Only +our own energy and force could save us. Consequently my friend and +I started out, supplied with a tent, stove and food, for a new +reconnaissance along the shore of Lake Kosogol, whence the Mongol +Sait expected the new invasion of Red troops. + + +CHAPTER XX + +THE DEMON OF JAGISSTAI + + +Our small group consisting of four mounted and one pack camel moved +northward along the valley of the River Boyagol in the direction of +the Tarbagatai Mountains. The road was rocky and covered deep with +snow. Our camels walked very carefully, sniffing out the way as +our guide shouted the "Ok! Ok!" of the camel drivers to urge them +on. We left behind us the fortress and Chinese dugun, swung round +the shoulder of a ridge and, after fording several times an open +stream, began the ascent of the mountain. The scramble was hard +and dangerous. Our camels picked their way most cautiously, moving +their ears constantly, as is their habit in such stress. The trail +zigzagged into mountain ravines, passed over the tops of ridges, +slipped back down again into shallower valleys but ever made higher +and higher altitudes. At one place under the grey clouds that +tipped the ridges we saw away up on the wide expanse of snow some +black spots. + +"Those are the obo, the sacred signs and altars for the bad demons +watching this pass," explained the guide. "This pass is called +Jagisstai. Many very old tales about it have been kept alive, +ancient as these mountains themselves." + +We encouraged him to tell us some of them. + +The Mongol, rocking on his camel and looking carefully all around +him, began his tale. + +"It was long ago, very long ago. . . . The grandson of the great +Jenghiz Khan sat on the throne of China and ruled all Asia. The +Chinese killed their Khan and wanted to exterminate all his family +but a holy old Lama slipped the wife and little son out of the +palace and carried them off on swift camels beyond the Great Wall, +where they sank into our native plains. The Chinese made a long +search for the trails of our refugees and at last found where they +had gone. They despatched a strong detachment on fleet horses to +capture them. Sometimes the Chinese nearly came up with the +fleeing heir of our Khan but the Lama called down from Heaven a +deep snow, through which the camels could pass while the horses +were inextricably held. This Lama was from a distant monastery. +We shall pass this hospice of Jahantsi Kure. In order to reach it +one must cross over the Jagisstai. And it was just here the old +Lama suddenly became ill, rocked in his saddle and fell dead. Ta +Sin Lo, the widow of the Great Khan, burst into tears; but, seeing +the Chinese riders galloping there below across the valley, pressed +on toward the pass. The camels were tired, stopping every moment, +nor did the woman know how to stimulate and drive them on. The +Chinese riders came nearer and nearer. Already she heard their +shouts of joy, as they felt within their grasp the prize of the +mandarins for the murder of the heir of the Great Khan. The heads +of the mother and the son would be brought to Peking and exposed on +the Ch'ien Men for the mockery and insults of the people. The +frightened mother lifted her little son toward heaven and +exclaimed: + +"'Earth and Gods of Mongolia, behold the offspring of the man who +has glorified the name of the Mongols from one end of the world to +the other! Allow not this very flesh of Jenghiz Khan to perish!' + +"At this moment she noticed a white mouse sitting on a rock nearby. +It jumped to her knees and said: + +"'I am sent to help you. Go on calmly and do not fear. The +pursuers of you and your son, to whom is destined a life of glory, +have come to the last bourne of their lives.' + +"Ta Sin Lo did not see how one small mouse could hold in check +three hundred men. The mouse jumped back to the ground and again +spoke: + +"'I am the demon of Tarbagatai, Jagasstai. I am mighty and beloved +of the Gods but, because you doubted the powers of the miracle- +speaking mouse, from this day the Jagasstai will be dangerous for +the good and bad alike.' + +"The Khan's widow and son were saved but Jagasstai has ever +remained merciless. During the journey over this pass one must +always be on one's guard. The demon of the mountain is ever ready +to lead the traveler to destruction." + +All the tops of the ridges of the Tarbagatai are thickly dotted +with the obo of rocks and branches. In one place there was even +erected a tower of stones as an altar to propitiate the Gods for +the doubts of Ta Sin Lo. Evidently the demon expected us. When we +began our ascent of the main ridge, he blew into our faces with a +sharp, cold wind, whistled and roared and afterwards began casting +over us whole blocks of snow torn off the drifts above. We could +not distinguish anything around us, scarcely seeing the camel +immediately in front. Suddenly I felt a shock and looked about me. +Nothing unusual was visible. I was seated comfortably between two +leather saddle bags filled with meat and bread but . . . I could +not see the head of my camel. He had disappeared. It seemed that +he had slipped and fallen to the bottom of a shallow ravine, while +the bags which were slung across his back without straps had caught +on a rock and stopped with myself there in the snow. This time the +demon of Jagasstai only played a joke but one that did not satisfy +him. He began to show more and more anger. With furious gusts of +wind he almost dragged us and our bags from the camels and nearly +knocked over our humped steeds, blinded us with frozen snow and +prevented us from breathing. Through long hours we dragged slowly +on in the deep snow, often falling over the edge of the rocks. At +last we entered a small valley where the wind whistled and roared +with a thousand voices. It had grown dark. The Mongol wandered +around searching for the trail and finally came back to us, +flourishing his arms and saying: + +"We have lost the road. We must spend the night here. It is very +bad because we shall have no wood for our stove and the cold will +grow worse. + +With great difficulties and with frozen hands we managed to set up +our tent in the wind, placing in it the now useless stove. We +covered the tent with snow, dug deep, long ditches in the drifts +and forced our camels to lie down in them by shouting the "Dzuk! +Dzuk!" command to kneel. Then we brought our packs into the tent. + +My companion rebelled against the thought of spending a cold night +with a stove hard by. + +"I am going out to look for firewood," said he very decisively; and +at that took up the ax and started. He returned after an hour with +a big section of a telegraph pole. + +"You, Jenghiz Khans," said he, rubbing his frozen hands, "take your +axes and go up there to the left on the mountain and you will find +the telegraph poles that have been cut down. I made acquaintance +with the old Jagasstai and he showed me the poles." + +Just a little way from us the line of the Russian telegraphs +passed, that which had connected Irkutsk with Uliassutai before the +days of the Bolsheviki and which the Chinese had commanded the +Mongols to cut down and take the wire. These poles are now the +salvation of travelers crossing the pass. Thus we spent the night +in a warm tent, supped well from hot meat soup with vermicelli, all +in the very center of the dominion of the angered Jagasstai. Early +the next morning we found the road not more than two or three +hundred paces from our tent and continued our hard trip over the +ridge of Tarbagatai. At the head of the Adair River valley we +noticed a flock of the Mongolian crows with carmine beaks circling +among the rocks. We approached the place and discovered the +recently fallen bodies of a horse and rider. What had happened to +them was difficult to guess. They lay close together; the bridle +was wound around the right wrist of the man; no trace of knife or +bullet was found. It was impossible to make out the features of +the man. His overcoat was Mongolian but his trousers and under +jacket were not of the Mongolian pattern. We asked ourselves what +had happened to him. + +Our Mongol bowed his head in anxiety and said in hushed but assured +tones: "It is the vengeance of Jagasstai. The rider did not make +sacrifice at the southern obo and the demon has strangled him and +his horse." + +At last Tarbagatai was behind us. Before us lay the valley of the +Adair. It was a narrow zigzagging plain following along the river +bed between close mountain ranges and covered with a rich grass. +It was cut into two parts by the road along which the prostrate +telegraph poles now lay, as the stumps of varying heights and long +stretches of wire completed the debris. This destruction of the +telegraph line between Irkutsk and Uliassutai was necessary and +incident to the aggressive Chinese policy in Mongolia. + +Soon we began to meet large herds of sheep, which were digging +through the snow to the dry but very nutritious grass. In some +places yaks and oxen were seen on the high slopes of the mountains. +Only once, however, did we see a shepherd, for all of them, spying +us first, had made off to the mountains or hidden in the ravines. +We did not even discover any yurtas along the way. The Mongols had +also concealed all their movable homes in the folds of the +mountains out of sight and away from the reach of the strong winds. +Nomads are very skilful in choosing the places for their winter +dwellings. I had often in winter visited the Mongolian yurtas set +in such sheltered places that, as I came off the windy plains, I +felt as though I were in a conservatory. Once we came up to a big +herd of sheep. But as we approached most of the herd gradually +withdrew, leaving one part that remained unmoved as the other +worked off across the plains. From this section soon about thirty +of forty head emerged and went scrambling and leaping right up the +mountain side. I took up my glasses and began to observe them. +The part of the herd that remained behind were common sheep; the +large section that had drawn off over the plain were Mongolian +antelopes (gazella gutturosa); while the few that had taken to the +mountain were the big horned sheep (ovis argali). All this company +had been grazing together with the domestic sheep on the plains of +the Adair, which attracted them with its good grass and clear +water. In many places the river was not frozen and in some places +I saw great clouds of steam over the surface of the open water. In +the meantime some of the antelopes and the mountain sheep began +looking at us. + +"Now they will soon begin to cross our trail," laughed the Mongol; +"very funny beasts. Sometimes the antelopes course for miles in +their endeavor to outrun and cross in front of our horses and then, +when they have done so, go loping quietly off." + +I had already seen this strategy of the antelopes and I decided to +make use of it for the purpose of the hunt. We organized our chase +in the following manner. We let one Mongol with the pack camel +proceed as we had been traveling and the other three of us spread +out like a fan headed toward the herd on the right of our true +course. The herd stopped and looked about puzzled, for their +etiquette required that they should cross the path of all four of +these riders at once. Confusion began. They counted about three +thousand heads. All this army began to run from one side to +another but without forming any distinct groups. Whole squadrons +of them ran before us and then, noticing another rider, came +coursing back and made anew the same manoeuvre. One group of about +fifty head rushed in two rows toward my point. When they were +about a hundred and fifty paces away I shouted and fired. They +stopped at once and began to whirl round in one spot, running into +one another and even jumping over one another. Their panic cost +them dear, for I had time to shoot four times to bring down two +beautiful heads. My friend was even more fortunate than I, for he +shot only once into the herd as it rushed past him in parallel +lines and dropped two with the same bullet. + +Meanwhile the argali had gone farther up the mountainside and taken +stand there in a row like so many soldiers, turning to gaze at us. +Even at this distance I could clearly distinguish their muscular +bodies with their majestic heads and stalwart horns. Picking up +our prey, we overtook the Mongol who had gone on ahead and +continued our way. In many places we came across the carcasses of +sheep with necks torn and the flesh of the sides eaten off. + +"It is the work of wolves," said the Mongol. "They are always +hereabout in large numbers." + +We came across several more herds of antelope, which ran along +quietly enough until they had made a comfortable distance ahead of +us and then with tremendous leaps and bounds crossed our bows like +the proverbial chicken on the road. Then, after a couple of +hundred paces at this speed, they stopped and began to graze quite +calmly. Once I turned my camel back and the whole herd immediately +took up the challenge again, coursed along parallel with me until +they had made sufficient distance for their ideas of safety and +then once more rushed across the road ahead of me as though it were +paved with red hot stones, only to assume their previous calmness +and graze back on the same side of the trail from which our column +had first started them. On another occasion I did this three times +with a particular herd and laughed long and heartily at their +stupid customs. + +We passed a very unpleasant night in this valley. We stopped on +the shore of the frozen stream in a spot where we found shelter +from the wind under the lee of a high shore. In our stove we did +have a fire and in our kettle boiling water. Also our tent was +warm and cozy. We were quietly resting with pleasant thoughts of +supper to soothe us, when suddenly a howling and laughter as though +from some inferno burst upon us from just outside the tent, while +from the other side of the valley came the long and doleful howls +in answer. + +"Wolves," calmly explained the Mongol, who took my revolver and +went out of the tent. He did not return for some time but at last +we heard a shot and shortly after he entered. + +"I scared them a little," said he. "They had congregated on the +shore of the Adair around the body of a camel." + +"And they have not touched our camels?" we asked. + +"We shall make a bonfire behind our tent; then they will not bother +us." + +After our supper we turned in but I lay awake for a long time +listening to the crackle of the wood in the fire, the deep sighing +breaths of the camels and the distant howling of the packs of +wolves; but finally, even with all these noises, fell asleep. How +long I had been asleep I did not know when suddenly I was awakened +by a strong blow in the side. I was lying at the very edge of the +tent and someone from outside had, without the least ceremony, +pushed strongly against me. I thought it was one of the camels +chewing the felt of the tent. I took my Mauser and struck the +wall. A sharp scream was followed by the sound of quick running +over the pebbles. In the morning we discovered the tracks of +wolves approaching our tent from the side opposite to the fire and +followed them to where they had begun to dig under the tent wall; +but evidently one of the would-be robbers was forced to retreat +with a bruise on his head from the handle of the Mauser. + +Wolves and eagles are the servants of Jagasstai, the Mongol very +seriously instructed us. However, this does not prevent the +Mongols from hunting them. Once in the camp of Prince Baysei I +witnessed such a hunt. The Mongol horsemen on the best of his +steeds overtook the wolves on the open plain and killed them with +heavy bamboo sticks or tashur. A Russian veterinary surgeon taught +the Mongols to poison wolves with strychnine but the Mongols soon +abandoned this method because of its danger to the dogs, the +faithful friends and allies of the nomad. They do not, however, +touch the eagles and hawks but even feed them. When the Mongols +are slaughtering animals they often cast bits of meat up into the +air for the hawks and eagles to catch in flight, just as we throw a +bit of meat to a dog. Eagles and hawks fight and drive away the +magpies and crows, which are very dangerous for cattle and horses, +because they scratch and peck at the smallest wound or abrasion on +the backs of the animals until they make them into uncurable areas +which they continue to harass. + + +CHAPTER XXI + +THE NEST OF DEATH + + +Our camels were trudging to a slow but steady measure on toward the +north. We were making twenty-five to thirty miles a day as we +approached a small monastery that lay to the left of our route. It +was in the form of a square of large buildings surrounded by a high +fence of thick poles. Each side had an opening in the middle +leading to the four entrances of the temple in the center of the +square. The temple was built with the red lacquered columns and +the Chinese style roofs and dominated the surrounding low dwellings +of the Lamas. On the opposite side of the road lay what appeared +to be a Chinese fortress but which was in reality a trading +compound or dugun, which the Chinese always build in the form of a +fortress with double walls a few feet apart, within which they +place their houses and shops and usually have twenty or thirty +traders fully armed for any emergency. In case of need these +duguns can be used as blockhouses and are capable of withstanding +long sieges. Between the dugun and the monastery and nearer to the +road I made out the camp of some nomads. Their horses and cattle +were nowhere to be seen. Evidently the Mongols had stopped here +for some time and had left their cattle in the mountains. Over +several yurtas waved multi-colored triangular flags, a sign of the +presence of disease. Near some yurtas high poles were stuck into +the ground with Mongol caps at their tops, which indicated that the +host of the yurta had died. The packs of dogs wandering over the +plain showed that the dead bodies lay somewhere near, either in the +ravines or along the banks of the river. + +As we approached the camp, we heard from a distance the frantic +beating of drums, the mournful sounds of the flute and shrill, mad +shouting. Our Mongol went forward to investigate for us and +reported that several Mongolian families had come here to the +monastery to seek aid from the Hutuktu Jahansti who was famed for +his miracles of healing. The people were stricken with leprosy and +black smallpox and had come from long distances only to find that +the Hutuktu was not at the monastery but had gone to the Living +Buddha in Urga. Consequently they had been forced to invite the +witch doctors. The people were dying one after another. Just the +day before they had cast on the plain the twenty-seventh man. + +Meanwhile, as we talked, the witch doctor came out of one of the +yurtas. He was an old man with a cataract on one eye and with a +face deeply scarred by smallpox. He was dressed in tatters with +various colored bits of cloth hanging down from his waist. He +carried a drum and a flute. We could see froth on his blue lips +and madness in his eyes. Suddenly he began to whirl round and +dance with a thousand prancings of his long legs and writhings of +his arms and shoulders, still beating the drum and playing the +flute or crying and raging at intervals, ever accelerating his +movements until at last with pallid face and bloodshot eyes he fell +on the snow, where he continued to writhe and give out his +incoherent cries. In this manner the doctor treated his patients, +frightening with his madness the bad devils that carry disease. +Another witch doctor gave his patients dirty, muddy water, which I +learned was the water from the bath of the very person of the +Living Buddha who had washed in it his "divine" body born from the +sacred flower of the lotus. + +"Om! Om!" both witches continuously screamed. + +While the doctors fought with the devils, the ill people were left +to themselves. They lay in high fever under the heaps of +sheepskins and overcoats, were delirious, raved and threw +themselves about. By the braziers squatted adults and children who +were still well, indifferently chatting, drinking tea and smoking. +In all the yurtas I saw the diseased and the dead and such misery +and physical horrors as cannot be described. + +And I thought: "Oh, Great Jenghiz Khan! Why did you with your +keen understanding of the whole situation of Asia and Europe, you +who devoted all your life to the glory of the name of the Mongols, +why did you not give to your own people, who preserve their old +morality, honesty and peaceful customs, the enlightenment that +would have saved them from such death? Your bones in the mausoleum +at Karakorum being destroyed by the centuries that pass over them +must cry out against the rapid disappearance of your formerly great +people, who were feared by half the civilized world!" + +Such thoughts filled my brain when I saw this camp of the dead +tomorrow and when I heard the groans, shoutings and raving of dying +men, women and children. Somewhere in the distance the dogs were +howling mournfully, and monotonously the drum of the tired witch +rolled. + +"Forward!" I could not witness longer this dark horror, which I +had no means or force to eradicate. We quickly passed on from the +ominous place. Nor could we shake the thought that some horrible +invisible spirit was following us from this scene of terror. "The +devils of disease?" "The pictures of horror and misery?" "The +souls of men who have been sacrificed on the altar of darkness of +Mongolia?" An inexplicable fear penetrated into our consciousness +from whose grasp we could not release ourselves. Only when we had +turned from the road, passed over a timbered ridge into a bowl in +the mountains from which we could see neither Jahantsi Kure, the +dugun nor the squirming grave of dying Mongols could we breathe +freely again. + +Presently we discovered a large lake. It was Tisingol. Near the +shore stood a large Russian house, the telegraph station between +Kosogol and Uliassutai. + + +CHAPTER XXII + +AMONG THE MURDERERS + + +As we approached the telegraph station, we were met by a blonde +young man who was in charge of the office, Kanine by name. With +some little confusion he offered us a place in his house for the +night. When we entered the room, a tall, lanky man rose from the +table and indecisively walked toward us, looking very attentively +at us the while. + +"Guests . . ." explained Kanine. "They are going to Khathyl. +Private persons, strangers, foreigners . . ." + +"A-h," drawled the stranger in a quiet, comprehending tone. + +While we were untying our girdles and with difficulty getting out +of our great Mongolian coats, the tall man was animatedly +whispering something to our host. As we approached the table to +sit down and rest, I overheard him say: "We are forced to postpone +it," and saw Kanine simply nod in answer. + +Several other people were seated at the table, among them the +assistant of Kanine, a tall blonde man with a white face, who +talked like a Gatling gun about everything imaginable. He was half +crazy and his semi-madness expressed itself when any loud talking, +shouting or sudden sharp report led him to repeat the words of the +one to whom he was talking at the time or to relate in a +mechanical, hurried manner stories of what was happening around him +just at this particular juncture. The wife of Kanine, a pale, +young, exhausted-looking woman with frightened eyes and a face +distorted by fear, was also there and near her a young girl of +fifteen with cropped hair and dressed like a man, as well as the +two small sons of Kanine. We made acquaintance with all of them. +The tall stranger called himself Gorokoff, a Russian colonist from +Samgaltai, and presented the short-haired girl as his sister. +Kanine's wife looked at us with plainly discernible fear and said +nothing, evidently displeased over our being there. However, we +had no choice and consequently began drinking tea and eating our +bread and cold meat. + +Kanine told us that ever since the telegraph line had been +destroyed all his family and relatives had felt very keenly the +poverty and hardship that naturally followed. The Bolsheviki did +not send him any salary from Irkutsk, so that he was compelled to +shift for himself as best he could. They cut and cured hay for +sale to the Russian colonists, handled private messages and +merchandise from Khathyl to Uliassutai and Samgaltai, bought and +sold cattle, hunted and in this manner managed to exist. Gorokoff +announced that his commercial affairs compelled him to go to +Khathyl and that he and his sister would be glad to join our +caravan. He had a most unprepossessing, angry-looking face with +colorless eyes that always avoided those of the person with whom he +was speaking. During the conversation we asked Kanine if there +were Russian colonists near by, to which he answered with knitted +brow and a look of disgust on his face: + +"There is one rich old man, Bobroff, who lives a verst away from +our station; but I would not advise you to visit him. He is a +miserly, inhospitable old fellow who does not like guests." + +During these words of her husband Madame Kanine dropped her eyes +and contracted her shoulders in something resembling a shudder. +Gorokoff and his sister smoked along indifferently. I very clearly +remarked all this as well as the hostile tone of Kanine, the +confusion of his wife and the artificial indifference of Gorokoff; +and I determined to see the old colonist given such a bad name by +Kanine. In Uliassutai I knew two Bobroffs. I said to Kanine that +I had been asked to hand a letter personally to Bobroff and, after +finishing my tea, put on my overcoat and went out. + +The house of Bobroff stood in a deep sink in the mountains, +surrounded by a high fence over which the low roofs of the houses +could be seen. A light shone through the window. I knocked at the +gate. A furious barking of dogs answered me and through the cracks +of the fence I made out four huge black Mongol dogs, showing their +teeth and growling as they rushed toward the gate. Inside the +court someone opened the door and called out: "Who is there?" + +I answered that I was traveling through from Uliassutai. The dogs +were first caught and chained and I was then admitted by a man who +looked me over very carefully and inquiringly from head to foot. A +revolver handle stuck out of his pocket. Satisfied with his +observations and learning that I knew his relatives, he warmly +welcomed me to the house and presented me to his wife, a dignified +old woman, and to his beautiful little adopted daughter, a girl of +five years. She had been found on the plain beside the dead body +of her mother exhausted in her attempt to escape from the +Bolsheviki in Siberia. + +Bobroff told me that the Russian detachment of Kazagrandi had +succeeded in driving the Red troops away from the Kosogol and that +we could consequently continue our trip to Khathyl without danger. + +"Why did you not stop with me instead of with those brigands?" +asked the old fellow. + +I began to question him and received some very important news. It +seemed that Kanine was a Bolshevik, the agent of the Irkutsk +Soviet, and stationed here for purposes of observation. However, +now he was rendered harmless, because the road between him and +Irkutsk was interrupted. Still from Biisk in the Altai country had +just come a very important commissar. + +"Gorokoff?" I asked. + +"That's what he calls himself," replied the old fellow; "but I am +also from Biisk and I know everyone there. His real name is +Pouzikoff and the short-haired girl with him is his mistress. He +is the commissar of the 'Cheka' and she is the agent of this +establishment. Last August the two of them shot with their +revolvers seventy bound officers from Kolchak's army. Villainous, +cowardly murderers! Now they have come here for a reconnaissance. +They wanted to stay in my house but I knew them too well and +refused them place." + +"And you do not fear him?" I asked, remembering the different words +and glances of these people as they sat at the table in the +station. + +"No," answered the old man. "I know how to defend myself and my +family and I have a protector too--my son, such a shot, a rider and +a fighter as does not exist in all Mongolia. I am very sorry that +you will not make the acquaintance of my boy. He has gone off to +the herds and will return only tomorrow evening." + +We took most cordial leave of each other and I promised to stop +with him on my return. + +"Well, what yarns did Bobroff tell you about us?" was the question +with which Kanine and Gorokoff met me when I came back to the +station. + +"Nothing about you," I answered, "because he did not even want to +speak with me when he found out that I was staying in your house. +What is the trouble between you?" I asked of them, expressing +complete astonishment on my face. + +"It is an old score," growled Gorokoff. + +"A malicious old churl," Kanine added in agreement, the while the +frightened, suffering-laden eyes of his wife again gave expression +to terrifying horror, as if she momentarily expected a deadly blow. +Gorokoff began to pack his luggage in preparation for the journey +with us the following morning. We prepared our simple beds in an +adjoining room and went to sleep. I whispered to my friend to keep +his revolver handy for anything that might happen but he only +smiled as he dragged his revolver and his ax from his coat to place +them under his pillow. + +"This people at the outset seemed to me very suspicious," he +whispered. "They are cooking up something crooked. Tomorrow I +shall ride behind this Gorokoff and shall prepare for him a very +faithful one of my bullets, a little dum-dum." + +The Mongols spent the night under their tent in the open court +beside their camels, because they wanted to be near to feed them. +About seven o'clock we started. My friend took up his post as rear +guard to our caravan, keeping all the time behind Gorokoff, who +with his sister, both armed from tip to toe, rode splendid mounts. + +"How have you kept your horses in such fine condition coming all +the way from Samgaltai?" I inquired as I looked over their fine +beasts. + +When he answered that these belonged to his host, I realized that +Kanine was not so poor as he made out; for any rich Mongol would +have given him in exchange for one of these lovely animals enough +sheep to have kept his household in mutton for a whole year. + +Soon we came to a large swamp surrounded by dense brush, where I +was much astonished by seeing literally hundreds of white kuropatka +or partridges. Out of the water rose a flock of duck with a mad +rush as we hove in sight. Winter, cold driving wind, snow and wild +ducks! The Mongol explained it to me thus: + +"This swamp always remains warm and never freezes. The wild ducks +live here the year round and the kuropatka too, finding fresh food +in the soft warm earth." + +As I was speaking with the Mongol I noticed over the swamp a tongue +of reddish-yellow flame. It flashed and disappeared at once but +later, on the farther edge, two further tongues ran upward. I +realized that here was the real will-o'-the-wisp surrounded by so +many thousands of legends and explained so simply by chemistry as +merely a flash of methane or swamp gas generated by the putrefying +of vegetable matter in the warm damp earth. + +"Here dwell the demons of Adair, who are in perpetual war with +those of Muren," explained the Mongol. + +"Indeed," I thought, "if in prosaic Europe in our days the +inhabitants of our villages believe these flames to be some wild +sorcery, then surely in the land of mystery they must be at least +the evidences of war between the demons of two neighboring rivers!" + +After passing this swamp we made out far ahead of us a large +monastery. Though this was some half mile off the road, the +Gorokoffs said they would ride over to it to make some purchases in +the Chinese shops there. They quickly rode away, promising to +overtake us shortly, but we did not see them again for a while. +They slipped away without leaving any trail but we met them later +in very unexpected circumstances of fatal portent for them. On our +part we were highly satisfied that we were rid of them so soon and, +after they were gone, I imparted to my friend the information +gleaned from Bobroff the evening before. + + +CHAPTER XXIII + +ON A VOLCANO + + +The following evening we arrived at Khathyl, a small Russian +settlement of ten scattered houses in the valley of the Egingol or +Yaga, which here takes its waters from the Kosogol half a mile +above the village. The Kosogol is a huge Alpine lake, deep and +cold, eighty-five miles in length and from ten to thirty in width. +On the western shore live the Darkhat Soyots, who call it Hubsugul, +the Mongols, Kosogol. Both the Soyots and Mongols consider this a +terrible and sacred lake. It is very easy to understand this +prejudice because the lake lies in a region of present volcanic +activity, where in the summer on perfectly calm sunny days it +sometimes lashes itself into great waves that are dangerous not +only to the native fishing boats but also to the large Russian +passenger steamers that ply on the lake. In winter also it +sometimes entirely breaks up its covering of ice and gives off +great clouds of steam. Evidently the bottom of the lake is +sporadically pierced by discharging hot springs or, perhaps, by +streams of lava. Evidence of some great underground convulsion +like this is afforded by the mass of killed fish which at times +dams the outlet river in its shallow places. The lake is +exceedingly rich in fish, chiefly varieties of trout and salmon, +and is famous for its wonderful "white fish," which was previously +sent all over Siberia and even down into Manchuria so far as +Moukden. It is fat and remarkably tender and produces fine caviar. +Another variety in the lake is the white khayrus or trout, which in +the migration season, contrary to the customs of most fish, goes +down stream into the Yaga, where it sometimes fills the river from +bank to bank with swarms of backs breaking the surface of the +water. However, this fish is not caught, because it is infested +with worms and is unfit for food. Even cats and dogs will not +touch it. This is a very interesting phemonenon and was being +investigated and studied by Professor Dorogostaisky of the +University at Irkutsk when the coming of the Bolsheviki interrupted +his work. + +In Khathyl we found a panic. The Russian detachment of Colonel +Kazagrandi, after having twice defeated the Bolsheviki and well on +its march against Irkutsk, was suddenly rendered impotent and +scattered through internal strife among the officers. The +Bolsheviki took advantage of this situation, increased their forces +to one thousand men and began a forward movement to recover what +they had lost, while the remnants of Colonel Kazagrandi's +detachment were retreating on Khathyl, where he determined to make +his last stand against the Reds. The inhabitants were loading +their movable property with their families into carts and scurrying +away from the town, leaving all their cattle and horses to +whomsoever should have the power to seize and hold them. One party +intended to hide in the dense larch forest and the mountain ravines +not far away, while another party made southward for Muren Kure and +Uliassutai. The morning following our arrival the Mongol official +received word that the Red troops had outflanked Colonel +Kazagrandi's men and were approaching Khathyl. The Mongol loaded +his documents and his servants on eleven camels and left his yamen. +Our Mongol guides, without ever saying a word to us, secretly +slipped off with him and left us without camels. Our situation +thus became desperate. We hastened to the colonists who had not +yet got away to bargain with them for camels, but they had +previously, in anticipation of trouble, sent their herds to distant +Mongols and so could do nothing to help us. Then we betook +ourselves to Dr. V. G. Gay, a veterinarian living in the town, +famous throughout Mongolia for his battle against rinderpest. He +lived here with his family and after being forced to give up his +government work became a cattle dealer. He was a most interesting +person, clever and energetic, and the one who had been appointed +under the Czarist regime to purchase all the meat supplies from +Mongolia for the Russian Army on the German Front. He organized a +huge enterprise in Mongolia but when the Bolsheviki seized power in +1917 he transferred his allegiance and began to work with them. +Then in May, 1918, when the Kolchak forces drove the Bolsheviki out +of Siberia, he was arrested and taken for trial. However, he was +released because he was looked upon as the single individual to +organize this big Mongolian enterprise and he handed to Admiral +Kolchak all the supplies of meat and the silver formerly received +from the Soviet commissars. At this time Gay had been serving as +the chief organizer and supplier of the forces of Kazagrandi. + +When we went to him, he at once suggested that we take the only +thing left, some poor, broken-down horses which would be able to +carry us the sixty miles to Muren Kure, where we could secure +camels to return to Uliassutai. However, even these were being +kept some distance from the town so that we should have to spend +the night there, the night in which the Red troops were expected to +arrive. Also we were much astonished to see that Gay was remaining +there with his family right up to the time of the expected arrival +of the Reds. The only others in the town were a few Cossacks, who +had been ordered to stay behind to watch the movements of the Red +troops. The night came. My friend and I were prepared either to +fight or, in the last event, to commit suicide. We stayed in a +small house near the Yaga, where some workmen were living who could +not, and did not feel it necessary to, leave. They went up on a +hill from which they could scan the whole country up to the range +from behind which the Red detachment must appear. From this +vantage point in the forest one of the workmen came running in and +cried out: + +"Woe, woe to us! The Reds have arrived. A horseman is galloping +fast through the forest road. I called to him but he did not +answer me. It was dark but I knew the horse was a strange one." + +"Do not babble so," said another of the workmen. "Some Mongol rode +by and you jumped to the conclusion that he was a Red." + +"No, it was not a Mongol," he replied. "The horse was shod. I +heard the sound of iron shoes on the road. Woe to us!" + +"Well," said my friend, "it seems that this is our finish. It is a +silly way for it all to end." + +He was right. Just then there was a knock at our door but it was +that of the Mongol bringing us three horses for our escape. +Immediately we saddled them, packed the third beast with our tent +and food and rode off at once to take leave of Gay. + +In his house we found the whole war council. Two or three +colonists and several Cossacks had galloped from the mountains and +announced that the Red detachment was approaching Khathyl but would +remain for the night in the forest, where they were building +campfires. In fact, through the house windows we could see the +glare of the fires. It seemed very strange that the enemy should +await the morning there in the forest when they were right on the +village they wished to capture. + +An armed Cossack entered the room and announced that two armed men +from the detachment were approaching. All the men in the room +pricked up their ears. Outside were heard the horses' hoofs +followed by men's voices and a knock at the door. + +"Come in," said Gay. + +Two young men entered, their moustaches and beards white and their +cheeks blazing red from the cold. They were dressed in the common +Siberian overcoat with the big Astrakhan caps, but they had no +weapons. Questions began. It developed that it was a detachment +of White peasants from the Irkutsk and Yakutsk districts who had +been fighting with the Bolsheviki. They had been defeated +somewhere in the vicinity of Irkutsk and were now trying to make a +junction with Kazagrandi. The leader of this band was a socialist, +Captain Vassilieff, who had suffered much under the Czar because of +his tenets. + +Our troubles had vanished but we decided to start immediately to +Muren Kure, as we had gathered our information and were in a hurry +to make our report. We started. On the road we overtook three +Cossacks who were going out to bring back the colonists who were +fleeing to the south. We joined them and, dismounting, we all led +our horses over the ice. The Yaga was mad. The subterranean +forces produced underneath the ice great heaving waves which with a +swirling roar threw up and tore loose great sections of ice, +breaking them into small blocks and sucking them under the unbroken +downstream field. Cracks ran like snakes over the surface in +different directions. One of the Cossacks fell into one of these +but we had just time to save him. He was forced by his ducking in +such extreme cold to turn back to Khathyl. Our horses slipped +about and fell several times. Men and animals felt the presence of +death which hovered over them and momentarily threatened them with +destruction. At last we made the farther bank and continued +southward down the valley, glad to have left the geological and +figurative volcanoes behind us. Ten miles farther on we came up +with the first party of refugees. They had spread a big tent and +made a fire inside, filling it with warmth and smoke. Their camp +was made beside the establishment of a large Chinese trading house, +where the owners refused to let the colonists come into their amply +spacious buildings, even though there were children, women and +invalids among the refugees. We spent but half an hour here. The +road as we continued was easy, save in places where the snow lay +deep. We crossed the fairly high divide between the Egingol and +Muren. Near the pass one very unexpected event occurred to us. We +crossed the mouth of a fairly wide valley whose upper end was +covered with a dense wood. Near this wood we noticed two horsemen, +evidently watching us. Their manner of sitting in their saddles +and the character of their horses told us that they were not +Mongols. We began shouting and waving to them; but they did not +answer. Out of the wood emerged a third and stopped to look at us. +We decided to interview them and, whipping up our horses, galloped +toward them. When we were about one thousand yards from them, they +slipped from their saddles and opened on us with a running fire. +Fortunately we rode a little apart and thus made a poor target for +them. We jumped off our horses, dropped prone on the ground and +prepared to fight. However, we did not fire because we thought it +might be a mistake on their part, thinking that we were Reds. They +shortly made off. Their shots from the European rifles had given +us further proof that they were not Mongols. We waited until they +had disappeared into the woods and then went forward to investigate +their tracks, which we found were those of shod horses, clearly +corroborating the earlier evidence that they were not Mongols. Who +could they have been? We never found out; yet what a different +relationship they might have borne to our lives, had their shots +been true! + +After we had passed over the divide, we met the Russian colonist D. +A. Teternikoff from Muren Kure, who invited us to stay in his house +and promised to secure camels for us from the Lamas. The cold was +intense and heightened by a piercing wind. During the day we froze +to the bone but at night thawed and warmed up nicely by our tent +stove. After two days we entered the valley of Muren and from afar +made out the square of the Kure with its Chinese roofs and large +red temples. Nearby was a second square, the Chinese and Russian +settlement. Two hours more brought us to the house of our +hospitable companion and his attractive young wife who feasted us +with a wonderful luncheon of tasty dishes. We spent five days at +Muren waiting for the camels to be engaged. During this time many +refugees arrived from Khathyl because Colonel Kazagrandi was +gradually falling back upon the town. Among others there were two +Colonels, Plavako and Maklakoff, who had caused the disruption of +the Kazagrandi force. No sooner had the refugees appeared in Muren +Kure than the Mongolian officials announced that the Chinese +authorities had ordered them to drive out all Russian refugees. + +"Where can we go now in winter with women and children and no homes +of our own?" asked the distraught refugees. + +"That is of no moment to us," answered the Mongolian officials. +"The Chinese authorities are angry and have ordered us to drive you +away. We cannot help you at all." + +The refugees had to leave Muren Kure and so erected their tents in +the open not far away. Plavako and Maklakoff bought horses and +started out for Van Kure. Long afterwards I learned that both had +been killed by the Chinese along the road. + +We secured three camels and started out with a large group of +Chinese merchants and Russian refugees to make Uliassutai, +preserving the warmest recollections of our courteous hosts, T. V. +and D. A. Teternikoff. For the trip we had to pay for our camels +the very high price of 33 lan of the silver bullion which had been +supplied us by an American firm in Uliassutai, the equivalent +roughly of 2.7 pounds of the white metal. + + +CHAPTER XXIV + +A BLOODY CHASTISEMENT + + +Before long we struck the road which we had travelled coming north +and saw again the kindly rows of chopped down telegraph poles which +had once so warmly protected us. Over the timbered hillocks north +of the valley of Tisingol we wended just as it was growing dark. +We decided to stay in Bobroff's house and our companions thought to +seek the hospitality of Kanine in the telegraph station. At the +station gate we found a soldier with a rifle, who questioned us as +to who we were and whence we had come and, being apparently +satisfied, whistled out a young officer from the house. + +"Lieutenant Ivanoff," he introduced himself. "I am staying here +with my detachment of White Partisans." + +He had come from near Irkutsk with his following of ten men and had +formed a connection with Lieutenant-Colonel Michailoff at +Uliassutai, who commanded him to take possession of this +blockhouse. + +"Enter, please," he said hospitably. + +I explained to him that I wanted to stay with Bobroff, whereat he +made a despairing gesture with his hand and said: + +"Don't trouble yourself. The Bobroffs are killed and their house +burned." + +I could not keep back a cry of horror. + +The Lieutenant continued: "Kanine and the Pouzikoffs killed them, +pillaged the place and afterwards burned the house with their dead +bodies in it. Do you want to see it?" + +My friend and I went with the Lieutenant and looked over the +ominous site. Blackened uprights stood among charred beams and +planks while crockery and iron pots and pans were scattered all +around. A little to one side under some felt lay the remains of +the four unfortunate individuals. The Lieutenant first spoke: + +"I reported the case to Uliassutai and received word back that the +relatives of the deceased would come with two officers, who would +investigate the affair. That is why I cannot bury the bodies." + +"How did it happen?" we asked, oppressed by the sad picture. + +"It was like this," he began. "I was approaching Tisingol at night +with my ten soldiers. Fearing that there might be Reds here, we +sneaked up to the station and looked into the windows. We saw +Pouzikoff, Kanine and the short-haired girl, looking over and +dividing clothes and other things and weighing lumps of silver. I +did not at once grasp the significance of all this; but, feeling +the need for continued caution, ordered one of my soldiers to climb +the fence and open the gate. We rushed into the court. The first +to run from the house was Kanine's wife, who threw up her hands and +shrieked in fear: "I knew that misfortune would come of all this!" +and then fainted. One of the men ran out of a side door to a shed +in the yard and there tried to get over the fence. I had not +noticed him but one of my soldiers caught him. We were met at the +door by Kanine, who was white and trembling. I realized that +something important had taken place, placed them all under arrest, +ordered the men tied and placed a close guard. All my questions +were met with silence save by Madame Kanine who cried: 'Pity, pity +for the children! They are innocent!' as she dropped on her knees +and stretched out her hands in supplication to us. The short- +haired girl laughed out of impudent eyes and blew a puff of smoke +into my face. I was forced to threaten them and said: + +"'I know that you have committed some crime, but you do not want to +confess. If you do not, I shall shoot the men and take the women +to Uliassutai to try them there.' + +"I spoke with definiteness of voice and intention, for they roused +my deepest anger. Quite to my surprise the short-haired girl first +began to speak. + +"'I want to tell you about everything,' she said. + +"I ordered ink, paper and pen brought me. My soldiers were the +witnesses. Then I prepared the protocol of the confession of +Pouzikoff's wife. This was her dark and bloody tale. + +"'My husband and I are Bolshevik commissars and we have been sent +to find out how many White officers are hidden in Mongolia. But +the old fellow Bobroff knew us. We wanted to go away but Kanine +kept us, telling us that Bobroff was rich and that he had for a +long time wanted to kill him and pillage his place. We agreed to +join him. We decoyed the young Bobroff to come and play cards with +us. When he was going home my husband stole along behind and shot +him. Afterwards we all went to Bobroff's place. I climbed upon +the fence and threw some poisoned meat to the dogs, who were dead +in a few minutes. Then we all climbed over. The first person to +emerge from the house was Bobroff's wife. Pouzikoff, who was +hidden behind the door, killed her with his ax. The old fellow we +killed with a blow of the ax as he slept. The little girl ran out +into the room as she heard the noise and Kanine shot her in the +head with buckshot. Afterwards we looted the house and burned it, +even destroying the horses and cattle. Later all would have been +completely burned, so that no traces remained, but you suddenly +arrived and these stupid fellows at once betrayed us.' + +"It was a dastardly affair," continued the Lieutenant, as we +returned to the station. "The hair raised on my head as I listened +to the calm description of this young woman, hardly more than a +girl. Only then did I fully realize what depravity Bolshevism had +brought into the world, crushing out faith, fear of God and +conscience. Only then did I understand that all honest people must +fight without compromise against this most dangerous enemy of +mankind, so long as life and strength endure." + +As we walked I noticed at the side of the road a black spot. It +attracted and fixed my attention. + +"What is that?" I asked, pointing to the spot. + +"It is the murderer Pouzikoff whom I shot," answered the +Lieutenant. "I would have shot both Kanine and the wife of +Pouzikoff but I was sorry for Kanine's wife and children and I +haven't learned the lesson of shooting women. Now I shall send +them along with you under the surveillance of my soldiers to +Uliassutai. The same result will come, for the Mongols who try +them for the murder will surely kill them." + +This is what happened at Tisingol, on whose shores the will-o'-the- +wisp flits over the marshy pools and near which runs the cleavage +of over two hundred miles that the last earthquake left in the +surface of the land. Maybe it was out of this cleavage that +Pouzikoff, Kanine and the others who have sought to infect the +whole world with horror and crime made their appearance from the +land of the inferno. One of Lieutenant Ivanoff's soldiers, who was +always praying and pale, called them all "the servants of Satan." + +Our trip from Tisingol to Uliassutai in the company of these +criminals was very unpleasant. My friend and I entirely lost our +usual strength of spirit and healthy frame of mind. Kanine +persistently brooded and thought while the impudent woman laughed, +smoked and joked with the soldiers and several of our companions. +At last we crossed the Jagisstai and in a few hours descried at +first the fortress and then the low adobe houses huddled on the +plain, which we knew to be Uliassutai. + + +CHAPTER XXV + +HARASSING DAYS + + +Once more we found ourselves in the whirl of events. During our +fortnight away a great deal had happened here. The Chinese +Commissioner Wang Tsao-tsun had sent eleven envoys to Urga but none +had returned. The situation in Mongolia remained far from clear. +The Russian detachment had been increased by the arrival of new +colonists and secretly continued its illegal existence, although +the Chinese knew about it through their omnipresent system of +spies. In the town no Russian or foreign citizens left their +houses and all remained armed and ready to act. At night armed +sentinels stood guard in all their court-yards. It was the Chinese +who induced such precautions. By order of their Commissioner all +the Chinese merchants with stocks of rifles armed their staffs and +handed over any surplus guns to the officials, who with these +formed and equipped a force of two hundred coolies into a special +garrison of gamins. Then they took possession of the Mongolian +arsenal and distributed these additional guns among the Chinese +vegetable farmers in the nagan hushun, where there was always a +floating population of the lowest grade of transient Chinese +laborers. This trash of China now felt themselves strong, gathered +together in excited discussions and evidently were preparing for +some outburst of aggression. At night the coolies transported many +boxes of cartridges from the Chinese shops to the nagan hushun and +the behaviour of the Chinese mob became unbearably audacious. +These coolies and gamins impertinently stopped and searched people +right on the streets and sought to provoke fights that would allow +them to take anything they wanted. Through secret news we received +from certain Chinese quarters we learned that the Chinese were +preparing a pogrom for all the Russians and Mongols in Uliassutai. +We fully realized that it was only necessary to fire one single +house at the right part of the town and the entire settlement of +wooden buildings would go up in flames. The whole population +prepared to defend themselves, increased the sentinels in the +compounds, appointed leaders for certain sections of the town, +organized a special fire brigade and prepared horses, carts and +food for a hasty flight. The situation became worse when news +arrived from Kobdo that the Chinese there had made a pogrom, +killing some of the inhabitants and burning the whole town after a +wild looting orgy. Most of the people got away to the forests on +the mountains but it was at night and consequently without warm +clothes and without food. During the following days these +mountains around Kobdo heard many cries of misfortune, woe and +death. The severe cold and hunger killed off the women and +children out under the open sky of the Mongolian winter. This news +was soon known to the Chinese. They laughed in mockery and soon +organized a big meeting at the nagan hushun to discuss letting the +mob and gamins loose on the town. + +A young Chinese, the son of a cook of one of the colonists, +revealed this news. We immediately decided to make an +investigation. A Russian officer and my friend joined me with this +young Chinese as a guide for a trip to the outskirts of the town. +We feigned simply a stroll but were stopped by the Chinese sentinel +on the side of the city toward the nagan hushun with an impertinent +command that no one was allowed to leave the town. As we spoke +with him, I noticed that between the town and the nagan hushun +Chinese guards were stationed all along the way and that streams of +Chinese were moving in that direction. We saw at once it was +impossible to reach the meeting from this approach, so we chose +another route. We left the city from the eastern side and passed +along by the camp of the Mongolians who had been reduced to beggary +by the Chinese impositions. There also they were evidently +anxiously awaiting the turn of events, for, in spite of the +lateness of the hour, none had gone to sleep. We slipped out on +the ice and worked around by the river to the nagan hushun. As we +passed free of the city we began to sneak cautiously along, taking +advantage of every bit of cover. We were armed with revolvers and +hand grenades and knew that a small detachment had been prepared in +the town to come to our aid, if we should be in danger. First the +young Chinese stole forward with my friend following him like a +shadow, constantly reminding him that he would strangle him like a +mouse if he made one move to betray us. I fear the young guide did +not greatly enjoy the trip with my gigantic friend puffing all too +loudly with the unusual exertions. At last the fences of nagan +hushun were in sight and nothing between us and them save the open +plain, where our group would have been easily spotted; so that we +decided to crawl up one by one, save that the Chinese was retained +in the society of my trusted friend. Fortunately there were many +heaps of frozen manure on the plain, which we made use of as cover +to lead us right up to our objective point, the fence of the +enclosures. In the shadow of this we slunk along to the courtyard +where the voices of the excited crowd beckoned us. As we took good +vantage points in the darkness for listening and making +observations, we remarked two extraordinary things in our immediate +neighborhood. + +Another invisible guest was present with us at the Chinese +gathering. He lay on the ground with his head in a hole dug by the +dogs under the fence. He was perfectly still and evidently had not +heard our advance. Nearby in a ditch lay a white horse with his +nose muzzled and a little further away stood another saddled horse +tied to a fence. + +In the courtyard there was a great hubbub. About two thousand men +were shouting, arguing and flourishing their arms about in wild +gesticulations. Nearly all were armed with rifles, revolvers, +swords and axes. In among the crowd circulated the gamins, +constantly talking, handing out papers, explaining and assuring. +Finally a big, broad-shouldered Chinese mounted the well combing, +waved his rifle about over his head and opened a tirade in strong, +sharp tones. + +"He is assuring the people," said our interpreter, "that they must +do here what the Chinese have done in Kobdo and must secure from +the Commissioner the assurance of an order to his guard not to +prevent the carrying out of their plans. Also that the Chinese +Commissioner must demand from the Russians all their weapons. +'Then we shall take vengeance on the Russians for their +Blagoveschensk crime when they drowned three thousand Chinese in +1900. You remain here while I go to the Commissioner and talk with +him.'" + +He jumped down from the well and quickly made his way to the gate +toward the town. At once I saw the man who was lying with his head +under the fence draw back out of his hole, take his white horse +from the ditch and then run over to untie the other horse and lead +them both back to our side, which was away from the city. He left +the second horse there and hid himself around the corner of the +hushun. The spokesman went out of the gate and, seeing his horse +over on the other side of the enclosure, slung his rifle across his +back and started for his mount. He had gone about half way when +the stranger behind the corner of the fence suddenly galloped out +and in a flash literally swung the man clear from the ground up +across the pommel of his saddle, where we saw him tie the mouth of +the semi-strangled Chinese with a cloth and dash off with him +toward the west away from the town. + +"Who do you suppose he is?" I asked of my friend, who answered up +at once: "It must be Tushegoun Lama. . . ." + +His whole appearance did strongly remind me of this mysterious Lama +avenger and his manner of addressing himself to his enemy was a +strict replica of that of Tushegoun. Late in the night we learned +that some time after their orator had gone to seek the +Commissioner's cooperation in their venture, his head had been +flung over the fence into the midst of the waiting audience and +that eight gamins had disappeared on their way from the hushun to +the town without leaving trace or trail. This event terrorized the +Chinese mob and calmed their heated spirits. + +The next day we received very unexpected aid. A young Mongol +galloped in from Urga, his overcoat torn, his hair all dishevelled +and fallen to his shoulders and a revolver prominent beneath his +girdle. Proceeding directly to the market where the Mongols are +always gathered, without leaving his saddle he cried out: + +"Urga is captured by our Mongols and Chiang Chun Baron Ungern! +Bogdo Hutuktu is once more our Khan! Mongols, kill the Chinese and +pillage their shops! Our patience is exhausted!" + +Through the crowd rose the roar of excitement. The rider was +surrounded with a mob of insistent questioners. The old Mongol +Sait, Chultun Beyli, who had been dismissed by the Chinese, was at +once informed of this news and asked to have the messenger brought +to him. After questioning the man he arrested him for inciting the +people to riot, but he refused to turn him over to the Chinese +authorities. I was personally with the Sait at the time and heard +his decision in the matter. When the Chinese Commissioner, Wang +Tsao-tsun, threatened the Sait for disobedience to his authority, +the old man simply fingered his rosary and said: + +"I believe the story of this Mongol in its every word and I +apprehend that you and I shall soon have to reverse our +relationship." + +I felt that Wang Tsao-tsun also accepted the correctness of the +Mongol's story, because he did not insist further. From this +moment the Chinese disappeared from the streets of Uliassutai as +though they never had been, and synchronously the patrols of the +Russian officers and of our foreign colony took their places. The +panic among the Chinese was heightened by the receipt of a letter +containing the news that the Mongols and Altai Tartars under the +leadership of the Tartar officer Kaigorodoff pursued the Chinese +who were making off with their booty from the sack of Kobdo and +overtook and annihilated them on the borders of Sinkiang. Another +part of the letter told how General Bakitch and the six thousand +men who had been interned with him by the Chinese authorities on +the River Amyl had received arms and started to join with Ataman +Annenkoff, who had been interned in Kuldja, with the ultimate +intention of linking up with Baron Ungern. This rumour proved to +be wrong because neither Bakitch nor Annenkoff entertained this +intention, because Annenkoff had been transported by the Chinese +into the Depths of Turkestan. However, the news produced veritable +stupefaction among the Chinese. + +Just at this time there arrived at the house of the Bolshevist +Russian colonist Bourdukoff three Bolshevik agents from Irkutsk +named Saltikoff, Freimann and Novak, who started an agitation among +the Chinese authorities to get them to disarm the Russian officers +and hand them over to the Reds. They persuaded the Chinese Chamber +of Commerce to petition the Irkutsk Soviet to send a detachment of +Reds to Uliassutai for the protection of the Chinese against the +White detachments. Freimann brought with him communistic pamphlets +in Mongolian and instructions to begin the reconstruction of the +telegraph line to Irkutsk. Bourdukoff also received some messages +from the Bolsheviki. This quartette developed their policy very +successfully and soon saw Wang Tsao-tsun fall in with their +schemes. Once more the days of expecting a pogrom in Uliassutai +returned to us. The Russian officers anticipated attempts to +arrest them. The representative of one of the American firms went +with me to the Commissioner for a parley. We pointed out to him +the illegality of his acts, inasmuch as he was not authorized by +his Government to treat with the Bolsheviki when the Soviet +Government had not been recognized by Peking. Wang Tsao-tsun and +his advisor Fu Hsiang were palpably confused at finding we knew of +his secret meetings with the Bolshevik agents. He assured us that +his guard was sufficient to prevent any such pogrom. It was quite +true that his guard was very capable, as it consisted of well +trained and disciplined soldiers under the command of a serious- +minded and well educated officer; but, what could eighty soldiers +do against a mob of three thousand coolies, one thousand armed +merchants and two hundred gamins? We strongly registered our +apprehensions and urged him to avoid any bloodshed, pointing out +that the foreign and Russian population were determined to defend +themselves to the last moment. Wang at once ordered the +establishment of strong guards on the streets and thus made a very +interesting picture with all the Russian, foreign and Chinese +patrols moving up and down throughout the whole town. Then we did +not know there were three hundred more sentinels on duty, the men +of Tushegoun Lama hidden nearby in the mountains. + +Once more the picture changed very sharply and suddenly. The +Mongolian Sait received news through the Lamas of the nearest +monastery that Colonel Kazagrandi, after fighting with the Chinese +irregulars, had captured Van Kure and had formed there Russian- +Mongolian brigades of cavalry, mobilizing the Mongols by the order +of the Living Buddha and the Russians by order of Baron Ungern. A +few hours later it became known that in the large monastery of +Dzain the Chinese soldiers had killed the Russian Captain Barsky +and as a result some of the troops of Kazagrandi attacked and swept +the Chinese out of the place. At the taking of Van Kure the +Russians arrested a Korean Communist who was on his way from Moscow +with gold and propaganda to work in Korea and America. Colonel +Kazagrandi sent this Korean with his freight of gold to Baron +Ungern. After receiving this news the chief of the Russian +detachment in Uliassutai arrested all the Bolsheviki agents and +passed judgment upon them and upon the murderers of the Bobroffs. +Kanine, Madame Pouzikoff and Freimann were shot. Regarding +Saltikoff and Novak some doubt sprang up and, moreover, Saltikoff +escaped and hid, while Novak, under advice from Lieutenant Colonel +Michailoff, left for the west. The chief of the Russian detachment +gave out orders for the mobilization of the Russian colonists and +openly took Uliassutai under his protection with the tacit +agreement of the Mongolian authorities. The Mongol Sait, Chultun +Beyli, convened a council of the neighboring Mongolian Princes, the +soul of which was the noted Mongolian patriot, Hun Jap Lama. The +Princes quickly formulated their demands upon the Chinese for the +complete evacuation of the territory subject to the Sait Chultun +Beyli. Out of it grew parleys, threats and friction between the +various Chinese and Mongolian elements. Wang Tsao-tsun proposed +his scheme of settlement, which some of the Mongolian Princes +accepted; but Jap Lama at the decisive moment threw the Chinese +document to the ground, drew his knife and swore that he would die +by his own hand rather than set it as a seal upon this treacherous +agreement. As a result the Chinese proposals were rejected and the +antagonists began to prepare themselves for the struggle. All the +armed Mongols were summoned from Jassaktu Khan, Sain-Noion Khan and +the dominion of Jahantsi Lama. The Chinese authorities placed +their four machine guns and prepared to defend the fortress. +Continuous deliberations were held by both the Chinese and Mongols. +Finally, our old acquaintance Tzeren came to me as one of the +unconcerned foreigners and handed to me the joint requests of Wang +Tsao-tsun and Chultun Beyli to try to pacify the two elements and +to work out a fair agreement between them. Similar requests were +handed to the representative of an American firm. The following +evening we held the first meeting of the arbitrators and the +Chinese and Mongolian representatives. It was passionate and +stormy, so that we foreigners lost all hope of the success of our +mission. However, at midnight when the speakers were tired, we +secured agreement on two points: the Mongols announced that they +did not want to make war and that they desired to settle this +matter in such a way as to retain the friendship of the great +Chinese people; while the Chinese Commissioner acknowledged that +China had violated the treaties by which full independence had been +legally granted to Mongolia. + +These two points formed for us the groundwork of the next meeting +and gave us the starting points for urging reconciliation. The +deliberations continued for three days and finally turned so that +we foreigners could propose our suggestions for an agreement. Its +chief provisions were that the Chinese authorities should surrender +administrative powers, return the arms to the Mongolians, disarm +the two hundred gamins and leave the country; and that the Mongols +on their side should give free and honorable passage of their +country to the Commissioner with his armed guard of eighty men. +This Chinese-Mongolian Treaty of Uliassutai was signed and sealed +by the Chinese Commissioners, Wang Tsao-tsun and Fu Hsiang, by both +Mongolian Saits, by Hun Jap Lama and other Princes, as well as by +the Russian and Chinese Presidents of the Chambers of Commerce and +by us foreign arbitrators. The Chinese officials and convoy began +at once to pack up their belongings and prepare for departure. The +Chinese merchants remained in Uliassutai because Sait Chultun +Beyli, now having full authority and power, guaranteed their +safety. The day of departure for the expedition of Wang Tsao-tsun +arrived. The camels with their packs already filled the yamen +court-yard and the men only awaited the arrival of their horses +from the plains. Suddenly the news spread everywhere that the herd +of horses had been stolen during the night and run off toward the +south. Of two soldiers that had been sent out to follow the tracks +of the herd only one came back with the news that the other had +been killed. Astonishment spread over the whole town while among +the Chinese it turned to open panic. It perceptibly increased when +some Mongols from a distant ourton to the east came in and +announced that in various places along the post road to Urga they +had discovered the bodies of sixteen of the soldiers whom Wang +Tsao-tsun had sent out with letters for Urga. The mystery of these +events will soon be explained. + +The chief of the Russian detachment received a letter from a +Cossack Colonel, V. N. Domojiroff, containing the order to disarm +immediately the Chinese garrison, to arrest all Chinese officials +for transport to Baron Ungern at Urga, to take control of +Uliassutai, by force if necessary, and to join forces with his +detachment. At the very same time a messenger from the Narabanchi +Hutuktu galloped in with a letter to the effect that a Russian +detachment under the leadership of Hun Boldon and Colonel +Domojiroff from Urga had pillaged some Chinese firms and killed the +merchants, had come to the Monastery and demanded horses, food and +shelter. The Hutuktu asked for help because the ferocious +conqueror of Kobdo, Hun Boldon, could very easily pillage the +unprotected isolated monastery. We strongly urged Colonel +Michailoff not to violate the sealed treaty and discountenance all +the foreigners and Russians who had taken part in making it, for +this would but be to imitate the Bolshevik principle of making +deceit the leading rule in all acts of state. This touched +Michailoff and he answered Domojiroff that Uliassutai was already +in his hands without a fight; that over the building of the former +Russian Consulate the tri-color flag of Russia was flying; the +gamins had been disarmed but that the other orders could not be +carried out, because their execution would violate the Chinese- +Mongolian treaty just signed in Uliassutai. + +Daily several envoys traveled from Narabanchi Hutuktu to +Uliassutai. The news became more and more disquieting. The +Hutuktu reported that Hun Boldon was mobilizing the Mongolian +beggars and horse stealers, arming and training them; that the +soldiers were taking the sheep of the monastery; that the "Noyon" +Domojiroff was always drunk; and that the protests of the Hutuktu +were answered with jeers and scolding. The messengers gave very +indefinite information regarding the strength of the detachment, +some placing it at about thirty while others stated that Domojiroff +said he had eight hundred in all. We could not understand it at +all and soon the messengers ceased coming. All the letters of the +Sait remained unanswered and the envoys did not return. There +seemed to be no doubt that the men had been killed or captured. + +Prince Chultun Beyli determined to go himself. He took with him +the Russian and Chinese Presidents of the Chambers of Commerce and +two Mongolian officers. Three days elapsed without receiving any +news from him whatever. The Mongols began to get worried. Then +the Chinese Commissioner and Hun Jap Lama addressed a request to +the foreigner group to send some one to Narabanchi, in order to try +to resolve the controversy there and to persuade Domojiroff to +recognize the treaty and not permit the "great insult of violation" +of a covenant between the two great peoples. Our group asked me +once more to accomplish this mission pro bono publico. I had +assigned me as interpreter a fine young Russian colonist, the +nephew of the murdered Bobroff, a splendid rider as well as a cool, +brave man. Lt.-Colonel Michailoff gave me one of his officers to +accompany me. Supplied with an express tzara for the post horses +and guides, we traveled rapidly over the way which was now familiar +to me to find my old friend, Jelib Djamsrap Huktuktu of Narabanchi. +Although there was deep snow in some places, we made from one +hundred to one hundred and fifteen miles per day. + + +CHAPTER XXVI + +THE BAND OF WHITE HUNGHUTZES + + +We arrived at Narabanchi late at night on the third day out. As we +were approaching, we noticed several riders who, as soon as they +had seen us, galloped quickly back to the monastery. For some time +we looked for the camp of the Russian detachment without finding +it. The Mongols led us into the monastery, where the Hutuktu +immediately received me. In his yurta sat Chultun Beyli. There he +presented me with hatyks and said to me: "The very God has sent +you here to us in this difficult moment." + +It seems Domojiroff had arrested both the Presidents of the +Chambers of Commerce and had threatened to shoot Prince Chultun. +Both Domojiroff and Hun Boldon had no documents legalizing their +activities. Chultun Beyli was preparing to fight with them. + +I asked them to take me to Domojiroff. Through the dark I saw four +big yurtas and two Mongol sentinels with Russian rifles. We +entered the Russian "Noyon's" tent. A very strange picture was +presented to our eyes. In the middle of the yurta the brazier was +burning. In the usual place for the altar stood a throne, on which +the tall, thin, grey-haired Colonel Domojiroff was seated. He was +only in his undergarments and stockings, was evidently a little +drunk and was telling stories. Around the brazier lay twelve young +men in various picturesque poses. My officer companion reported to +Domojiroff about the events in Uliassutai and during the +conversation I asked Domojiroff where his detachment was encamped. +He laughed and answered, with a sweep of his hand: "This is my +detachment." I pointed out to him that the form of his orders to +us in Uliassutai had led us to believe that he must have a large +company with him. Then I informed him that Lt.-Colonel Michailoff +was preparing to cross swords with the Bolshevik force approaching +Uliassutai. + +"What?" he exclaimed with fear and confusion, "the Reds?" + +We spent the night in his yurta and, when I was ready to lie down, +my officer whispered to me: + +"Be sure to keep your revolver handy," to which I laughed and said: + +"But we are in the center of a White detachment and therefore in +perfect safety!" + +"Uh-huh!" answered my officer and finished the response with one +eye closed. + +The next day I invited Domojiroff to walk with me over the plain, +when I talked very frankly with him about what had been happening. +He and Hun Boldon had received orders from Baron Ungern simply to +get into touch with General Bakitch, but instead they began +pillaging Chinese firms along the route and he had made up his mind +to become a great conqueror. On the way he had run across some of +the officers who deserted Colonel Kazagrandi and formed his present +band. I succeeded in persuading Domojiroff to arrange matters +peacefully with Chultun Beyli and not to violate the treaty. He +immediately went ahead to the monastery. As I returned, I met a +tall Mongol with a ferocious face, dressed in a blue silk +outercoat--it was Hun Boldon. He introduced himself and spoke with +me in Russian. I had only time to take off my coat in the tent of +Domojiroff when a Mongol came running to invite me to the yurta of +Hun Boldon. The Prince lived just beside me in a splendid blue +yurta. Knowing the Mongolian custom, I jumped into the saddle and +rode the ten paces to his door. Hun Boldon received me with +coldness and pride. + +"Who is he?" he inquired of the interpreter, pointing to me with +his finger. + +I understood his desire to offend me and I answered in the same +manner, thrusting out my finger toward him and turning to the +interpreter with the same question in a slightly more unpleasant +tone: + +"Who is he? High Prince and warrior or shepherd and brute?" + +Boldon at once became confused and, with trembling voice and +agitation in his whole manner, blurted out to me that he would not +allow me to interfere in his affairs and would shoot every man who +dared to run counter to his orders. He pounded on the low table +with his fist and then rose up and drew his revolver. But I was +much traveled among the nomads and had studied them thoroughly-- +Princes, Lamas, shepherds and brigands. I grasped my whip and, +striking it on the table with all my strength, I said to the +interpreter: + +"Tell him that he has the honor to speak with neither Mongol nor +Russian but with a foreigner, a citizen of a great and free state. +Tell him he must first learn to be a man and then he can visit me +and we can talk together." + +I turned and went out. Ten minutes later Hun Boldon entered my +yurta and offered his apologies. I persuaded him to parley with +Chultun Beyli and not to offend the free Mongol people with his +activities. That very night all was arranged. Hun Boldon +dismissed his Mongols and left for Kobdo, while Domojiroff with his +band started for Jassaktu Khan to arrange for the mobilization of +the Mongols there. With the consent of Chultun Beyli he wrote to +Wang Tsao-tsun a demand to disarm his guard, as all of the Chinese +troops in Urga had been so treated; but this letter arrived after +Wang had bought camels to replace the stolen horses and was on his +way to the border. Later Lt.-Colonel Michailoff sent a detachment +of fifty men under the command of Lieutenant Strigine to overhaul +Wang and receive their arms. + + +CHAPTER XXVII + +MYSTERY IN A SMALL TEMPLE + + +Prince Chultun Beyli and I were ready to leave the Narabanchi Kure. +While the Hutuktu was holding service for the Sait in the Temple of +Blessing, I wandered around through the narrow alleyways between +the walls of the houses of the various grades of Lama Gelongs, +Getuls, Chaidje and Rabdjampa; of schools where the learned doctors +of theology or Maramba taught together with the doctors of medicine +or Ta Lama; of the residences for students called Bandi; of stores, +archives and libraries. When I returned to the yurta of the +Hutuktu, he was inside. He presented me with a large hatyk and +proposed a walk around the monastery. His face wore a preoccupied +expression from which I gathered that he had something he wished to +discuss with me. As we went out of the yurta, the liberated +President of the Russian Chamber of Commerce and a Russian officer +joined us. The Hutuktu led us to a small building just back of a +bright yellow stone wall. + +"In that building once stopped the Dalai Lama and Bogdo Khan and we +always paint the buildings yellow where these holy persons have +lived. Enter!" + +The interior of the building was arranged with splendor. On the +ground floor was the dining-room, furnished with richly carved, +heavy blackwood Chinese tables and cabinets filled with porcelains +and bronze. Above were two rooms, the first a bed-room hung with +heavy yellow silk curtains; a large Chinese lantern richly set with +colored stones hung by a thin bronze chain from the carved wooden +ceiling beam. Here stood a large square bed covered with silken +pillows, mattresses and blankets. The frame work of the bed was +also of the Chinese blackwood and carried, especially on the posts +that held the roof-like canopy, finely executed carvings with the +chief motive the conventional dragon devouring the sun. By the +side stood a chest of drawers completely covered with carvings +setting forth religious pictures. Four comfortable easy chairs +completed the furniture, save for the low oriental throne which +stood on a dais at the end of the room. + +"Do you see this throne?" said the Hutuktu to me. "One night in +winter several horsemen rode into the monastery and demanded that +all the Gelongs and Getuls with the Hutuktu and Kanpo at their head +should congregate in this room. Then one of the strangers mounted +the throne, where he took off his bashlyk or cap-like head +covering. All of the Lamas fell to their knees as they recognized +the man who had been long ago described in the sacred bulls of +Dalai Lama, Tashi Lama and Bogdo Khan. He was the man to whom the +whole world belongs and who has penetrated into all the mysteries +of Nature. He pronounced a short Tibetan prayer, blessed all his +hearers and afterwards made predictions for the coming half +century. This was thirty years ago and in the interim all his +prophecies are being fulfilled. During his prayers before that +small shrine in the next room this door opened of its own accord, +the candles and lights before the altar lighted themselves and the +sacred braziers without coals gave forth great streams of incense +that filled the room. And then, without warning, the King of the +World and his companions disappeared from among us. Behind him +remained no trace save the folds in the silken throne coverings +which smoothed themselves out and left the throne as though no one +had sat upon it." + +The Hutuktu entered the shrine, kneeled down, covering his eyes +with his hands, and began to pray. I looked at the calm, +indifferent face of the golden Buddha, over which the flickering +lamps threw changing shadows, and then turned my eyes to the side +of the throne. It was wonderful and difficult to believe but I +really saw there the strong, muscular figure of a man with a +swarthy face of stern and fixed expression about the mouth and +jaws, thrown into high relief by the brightness of the eyes. +Through his transparent body draped in white raiment I saw the +Tibetan inscriptions on the back of the throne. I closed my eyes +and opened them again. No one was there but the silk throne +covering seemed to be moving. + +"Nervousness," I thought. "Abnormal and over-emphasized +impressionability growing out of the unusual surroundings and +strains." + +The Hutuktu turned to me and said: "Give me your hatyk. I have +the feeling that you are troubled about those whom you love, and I +want to pray for them. And you must pray also, importune God and +direct the sight of your soul to the King of the World who was here +and sanctified this place." + +The Hutuktu placed the hatyk on the shoulder of the Buddha and, +prostrating himself on the carpet before the altar, whispered the +words of prayer. Then he raised his head and beckoned me to him +with a slight movement of his hand. + +"Look at the dark space behind the statue of Buddha and he will +show your beloved to you." + +Readily obeying his deep-voiced command, I began to look into the +dark niche behind the figure of the Buddha. Soon out of the +darkness began to appear streams of smoke or transparent threads. +They floated in the air, becoming more and more dense and +increasing in number, until gradually they formed the bodies of +several persons and the outlines of various objects. I saw a room +that was strange to me with my family there, surrounded by some +whom I knew and others whom I did not. I recognized even the dress +my wife wore. Every line of her dear face was clearly visible. +Gradually the vision became too dark, dissipated itself into the +streams of smoke and transparent threads and disappeared. Behind +the golden Buddha was nothing but the darkness. The Hutuktu arose, +took my hatyk from the shoulder of the Buddha and handed it to me +with these words: + +"Fortune is always with you and with your family. God's goodness +will not forsake you." + +We left the building of this unknown King of the World, where he +had prayed for all mankind and had predicted the fate of peoples +and states. I was greatly astonished to find that my companions +had also seen my vision and to hear them describe to me in minute +detail the appearance and the clothes of the persons whom I had +seen in the dark niche behind the head of Buddha.* + + +* In order that I might have the evidence of others on this +extraordinarily impressive vision, I asked them to make protocols +or affidavits concerning what they saw. This they did and I now +have these statements in my possession. + + +The Mongol officer also told me that Chultun Beyli had the day +before asked the Hutuktu to reveal to him his fate in this +important juncture of his life and in this crisis of his country +but the Hutuktu only waved his hand in an expression of fear and +refused. When I asked the Hutuktu for the reason of his refusal, +suggesting to him that it might calm and help Chultun Beyli as the +vision of my beloved had strengthened me, the Hutuktu knitted his +brow and answered: + +"No! The vision would not please the Prince. His fate is black. +Yesterday I thrice sought his fortune on the burned shoulder blades +and with the entrails of sheep and each time came to the same dire +result, the same dire result! . . ." + +He did not really finish speaking but covered his face with his +hands in fear. He was convinced that the lot of Chultun Beyli was +black as the night. + +In an hour we were behind the low hills that hid the Narabanchi +Kure from our sight. + + +CHAPTER XXVIII + +THE BREATH OF DEATH + + +We arrived at Uliassutai on the day of the return of the detachment +which had gone out to disarm the convoy of Wang Tsao-tsun. This +detachment had met Colonel Domojiroff, who ordered them not only to +disarm but to pillage the convoy and, unfortunately, Lieutenant +Strigine executed this illegal and unwarranted command. It was +compromising and ignominious to see Russian officers and soldiers +wearing the Chinese overcoats, boots and wrist watches which had +been taken from the Chinese officials and the convoy. Everyone had +Chinese silver and gold also from the loot. The Mongol wife of +Wang Tsao-tsun and her brother returned with the detachment and +entered a complaint of having been robbed by the Russians. The +Chinese officials and their convoy, deprived of their supplies, +reached the Chinese border only after great distress from hunger +and cold. We foreigners were astounded that Lt.-Colonel Michailoff +received Strigine with military honors but we caught the +explanation of it later when we learned that Michailoff had been +given some of the Chinese silver and his wife the handsomely +decorated saddle of Fu Hsiang. Chultun Beyli demanded that all the +weapons taken from the Chinese and all the stolen property be +turned over to him, as it must later be returned to the Chinese +authorities; but Michailoff refused. Afterwards we foreigners cut +off all contact with the Russian detachment. The relations between +the Russians and Mongols became very strained. Several of the +Russian officers protested against the acts of Michailoff and +Strigine and controversies became more and more serious. + +At this time, one morning in April, an extraordinary group of armed +horsemen arrived at Uliassutai. They stayed at the house of the +Bolshevik Bourdukoff, who gave them, so we were told, a great +quantity of silver. This group explained that they were former +officers in the Imperial Guard. They were Colonels Poletika, N. N. +Philipoff and three of the latter's brothers. They announced that +they wanted to collect all the White officers and soldiers then in +Mongolia and China and lead them to Urianhai to fight the +Bolsheviki; but that first they wanted to wipe out Ungern and +return Mongolia to China. They called themselves the +representatives of the Central Organization of the Whites in +Russia. + +The society of Russian officers in Uliassutai invited them to a +meeting, examined their documents and interrogated them. +Investigation proved that all the statements of these officers +about their former connections were entirely wrong, that Poletika +occupied an important position in the war commissariat of the +Bolsheviki, that one of the Philipoff brothers was the assistant of +Kameneff in his first attempt to reach England, that the Central +White Organization in Russia did not exist, that the proposed +fighting in Urianhai was but a trap for the White officers and that +this group was in close relations with the Bolshevik Bourdukoff. + +A discussion at once sprang up among the officers as to what they +should do with this group, which split the detachment into two +distinct parties. Lt.-Colonel Michailoff with several officers +joined themselves to Poletika's group just as Colonel Domojiroff +arrived with his detachment. He began to get in touch with both +factions and to feel out the politics of the situation, finally +appointing Poletika to the post of Commandant of Uliassutai and +sending to Baron Ungern a full report of the events in the town. +In this document he devoted much space to me, accusing me of +standing in the way of the execution of his orders. His officers +watched me continuously. From different quarters I received +warnings to take great care. This band and its leader openly +demanded to know what right this foreigner had to interfere in the +affairs of Mongolia, one of Domojiroff's officers directly giving +me the challenge in a meeting in the attempt to provoke a +controversy. I quietly answered him: + +"And on what basis do the Russian refugees interfere, they who have +rights neither at home nor abroad?" + +The officer made no verbal reply but in his eyes burned a definite +answer. My huge friend who sat beside me noticed this, strode over +toward him and, towering over him, stretched his arms and hands as +though just waking from sleep and remarked: "I'm looking for a +little boxing exercise." + +On one occasion Domojiroff's men would have succeeded in taking me +if I had not been saved by the watchfulness of our foreign group. +I had gone to the fortress to negotiate with the Mongol Sait for +the departure of the foreigners from Uliassutai. Chultun Beyli +detained me for a long time, so that I was forced to return about +nine in the evening. My horse was walking. Half a mile from the +town three men sprang up out of the ditch and ran at me. I whipped +up my horse but noticed several more men coming out of the other +ditch as though to head me off. They, however, made for the other +group and captured them and I heard the voice of a foreigner +calling me back. There I found three of Domojiroff's officers +surrounded by the Polish soldiers and other foreigners under the +leadership of my old trusted agronome, who was occupied with tying +the hands of the officers behind their backs so strongly that the +bones cracked. Ending his work and still smoking his perpetual +pipe, he announced in a serious and important manner: "I think it +best to throw them into the river." + +Laughing at his seriousness and the fear of Domojiroff's officers, +I asked them why they had started to attack me. They dropped their +eyes and were silent. It was an eloquent silence and we perfectly +understood what they had proposed to do. They had revolvers hidden +in their pockets. + +"Fine!" I said. "All is perfectly clear. I shall release you but +you must report to your sender that he will not welcome you back +the next time. Your weapons I shall hand to the Commandant of +Uliassutai." + +My friend, using his former terrifying care, began to untie them, +repeating over and over: "And I would have fed you to the fishes +in the river!" Then we all returned to the town, leaving them to +go their way. + +Domojiroff continued to send envoys to Baron Ungern at Urga with +requests for plenary powers and money and with reports about +Michailoff, Chultun Beyli, Poletika, Philipoff and myself. With +Asiatic cunning he was then maintaining good relations with all +those for whom he was preparing death at the hands of the severe +warrior, Baron Ungern, who was receiving only one-sided reports +about all the happenings in Uliassutai. Our whole colony was +greatly agitated. The officers split into different parties; the +soldiers collected in groups and discussed the events of the day, +criticising their chiefs, and under the influence of some of +Domojiroff's men began making such statements as: + +"We have now seven Colonels, who all want to be in command and are +all quarreling among themselves. They all ought to be pegged down +and given good sound thrashings. The one who could take the +greatest number of blows ought to be chosen as our chief." + +It was an ominous joke that proved the demoralization of the +Russian detachment. + +"It seems," my friend frequently observed, "that we shall soon have +the pleasure of seeing a Council of Soldiers here in Uliassutai. +God and the Devil! One thing here is very unfortunate--there are +no forests near into which good Christian men may dive and get away +from all these cursed Soviets. It's bare, frightfully bare, this +wretched Mongolia, with no place for us to hide." + +Really this possibility of the Soviet was approaching. On one +occasion the soldiers captured the arsenal containing the weapons +surrendered by the Chinese and carried them off to their barracks. +Drunkenness, gambling and fighting increased. We foreigners, +carefully watching events and in fear of a catastrophe, finally +decided to leave Uliassutai, that caldron of passions, +controversies and denunciations. We heard that the group of +Poletika was also preparing to get out a few days later. We +foreigners separated into two parties, one traveling by the old +caravan route across the Gobi considerably to the south of Urga to +Kuku-Hoto or Kweihuacheng and Kalgan, and mine, consisting of my +friend, two Polish soldiers and myself, heading for Urga via Zain +Shabi, where Colonel Kazagrandi had asked me in a recent letter to +meet him. Thus we left the Uliassutai where we had lived through +so many exciting events. + +On the sixth day after our departure there arrived in the town the +Mongol-Buriat detachment under the command of the Buriat Vandaloff +and the Russian Captain Bezrodnoff. Afterwards I met them in Zain +Shabi. It was a detachment sent out from Urga by Baron Ungern to +restore order in Uliassutai and to march on to Kobdo. On the way +from Zain Shabi Bezrodnoff came across the group of Poletika and +Michailoff. He instituted a search which disclosed suspicious +documents in their baggage and in that of Michailoff and his wife +the silver and other possessions taken from the Chinese. From this +group of sixteen he sent N. N. Philipoff to Baron Ungern, released +three others and shot the remaining twelve. Thus ended in Zain +Shabi the life of one party of Uliassutai refugees and the +activities of the group of Poletika. In Uliassutai Bezrodnoff shot +Chultun Beyli for the violation of the treaty with the Chinese, and +also some Bolshevist Russian colonists; arrested Domojiroff and +sent him to Urga; and . . . restored order. The predictions about +Chultun Beyli were fulfilled. + +I knew of Domojiroff's reports regarding myself but I decided, +nevertheless, to proceed to Urga and not to swing round it, as +Poletika had started to do when he was accidentally captured by +Bezrodnoff. I was accustomed now to looking into the eyes of +danger and I set out to meet the terrible "bloody Baron." No one +can decide his own fate. I did not think myself in the wrong and +the feeling of fear had long since ceased to occupy a place in my +menage. On the way a Mongol rider who overhauled us brought the +news of the death of our acquaintances at Zain Shabi. He spent the +night with me in the yurta at the ourton and related to me the +following legend of death. + +"It was a long time ago when the Mongolians ruled over China. The +Prince of Uliassutai, Beltis Van, was mad. He executed any one he +wished without trial and no one dared to pass through his town. +All the other Princes and rich Mongols surrounded Uliassutai, where +Beltis raged, cut off communication on every road and allowed none +to pass in or out. Famine developed in the town. They consumed +all the oxen, sheep and horses and finally Beltis Van determined to +make a dash with his soldiers through to the west to the land of +one of his tribes, the Olets. He and his men all perished in the +fight. The Princes, following the advice of the Hutuktu Buyantu, +buried the dead on the slopes of the mountains surrounding +Uliassutai. They buried them with incantations and exorcisings in +order that Death by Violence might be kept from a further +visitation to their land. The tombs were covered with heavy stones +and the Hutuktu predicted that the bad demon of Death by Violence +would only leave the earth when the blood of a man should he +spilled upon the covering stone. Such a legend lived among us. +Now it is fulfilled. The Russians shot there three Bolsheviki and +the Chinese two Mongols. The evil spirit of Beltis Van broke loose +from beneath the heavy stone and now mows down the people with his +scythe. The noble Chultun Beyli has perished; the Russian Noyon +Michailoff also has fallen; and death has flowed out from +Uliassutai all over our boundless plains. Who shall be able to +stem it now? Who shall tie the ferocious hands? An evil time has +fallen upon the Gods and the Good Spirits. The Evil Demons have +made war upon the Good Spirits. What can man now do? Only perish, +only perish. . . ." + + + +Part III + +THE STRAINING HEART OF ASIA + + +CHAPTER XXIX + +ON THE ROAD OF GREAT CONQUERORS + + +The great conqueror, Jenghiz Khan, the son of sad, stern, severe +Mongolia, according to an old Mongolian legend "mounted to the top +of Karasu Togol and with his eyes of an eagle looked to the west +and the east. In the west he saw whole seas of human blood over +which floated a bloody fog that blanketed all the horizon. There +he could not discern his fate. But the gods ordered him to proceed +to the west, leading with him all his warriors and Mongolian +tribes. To the east he saw wealthy towns, shining temples, crowds +of happy people, gardens and fields of rich earth, all of which +pleased the great Mongol. He said to his sons: 'There in the west +I shall be fire and sword, destroyer, avenging Fate; in the east I +shall come as the merciful, great builder, bringing happiness to +the people and to the land.'" + +Thus runs the legend. I found much of truth in it. I had passed +over much of his road to the west and always identified it by the +old tombs and the impertinent monuments of stone to the merciless +conqueror. I saw also a part of the eastern road of the hero, over +which he traveled to China. Once when we were making a trip out of +Uliassutai we stopped the night in Djirgalantu. The old host of +the ourton, knowing me from my previous trip to Narabanchi, +welcomed us very kindly and regaled us with stories during our +evening meal. Among other things he led us out of the yurta and +pointed 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 much--perhaps 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 +swastika--such 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 +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 +remedy--only eight pounds of it in the whole world--and 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 miles from Zain we saw from a ridge a snakelike line +of riders crossing the valley, which detachment we met half an hour +later on the shore of a deep, swampy stream. The group consisted +of Mongols, Buriats and Tibetans armed with Russian rifles. At the +head of the column were two men, one of whom in a huge black +Astrakhan and black felt cape with red Caucasian cowl on his +shoulders blocked my road and, in a coarse, harsh voice, demanded +of me: "Who are you, where are you from and where are you going?" + +I gave also a laconic answer. They then said that they were a +detachment of troops from Baron Ungern under the command of Captain +Vandaloff. "I am Captain Bezrodnoff, military judge." + +Suddenly he laughed loudly. His insolent, stupid face did not +please me and, bowing to the officers, I ordered my riders to move. + +"Oh no!" he remonstrated, as he blocked the road again. "I cannot +allow you to go farther. I want to have a long and serious +conversation with you and you will have to come back to Zain for +it." + +I protested and called attention to the letter of Colonel +Kazagrandi, only to hear Bezrodnoff answer with coldness: + +"This letter is a matter of Colonel Kazagrandi's and to bring you +back to Zain and talk with you is my affair. Now give me your +weapon." + +But I could not yield to this demand, even though death were +threatened. + +"Listen," I said. "Tell me frankly. Is yours really a detachment +fighting against the Boisheviki or is it a Red contingent?" + +"No, I assure you!" replied the Buriat officer Vandaloff, +approaching me. "We have already been fighting the Bolsheviki for +three years." + +"Then I cannot hand you my weapon," I calmly replied. "I brought +it from Soviet Siberia, have had many fights with this faithful +weapon and now I am to be disarmed by White officers! It is an +offence that I cannot allow." + +With these words I threw my rifle and my Mauser into the stream. +The officers were confused. Bezrodnoff turned red with anger. + +"I freed you and myself from humiliation," I explained. + +Bezrodnoff in silence turned his horse, the whole detachment of +three hundred men passed immediately before me and only the last +two riders stopped, ordered my Mongols to turn my cart round and +then fell in behind my little group. So I was arrested! One of +the horsemen behind me was a Russian and he told me that Bezrodnoff +carried with him many death decrees. I was sure that mine was +among them. + +Stupid, very stupid! What was the use of fighting one's way +through Red detachments, of being frozen and hungry, of almost +perishing in Tibet only to die from a bullet of one of Bezrodnoff's +Mongols? For such a pleasure it was not worth while to travel so +long and so far! In every Siberian "Cheka" I could have had this +end so joyfully accorded me. + +When we arrived at Zain Shabi, my luggage was examined and +Bezrodnoff began to question me in minutest detail about the events +in Uliassutai. We talked about three hours, during which I tried +to defend all the officers of Uliassutai, maintaining that one must +not trust only the reports of Domojiroff. When our conversation +was finished, the Captain stood up and offered his apologies for +detaining me in my journey. Afterwards he presented me a fine +Mauser with silver mountings on the handle and said: + +"Your pride greatly pleased me. I beg you to receive this weapon +as a memento of me." + +The following morning I set out anew from Zain Shabi, having in my +pocket the laissez-passer of Bezrodnoff for his outposts. + + +CHAPTER XXXI + +TRAVELING BY "URGA" + + +Once more we traveled along the now known places, the mountain from +which I espied the detachment of Bezrodnoff, the stream into which +I had thrown my weapon, and soon all this lay behind us. At the +first ourton we were disappointed because we did not find horses +there. In the yurtas were only the host with two of his sons. I +showed him my document and he exclaimed: + +"Noyon has the right of 'urga.' Horses will be brought very soon." + +He jumped into his saddle, took two of my Mongols with him, +providing them and himself with long thin poles, four or five +metres in length, and fitted at the end with a loop of rope, and +galloped away. My cart moved behind them. We left the road, +crossed the plain for an hour and came upon a big herd of horses +grazing there. The Mongol began to catch a quota of them for us +with his pole and noose or urga, when out of the mountains nearby +came galloping the owners of the herds. When the old Mongol showed +my papers to them, they submissively acquiesced and substituted +four of their men for those who had come with me thus far. In this +manner the Mongols travel, not along the ourton or station road but +directly from one herd to another, where the fresh horses are +caught and saddled and the new owners substituted for those of the +last herd. All the Mongols so effected by the right of urga try to +finish their task as rapidly as possible and gallop like mad for +the nearest herd in your general direction of travel to turn over +their task to their neighbor. Any traveler having this right of +urga can catch horses himself and, if there are no owners, can +force the former ones to carry on and leave the animals in the next +herd he requisitions. But this happens very rarely because the +Mongol never likes to seek out his animals in another's herd, as it +always gives so many chances for controversy. + +It was from this custom, according to one explanation, that the +town of Urga took its name among outsiders. By the Mongols +themselves it is always referred to as Ta Kure, "The Great +Monastery." The reason the Buriats and Russians, who were the +first to trade into this region, called it Urga was because it was +the principal destination of all the trading expeditions which +crossed the plains by this old method or right of travel. A second +explanation is that the town lies in a "loop" whose sides are +formed by three mountain ridges, along one of which the River Tola +runs like the pole or stick of the familiar urga of the plains. + +Thanks to this unique ticket of urga I crossed quite untraveled +sections of Mongolia for about two hundred miles. It gave me the +welcome opportunity to observe the fauna of this part of the +country. I saw many huge herds of Mongolian antelopes running from +five to six thousand, many groups of bighorns, wapiti and kabarga +antelopes. Sometimes small herds of wild horses and wild asses +flashed as a vision on the horizon. + +In one place I observed a big colony of marmots. All over an area +of several square miles their mounds were scattered with the holes +leading down to their runways below, the dwellings of the marmot. +In and out among these mounds the greyish-yellow or brown animals +ran in all sizes up to half that of an average dog. They ran +heavily and the skin on their fat bodies moved as though it were +too big for them. The marmots are splendid prospectors, always +digging deep ditches, throwing out on the surface all the stones. +In many places I saw mounds the marmots had made from copper ore +and farther north some from minerals containing wolfram and +vanadium. Whenever the marmot is at the entrance of his hole, he +sits up straight on his hind legs and looks like a bit of wood, a +small stump or a stone. As soon as he spies a rider in the +distance, he watches him with great curiosity and begins whistling +sharply. This curiosity of the marmots is taken advantage of by +the hunters, who sneak up to their holes flourishing streamers of +cloth on the tips of long poles. The whole attention of the small +animals is concentrated on this small flag and only the bullet that +takes his life explains to him the reason for this previously +unknown object. + +I saw a very exciting picture as I passed through a marmot colony +near the Orkhon River. There were thousands of holes here so that +my Mongols had to use all their skill to keep the horses from +breaking their legs in them. I noticed an eagle circling high +overhead. All of a sudden he dropped like a stone to the top of a +mound, where he sat motionless as a rock. The marmot in a few +minutes ran out of his hole to a neighbor's doorway. The eagle +calmly jumped down from the top and with one wing closed the +entrance to the hole. The rodent heard the noise, turned back and +rushed to the attack, trying to break through to his hole where he +had evidently left his family. The struggle began. The eagle +fought with one free wing, one leg and his beak but did not +withdraw the bar to the entrance. The marmot jumped at the +rapacious bird with great boldness but soon fell from a blow on the +head. Only then the eagle withdrew his wing, approached the +marmot, finished him off and with difficulty lifted him in his +talons to carry him away to the mountains for a tasty luncheon. + +In the more barren places with only occasional spears of grass in +the plain another species of rodent lives, called imouran, about +the size of a squirrel. They have a coat the same color as the +prairie and, running about it like snakes, they collect the seeds +that are blown across by the wind and carry them down into their +diminutive homes. The imouran has a truly faithful friend, the +yellow lark of the prairie with a brown back and head. When he +sees the imouran running across the plain, he settles on his back, +flaps his wings in balance and rides well this swiftly galloping +mount, who gaily flourishes his long shaggy tail. The lark during +his ride skilfully and quickly catches the parasites living on the +body of his friend, giving evidence of his enjoyment of his work +with a short agreeable song. The Mongols call the imouran "the +steed of the gay lark." The lark warns the imouran of the approach +of eagles and hawks with three sharp whistles the moment he sees +the aerial brigand and takes refuge himself behind a stone or in a +small ditch. After this signal no imouran will stick his head out +of his hole until the danger is past. Thus the gay lark and his +steed live in kindly neighborliness. + +In other parts of Mongolia where there was very rich grass I saw +another type of rodent, which I had previously come across in +Urianhai. It is a gigantic black prairie rat with a short tail and +lives in colonies of from one to two hundred. He is interesting +and unique as the most skilful farmer among the animals in his +preparation of his winter supply of fodder. During the weeks when +the grass is most succulent he actually mows it down with swift +jerky swings of his head, cutting about twenty or thirty stalks +with his sharp long front teeth. Then he allows his grass to cure +and later puts up his prepared hay in a most scientific manner. +First he makes a mound about a foot high. Through this he pushes +down into the ground four slanting stakes, converging toward the +middle of the pile, and binds them close over the surface of the +hay with the longest strands of grass, leaving the ends protruding +enough for him to add another foot to the height of the pile, when +he again binds the surface with more long strands--all this to keep +his winter supply of food from blowing away over the prairie. This +stock he always locates right at the door of his den to avoid long +winter hauls. The horses and camels are very fond of this small +farmer's hay, because it is always made from the most nutritious +grass. The haycocks are so strongly made that one can hardly kick +them to pieces. + +Almost everywhere in Mongolia I met either single pairs or whole +flocks of the greyish-yellow prairie partridges, salga or +"partridge swallow," so called because they have long sharp tails +resembling those of swallows and because their flight also is a +close copy of that of the swallow. These birds are very tame or +fearless, allowing men to come within ten or fifteen paces of them; +but, when they do break, they go high and fly long distances +without lighting, whistling all the time quite like swallows. +Their general markings are light grey and yellow, though the males +have pretty chocolate spots on the backs and wings, while their +legs and feet are heavily feathered. + +My opportunity to make these observations came from traveling +through unfrequented regions by the urga, which, however, had its +counterbalancing disadvantages. The Mongols carried me directly +and swiftly toward my destination, receiving with great +satisfaction the presents of Chinese dollars which I gave them. +But after having made about five thousand miles on my Cossack +saddle that now lay behind me on the cart all covered with dust +like common merchandise, I rebelled against being wracked and torn +by the rough riding of the cart as it was swung heedlessly over +stones, hillocks and ditches by the wild horses with their equally +wild riders, bounding and cracking and holding together only +through its tenacity of purpose in demonstrating the cosiness and +attractiveness of a good Mongol equipage! All my bones began to +ache. Finally I groaned at every lunge and at last I suffered a +very sharp attack of ischias or sciatica in my wounded leg. At +night I could neither sleep, lie down nor sit with comfort and +spent the whole night pacing up and down the plain, listening to +the loud snoring of the inhabitants of the yurta. At times I had +to fight the two huge black dogs which attacked me. The following +day I could endure the wracking only until noon and was then forced +to give up and lie down. The pain was unbearable. I could not +move my leg nor my back and finally fell into a high fever. We +were forced to stop and rest. I swallowed all my stock of aspirin +and quinine but without relief. Before me was a sleepless night +about which I could not think without weakening fear. We had +stopped in the yurta for guests by the side of a small monastery. +My Mongols invited the Lama doctor to visit me, who gave me two +very bitter powders and assured me I should be able to continue in +the morning. I soon felt a stimulated palpitation of the heart, +after which the pain became even sharper. Again I spent the night +without any sleep but when the sun arose the pain ceased instantly +and, after an hour, I ordered them to saddle me a horse, as I was +afraid to continue further in the cart. + +While the Mongols were catching the horses, there came to my tent +Colonel N. N. Philipoff, who told me that he denied all the +accusations that he and his brother and Poletika were Bolsheviki +and that Bezrodnoff allowed him to go to Van Kure to meet Baron +Ungern, who was expected there. Only Philipoff did not know that +his Mongol guide was armed with a bomb and that another Mongol had +been sent on ahead with a letter to Baron Ungern. He did not know +that Poletika and his brothers were shot at the same time in Zain +Shabi. Philipoff was in a hurry and wanted to reach Van Kure that +day. I left an hour after him. + + +CHAPTER XXXII + +AN OLD FORTUNE TELLER + + +From this point we began traveling along the ourton road. In this +region the Mongols had very poor and exhausted horses, because they +were forced continuously to supply mounts to the numerous envoys of +Daichin Van and of Colonel Kazagrandi. We were compelled to spend +the night at the last ourton before Van Kure, where a stout old +Mongol and his son kept the station. After our supper he took the +shoulder-blade of the sheep, which had been carefully scraped clean +of all the flesh, and, looking at me, placed this bone in the coals +with some incantations and said: + +"I want to tell your fortune. All my predictions come true." + +When the bone had been blackened he drew it out, blew off the ashes +and began to scrutinize the surface very closely and to look +through it into the fire. He continued his examination for a long +time and then, with fear in his face, placed the bone back in the +coals. + +"What did you see?" I asked, laughing. + +"Be silent!" he whispered. "I made out horrible signs." + +He again took out the bone and began examining it all over, all the +time whispering prayers and making strange movements. In a very +solemn quiet voice he began his predictions. + +"Death in the form of a tall white man with red hair will stand +behind you and will watch you long and close. You will feel it and +wait but Death will withdraw. . . . Another white man will become +your friend. . . . Before the fourth day you will lose your +acquaintances. They will die by a long knife. I already see them +being eaten by the dogs. Beware of the man with a head like a +saddle. He will strive for your death." + +For a long time after the fortune had been told we sat smoking and +drinking tea but still the old fellow looked at me only with fear. +Through my brain flashed the thought that thus must his companions +in prison look at one who is condemned to death. + +The next morning we left the fortune teller before the sun was up, +and, when we had made about fifteen miles, hove in sight of Van +Kure. I found Colonel Kazagrandi at his headquarters. He was a +man of good family, an experienced engineer and a splendid officer, +who had distinguished himself in the war at the defence of the +island of Moon in the Baltic and afterwards in the fight with the +Bolsheviki on the Volga. Colonel Kazagrandi offered me a bath in a +real tub, which had its habitat in the house of the president of +the local Chamber of Commerce. As I was in this house, a tall +young captain entered. He had long curly red hair and an unusually +white face, though heavy and stolid, with large, steel-cold eyes +and with beautiful, tender, almost girlish lips. But in his eyes +there was such cold cruelty that it was quite unpleasant to look at +his otherwise fine face. When he left the room, our host told me +that he was Captain Veseloffsky, the adjutant of General Rezukhin, +who was fighting against the Bolsheviki in the north of Mongolia. +They had just that day arrived for a conference with Baron Ungern. + +After luncheon Colonel Kazagrandi invited me to his yurta and began +discussing events in western Mongolia, where the situation had +become very tense. + +"Do you know Dr. Gay?" Kazagrandi asked me. "You know he helped me +to form my detachment but Urga accuses him of being the agent of +the Soviets." + +I made all the defences I could for Gay. He had helped me and had +been exonerated by Kolchak. + +"Yes, yes, and I justified Gay in such a manner," said the Colonel, +"but Rezukhin, who has just arrived today, has brought letters of +Gay's to the Bolsheviki which were seized in transit. By order of +Baron Ungern, Gay and his family have today been sent to the +headquarters of Rezukhin and I fear that they will not reach this +destination." + +"Why?" I asked. + +"They will be executed on the road!" answered Colonel Kazagrandi. + +"What are we to do?" I responded. "Gay cannot be a Bolshevik, +"because he is too well educated and too clever for it." + +"I don't know; I don't know!" murmured the Colonel with a +despondent gesture. "Try to speak with Rezukhin." + +I decided to proceed at once to Rezukhin but just then Colonel +Philipoff entered and began talking about the errors being made in +the training of the soldiers. When I had donned my coat, another +man came in. He was a small sized officer with an old green +Cossack cap with a visor, a torn grey Mongol overcoat and with his +right hand in a black sling tied around his neck. It was General +Rezukhin, to whom I was at once introduced. During the +conversation the General very politely and very skilfully inquired +about the lives of Philipoff and myself during the last three +years, joking and laughing with discretion and modesty. When he +soon took his leave, I availed myself of the chance and went out +with him. + +He listened very attentively and politely to me and afterwards, in +his quiet voice, said: + +"Dr. Gay is the agent of the Soviets, disguised as a White in order +the better to see, hear and know everything. We are surrounded by +our enemies. The Russian people are demoralized and will undertake +any treachery for money. Such is Gay. Anyway, what is the use of +discussing him further? He and his family are no longer alive. +Today my men cut them to pieces five kilometres from here." + +In consternation and fear I looked at the face of this small, +dapper man with such soft voice and courteous manners. In his eyes +I read such hate and tenacity that I understood at once the +trembling respect of all the officers whom I had seen in his +presence. Afterwards in Urga I learned more of this General +Rezukhin distinguished by his absolute bravery and boundless +cruelty. He was the watchdog of Baron Ungern, ready to throw +himself into the fire and to spring at the throat of anyone his +master might indicate. + +Only four days then had elapsed before "my acquaintances" died "by +a long knife," so that one part of the prediction had been thus +fulfilled. And now I have to await Death's threat to me. The +delay was not long. Only two days later the Chief of the Asiatic +Division of Cavalry arrived--Baron Ungern von Sternberg. + + +CHAPTER XXXIII + +"DEATH FROM THE WHITE MAN WILL STAND BEHIND YOU" + + +"The terrible general, the Baron," arrived quite unexpectedly, +unnoticed by the outposts of Colonel Kazagrandi. After a talk with +Kazagrandi the Baron invited Colonel N. N. Philipoff and me into +his presence. Colonel Kazagrandi brought the word to me. I wanted +to go at once but was detained about half an hour by the Colonel, +who then sped me with the words: + +"Now God help you! Go!" + +It was a strange parting message, not reassuring and quite +enigmatical. I took my Mauser and also hid in the cuff of my coat +my cyanide of potassium. The Baron was quartered in the yurta of +the military doctor. When I entered the court, Captain Veseloffsky +came up to me. He had a Cossack sword and a revolver without its +holster beneath his girdle. He went into the yurta to report my +arrival. + +"Come in," he said, as he emerged from the tent. + +At the entrance my eyes were struck with the sight of a pool of +blood that had not yet had time to drain down into the ground--an +ominous greeting that seemed to carry the very voice of one just +gone before me. I knocked. + +"Come in!" was the answer in a high tenor. As I passed the +threshold, a figure in a red silk Mongolian coat rushed at me with +the spring of a tiger, grabbed and shook my hand as though in +flight across my path and then fell prone on the bed at the side of +the tent. + +"Tell me who you are! Hereabouts are many spies and agitators," he +cried out in an hysterical voice, as he fixed his eyes upon me. In +one moment I perceived his appearance and psychology. A small head +on wide shoulders; blonde hair in disorder; a reddish bristling +moustache; a skinny, exhausted face, like those on the old +Byzantine ikons. Then everything else faded from view save a big, +protruding forehead overhanging steely sharp eyes. These eyes were +fixed upon me like those of an animal from a cave. My observations +lasted for but a flash but I understood that before me was a very +dangerous man ready for an instant spring into irrevocable action. +Though the danger was evident, I felt the deepest offence. + +"Sit down," he snapped out in a hissing voice, as he pointed to a +chair and impatiently pulled at his moustache. I felt my anger +rising through my whole body and I said to him without taking the +chair: + +"You have allowed yourself to offend me, Baron. My name is well +enough known so that you cannot thus indulge yourself in such +epithets. You can do with me as you wish, because force is on your +side, but you cannot compel me to speak with one who gives me +offence." + +At these words of mine he swung his feet down off the bed and with +evident astonishment began to survey me, holding his breath and +pulling still at his moustache. Retaining my exterior calmness, I +began to glance indifferently around the yurta, and only then I +noticed General Rezukhin. I bowed to him and received his silent +acknowledgment. After that I swung my glance back to the Baron, +who sat with bowed head and closed eyes, from time to time rubbing +his brow and mumbling to himself. + +Suddenly he stood up and sharply said, looking past and over me: + +"Go out! There is no need of more. . . ." + +I swung round and saw Captain Veseloffsky with his white, cold +face. I had not heard him enter. He did a formal "about face" and +passed out of the door. + +"'Death from the white man' has stood behind me," I thought; "but +has it quite left me?" + +The Baron stood thinking for some time and then began to speak in +jumbled, unfinished phrases. + +"I ask your pardon. . . . You must understand there are so many +traitors! Honest men have disappeared. I cannot trust anybody. +All names are false and assumed; documents are counterfeited. Eyes +and words deceive. . . . All is demoralized, insulted by +Bolshevism. I just ordered Colonel Philipoff cut down, he who +called himself the representative of the Russian White +Organization. In the lining of his garments were found two secret +Bolshevik codes. . . . When my officer flourished his sword over +him, he exclaimed: 'Why do you kill me, Tavarische?' I cannot +trust anybody. . . ." + +He was silent and I also held my peace. + +"I beg your pardon!" he began anew. "I offended you; but I am not +simply a man, I am a leader of great forces and have in my head so +much care, sorrow and woe!" + +In his voice I felt there was mingled despair and sincerity. He +frankly put out his hand to me. Again silence. At last I +answered: + +"What do you order me to do now, for I have neither counterfeit nor +real documents? But many of your officers know me and in Urga I +can find many who will testify that I could be neither agitator +nor. . ." + +"No need, no need!" interrupted the Baron. "All is clear, all is +understood! I was in your soul and I know all. It is the truth +which Hutuktu Narabanchi has written about you. What can I do for +you?" + +I explained how my friend and I had escaped from Soviet Russia in +the effort to reach our native land and how a group of Polish +soldiers had joined us in the hope of getting back to Poland; and I +asked that help be given us to reach the nearest port. + +"With pleasure, with pleasure. . . . I will help you all," he +answered excitedly. "I shall drive you to Urga in my motor car. +Tomorrow we shall start and there in Urga we shall talk about +further arrangements." + +Taking my leave, I went out of the yurta. On arriving at my +quarters, I found Colonel Kazagrandi in great anxiety walking up +and down my room. + +"Thanks be to God!" he exclaimed and crossed himself. + +His joy was very touching but at the same time I thought that the +Colonel could have taken much more active measures for the +salvation of his guest, if he had been so minded. The agitation of +this day had tired me and made me feel years older. When I looked +in the mirror I was certain there were more white hairs on my head. +At night I could not sleep for the flashing thoughts of the young, +fine face of Colonel Philipoff, the pool of blood, the cold eyes of +Captain Veseloffsky, the sound of Baron Ungern's voice with its +tones of despair and woe, until finally I sank into a heavy stupor. +I was awakened by Baron Ungern who came to ask pardon that he could +not take me in his motor car, because he was obliged to take +Daichin Van with him. But he informed me that he had left +instructions to give me his own white camel and two Cossacks as +servants. I had no time to thank him before he rushed out of my +room. + +Sleep then entirely deserted me, so I dressed and began smoking +pipe after pipe of tobacco, as I thought: "How much easier to +fight the Bolsheviki on the swamps of Seybi and to cross the snowy +peaks of Ulan Taiga, where the bad demons kill all the travelers +they can! There everything was simple and comprehensible, but here +it is all a mad nightmare, a dark and foreboding storm!" I felt +some tragedy, some horror in every movement of Baron Ungern, behind +whom paced this silent, white-faced Veseloffsky and Death. + + +CHAPTER XXXIV + +THE HORROR OF WAR! + + +At dawn of the following morning they led up the splendid white +camel for me and we moved away. My company consisted of the two +Cossacks, two Mongol soldiers and one Lama with two pack camels +carrying the tent and food. I still apprehended that the Baron had +it in mind not to dispose of me before my friends there in Van Kure +but to prepare this journey for me under the guise of which it +would be so easy to do away with me by the road. A bullet in the +back and all would be finished. Consequently I was momentarily +ready to draw my revolver and defend myself. I took care all the +time to have the Cossacks either ahead of me or at the side. About +noon we heard the distant honk of a motor car and soon saw Baron +Ungern whizzing by us at full speed. With him were two adjutants +and Prince Daichin Van. The Baron greeted me very kindly and +shouted: + +"Shall see you again in Urga!" + +"Ah!" I thought, "evidently I shall reach Urga. So I can be at +ease during my trip, and in Urga I have many friends beside the +presence there of the bold Polish soldiers whom I had worked with +in Uliassutai and who had outdistanced me in this journey." + +After the meeting with the Baron my Cossacks became very attentive +to me and sought to distract me with stories. They told me about +their very severe struggles with the Bolsheviki in Transbaikalia +and Mongolia, about the battle with the Chinese near Urga, about +finding communistic passports on several Chinese soldiers from +Moscow, about the bravery of Baron Ungern and how he would sit at +the campfire smoking and drinking tea right on the battle line +without ever being touched by a bullet. At one fight seventy-four +bullets entered his overcoat, saddle and the boxes by his side and +again left him untouched. This is one of the reasons for his great +influence over the Mongols. They related how before the battle he +had made a reconnaissance in Urga with only one Cossack and on his +way back had killed a Chinese officer and two soldiers with his +bamboo stick or tashur; how he had no outfit save one change of +linen and one extra pair of boots; how he was always calm and +jovial in battle and severe and morose in the rare days of peace; +and how he was everywhere his soldiers were fighting. + +I told them, in turn, of my escape from Siberia and with chatting +thus the day slipped by very quickly. Our camels trotted all the +time, so that instead of the ordinary eighteen to twenty miles per +day we made nearly fifty. My mount was the fastest of them all. +He was a huge white animal with a splendid thick mane and had been +presented to Baron Ungern by some Prince of Inner Mongolia with two +black sables tied on the bridle. He was a calm, strong, bold giant +of the desert, on whose back I felt myself as though perched on the +tower of a building. Beyond the Orkhon River we came across the +first dead body of a Chinese soldier, which lay face up and arms +outstretched right in the middle of the road. When we had crossed +the Burgut Mountains, we entered the Tola River valley, farther up +which Urga is located. The road was strewn with the overcoats, +shirts, boots, caps and kettles which the Chinese had thrown away +in their flight; and marked by many of their dead. Further on the +road crossed a morass, where on either side lay great mounds of the +dead bodies of men, horses and camels with broken carts and +military debris of every sort. Here the Tibetans of Baron Ungern +had cut up the escaping Chinese baggage transport; and it was a +strange and gloomy contrast to see the piles of dead besides the +effervescing awakening life of spring. In every pool wild ducks of +different kinds floated about; in the high grass the cranes +performed their weird dance of courtship; on the lakes great flocks +of swans and geese were swimming; through the swampy places like +spots of light moved the brilliantly colored pairs of the Mongolian +sacred bird, the turpan or "Lama goose"; on the higher dry places +flocks of wild turkey gamboled and fought as they fed; flocks of +the salga partridge whistled by; while on the mountain side not far +away the wolves lay basking and turning in the lazy warmth of the +sun, whining and occasionally barking like playful dogs. + +Nature knows only life. Death is for her but an episode whose +traces she rubs out with sand and snow or ornaments with luxuriant +greenery and brightly colored bushes and flowers. What matters it +to Nature if a mother at Chefoo or on the banks of the Yangtse +offers her bowl of rice with burning incense at some shrine and +prays for the return of her son that has fallen unknown for all +time on the plains along the Tola, where his bones will dry beneath +the rays of Nature's dissipating fire and be scattered by her winds +over the sands of the prairie? It is splendid, this indifference +of Nature to death, and her greediness for life! + +On the fourth day we made the shores of the Tola well after +nightfall. We could not find the regular ford and I forced my +camel to enter the stream in the attempt to make a crossing without +guidance. Very fortunately I found a shallow, though somewhat +miry, place and we got over all right. This is something to be +thankful for in fording a river with a camel; because, when your +mount finds the water too deep, coming up around his neck, he does +not strike out and swim like a horse will do but just rolls over on +his side and floats, which is vastly inconvenient for his rider. +Down by the river we pegged our tent. + +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 enemies call me, nor as the 'severe grandfather,' +which my officers and soldiers call me, but as an ordinary man who +has sought much and has suffered even more." + +The Baron reflected for some minutes and then continued: + +"I have thought about the further trip of your group and I shall +arrange everything for you, but I ask you to remain here these nine +days." + +What was I to do? I agreed. The Baron shook my hand warmly and +ordered tea. + + +CHAPTER XXXVI + +A SON OF CRUSADERS AND PRIVATEERS + + +"Tell me about yourself and your trip," he urged. In response I +related all that I thought would interest him and he appeared quite +excited over my tale. + +"Now I shall tell you about myself, who and what I am! My name is +surrounded with such hate and fear that no one can judge what is +the truth and what is false, what is history and what myth. Some +time you will write about it, remembering your trip through +Mongolia and your sojourn at the yurta of the 'bloody General.'" + +He shut his eyes, smoking as he spoke, and tumbling out his +sentences without finishing them as though some one would prevent +him from phrasing them. + +"The family of Ungern von Sternberg is an old family, a mixture of +Germans with Hungarians--Huns from the time of Attila. My warlike +ancestors took part in all the European struggles. They +participated in the Crusades and one Ungern was killed under the +walls of Jerusalem, fighting under Richard Coeur de Lion. Even the +tragic Crusade of the Children was marked by the death of Ralph +Ungern, eleven years old. When the boldest warriors of the country +were despatched to the eastern border of the German Empire against +the Slavs in the twelfth century, my ancestor Arthur was among +them, Baron Halsa Ungern Sternberg. Here these border knights +formed the order of Monk Knights or Teutons, which with fire and +sword spread Christianity among the pagan Lithuanians, Esthonians, +Latvians and Slavs. Since then the Teuton Order of Knights has +always had among its members representatives of our family. When +the Teuton Order perished in the Grunwald under the swords of the +Polish and Lithuanian troops, two Barons Ungern von Sternberg were +killed there. Our family was warlike and given to mysticism and +asceticism. + +"During the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries several Barons von +Ungern had their castles in the lands of Latvia and Esthonia. Many +legends and tales lived after them. Heinrich Ungern von Sternberg, +called 'Ax,' was a wandering knight. The tournaments of France, +England, Spain and Italy knew his name and lance, which filled the +hearts of his opponents with fear. He fell at Cadiz 'neath the +sword of a knight who cleft both his helmet and his skull. Baron +Ralph Ungern was a brigand knight between Riga and Reval. Baron +Peter Ungern had his castle on the island of Dago in the Baltic +Sea, where as a privateer he ruled the merchantmen of his day. + +"In the beginning of the eighteenth century there was also a well- +known Baron Wilhelm Ungern, who was referred to as the 'brother of +Satan' because he was an alchemist. My grandfather was a privateer +in the Indian Ocean, taking his tribute from the English traders +whose warships could not catch him for several years. At last he +was captured and handed to the Russian Consul, who transported him +to Russia where he was sentenced to deportation to the Transbaikal. +I am also a naval officer but the Russo-Japanese War forced me to +leave my regular profession to join and fight with the Zabaikal +Cossacks. I have spent all my life in war or in the study and +learning of Buddhism. My grandfather brought Buddhism to us from +India and my father and I accepted and professed it. In +Transbaikalia I tried to form the order of Military Buddhists for +an uncompromising fight against the depravity of revolution." + +He fell into silence and began drinking cup after cup of tea as +strong and black as coffee. + +"Depravity of revolution! . . . Has anyone ever thought of it +besides the French philosopher, Bergson, and the most learned Tashi +Lama in Tibet?" + +The grandson of the privateer, quoting scientific theories, works, +the names of scientists and writers, the Holy Bible and Buddhist +books, mixing together French, German, Russian and English, +continued: + +"In the Buddhistic and ancient Christian books we read stern +predictions about the time when the war between the good and evil +spirits must begin. Then there must come the unknown 'Curse' which +will conquer the world, blot out culture, kill morality and destroy +all the people. Its weapon is revolution. During every revolution +the previously experienced intellect-creator will be replaced by +the new rough force of the destroyer. He will place and hold in +the first rank the lower instincts and desires. Man will be +farther removed from the divine and the spiritual. The Great War +proved that humanity must progress upward toward higher ideals; but +then appeared that Curse which was seen and felt by Christ, the +Apostle John, Buddha, the first Christian martyrs, Dante, Leonardo +da Vinci, Goethe and Dostoyevsky. It appeared, turned back the +wheel of progress and blocked our road to the Divinity. Revolution +is an infectious disease and Europe making the treaty with Moscow +deceived itself and the other parts of the world. The Great Spirit +put at the threshold of our lives Karma, who knows neither anger +nor pardon. He will reckon the account, whose total will be +famine, destruction, the death of culture, of glory, of honor and +of spirit, the death of states and the death of peoples. I see +already this horror, this dark, mad destruction of humanity." + +The door of the yurta suddenly swung open and an adjutant snapped +into a position of attention and salute. + +"Why do you enter a room by force?" the General exclaimed in anger. + +"Your Excellency, our outpost on the border has caught a Bolshevik +reconnaissance party and brought them here." + +The Baron arose. His eyes sparkled and his face contracted with +spasms. + +"Bring them in front of my yurta!" he ordered. + +All was forgotten--the inspired speech, the penetrating voice--all +were sunk in the austere order of the severe commander. The Baron +put on his cap, caught up the bamboo tashur which he always carried +with him and rushed from the yurta. I followed him out. There in +front of the yurta stood six Red soldiers surrounded by the +Cossacks. + +The Baron stopped and glared sharply at them for several minutes. +In his face one could see the strong play of his thoughts. +Afterwards he turned away from them, sat down on the doorstep of +the Chinese house and for a long time was buried in thought. Then +he rose, walked over to them and, with an evident show of +decisiveness in his movements, touched all the prisoners on the +shoulder with his tashur and said: "You to the left and you to the +right!" as he divided the squad into two sections, four on the +right and two on the left. + +"Search those two! They must be commissars!" commanded the Baron +and, turning to the other four, asked: "Are you peasants mobilized +by the Bolsheviki?" + +"Just so, Your Excellency!" cried the frightened soldiers. + +"Go to the Commandant and tell him that I have ordered you to be +enlisted in my troops!" + +On the two to the left they found passports of Commissars of the +Communist Political Department. The General knitted his brows and +slowly pronounced the following: + +"Beat them to death with sticks!" + +He turned and entered the yurta. After this our conversation did +not flow readily and so I left the Baron to himself. + +After dinner in the Russian firm where I was staying some of +Ungern's officers came in. We were chatting animatedly when +suddenly we heard the horn of an automobile, which instantly threw +the officers into silence. + +"The General is passing somewhere near," one of them remarked in a +strangely altered voice. + +Our interrupted conversation was soon resumed but not for long. +The clerk of the firm came running into the room and exclaimed: +"The Baron!" + +He entered the door but stopped on the threshold. The lamps had +not yet been lighted and it was getting dark inside, but the Baron +instantly recognized us all, approached and kissed the hand of the +hostess, greeted everyone very cordially and, accepting the cup of +tea offered him, drew up to the table to drink. Soon he spoke: + +"I want to steal your guest," he said to the hostess and then, +turning to me, asked: "Do you want to go for a motor ride? I +shall show you the city and the environs." + +Donning my coat, I followed my established custom and slipped my +revolver into it, at which the Baron laughed. + +"Leave that trash behind! Here you are in safety. Besides you +must remember the prediction of Narabanchi Hutuktu that Fortune +will ever be with you." + +"All right," I answered, also with a laugh. "I remember very well +this prediction. Only I do not know what the Hutuktu thinks +'Fortune' means for me. Maybe it is death like the rest after my +hard, long trip, and I must confess that I prefer to travel farther +and am not ready to die." + +We went out to the gate where the big Fiat stood with its intruding +great lights. The chauffeur officer sat at the wheel like a statue +and remained at salute all the time we were entering and seating +ourselves. + +"To the wireless station!" commanded the Baron. + +We veritably leapt forward. The city swarmed, as earlier, with the +Oriental throng, but its appearance now was even more strange and +miraculous. In among the noisy crowd Mongol, Buriat and Tibetan +riders threaded swiftly; caravans of camels solemnly raised their +heads as we passed; the wooden wheels of the Mongol carts screamed +in pain; and all was illumined by splendid great arc lights from +the electric station which Baron Ungern had ordered erected +immediately after the capture of Urga, together with a telephone +system and wireless station. He also ordered his men to clean and +disinfect the city which had probably not felt the broom since the +days of Jenghiz Khan. He arranged an auto-bus traffic between +different parts of the city; built bridges over the Tola and +Orkhon; published a newspaper; arranged a veterinary laboratory and +hospitals; re-opened the schools; protected commerce, mercilessly +hanging Russian and Mongolian soldiers for pillaging Chinese firms. + +In one of these cases his Commandant arrested two Cossacks and a +Mongol soldier who had stolen brandy from one of the Chinese shops +and brought them before him. He immediately bundled them all into +his car, drove off to the shop, delivered the brandy back to the +proprietor and as promptly ordered the Mongol to hang one of the +Russians to the big gate of the compound. With this one swung he +commanded: "Now hang the other!" and this had only just been +accomplished when he turned to the Commandant and ordered him to +hang the Mongol beside the other two. That seemed expeditious and +just enough until the Chinese proprietor came in dire distress to +the Baron and plead with him: + +"General Baron! General Baron! Please take those men down from my +gateway, for no one will enter my shop!" + +After the commercial quarter was flashed past our eyes, we entered +the Russian settlement across a small river. Several Russian +soldiers and four very spruce-looking Mongolian women stood on the +bridge as we passed. The soldiers snapped to salute like immobile +statues and fixed their eyes on the severe face of their Commander. +The women first began to run and shift about and then, infected by +the discipline and order of events, swung their hands up to salute +and stood as immobile as their northern swains. The Baron looked +at me and laughed: + +"You see the discipline! Even the Mongolian women salute me." + +Soon we were out on the plain with the car going like an arrow, +with the wind whistling and tossing the folds of our coats and +caps. But Baron Ungern, sitting with closed eyes, repeated: +"Faster! Faster!" For a long time we were both silent. + +"And yesterday I beat my adjutant for rushing into my yurta and +interrupting my story," he said. + +"You can finish it now," I answered. + +"And are you not bored by it? Well, there isn't much left and this +happens to be the most interesting. I was telling you that I +wanted to found an order of military Buddhists in Russia. For +what? For the protection of the processes of evolution of humanity +and for the struggle against revolution, because I am certain that +evolution leads to the Divinity and revolution to bestiality. But +I worked in Russia! In Russia, where the peasants are rough, +untutored, wild and constantly angry, hating everybody and +everything without understanding why. They are suspicious and +materialistic, having no sacred ideals. Russian intelligents live +among imaginary ideals without realities. They have a strong +capacity for criticising everything but they lack creative power. +Also they have no will power, only the capacity for talking and +talking. With the peasants, they cannot like anything or anybody. +Their love and feelings are imaginary. Their thoughts and +sentiments pass without trace like futile words. My companions, +therefore, soon began to violate the regulations of the Order. +Then I introduced the condition of celibacy, the entire negation of +woman, of the comforts of life, of superfluities, according to the +teachings of the Yellow Faith; and, in order that the Russian might +be able to live down his physical nature, I introduced the +limitless use of alcohol, hasheesh and opium. Now for alcohol I +hang my officers and soldiers; then we drank to the 'white fever,' +delirium tremens. I could not organize the Order but I gathered +round me and developed three hundred men wholly bold and entirely +ferocious. Afterward they were heroes in the war with Germany and +later in the fight against the Bolsheviki, but now only a few +remain." + +"The wireless, Excellency!" reported the chauffeur. + +"Turn in there!" ordered the General. + +On the top of a flat hill stood the big, powerful radio station +which had been partially destroyed by the retreating Chinese but +reconstructed by the engineers of Baron Ungern. The General +perused the telegrams and handed them to me. They were from +Moscow, Chita, Vladivostok and Peking. On a separate yellow sheet +were the code messages, which the Baron slipped into his pocket as +he said to me: + +"They are from my agents, who are stationed in Chita, Irkutsk, +Harbin and Vladivostok. They are all Jews, very skilled and very +bold men, friends of mine all. I have also one Jewish officer, +Vulfovitch, who commands my right flank. He is as ferocious as +Satan but clever and brave. . . . Now we shall fly into space." + +Once more we rushed away, sinking into the darkness of night. It +was a wild ride. The car bounded over small stones and ditches, +even taking narrow streamlets, as the skilled chauffeur only seemed +to guide it round the larger rocks. On the plain, as we sped by, I +noticed several times small bright flashes of fire which lasted but +for a second and then were extinguished. + +"The eyes of wolves," smiled my companion. "We have fed them to +satiety from the flesh of ourselves and our enemies!" he quietly +interpolated, as he turned to continue his confession of faith. + +"During the War we saw the gradual corruption of the Russian army +and foresaw the treachery of Russia to the Allies as well as the +approaching danger of revolution. To counteract this latter a plan +was formed to join together all the Mongolian peoples which had not +forgotten their ancient faiths and customs into one Asiatic State, +consisting of autonomous tribal units, under the moral and +legislative leadership of China, the country of loftiest and most +ancient culture. Into this State must come the Chinese, Mongols, +Tibetans, Afghans, the Mongol tribes of Turkestan, Tartars, +Buriats, Kirghiz and Kalmucks. This State must be strong, +physically and morally, and must erect a barrier against revolution +and carefully preserve its own spirit, philosophy and individual +policy. If humanity, mad and corrupted, continues to threaten the +Divine Spirit in mankind, to spread blood and to obstruct moral +development, the Asiatic State must terminate this movement +decisively and establish a permanent, firm peace. This propaganda +even during the War made splendid progress among the Turkomans, +Kirghiz, Buriats and Mongols. . . . "Stop!" suddenly shouted the +Baron. + +The car pulled up with a jerk. The General jumped out and called +me to follow. We started walking over the prairie and the Baron +kept bending down all the time as though he were looking for +something on the ground. + +"Ah!" he murmured at last, "He has gone away. . . ." + +I looked at him in amazement. + +"A rich Mongol formerly had his yurta here. He was the outfitter +for the Russian merchant, Noskoff. Noskoff was a ferocious man as +shown by the name the Mongols gave him--'Satan.' He used to have +his Mongol debtors beaten or imprisoned through the instrumentality +of the Chinese authorities. He ruined this Mongol, who lost +everything and escaped to a place thirty miles away; but Noskoff +found him there, took all that he had left of cattle and horses and +left the Mongol and his family to die of hunger. When I captured +Urga, this Mongol appeared and brought with him thirty other Mongol +families similarly ruined by Noskoff. They demanded his death. . . . +So I hung 'Satan' . . ." + +Anew the motor car was rushing along, sweeping a great circle on +the prairie, and anew Baron Ungern with his sharp, nervous voice +carried his thoughts round the whole circumference of Asian life. + +"Russia turned traitor to France, England and America, signed the +Brest-Litovsk Treaty and ushered in a reign of chaos. We then +decided to mobilize Asia against Germany. Our envoys penetrated +Mongolia, Tibet, Turkestan and China. At this time the Bolsheviki +began to kill all the Russian officers and we were forced to open +civil war against them, giving up our Pan-Asiatic plans; but we +hope later to awake all Asia and with their help to bring peace and +God back to earth. I want to feel that I have helped this idea by +the liberation of Mongolia." + +He became silent and thought for a moment. + +"But some of my associates in the movement do not like me because +of my atrocities and severity," he remarked in a sad voice. "They +cannot understand as yet that we are not fighting a political party +but a sect of murderers of all contemporary spiritual culture. Why +do the Italians execute the 'Black Hand' gang? Why are the +Americans electrocuting anarchistic bomb throwers? and I am not +allowed to rid the world of those who would kill the soul of the +people? I, a Teuton, descendant of crusaders and privateers, I +recognize only death for murderers! . . . Return!" he commanded +the chauffeur. + +An hour and a half later we saw the electric lights of Urga. + + +CHAPTER XXXVII + +THE CAMP OF MARTYRS + + +Near the entrance to the town, a motor car stood before a small +house. + +"What does that mean?" exclaimed the Baron. "Go over there!" + +Our car drew up beside the other. The house door opened sharply, +several officers rushed out and tried to hide. + +"Stand!" commanded the General. "Go back inside." They obeyed and +he entered after them, leaning on his tashur. As the door remained +open, I could see and hear everything. + +"Woe to them!" whispered the chauffeur. "Our officers knew that +the Baron had gone out of the town with me, which means always a +long journey, and must have decided to have a good time. He will +order them beaten to death with sticks." + +I could see the end of the table covered with bottles and tinned +things. At the side two young women were seated, who sprang up at +the appearance of the General. I could hear the hoarse voice of +Baron Ungern pronouncing sharp, short, stern phrases. + +"Your native land is perishing. . . . The shame of it is upon all +you Russians . . . and you cannot understand it . . . nor feel +it. . . . You need wine and women. . . . Scoundrels! Brutes! . . . +One hundred fifty tashur for every man of you." + +The voice fell to a whisper. + +"And you, Mesdames, do you not realize the ruin of your people? +No? For you it is of no moment. And have you no feeling for your +husbands at the front who may even now be killed? You are not +women. . . . I honor woman, who feels more deeply and strongly +than man; but you are not women! . . . Listen to me, Mesdames. +Once more and I will hang you. . . ." + +He came back to the car and himself sounded the horn several times. +Immediately Mongol horsemen galloped up. + +"Take these men to the Commandant. I will send my orders later." + +On the way to the Baron's yurta we were silent. He was excited and +breathed heavily, lighting cigarette after cigarette and throwing +them aside after but a single puff or two. + +"Take supper with me," he proposed. + +He also invited his Chief of Staff, a very retiring, oppressed but +splendidly educated man. The servants spread a Chinese hot course +for us followed by cold meat and fruit compote from California with +the inevitable tea. We ate with chopsticks. The Baron was greatly +distraught. + +Very cautiously I began speaking of the offending officers and +tried to justify their actions by the extremely trying +circumstances under which they were living. + +"They are rotten through and through, demoralized, sunk into the +depths," murmured the General. + +The Chief of Staff helped me out and at last the Baron directed him +to telephone the Commandant to release these gentlemen. + +The following day I spent with my friends, walking a great deal +about the streets and watching their busy life. The great energy +of the Baron demanded constant nervous activity from himself and +every one round him. He was everywhere, seeing everything but +never, interfering with the work of his subordinate administrators. +Every one was at work. + +In the evening I was invited by the Chief of Staff to his quarters, +where I met many intelligent officers. I related again the story +of my trip and we were all chatting along animatedly when suddenly +Colonel Sepailoff entered, singing to himself. All the others at +once became silent and one by one under various pretexts they +slipped out. He handed our host some papers and, turning to us, +said: + +"I shall send you for supper a splendid fish pie and some hot +tomato soup." + +As he left, my host clasped his head in desperation and said: + +"With such scum of the earth are we now forced after this +revolution to work!" + +A few minutes later a soldier from Sepailoff brought us a tureen +full of soup and the fish pie. As the soldier bent over the table +to set the dishes down, the Chief motioned me with his eyes and +slipped to me the words: "Notice his face." + +When the man went out, my host sat attentively listening until the +sounds of the man's steps ceased. + +"He is Sepailoff's executioner who hangs and strangles the +unfortunate condemned ones." + +Then, to my amazement, he began to pour out the soup on the ground +beside the brazier and, going out of the yurta, threw the pie over +the fence. + +"It is Sepailoff's feast and, though it may be very tasty, it may +also be poison. In Sepailoff's house it is dangerous to eat or +drink anything." + +Distinctly oppressed by these doings, I returned to my house. My +host was not yet asleep and met me with a frightened look. My +friends were also there. + +"God be thanked!" they all exclaimed. "Has nothing happened to +you?" + +"What is the matter?" I asked. + +"You see," began the host, "after your departure a soldier came +from Sepailoff and took your luggage, saying that you had sent him +for it; but we knew what it meant--that they would first search it +and afterwards. . . ." + +I at once understood the danger. Sepailoff could place anything he +wanted in my luggage and afterwards accuse me. My old friend, the +agronome, and I started at once for Sepailoff's, where I left him +at the door while I went in and was met by the same soldier who had +brought the supper to us. Sepailoff received me immediately. In +answer to my protest he said that it was a mistake and, asking me +to wait for a moment, went out. I waited five, ten, fifteen +minutes but nobody came. I knocked on the door but no one answered +me. Then I decided to go to Baron Ungern and started for the exit. +The door was locked. Then I tried the other door and found that +also locked. I had been trapped! I wanted at once to whistle to +my friend but just then noticed a telephone on the wall and called +up Baron Ungern. In a few minutes he appeared together with +Sepailoff. + +"What is this?" he asked Sepailoff in a severe, threatening voice; +and, without waiting for an answer, struck him a blow with his +tashur that sent him to the floor. + +We went out and the General ordered my luggage produced. Then he +brought me to his own yurta. + +"Live here, now," he said. "I am very glad of this accident," he +remarked with a smile, "for now I can say all that I want to." + +This drew from me the question: + +"May I describe all that I have heard and seen here?" + +He thought a moment before replying: "Give me your notebook." + +I handed him the album with my sketches of the trip and he wrote +therein: "After my death, Baron Ungern." + +"But I am older than you and I shall die before you," I remarked. + +He shut his eyes, bowed his head and whispered: + +"Oh, no! One hundred thirty days yet and it is finished; then . . . +Nirvana! How wearied I am with sorrow, woe and hate!" + +We were silent for a long time. I felt that I had now a mortal +enemy in Colonel Sepailoff and that I should get out of Urga at the +earliest possible moment. It was two o'clock at night. Suddenly +Baron Ungern stood up. + +"Let us go to the great, good Buddha," he said with a countenance +held in deep thought and with eyes aflame, his whole face +contracted by a mournful, bitter smile. He ordered the car +brought. + +Thus lived this camp of martyrs, refugees pursued by events to +their tryst with Death, driven on by the hate and contempt of this +offspring of Teutons and privateers! And he, martyring them, knew +neither day nor night of peace. Fired by impelling, poisonous +thoughts, he tormented himself with the pains of a Titan, knowing +that every day in this shortening chain of one hundred thirty links +brought him nearer to the precipice called "Death." + + +CHAPTER XXXVIII + +BEFORE THE FACE OF BUDDHA + + +As we came to the monastery we left the automobile and dipped into +the labyrinth of narrow alleyways until at last we were before the +greatest temple of Urga with the Tibetan walls and windows and its +pretentious Chinese roof. A single lantern burned at the entrance. +The heavy gate with the bronze and iron trimmings was shut. When +the General struck the big brass gong hanging by the gate, +frightened monks began running up from all directions and, seeing +the "General Baron," fell to the earth in fear of raising their +heads. + +"Get up," said the Baron, "and let us into the Temple!" + +The inside was like that of all Lama temples, the same multi- +colored flags with the prayers, symbolic signs and the images of +holy saints; the big bands of silk cloth hanging from the ceiling; +the images of the gods and goddesses. On both sides of the +approach to the altar were the low red benches for the Lamas and +choir. On the altar small lamps threw their rays on the gold and +silver vessels and candlesticks. Behind it hung a heavy yellow +silk curtain with Tibetan inscriptions. The Lamas drew the curtain +aside. Out of the dim light from the flickering lamps gradually +appeared the great gilded statue of Buddha seated in the Golden +Lotus. The face of the god was indifferent and calm with only a +soft gleam of light animating it. On either side he was guarded by +many thousands of lesser Buddhas brought by the faithful as +offerings in prayer. The Baron struck the gong to attract Great +Buddha's attention to his prayer and threw a handful of coins into +the large bronze bowl. And then this scion of crusaders who had +read all the philosophers of the West, closed his eyes, placed his +hands together before his face and prayed. I noticed a black +rosary on his left wrist. He prayed about ten minutes. Afterwards +he led me to the other end of the monastery and, during our +passage, said to me: + +"I do not like this temple. It is new, erected by the Lamas when +the Living Buddha became blind. I do not find on the face of the +golden Buddha either tears, hopes, distress or thanks of the +people. They have not yet had time to leave these traces on the +face of the god. We shall go now to the old Shrine of Prophecies." + +This was a small building, blackened with age and resembling a +tower with a plain round roof. The doors stood open. At both +sides of the door were prayer wheels ready to be spun; over it a +slab of copper with the signs of the zodiac. Inside two monks, who +were intoning the sacred sutras, did not lift their eyes as we +entered. The General approached them and said: + +"Cast the dice for the number of my days!" + +The priests brought two bowls with many dice therein and rolled +them out on their low table. The Baron looked and reckoned with +them the sum before he spoke: + +"One hundred thirty! Again one hundred thirty!" + +Approaching the altar carrying an ancient stone statue of Buddha +brought all the way from India, he again prayed. As day dawned, we +wandered out through the monastery, visited all the temples and +shrines, the museum of the medical school, the astrological tower +and then the court where the Bandi and young Lamas have their daily +morning wrestling exercises. In other places the Lamas were +practising with the bow and arrow. Some of the higher Lamas +feasted us with hot mutton, tea and wild onions. After we returned +to the yurta I tried to sleep but in vain. Too many different +questions were troubling me. "Where am I? In what epoch am I +living?" I knew not but I dimly felt the unseen touch of some +great idea, some enormous plan, some indescribable human woe. + +After our noon meal the General said he wanted to introduce me to +the Living Buddha. It is so difficult to secure audience with the +Living Buddha that I was very glad to have this opportunity offered +me. Our auto soon drew up at the gate of the red and white striped +wall surrounding the palace of the god. Two hundred Lamas in +yellow and red robes rushed to greet the arriving "Chiang Chun," +General, with the low-toned, respectful whisper "Khan! God of +War!" As a regiment of formal ushers they led us to a spacious +great hall softened by its semi-darkness. Heavy carved doors +opened to the interior parts of the palace. In the depths of the +hall stood a dais with the throne covered with yellow silk +cushions. The back of the throne was red inside a gold framing; at +either side stood yellow silk screens set in highly ornamented +frames of black Chinese wood; while against the walls at either +side of the throne stood glass cases filled with varied objects +from China, Japan, India and Russia. I noticed also among them a +pair of exquisite Marquis and Marquises in the fine porcelain of +Sevres. Before the throne stood a long, low table at which eight +noble Mongols were seated, their chairman, a highly esteemed old +man with a clever, energetic face and with large penetrating eyes. +His appearance reminded me of the authentic wooden images of the +Buddhist holymen with eyes of precious stones which I saw at the +Tokyo Imperial Museum in the department devoted to Buddhism, where +the Japanese show the ancient statues of Amida, Daunichi-Buddha, +the Goddess Kwannon and the jolly old Hotei. + +This man was the Hutuktu Jahantsi, Chairman of the Mongolian +Council of Ministers, and honored and revered far beyond the +bournes of Mongolia. The others were the Ministers--Khans and the +Highest Princes of Khalkha. Jahantsi Hutuktu invited Baron Ungern +to the place at his side, while they brought in a European chair +for me. Baron Ungern announced to the Council of Ministers through +an interpreter that he would leave Mongolia in a few days and urged +them to protect the freedom won for the lands inhabited by the +successors of Jenghiz Khan, whose soul still lives and calls upon +the Mongols to become anew a powerful people and reunite again into +one great Mid-Asiatic State all the Asian kingdoms he had ruled. + +The General rose and all the others followed him. He took leave of +each one separately and sternly. Only before Jahantsi Lama he bent +low while the Hutuktu placed his hands on the Baron's head and +blessed him. From the Council Chamber we passed at once to the +Russian style house which is the personal dwelling of the Living +Buddha. The house was wholly surrounded by a crowd of red and +yellow Lamas; servants, councilors of Bogdo, officials, fortune +tellers, doctors and favorites. From the front entrance stretched +a long red rope whose outer end was thrown over the wall beside the +gate. Crowds of pilgrims crawling up on their knees touch this end +of the rope outside the gate and hand the monk a silken hatyk or a +bit of silver. This touching of the rope whose inner end is in the +hand of the Bogdo establishes direct communication with the holy, +incarnated Living God. A current of blessing is supposed to flow +through this cable of camel's wool and horse hair. Any Mongol who +has touched the mystic rope receives and wears about his neck a red +band as the sign of his accomplished pilgrimage. + +I had heard very much about the Bogdo Khan before this opportunity +to see him. I had heard of his love of alcohol, which had brought +on blindness, about his leaning toward exterior western culture and +about his wife drinking deep with him and receiving in his name +numerous delegations and envoys. + +In the room which the Bogdo used as his private study, where two +Lama secretaries watched day and night over the chest that +contained his great seals, there was the severest simplicity. On a +low, plain, Chinese lacquered table lay his writing implements, a +case of seals given by the Chinese Government and by the Dalai Lama +and wrapped in a cloth of yellow silk. Nearby was a low easy +chair, a bronze brazier with an iron stovepipe leading up from it; +on the walls were the signs of the swastika, Tibetan and Mongolian +inscriptions; behind the easy chair a small altar with a golden +statue of Buddha before which two tallow lamps were burning; the +floor was covered with a thick yellow carpet. + +When we entered, only the two Lama secretaries were there, for the +Living Buddha was in the small private shrine in an adjoining +chamber, where no one is allowed to enter save the Bogdo Khan +himself and one Lama, Kanpo-Gelong, who cares for the temple +arrangements and assists the Living Buddha during his prayers of +solitude. The secretary told us that the Bogdo had been greatly +excited this morning. At noon he had entered his shrine. For a +long time the voice of the head of the Yellow Faith was heard in +earnest prayer and after his another unknown voice came clearly +forth. In the shrine had taken place a conversation between the +Buddha on earth and the Buddha of heaven--thus the Lamas phrased it +to us. + +"Let us wait a little," the Baron proposed. "Perhaps he will soon +come out." + +As we waited the General began telling me about Jahantsi Lama, +saying that, when Jahantsi is calm, he is an ordinary man but, when +he is disturbed and thinks very deeply, a nimbus appears about his +head. + +After half an hour the Lama secretaries suddenly showed signs of +deep fear and began listening closely by the entrance to the +shrine. Shortly they fell on their faces on the ground. The door +slowly opened and there entered the Emperor of Mongolia, the Living +Buddha, His Holiness Bogdo Djebtsung Damba Hutuktu, Khan of Outer +Mongolia. He was a stout old man with a heavy shaven face +resembling those of the Cardinals of Rome. He was dressed in the +yellow silken Mongolian coat with a black binding. The eyes of the +blind man stood widely open. Fear and amazement were pictured in +them. He lowered himself heavily into the easy chair and +whispered: "Write!" + +A secretary immediately took paper and a Chinese pen as the Bogdo +began to dictate his vision, very complicated and far from clear. +He finished with the following words: + +"This I, Bogdo Hutuktu Khan, saw, speaking with the great wise +Buddha, surrounded by the good and evil spirits. Wise Lamas, +Hutuktus, Kanpos, Marambas and Holy Gheghens, give the answer to my +vision!" + +As he finished, he wiped the perspiration from his head and asked +who were present. + +"Khan Chiang Chin Baron Ungern and a stranger," one of the +secretaries answered on his knees. + +The General presented me to the Bogdo, who bowed his head as a sign +of greeting. They began speaking together in low tones. Through +the open door I saw a part of the shrine. I made out a big table +with a heap of books on it, some open and others lying on the floor +below; a brazier with the red charcoal in it; a basket containing +the shoulder blades and entrails of sheep for telling fortunes. +Soon the Baron rose and bowed before the Bogdo. The Tibetan placed +his hands on the Baron's head and whispered a prayer. Then he took +from his own neck a heavy ikon and hung it around that of the +Baron. + +"You will not die but you will be incarnated in the highest form of +being. Remember that, Incarnated God of War, Khan of grateful +Mongolia!" I understood that the Living Buddha blessed the "Bloody +General" before death. + + +During the next two days I had the opportunity to visit the Living +Buddha three times together with a friend of the Bogdo, the Buriat +Prince Djam Bolon. I shall describe these visits in Part IV. + +Baron Ungern organized the trip for me and my party to the shore of +the Pacific. We were to go on camels to northern Manchuria, +because there it was easy to avoid cavilling with the Chinese +authorities so badly oriented in the international relationship +with Poland. Having sent a letter from Uliassutai to the French +Legation at Peking and bearing with me a letter from the Chinese +Chamber of Commerce, expressing thanks for the saving of Uliassutai +from a pogrom, I intended to make for the nearest station on the +Chinese Eastern Railway and from there proceed to Peking. The +Danish merchant E. V. Olufsen was to have traveled out with me and +also a learned Lama Turgut, who was headed for China. + +Never shall I forget the night of May 19th to 20th of 1921! After +dinner Baron Ungern proposed that we go to the yurta of Djam Bolon, +whose acquaintance I had made on the first day after my arrival in +Urga. His yurta was placed on a raised wooden platform in a +compound located behind the Russian settlement. Two Buriat +officers met us and took us in. Djam Bolon was a man of middle +age, tall and thin with an unusually long face. Before the Great +War he had been a simple shepherd but had fought together with +Baron Ungern on the German front and afterwards against the +Bolsheviki. He was a Grand Duke of the Buriats, the successor of +former Buriat kings who had been dethroned by the Russian +Government after their attempt to establish the Independence of the +Buriat people. The servants brought us dishes with nuts, raisins, +dates and cheese and served us tea. + +"This is the last night, Djam Bolon!" said Baron Ungern. "You +promised me . . ." + +"I remember," answered the Buriat, "all is ready." + +For a long time I listened to their reminiscences about former +battles and friends who had been lost. The clock pointed to +midnight when Djam Bolon got up and went out of the yurta. + +"I want to have my fortune told once more," said Baron Ungern, as +though he were justifying himself. "For the good of our cause it +is too early for me to die. . . ." + +Djam Bolon came back with a little woman of middle years, who +squatted down eastern style before the brazier, bowed low and began +to stare at Baron Ungern. Her face was whiter, narrower and +thinner than that of a Mongol woman. Her eyes were black and +sharp. Her dress resembled that of a gypsy woman. Afterwards I +learned that she was a famous fortune teller and prophet among the +Buriats, the daughter of a gypsy woman and a Buriat. She drew a +small bag very slowly from her girdle, took from it some small bird +bones and a handful of dry grass. She began whispering at +intervals unintelligible words, as she threw occasional handfuls of +the grass into the fire, which gradually filled the tent with a +soft fragrance. I felt a distinct palpitation of my heart and a +swimming in my head. After the fortune teller had burned all her +grass, she placed the bird bones on the charcoal and turned them +over again and again with a small pair of bronze pincers. As the +bones blackened, she began to examine them and then suddenly her +face took on an expression of fear and pain. She nervously tore +off the kerchief which bound her head and, contracted with +convulsions, began snapping out short, sharp phrases. + +"I see . . . I see the God of War. . . . His life runs out . . . +horribly. . . . After it a shadow . . . black like the night. . . . +Shadow. . . . One hundred thirty steps remain. . . . Beyond +darkness. . . . Nothing . . . I see nothing. . . . The God of War +has disappeared. . . ." + +Baron Ungern dropped his head. The woman fell over on her back +with her arms stretched out. She had fainted, but it seemed to me +that I noticed once a bright pupil of one of her eyes showing from +under the closed lashes. Two Buriats carried out the lifeless +form, after which a long silence reigned in the yurta of the Buriat +Prince. Baron Ungern finally got up and began to walk around the +brazier, whispering to himself. Afterwards he stopped and began +speaking rapidly: + +"I shall die! I shall die! . . . but no matter, no matter. . . . +The cause has been launched and will not die. . . . I know the +roads this cause will travel. The tribes of Jenghiz Khan's +successors are awakened. Nobody shall extinguish the fire in the +heart of the Mongols! In Asia there will be a great State from the +Pacific and Indian Oceans to the shore of the Volga. The wise +religion of Buddha shall run to the north and the west. It will be +the victory of the spirit. A conqueror and leader will appear +stronger and more stalwart than Jenghiz Khan and Ugadai. He will +be more clever and more merciful than Sultan Baber and he will keep +power in his hands until the happy day when, from his subterranean +capital, shall emerge the King of the World. Why, why shall I not +be in the first ranks of the warriors of Buddhism? Why has Karma +decided so? But so it must be! And Russia must first wash herself +from the insult of revolution, purifying herself with blood and +death; and all people accepting Communism must perish with their +families in order that all their offspring may be rooted out!" + +The Baron raised his hand above his head and shook it, as though he +were giving his orders and bequests to some invisible person. + +Day was dawning. + +"My time has come!" said the General. "In a little while I shall +leave Urga." + +He quickly and firmly shook hands with us and said: + +"Good-bye for all time! I shall die a horrible death but the world +has never seen such a terror and such a sea of blood as it shall +now see. . . ." + +The door of the yurta slammed shut and he was gone. I never saw +him again. + +"I must go also, for I am likewise leaving Urga today." + +"I know it," answered the Prince, "the Baron has left you with me +for some purpose. I will give you a fourth companion, the Mongol +Minister of War. You will accompany him to your yurta. It is +necessary for you. . . ." + +Djam Bolon pronounced this last with an accent on every word. I +did not question him about it, as I was accustomed to the mystery +of this country of the mysteries of good and evil spirits. + + +CHAPTER XXXIX + +"THE MAN WITH A HEAD LIKE A SADDLE" + + +After drinking tea at Djam Bolon's yurta I rode back to my quarters +and packed my few belongings. The Lama Turgut was already there. + +"The Minister of War will travel with us," he whispered. "It is +necessary." + +"All right," I answered, and rode off to Olufsen to summon him. +But Olufsen unexpectedly announced that he was forced to spend some +few days more in Urga--a fatal decision for him, for a month later +he was reported killed by Sepailoff who remained as Commandant of +the city after Baron Ungern's departure. The War Minister, a +stout, young Mongol, joined our caravan. When we had gone about +six miles from the city, we saw an automobile coming up behind us. +The Lama shrunk up inside his coat and looked at me with fear. I +felt the now familiar atmosphere of danger and so opened my holster +and threw over the safety catch of my revolver. Soon the motor +stopped alongside our caravan. In it sat Sepailoff with a smiling +face and beside him his two executioners, Chestiakoff and Jdanoff. +Sepailoff greeted us very warmly and asked: + +"You are changing your horses in Khazahuduk? Does the road cross +that pass ahead? I don't know the way and must overtake an envoy +who went there." + +The Minister of War answered that we would be in Khazahuduk that +evening and gave Sepailoff directions as to the road. The motor +rushed away and, when it had topped the pass, he ordered one of the +Mongols to gallop forward to see whether it had not stopped +somewhere near the other side. The Mongol whipped his steed and +sped away. We followed slowly. + +"What is the matter?" I asked. "Please explain!" + +The Minister told me that Djam Bolon yesterday received information +that Sepailoff planned to overtake me on the way and kill me. +Sepailoff suspected that I had stirred up the Baron against him. +Djam Bolon reported the matter to the Baron, who organized this +column for my safety. The returning Mongol reported that the motor +car had gone on out of sight. + +"Now," said the Minister, "we shall take quite another route so +that the Colonel will wait in vain for us at Khazahuduk." + +We turned north at Undur Dobo and at night were in the camp of a +local prince. Here we took leave of our Minister, received +splendid fresh horses and quickly continued our trip to the east, +leaving behind us "the man with the head like a saddle" against +whom I had been warned by the old fortune teller in the vicinity of +Van Kure. + +After twelve days without further adventures we reached the first +railway station on the Chinese Eastern Railway, from where I +traveled in unbelievable luxury to Peking. + + * * * * * * + +Surrounded by the comforts and conveniences of the splendid hotel +at Peking, while shedding all the attributes of traveler, hunter +and warrior, I could not, however, throw off the spell of those +nine days spent in Urga, where I had daily met Baron Ungern, +"Incarnated God of War." The newspapers carrying accounts of the +bloody march of the Baron through Transbaikalia brought the +pictures ever fresh to my mind. Even now, although more than seven +months have elapsed, I cannot forget those nights of madness, +inspiration and hate. + +The predictions are fulfilled. Approximately one hundred thirty +days afterwards Baron Ungern was captured by the Bolsheviki through +the treachery of his officers and, it is reported, was executed at +the end of September. + +Baron R. F. Ungern von Sternberg. . . . Like a bloody storm of +avenging Karma he spread over Central Asia. What did he leave +behind him? The severe order to his soldiers closing with the +words of the Revelations of St. John: + +"Let no one check the revenge against the corrupter and slayer of +the soul of the Russian people. Revolution must be eradicated from +the World. Against it the Revelations of St. John have warned us +thus: 'And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and decked +with gold and precious stones and pearls, having in her hand a +golden cup full of abominations, even the unclean things of her +fornication, and upon her forehead a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON +THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF THE HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE +EARTH. And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, +and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus.'" + +It is a human document, a document of Russian and, perhaps, of +world tragedy. + +But there remained another and more important trace. In the Mongol +yurtas and at the fires of Buriat, Mongol, Djungar, Kirkhiz, +Kalmuck and Tibetan shepherds still speak the legend born of this +son of crusaders and privateers: + +"From the north a white warrior came and called on the Mongols to +break their chains of slavery, which fell upon our freed soil. +This white warrior was the Incarnated Jenghiz Khan and he predicted +the coming of the greatest of all Mongols who will spread the fair +faith of Buddha and the glory and power of the offspring of +Jenghiz, Ugadai and Kublai Khan. So it shall be!" + +Asia is awakened and her sons utter bold words. + +It were well for the peace of the world if they go forth as +disciples of the wise creators, Ugadai and Sultan Baber, rather +than under the spell of the "bad demons" of the destructive +Tamerlane. + + + +Part IV + +THE LIVING BUDDHA + + +CHAPTER XL + +IN THE BLISSFUL GARDEN OF A THOUSAND JOYS + + +In Mongolia, the country of miracles and mysteries, lives the +custodian of all the mysterious and unknown, the Living Buddha, His +Holiness Djebtsung Damba Hutuktu Khan or Bogdo Gheghen, Pontiff of +Ta Kure. He is the incarnation of the never-dying Buddha, the +representative of the unbroken, mysteriously continued line of +spiritual emperors ruling since 1670, concealing in themselves the +ever refining spirit of Buddha Amitabha joined with Chan-ra-zi or +the "Compassionate Spirit of the Mountains." In him is everything, +even the Sun Myth and the fascination of the mysterious peaks of +the Himalayas, tales of the Indian pagoda, the stern majesty of the +Mongolian Conquerors--Emperors of All Asia--and the ancient, hazy +legends of the Chinese sages; immersion in the thoughts of the +Brahmans; the severities of life of the monks of the "Virtuous +Order"; the vengeance of the eternally wandering warriors, the +Olets, with their Khans, Batur Hun Taigi and Gushi; the proud +bequests of Jenghiz and Kublai Khan; the clerical reactionary +psychology of the Lamas; the mystery of Tibetan kings beginning +from Srong-Tsang Gampo; and the mercilessness of the Yellow Sect of +Paspa. All the hazy history of Asia, of Mongolia, Pamir, +Himalayas, Mesopotamia, Persia and China, surrounds the Living God +of Urga. It is little wonder that his name is honored along the +Volga, in Siberia, Arabia, between the Tigris and Euphrates, in +Indo-China and on the shores of the Arctic Ocean. + +During my stay in Urga I visited the abode of the Living Buddha +several times, spoke with him and observed his life. His favorite +learned Marambas gave me long accounts of him. I saw him reading +horoscopes, I heard his predictions, I looked over his archives of +ancient books and the manuscripts containing the lives and +predictions of all the Bogdo Khans. The Lamas were very frank and +open with me, because the letter of the Hutuktu of Narabanchi won +for me their confidence. + +The personality of the Living Buddha is double, just as everything +in Lamaism is double. Clever, penetrating, energetic, he at the +same time indulges in the drunkenness which has brought on +blindness. When he became blind, the Lamas were thrown into a +state of desperation. Some of them maintained that Bogdo Khan must +be poisoned and another Incarnate Buddha set in his place; while +the others pointed out the great merits of the Pontiff in the eyes +of Mongolians and the followers of the Yellow Faith. They finally +decided to propitiate the gods by building a great temple with a +gigantic statue of Buddha. However, this did not help the Bogdo's +sight but the whole incident gave him the opportunity of hurrying +on to their higher life those among the Lamas who had shown too +much radicalism in their proposed method of solving his problem. + +He never ceases to ponder upon the cause of the church and of +Mongolia and at the same time likes to indulge himself with useless +trifles. He amuses himself with artillery. A retired Russian +officer presented him with two old guns, for which the donor +received the title of Tumbaiir Hun, that is, "Prince Dear-to-my- +Heart." On holidays these cannon were fired to the great amusement +of the blind man. Motorcars, gramophones, telephones, crystals, +porcelains, pictures, perfumes, musical instruments, rare animals +and birds; elephants, Himalayan bears, monkeys, Indian snakes and +parrots--all these were in the palace of "the god" but all were +soon cast aside and forgotten. + +To Urga come pilgrims and presents from all the Lamaite and +Buddhist world. Once the treasurer of the palace, the Honorable +Balma Dorji, took me into the great hall where the presents were +kept. It was a most unique museum of precious articles. Here were +gathered together rare objects unknown to the museums of Europe. +The treasurer, as he opened a case with a silver lock, said to me: + +"These are pure gold nuggets from Bei Kem; here are black sables +from Kemchick; these the miraculous deer horns; this a box sent by +the Orochons and filled with precious ginseng roots and fragrant +musk; this a bit of amber from the coast of the 'frozen sea' and it +weighs 124 lans (about ten pounds); these are precious stones from +India, fragrant zebet and carved ivory from China." + +He showed the exhibits and talked of them for a long time and +evidently enjoyed the telling. And really it was wonderful! +Before my eyes lay the bundles of rare furs; white beaver, black +sables, white, blue and black fox and black panthers; small +beautifully carved tortoise shell boxes containing hatyks ten or +fifteen yards long, woven from Indian silk as fine as the webs of +the spider; small bags made of golden thread filled with pearls, +the presents of Indian Rajahs; precious rings with sapphires and +rubies from China and India; big pieces of jade, rough diamonds; +ivory tusks ornamented with gold, pearls and precious stones; +bright clothes sewn with gold and silver thread; walrus tusks +carved in bas-relief by the primitive artists on the shores of the +Behring Sea; and much more that one cannot recall or recount. In a +separate room stood the cases with the statues of Buddha, made of +gold, silver, bronze, ivory, coral, mother of pearl and from a rare +colored and fragrant species of wood. + +"You know when conquerors come into a country where the gods are +honored, they break the images and throw them down. So it was more +than three hundred years ago when the Kalmucks went into Tibet and +the same was repeated in Peking when the European troops looted the +place in 1900. But do you know why this is done? Take one of the +statues and examine it." + +I picked up one nearest the edge, a wooden Buddha, and began +examining it. Inside something was loose and rattled. + +"Do you hear it?" the Lama asked. "These are precious stones and +bits of gold, the entrails of the god. This is the reason why the +conquerors at once break up the statues of the gods. Many famous +precious stones have appeared from the interior of the statues of +the gods in India, Babylon and China." + +Some rooms were devoted to the library, where manuscripts and +volumes of different epochs in different languages and with many +diverse themes fill the shelves. Some of them are mouldering or +pulverizing away and the Lamas cover these now with a solution +which partially solidifies like a jelly to protect what remains +from the ravages of the air. There also we saw tablets of clay +with the cuneiform inscriptions, evidently from Babylonia; Chinese, +Indian and Tibetan books shelved beside those of Mongolia; tomes of +the ancient pure Buddhism; books of the "Red Caps" or corrupt +Buddhism; books of the "Yellow" or Lamaite Buddhism; books of +traditions, legends and parables. Groups of Lamas were perusing, +studying and copying these books, preserving and spreading the +ancient wisdom for their successors. + +One department is devoted to the mysterious books on magic, the +historical lives and works of all the thirty-one Living Buddhas, +with the bulls of the Dalai Lama, of the Pontiff from Tashi Lumpo, +of the Hutuktu of Utai in China, of the Pandita Gheghen of Dolo Nor +in Inner Mongolia and of the Hundred Chinese Wise Men. Only the +Bogdo Hutuktu and Maramba Ta-Rimpo-Cha can enter this room of +mysterious lore. The keys to it rest with the seals of the Living +Buddha and the ruby ring of Jenghiz Khan ornamented with the sign +of the swastika in the chest in the private study of the Bogdo. + +The person of His Holiness is surrounded by five thousand Lamas. +They are divided into many ranks from simple servants to the +"Councillors of God," of which latter the Government consists. +Among these Councillors are all the four Khans of Mongolia and the +five highest Princes. + +Of all the Lamas there are three classes of peculiar interest, +about which the Living Buddha himself told me when I visited him +with Djam Bolon. + +"The God" sorrowfully mourned over the demoralized and sumptuous +life led by the Lamas which decreased rapidly the number of fortune +tellers and clairvoyants among their ranks, saying of it: + +"If the Jahantsi and Narabanchi monasteries had not preserved their +strict regime and rules, Ta Kure would have been left without +prophets and fortune tellers. Barun Abaga Nar, Dorchiul-Jurdok and +the other holy Lamas who had the power of seeing that which is +hidden from the sight of the common people have gone with the +blessing of the gods." + +This class of Lamas is a very important one, because every +important personage visiting the monasteries at Urga is shown to +the Lama Tzuren or fortune teller without the knowledge of the +visitor for the study of his destiny and fate, which are then +communicated to the Bogdo Hutuktu, so that with these facts in his +possession the Bogdo knows in what way to treat his guest and what +policy to follow toward him. The Tzurens are mostly old men, +skinny, exhausted and severe ascetics. But I have met some who +were young, almost boys. They were the Hubilgan, "incarnate gods," +the future Hutuktus and Gheghens of the various Mongolian +monasteries. + +The second class is the doctors or "Ta Lama." They observe the +actions of plants and certain products from animals upon people, +preserve Tibetan medicines and cures, and study anatomy very +carefully but without making use of vivisection and the scalpel. +They are skilful bone setters, masseurs and great connoisseurs of +hypnotism and animal magnetism. + +The third class is the highest rank of doctors, consisting chiefly +of Tibetans and Kalmucks--poisoners. They may be said to be +"doctors of political medicine." They live by themselves, apart +from any associates, and are the great silent weapon in the hands +of the Living Buddha. I was informed that a large portion of them +are dumb. I saw one such doctor,--the very person who poisoned the +Chinese physician sent by the Chinese Emperor from Peking to +"liquidate" the Living Buddha,--a small white old fellow with a +deeply wrinkled face, a curl of white hairs on his chin and with +vivacious eyes that were ever shifting inquiringly about him. +Whenever he comes to a monastery, the local "god" ceases to eat and +drink in fear of the activities of this Mongolian Locusta. But +even this cannot save the condemned, for a poisoned cap or shirt or +boots, or a rosary, a bridle, books or religious articles soaked in +a poisonous solution will surely accomplish the object of the +Bogdo-Khan. + +The deepest esteem and religious faithfulness surround the blind +Pontiff. Before him all fall on their faces. Khans and Hutuktus +approach him on their knees. Everything about him is dark, full of +Oriental antiquity. The drunken blind man, listening to the banal +arias of the gramophone or shaking his servants with an electric +current from his dynamo, the ferocious old fellow poisoning his +political enemies, the Lama keeping his people in darkness and +deceiving them with his prophecies and fortune telling,--he is, +however, not an entirely ordinary man. + +One day we sat in the room of the Bogdo and Prince Djam Bolon +translated to him my story of the Great War. The old fellow was +listening very carefully but suddenly opened his eyes widely and +began to give attention to some sounds coming in from outside the +room. His face became reverent, supplicant and frightened. + +"The Gods call me," he whispered and slowly moved into his private +shrine, where he prayed loudly about two hours, kneeling immobile +as a statue. His prayer consists of conversation with the +invisible gods, to whose questions he himself gave the answers. He +came out of the shrine pale and exhausted but pleased and happy. +It was his personal prayer. During the regular temple service he +did not participate in the prayers, for then he is "God." Sitting +on his throne, he is carried and placed on the altar and there +prayed to by the Lamas and the people. He only receives the +prayers, hopes, tears, woe and desperation of the people, +immobilely gazing into space with his sharp and bright but blind +eyes. At various times in the service the Lamas robe him in +different vestments, combinations of yellow and red, and change his +caps. The service always finishes at the solemn moment when the +Living Buddha with the tiara on his head pronounces the pontifical +blessing upon the congregation, turning his face to all four +cardinal points of the compass and finally stretching out his hands +toward the northwest, that is, to Europe, whither in the belief of +the Yellow Faith must travel the teachings of the wise Buddha. + +After earnest prayers or long temple services the Pontiff seems +very deeply shaken and often calls his secretaries and dictates his +visions and prophecies, always very complicated and unaccompanied +by his deductions. + +Sometimes with the words "Their souls are communicating," he puts +on his white robes and goes to pray in his shrine. Then all the +gates of the palace are shut and all the Lamas are sunk in solemn, +mystic fear; all are praying, telling their rosaries and whispering +the orison: "Om! Mani padme Hung!" or turning the prayer wheels +with their prayers or exorcisings; the fortune tellers read their +horoscopes; the clairvoyants write out their visions; while +Marambas search the ancient books for explanations of the words of +the Living Buddha. + + +CHAPTER XLI + +THE DUST OF CENTURIES + + +Have you ever seen the dusty cobwebs and the mould in the cellars +of some ancient castle in Italy, France or England? This is the +dust of centuries. Perhaps it touched the faces, helmets and +swords of a Roman Augustus, St. Louis, the Inquisitor, Galileo or +King Richard. Your heart is involuntarily contracted and you feel +a respect for these witnesses of elapsed ages. This same +impression came to me in Ta Kure, perhaps more deep, more +realistic. Here life flows on almost as it flowed eight centuries +ago; here man lives only in the past; and the contemporary only +complicates and prevents the normal life. + +"Today is a great day," the Living Buddha once said to me, "the day +of the victory of Buddhism over all other religions. It was a long +time ago--on this day Kublai Khan called to him the Lamas of all +religions and ordered them to state to him how and what they +believed. They praised their Gods and their Hutuktus. Discussions +and quarrels began. Only one Lama remained silent. At last he +mockingly smiled and said: + +"'Great Emperor! Order each to prove the power of his Gods by the +performance of a miracle and afterwards judge and choose.' + +"Kublai Khan so ordered all the Lamas to show him a miracle but all +were silent, confused and powerless before him. + +"'Now,' said the Emperor, addressing the Lama who had tendered this +suggestion, 'now you must prove the power of your Gods!' + +"The Lama looked long and silently at the Emperor, turned and gazed +at the whole assembly and then quietly stretched out his hand +toward them. At this instant the golden goblet of the Emperor +raised itself from the table and tipped before the lips of the Khan +without a visible hand supporting it. The Emperor felt the delight +of a fragrant wine. All were struck with astonishment and the +Emperor spoke: + +"'I elect to pray to your Gods and to them all people subject to me +must pray. What is your faith? Who are you and from where do you +come?' + +"'My faith is the teaching of the wise Buddha. I am Pandita Lama, +Turjo Gamba, from the distant and glorious monastery of Sakkia in +Tibet, where dwells incarnate in a human body the Spirit of Buddha, +his Wisdom and his Power. Remember, Emperor, that the peoples who +hold our faith shall possess all the Western Universe and during +eight hundred and eleven years shall spread their faith throughout +the whole world.' + +"Thus it happened on this same day many centuries ago! Lama Turjo +Gamba did not return to Tibet but lived here in Ta Kure, where +there was then only a small temple. From here he traveled to the +Emperor at Karakorum and afterwards with him to the capital of +China to fortify him in the Faith, to predict the fate of state +affairs and to enlighten him according to the will of God." + +The Living Buddha was silent for a time, whispered a prayer and +then continued: + +"Urga, the ancient nest of Buddhism. . . . With Jenghiz Khan on +his European conquest went out the Olets or Kalmucks. They +remained there almost four hundred years, living on the plains of +Russia. Then they returned to Mongolia because the Yellow Lamas +called them to light against the Kings of Tibet, Lamas of the 'red +caps,' who were oppressing the people. The Kalmucks helped the +Yellow Faith but they realized that Lhasa was too distant from the +whole world and could not spread our Faith throughout the earth. +Consequently the Kalmuck Gushi Khan brought up from Tibet a holy +Lama, Undur Gheghen, who had visited the 'King of the World.' From +that day the Bogdo Gheghen has continuously lived in Urga, a +protector of the freedom of Mongolia and of the Chinese Emperors of +Mongolian origin. Undur Gheghen was the first Living Buddha in the +land of the Mongols. He left to us, his successors, the ring of +Jenghiz Khan, which was sent by Kublai Khan to Dalai Lama in return +for the miracle shown by the Lama Turjo Gamba; also the top of the +skull of a black, mysterious miracle worker from India, using which +as a bowl, Strongtsan, King of Tibet, drank during the temple +ceremonies one thousand six hundred years ago; as well as an +ancient stone statue of Buddha brought from Delhi by the founder of +the Yellow Faith, Paspa." + +The Bogdo clapped his hands and one of the secretaries took from a +red kerchief a big silver key with which he unlocked the chest with +the seals. The Living Buddha slipped his hand into the chest and +drew forth a small box of carved ivory, from which he took out and +showed to me a large gold ring set with a magnificent ruby carved +with the sign of the swastika. + +"This ring was always worn on the right hand of the Khans Jenghiz +and Kublai," said the Bogdo. + +When the secretary had closed the chest, the Bogdo ordered him to +summon his favorite Maramba, whom he directed to read some pages +from an ancient book lying on the table. The Lama began to read +monotonously. + +"When Gushi Khan, the Chief of all the Olets or Kalmucks, finished +the war with the 'Red Caps' in Tibet, he carried out with him the +miraculous 'black stone' sent to the Dalai Lama by the 'King of the +World.' Gushi Khan wanted to create in Western Mongolia the +capital of the Yellow Faith; but the Olets at that time were at war +with the Manchu Emperors for the throne of China and suffered one +defeat after another. The last Khan of the Olets, Amursana, ran +away into Russia but before his escape sent to Urga the sacred +'black stone.' While it remained in Urga so that the Living Buddha +could bless the people with it, disease and misfortune never +touched the Mongolians and their cattle. About one hundred years +ago, however, some one stole the sacred stone and since then +Buddhists have vainly sought it throughout the whole world. With +its disappearance the Mongol people began gradually to die." + +"Enough!" ordered Bogdo Gheghen. "Our neighbors hold us in +contempt. They forget that we were their sovereigns but we +preserve our holy traditions and we know that the day of triumph of +the Mongolian tribes and the Yellow Faith will come. We have the +Protectors of the Faith, the Buriats. They are the truest +guardians of the bequests of Jenghiz Khan." + +So spoke the Living Buddha and so have spoken the ancient books! + + +CHAPTER XLII + +THE BOOKS OF MIRACLES + + +Prince Djam Bolon asked a Maramba to show us the library of the +Living Buddha. It is a big room occupied by scores of writers who +prepare the works dealing with the miracles of all the Living +Buddhas, beginning with Undur Gheghen and ending with those of the +Gheghens and Hutuktus of the different Mongol monasteries. These +books are afterwards distributed through all the Lama Monasteries, +temples and schools of Bandi. A Maramba read two selections: + +". . . The beatific Bogdo Gheghen breathed on a mirror. +Immediately as through a haze there appeared the picture of a +valley in which many thousands of thousands of warriors fought one +against another. . . ." + +"The wise and favored-of-the-gods Living Buddha burned incense in a +brazier and prayed to the Gods to reveal the lot of the Princes. +In the blue smoke all saw a dark prison and the pallid, tortured +bodies of the dead Princes. . . ." + +A special book, already done into thousands of copies, dwelt upon +the miracles of the present Living Buddha. Prince Djam Bolon +described to me some of the contents of this volume. + +"There exists an ancient wooden Buddha with open eyes. He was +brought here from India and Bogdo Gheghen placed him on the altar +and began to pray. When he returned from the shrine, he ordered +the statue of Buddha brought out. All were struck with amazement, +for the eyes of the God were shut and tears were falling from them; +from the wooden body green sprouts appeared; and the Bogdo said: + +"'Woe and joy are awaiting me. I shall become blind but Mongolia +will be free.' + +"The prophecy is fulfilled. At another time, on a day when the +Living Buddha was very much excited, he ordered a basin of water +brought and set before the altar. He called the Lamas and began to +pray. Suddenly the altar candles and lamps lighted themselves and +the water in the basin became iridescent." + +Afterwards the Prince described to me how the Bogdo Khan tells +fortunes with fresh blood, upon whose surface appear words and +pictures; with the entrails of sheep and goats, according to whose +distribution the Bogdo reads the fate of the Princes and knows +their thoughts; with stones and bones from which the Living Buddha +with great accuracy reads the lot of all men; and by the stars, in +accordance with whose positions the Bogdo prepares amulets against +bullets and disease. + +"The former Bogdo Khans told fortunes only by the use of the 'black +stone,'" said the Maramba. "On the surface of the stone appeared +Tibetan inscriptions which the Bogdo read and thus learned the lot +of whole nations." + +When the Maramba spoke of the black stone with the Tibetan legends +appearing on it, I at once recalled that it was possible. In +southeastern Urianhai, in Ulan Taiga, I came across a place where +black slate was decomposing. All the pieces of this slate were +covered with a special white lichen, which formed very complicated +designs, reminding me of a Venetian lace pattern or whole pages of +mysterious runes. When the slate was wet, these designs +disappeared; and then, as they were dried, the patterns came out +again. + +Nobody has the right or dares to ask the Living Buddha to tell his +fortune. He predicts only when he feels the inspiration or when a +special delegate comes to him bearing a request for it from the +Dalai Lama or the Tashi Lama. When the Russian Czar, Alexander I, +fell under the influence of Baroness Kzudener and of her extreme +mysticism, he despatched a special envoy to the Living Buddha to +ask about his destiny. The then Bogdo Khan, quite a young man, +told his fortune according to the "black stone" and predicted that +the White Czar would finish his life in very painful wanderings +unknown to all and everywhere pursued. In Russia today there +exists a popular belief that Alexander I spent the last days of his +life as a wanderer throughout Russia and Siberia under the +pseudonym of Feodor Kusmitch, helping and consoling prisoners, +beggars and other suffering people, often pursued and imprisoned by +the police and finally dying at Tomsk in Siberia, where even until +now they have preserved the house where he spent his last days and +have kept his grave sacred, a place of pilgrimages and miracles. +The former dynasty of Romanoff was deeply interested in the +biography of Feodor Kusmitch and this interest fixed the opinion +that Kusmitch was really the Czar Alexander I, who had voluntarily +taken upon himself this severe penance. + + +CHAPTER XLIII + +THE BIRTH OF THE LIVING BUDDHA + + +The Living Buddha does not die. His soul sometimes passes into +that of a child born on the day of his death and sometimes +transfers itself to another being during the life of the Buddha. +This new mortal dwelling of the sacred spirit of the Buddha almost +always appears in the yurta of some poor Tibetan or Mongol family. +There is a reason of policy for this. If the Buddha appears in the +family of a rich prince, it could result in the elevation of a +family that would not yield obedience to the clergy (and such has +happened in the past), while on the other hand any poor, unknown +family that becomes the heritor of the throne of Jenghiz Khan +acquires riches and is readily submissive to the Lamas. Only three +or four Living Buddhas were of purely Mongolian origin; the +remainder were Tibetans. + +One of the Councillors of the Living Buddha, Lama-Khan Jassaktu, +told me the following: + +"In the monasteries at Lhasa and Tashi Lumpo they are kept +constantly informed through letters from Urga about the health of +the Living Buddha. When his human body becomes old and the Spirit +of Buddha strives to extricate itself, special solemn services +begin in the Tibetan temples together with the telling of fortunes +by astrology. These rites indicate the specially pious Lamas who +must discover where the Spirit of the Buddha will be re-incarnated. +For this purpose they travel throughout the whole land and observe. +Often God himself gives them signs and indications. Sometimes the +white wolf appears near the yurta of a poor shepherd or a lamb with +two heads is born or a meteor falls from the sky. Some Lamas take +fish from the sacred lake Tangri Nor and read on the scales thereof +the name of the new Bogdo Khan; others pick out stones whose cracks +indicate to them where they must search and whom they must find; +while others secrete themselves in narrow mountain ravines to +listen to the voices of the spirits of the mountains, pronouncing +the name of the new choice of the Gods. When he is found, all the +possible information about his family is secretly collected and +presented to the Most Learned Tashi Lama, having the name of +Erdeni, "The Great Gem of Learning," who, according to the runes of +Rama, verifies the selection. If he is in agreement with it, he +sends a secret letter to the Dalai Lama, who holds a special +sacrifice in the Temple of the "Spirit of the Mountains" and +confirms the election by putting his great seal on this letter of +the Tashi Lama. + +If the old Living Buddha be still alive, the name of his successor +is kept a deep secret; if the Spirit of Buddha has already gone out +from the body of Bogdo Khan, a special legation appears from Tibet +with the new Living Buddha. The same process accompanies the +election of the Gheghen and Hutuktus in all the Lamaite monasteries +in Mongolia; but confirmation of the election resides with the +Living Buddha and is only announced to Lhasa after the event. + + +CHAPTER XLIV + +A PAGE IN THE HISTORY OF THE PRESENT LIVING BUDDHA + + +The present Bogdo Khan of Outer Mongolia is a Tibetan. He sprang +from a poor family living in the neighborhood of Sakkia Kure in +western Tibet. From earliest youth he had a stormy, quite +unaesthetic nature. He was fired with the idea of the independence +and glorification of Mongolia and the successors of Jenghiz Khan. +This gave him at once a great influence among the Lamas, Princes +and Khans of Mongolia and also with the Russian Government which +always tried to attract him to their side. He did not fear to +arraign himself against the Manchu dynasty in China and always had +the help of Russia, Tibet, the Buriats and Kirghiz, furnishing him +with money, weapons, warriors and diplomatic aid. The Chinese +Emperors avoided open war with the Living God, because it might +arouse the protests of the Chinese Buddhists. At one time they +sent to the Bogdo Khan a skilful doctor-poisoner. The Living +Buddha, however, at once understood the meaning of this medical +attention and, knowing the power of Asiatic poisons, decided to +make a journey through the Mongol monasteries and through Tibet. +As his substitute he left a Hubilgan who made friends with the +Chinese doctor and inquired from him the purposes and details of +his arrival. Very soon the Chinese died from some unknown cause +and the Living Buddha returned to his comfortable capital. + +On another occasion danger threatened the Living God. It was when +Lhasa decided that the Bogdo Khan was carrying out a policy too +independent of Tibet. The Dalai Lama began negotiations with +several Khans and Princes with the Sain Noion Khan and Jassaktu +Khan leading the movement and persuaded them to accelerate the +immigration of the Spirit of Buddha into another human form. They +came to Urga where the Bogdo Khan met them with honors and +rejoicings. A great feast was made for them and the conspirators +already felt themselves the accomplishers of the orders of the +Dalai Lama. However, at the end of the feast, they had different +feelings and died with them during the night. The Living Buddha +ordered their bodies sent with full honors to their families. + +The Bogdo Khan knows every thought, every movement of the Princes +and Khans, the slightest conspiracy against himself, and the +offender is usually kindly invited to Urga, from where he does not +return alive. + +The Chinese Government decided to terminate the line of the Living +Buddhas. Ceasing to fight with the Pontiff of Urga, the Government +contrived the following scheme for accomplishing its ends. + +Peking invited the Pandita Gheghen from Dolo Nor and the head of +the Chinese Lamaites, the Hutuktu of Utai, both of whom do not +recognize the supremacy of the Living Buddha, to come to the +capital. They decided, after consulting the old Buddhistic books, +that the present Bogdo Khan was to be the last Living Buddha, +because that part of the Spirit of Buddha which dwells in the Bogdo +Khans can abide only thirty-one times in the human body. Bogdo +Khan is the thirty-first Incarnated Buddha from the time of Undur +Gheghen and with him, therefore, the dynasty of the Urga Pontiffs +must cease. However, on hearing this the Bogdo Khan himself did +some research work and found in the old Tibetan manuscripts that +one of the Tibetan Pontiffs was married and his son was a natural +Incarnated Buddha. So the Bogdo Khan married and now has a son, a +very capable and energetic young man, and thus the religious throne +of Jenghiz Khan will not be left empty. The dynasty of the Chinese +emperors disappeared from the stage of political events but the +Living Buddha continues to be a center for the Pan-Asiatic idea. + +The new Chinese Government in 1920 held the Living Buddha under +arrest in his palace but at the beginning of 1921 Baron Ungern +crossed the sacred Bogdo-Ol and approached the palace from the +rear. Tibetan riders shot the Chinese sentries with bow and arrow +and afterwards the Mongols penetrated into the palace and stole +their "God," who immediately stirred up all Mongolia and awakened +the hopes of the Asiatic peoples and tribes. + +In the great palace of the Bogdo a Lama showed me a special casket +covered with a precious carpet, wherein they keep the bulls of the +Dalai and Tashi Lamas, the decrees of the Russian and Chinese +Emperors and the Treaties between Mongolia, Russia, China and +Tibet. In this same casket is the copper plate bearing the +mysterious sign of the "King of the World" and the chronicle of the +last vision of the Living Buddha. + + +CHAPTER XLV + +THE VISION OF THE LIVING BUDDHA OF MAY 17, 1921 + + +"I prayed and saw that which is hidden from the eyes of the people. +A vast plain was spread before me surrounded by distant mountains. +An old Lama carried a basket filled with heavy stones. He hardly +moved. From the north a rider appeared in white robes and mounted +on a white horse. He approached the Lama and said to him: + +"'Give me your basket. I shall help you to carry them to the +Kure.' + +"The Lama handed his heavy burden up to him but the rider could not +raise it to his saddle so that the old Lama had to place it back on +his shoulder and continue on his way, bent under its heavy weight. +Then from the north came another rider in black robes and on a +black horse, who also approached the Lama and said: + +"'Stupid! Why do you carry these stones when they are everywhere +about the ground?' + +"With these words he pushed the Lama over with the breast of his +horse and scattered the stones about the ground. When the stones +touched the earth, they became diamonds. All three rushed to raise +them but not one of them could break them loose from the ground. +Then the old Lama exclaimed: + +"'Oh Gods! All my life I have carried this heavy burden and now, +when there was left so little to go, I have lost it. Help me, +great, good Gods!' + +"Suddenly a tottering old man appeared. He collected all the +diamonds into the basket without trouble, cleaned the dust from +them, raised the burden to his shoulder and started out, speaking +with the Lama: + +"'Rest a while, I have just carried my burden to the goal and I am +glad to help you with yours.' + +"They went on and were soon out of sight, while the riders began to +fight. They fought one whole day and then the whole night and, +when the sun rose over the plain, neither was there, either alive +or dead, and no trace of either remained. This I saw, Bogdo +Hutuktu Khan, speaking with the Great and Wise Buddha, surrounded +by the good and bad demons! Wise Lamas, Hutuktus, Kampos, Marambas +and Holy Gheghens, give the answer to my vision!" + +This was written in my presence on May 17th, 1921, from the words +of the Living Buddha just as he came out of his private shrine to +his study. I do not know what the Hutuktu and Gheghens, the +fortune tellers, sorcerers and clairvoyants replied to him; but +does not the answer seem clear, if one realizes the present +situation in Asia? + +Awakened Asia is full of enigmas but it is also full of answers to +the questions set by the destiny of humankind. This great +continent of mysterious Pontiffs, Living Gods, Mahatmas and readers +of the terrible book of Karma is awakening and the ocean of +hundreds of millions of human lives is lashed with monstrous waves. + + + +Part V + +MYSTERY OF MYSTERIES--THE KING OF THE WORLD + + +CHAPTER XLVI + +THE SUBTERRANEAN KINGDOM + + +"Stop!" whispered my old Mongol guide, as we were one day crossing +the plain near Tzagan Luk. "Stop!" + +He slipped from his camel which lay down without his bidding. The +Mongol raised his hands in prayer before his face and began to +repeat the sacred phrase: "Om! Mani padme Hung!" The other +Mongols immediately stopped their camels and began to pray. + +"What has happened?" I thought, as I gazed round over the tender +green grass, up to the cloudless sky and out toward the dreamy soft +rays of the evening sun. + +The Mongols prayed for some time, whispered among themselves and, +after tightening up the packs on the camels, moved on. + +"Did you see," asked the Mongol, "how our camels moved their ears +in fear? How the herd of horses on the plain stood fixed in +attention and how the herds of sheep and cattle lay crouched close +to the ground? Did you notice that the birds did not fly, the +marmots did not run and the dogs did not bark? The air trembled +softly and bore from afar the music of a song which penetrated to +the hearts of men, animals and birds alike. Earth and sky ceased +breathing. The wind did not blow and the sun did not move. At +such a moment the wolf that is stealing up on the sheep arrests his +stealthy crawl; the frightened herd of antelopes suddenly checks +its wild course; the knife of the shepherd cutting the sheep's +throat falls from his hand; the rapacious ermine ceases to stalk +the unsuspecting salga. All living beings in fear are +involuntarily thrown into prayer and waiting for their fate. So it +was just now. Thus it has always been whenever the King of the +World in his subterranean palace prays and searches out the destiny +of all peoples on the earth." + +In this wise the old Mongol, a simple, coarse shepherd and hunter, +spoke to me. + +Mongolia with her nude and terrible mountains, her limitless +plains, covered with the widely strewn bones of the forefathers, +gave birth to Mystery. Her people, frightened by the stormy +passions of Nature or lulled by her deathlike peace, feel her +mystery. Her "Red" and "Yellow Lamas" preserve and poetize her +mystery. The Pontiffs of Lhasa and Urga know and possess her +mystery. + +On my journey into Central Asia I came to know for the first time +about "the Mystery of Mysteries," which I can call by no other +name. At the outset I did not pay much attention to it and did not +attach to it such importance as I afterwards realized belonged to +it, when I had analyzed and connoted many sporadic, hazy and often +controversial bits of evidence. + +The old people on the shore of the River Amyl related to me an +ancient legend to the effect that a certain Mongolian tribe in +their escape from the demands of Jenghiz Khan hid themselves in a +subterranean country. Afterwards a Soyot from near the Lake of +Nogan Kul showed me the smoking gate that serves as the entrance to +the "Kingdom of Agharti." Through this gate a hunter formerly +entered into the Kingdom and, after his return, began to relate +what he had seen there. The Lamas cut out his tongue in order to +prevent him from telling about the Mystery of Mysteries. When he +arrived at old age, he came back to the entrance of this cave and +disappeared into the subterranean kingdom, the memory of which had +ornamented and lightened his nomad heart. + +I received more realistic information about this from Hutuktu Jelyb +Djamsrap in Narabanchi Kure. He told me the story of the semi- +realistic arrival of the powerful King of the World from the +subterranean kingdom, of his appearance, of his miracles and of his +prophecies; and only then did I begin to understand that in that +legend, hypnosis or mass vision, whichever it may be, is hidden not +only mystery but a realistic and powerful force capable of +influencing the course of the political life of Asia. From that +moment I began making some investigations. + +The favorite Gelong Lama of Prince Chultun Beyli and the Prince +himself gave me an account of the subterranean kingdom. + +"Everything in the world," said the Gelong, "is constantly in a +state of change and transition--peoples science, religions, laws +and customs. How many great empires and brilliant cultures have +perished! And that alone which remains unchanged is Evil, the tool +of Bad Spirits. More than sixty thousand years ago a Holyman +disappeared with a whole tribe of people under the ground and never +appeared again on the surface of the earth. Many people, however, +have since visited this kingdom, Sakkia Mouni, Undur Gheghen, +Paspa, Khan Baber and others. No one knows where this place is. +One says Afghanistan, others India. All the people there are +protected against Evil and crimes do not exist within its bournes. +Science has there developed calmly and nothing is threatened with +destruction. The subterranean people have reached the highest +knowledge. Now it is a large kingdom, millions of men with the +King of the World as their ruler. He knows all the forces of the +world and reads all the souls of humankind and the great book of +their destiny. Invisibly he rules eight hundred million men on the +surface of the earth and they will accomplish his every order." + +Prince Chultun Beyli added: "This kingdom is Agharti. It extends +throughout all the subterranean passages of the whole world. I +heard a learned Lama of China relating to Bogdo Khan that all the +subterranean caves of America are inhabited by the ancient people +who have disappeared underground. Traces of them are still found +on the surface of the land. These subterranean peoples and spaces +are governed by rulers owing allegiance to the King of the World. +In it there is not much of the wonderful. You know that in the two +greatest oceans of the east and the west there were formerly two +continents. They disappeared under the water but their people went +into the subterranean kingdom. In underground caves there exists a +peculiar light which affords growth to the grains and vegetables +and long life without disease to the people. There are many +different peoples and many different tribes. An old Buddhist +Brahman in Nepal was carrying out the will of the Gods in making a +visit to the ancient kingdom of Jenghiz,--Siam,--where he met a +fisherman who ordered him to take a place in his boat and sail with +him upon the sea. On the third day they reached an island where he +met a people having two tongues which could speak separately in +different languages. They showed to him peculiar, unfamiliar +animals, tortoises with sixteen feet and one eye, huge snakes with +a very tasty flesh and birds with teeth which caught fish for their +masters in the sea. These people told him that they had come up +out of the subterranean kingdom and described to him certain parts +of the underground country." + +The Lama Turgut traveling with me from Urga to Peking gave me +further details. + +"The capital of Agharti is surrounded with towns of high priests +and scientists. It reminds one of Lhasa where the palace of the +Dalai Lama, the Potala, is the top of a mountain covered with +monasteries and temples. The throne of the King of the World is +surrounded by millions of incarnated Gods. They are the Holy +Panditas. The palace itself is encircled by the palaces of the +Goro, who possess all the visible and invisible forces of the +earth, of inferno and of the sky and who can do everything for the +life and death of man. If our mad humankind should begin a war +against them, they would be able to explode the whole surface of +our planet and transform it into deserts. They can dry up the +seas, transform lands into oceans and scatter the mountains into +the sands of the deserts. By his order trees, grasses and bushes +can be made to grow; old and feeble men can become young and +stalwart; and the dead can be resurrected. In cars strange and +unknown to us they rush through the narrow cleavages inside our +planet. Some Indian Brahmans and Tibetan Dalai Lamas during their +laborious struggles to the peaks of mountains which no other human +feet had trod have found there inscriptions carved on the rocks, +footprints in the snow and the tracks of wheels. The blissful +Sakkia Mouni found on one mountain top tablets of stone carrying +words which he only understood in his old age and afterwards +penetrated into the Kingdom of Agharti, from which he brought back +crumbs of the sacred learning preserved in his memory. There in +palaces of wonderful crystal live the invisible rulers of all pious +people, the King of the World or Brahytma, who can speak with God +as I speak with you, and his two assistants, Mahytma, knowing the +purposes of future events, and Mahynga, ruling the causes of these +events." + +"The Holy Panditas study the world and all its forces. Sometimes +the most learned among them collect together and send envoys to +that place where the human eyes have never penetrated. This is +described by the Tashi Lama living eight hundred and fifty years +ago. The highest Panditas place their hands on their eyes and at +the base of the brain of younger ones and force them into a deep +sleep, wash their bodies with an infusion of grass and make them +immune to pain and harder than stones, wrap them in magic cloths, +bind them and then pray to the Great God. The petrified youths lie +with eyes and ears open and alert, seeing, hearing and remembering +everything. Afterwards a Goro approaches and fastens a long, +steady gaze upon them. Very slowly the bodies lift themselves from +the earth and disappear. The Goro sits and stares with fixed eyes +to the place whither he has sent them. Invisible threads join them +to his will. Some of them course among the stars, observe their +events, their unknown peoples, their life and their laws. They +listen to their talk, read their books, understand their fortunes +and woes, their holiness and sins, their piety and evil. Some are +mingled with flame and see the creature of fire, quick and +ferocious, eternally fighting, melting and hammering metals in the +depths of planets, boiling the water for geysers and springs, +melting the rocks and pushing out molten streams over the surface +of the earth through the holes in the mountains. Others rush +together with the ever elusive, infinitesimally small, transparent +creatures of the air and penetrate into the mysteries of their +existence and into the purposes of their life. Others slip into +the depths of the seas and observe the kingdom of the wise +creatures of the water, who transport and spread genial warmth all +over the earth, ruling the winds, waves and storms. . . . In +Erdeni Dzu formerly lived Pandita Hutuktu, who had come from +Agharti. As he was dying, he told about the time when he lived +according to the will of the Goro on a red star in the east, +floated in the ice-covered ocean and flew among the stormy fires in +the depths of the earth." + +These are the tales which I heard in the Mongolian yurtas of +Princes and in the Lamaite monasteries. These stories were all +related in a solemn tone which forbade challenge and doubt. + +Mystery. . . . + + +CHAPTER XLVII + +THE KING OF THE WORLD BEFORE THE FACE OF GOD + + +During my stay in Urga I tried to find an explanation of this +legend about the King of the World. Of course, the Living Buddha +could tell me most of all and so I endeavored to get the story from +him. In a conversation with him I mentioned the name of the King +of the World. The old Pontiff sharply turned his head toward me +and fixed upon me his immobile, blind eyes. Unwillingly I became +silent. Our silence was a long one and after it the Pontiff +continued the conversation in such a way that I understood he did +not wish to accept the suggestion of my reference. On the faces of +the others present I noticed expressions of astonishment and fear +produced by my words, and especially was this true of the custodian +of the library of the Bogdo Khan. One can readily understand that +all this only made me the more anxious to press the pursuit. + +As I was leaving the study of the Bogdo Hutuktu, I met the +librarian who had stepped out ahead of me and asked him if he would +show me the library of the Living Buddha and used a very simple, +sly trick with him. + +"Do you know, my dear Lama," I said, "once I rode in the plain at +the hour when the King of the World spoke with God and I felt the +impressive majesty of this moment." + +To my astonishment the old Lama very quietly answered me: "It is +not right that the Buddhist and our Yellow Faith should conceal it. +The acknowledgment of the existence of the most holy and most +powerful man, of the blissful kingdom, of the great temple of +sacred science is such a consolation to our sinful hearts and our +corrupt lives that to conceal it from humankind is a sin. . . . +Well, listen," he continued, "throughout the whole year the King of +the World guides the work of the Panditas and Goros of Agharti. +Only at times he goes to the temple cave where the embalmed body of +his predecessor lies in a black stone coffin. This cave is always +dark, but when the King of the World enters it the walls are +striped with fire and from the lid of the coffin appear tongues of +flame. The eldest Goro stands before him with covered head and +face and with hands folded across his chest. This Goro never +removes the covering from his face, for his head is a nude skull +with living eyes and a tongue that speaks. He is in communion with +the souls of all who have gone before. + +"The King of the World prays for a long time and afterwards +approaches the coffin and stretches out his hand. The flames +thereon burn brighter; the stripes of fire on the walls disappear +and revive, interlace and form mysterious signs from the alphabet +vatannan. From the coffin transparent bands of scarcely noticeable +light begin to flow forth. These are the thoughts of his +predecessor. Soon the King of the World stands surrounded by an +auriole of this light and fiery letters write and write upon the +walls the wishes and orders of God. At this moment the King of the +World is in contact with the thoughts of all the men who influence +the lot and life of all humankind: with Kings, Czars, Khans, +warlike leaders, High Priests, scientists and other strong men. He +realizes all their thoughts and plans. If these be pleasing before +God, the King of the World will invisibly help them; if they are +unpleasant in the sight of God, the King will bring them to +destruction. This power is given to Agharti by the mysterious +science of 'Om,' with which we begin all our prayers. 'Om' is the +name of an ancient Holyman, the first Goro, who lived three hundred +thirty thousand years ago. He was the first man to know God and +who taught humankind to believe, hope and struggle with Evil. Then +God gave him power over all forces ruling the visible world. + +"After his conversation with his predecessor the King of the World +assembles the 'Great Council of God,' judges the actions and +thoughts of great men, helps them or destroys them. Mahytma and +Mahynga find the place for these actions and thoughts in the causes +ruling the world. Afterwards the King of the World enters the +great temple and prays in solitude. Fire appears on the altar, +gradually spreading to all the altars near, and through the burning +flame gradually appears the face of God. The King of the World +reverently announces to God the decisions and awards of the +'Council of God' and receives in turn the Divine orders of the +Almighty. As he comes forth from the temple, the King of the World +radiates with Divine Light." + + +CHAPTER XLVIII + +REALITY OR RELIGIOUS FANTASY? + + +"Has anybody seen the King of the World?" I asked. + +"Oh, yes!" answered the Lama. "During the solemn holidays of the +ancient Buddhism in Siam and India the King of the World appeared +five times. He rode in a splendid car drawn by white elephants and +ornamented with gold, precious stones and finest fabrics; he was +robed in a white mantle and red tiara with strings of diamonds +masking his face. He blessed the people with a golden apple with +the figure of a Lamb above it. The blind received their sight, the +dumb spoke, the deaf heard, the crippled freely moved and the dead +arose, wherever the eyes of the King of the World rested. He also +appeared five hundred and forty years ago in Erdeni Dzu, he was in +the ancient Sakkai Monastery and in the Narabanchi Kure. + +"One of our Living Buddhas and one of the Tashi Lamas received a +message from him, written with unknown signs on golden tablets. No +one could read these signs. The Tashi Lama entered the temple, +placed the golden tablet on his head and began to pray. With this +the thoughts of the King of the World penetrated his brain and, +without having read the enigmatical signs, he understood and +accomplished the message of the King." + +"How many persons have ever been to Agharti?" I questioned him. + +"Very many," answered the Lama, "but all these people have kept +secret that which they saw there. When the Olets destroyed Lhasa, +one of their detachments in the southwestern mountains penetrated +to the outskirts of Agharti. Here they learned some of the lesser +mysterious sciences and brought them to the surface of our earth. +This is why the Olets and Kalmucks are artful sorcerers and +prophets. Also from the eastern country some tribes of black +people penetrated to Agharti and lived there many centuries. +Afterwards they were thrust out from the kingdom and returned to +the earth, bringing with them the mystery of predictions according +to cards, grasses and the lines of the palm. They are the +Gypsies. . . . Somewhere in the north of Asia a tribe exists +which is now dying and which came from the cave of Agharti, +skilled in calling back the spirits of the dead as they float +through the air." + +The Lama was silent and afterwards, as though answering my +thoughts, continued. + +"In Agharti the learned Panditas write on tablets of stone all the +science of our planet and of the other worlds. The Chinese learned +Buddhists know this. Their science is the highest and purest. +Every century one hundred sages of China collect in a secret place +on the shores of the sea, where from its depths come out one +hundred eternally-living tortoises. On their shells the Chinese +write all the developments of the divine science of the century." + +As I write I am involuntarily reminded of a tale of an old Chinese +bonze in the Temple of Heaven at Peking. He told me that tortoises +live more than three thousand years without food and air and that +this is the reason why all the columns of the blue Temple of Heaven +were set on live tortoises to preserve the wood from decay. + +"Several times the Pontiffs of Lhasa and Urga have sent envoys to +the King of the World," said the Lama librarian, "but they could +not find him. Only a certain Tibetan leader after a battle with +the Olets found the cave with the inscription: 'This is the gate +to Agharti.' From the cave a fine appearing man came forth, +presented him with a gold tablet bearing the mysterious signs and +said: + +"'The King of the World will appear before all people when the time +shall have arrived for him to lead all the good people of the world +against all the bad; but this time has not yet come. The most evil +among mankind have not yet been born. + +"Chiang Chun Baron Ungern sent the young Prince Pounzig to seek out +the King of the World but he returned with a letter from the Dalai +Lama from Lhasa. When the Baron sent him a second time, he did not +come back." + + +CHAPTER XLIX + +THE PROPHECY OF THE KING OF THE WORLD IN 1890 + + +The Hutuktu of Narabanchi related the following to me, when I +visited him in his monastery in the beginning of 1921: + +"When the King of the World appeared before the Lamas, favored of +God, in this monastery thirty years ago he made a prophecy for the +coming half century. It was as follows: + +"'More and more the people will forget their souls and care about +their bodies. The greatest sin and corruption will reign on the +earth. People will become as ferocious animals, thirsting for the +blood and death of their brothers. The 'Crescent' will grow dim +and its followers will descend into beggary and ceaseless war. Its +conquerors will be stricken by the sun but will not progress upward +and twice they will be visited with the heaviest misfortune, which +will end in insult before the eye of the other peoples. The crowns +of kings, great and small, will fall . . . one, two, three, four, +five, six, seven, eight. . . . There will be a terrible battle +among all the peoples. The seas will become red . . . the earth +and the bottom of the seas will be strewn with bones . . . kingdoms +will be scattered . . . whole peoples will die . . . hunger, +disease, crimes unknown to the law, never before seen in the world. +The enemies of God and of the Divine Spirit in man will come. +Those who take the hand of another shall also perish. The +forgotten and pursued shall rise and hold the attention of the +whole world. There will be fogs and storms. Bare mountains shall +suddenly be covered with forests. Earthquakes will come. . . . +Millions will change the fetters of slavery and humiliation for +hunger, disease and death. The ancient roads will be covered with +crowds wandering from one place to another. The greatest and most +beautiful cities shall perish in fire . . . one, two, three. . . . +Father shall rise against son, brother against brother and mother +against daughter. . . . Vice, crime and the destruction of body +and soul shall follow. . . . Families shall be scattered. . . . +Truth and love shall disappear. . . . From ten thousand men one +shall remain; he shall be nude and mad and without force and the +knowledge to build him a house and find his food. . . . He will +howl as the raging wolf, devour dead bodies, bite his own flesh and +challenge God to fight. . . . All the earth will be emptied. God +will turn away from it and over it there will be only night and +death. Then I shall send a people, now unknown, which shall tear +out the weeds of madness and vice with a strong hand and will lead +those who still remain faithful to the spirit of man in the fight +against Evil. They will found a new life on the earth purified by +the death of nations. In the fiftieth year only three great +kingdoms will appear, which will exist happily seventy-one years. +Afterwards there will be eighteen years of war and destruction. +Then the peoples of Agharti will come up from their subterranean +caverns to the surface of the earth.'" + + * * * * * * + +Afterwards, as I traveled farther through Eastern Mongolia and to +Peking, I often thought: + +"And what if . . . ? What if whole peoples of different colors, +faiths and tribes should begin their migration toward the West?" + +And now, as I write these final lines, my eyes involuntarily turn +to this limitless Heart of Asia over which the trails of my +wanderings twine. Through whirling snow and driving clouds of sand +of the Gobi they travel back to the face of the Narabanchi Hutuktu +as, with quiet voice and a slender hand pointing to the horizon, he +opened to me the doors of his innermost thoughts: + +"Near Karakorum and on the shores of Ubsa Nor I see the huge, +multi-colored camps, the herds of horses and cattle and the blue +yurtas of the leaders. Above them I see the old banners of Jenghiz +Khan, of the Kings of Tibet, Siam, Afghanistan and of Indian +Princes; the sacred signs of all the Lamaite Pontiffs; the coats of +arms of the Khans of the Olets; and the simple signs of the north +Mongolian tribes. I do not hear the noise of the animated crowd. +The singers do not sing the mournful songs of mountain, plain and +desert. The young riders are not delighting themselves with the +races on their fleet steeds. . . . There are innumerable crowds of +old men, women and children and beyond in the north and west, as +far as the eye can reach, the sky is red as a flame, there is the +roar and crackling of fire and the ferocious sound of battle. Who +is leading these warriors who there beneath the reddened sky are +shedding their own and others' blood? Who is leading these crowds +of unarmed old men and women? I see severe order, deep religious +understanding of purposes, patience and tenacity . . . a new great +migration of peoples, the last march of the Mongols. . . ." + +Karma may have opened a new page of history! + +And what if the King of the World be with them? + +But this greatest Mystery of Mysteries keeps its own deep silence. + + +GLOSSARY + + +Agronome.--Russian for trained agriculturalist. + +Amour sayn.--Good-bye. + +Ataman.--Headman or chief of the Cossacks. + +Bandi.--Pupil or student of theological school in the Buddhist +faith. + +Buriat.--The most civilized Mongol tribe, living in the valley of +the Selenga in Transbaikalia. + +Chahars.--A warlike Mongolian tribe living along the Great Wall of +China in Inner Mongolia. + +Chaidje.--A high Lamaite priest, but not an incarnate god. + +Cheka.--The Bolshevik Counter-Revolutionary Committee, the most +relentless establishment of the Bolsheviki, organized for the +persecution of the enemies of the Communistic government in Russia. + +Chiang Chun.--Chinese for "General"--Chief of all Chinese troops in +Mongolia. + +Dalai Lama.--The first and highest Pontiff of the Lamaite or +"Yellow Faith," living at Lhasa in Tibet. + +Djungar.--A West Mongolian tribe. + +Dugun.--Chinese commercial and military post. + +Dzuk.--Lie down! + +Fang-tzu.--Chinese for "house." + +Fatil.--A very rare and precious root much prized in Chinese and +Tibetan medicines. + +Felcher.--Assistant of a doctor (surgeon). + +Gelong.--Lamaite priest having the right to offer sacrifices to +God. + +Getul.--The third rank in the Lamaite monks. + +Goro.--The high priest of the King of the World. + +Hatyk.--An oblong piece of blue (or yellow) silk cloth, presented +to honored guests, chiefs, Lamas and gods. Also a kind of coin, +worth from 25 to 50 cents. + +Hong.--A Chinese mercantile establishment. + +Hun.--The lowest rank of princes. + +Hunghutze.--Chinese brigand. + +Hushun.--A fenced enclosure, containing the houses, paddocks, +stores, stables, etc., of Russian Cossacks in Mongolia. + +Hutuktu.--The highest rank of Lamaite monks; the form of any +incarnated god; holy. + +Imouran.--A small rodent like a gopher. + +Izubr.--The American elk. + +Kabarga.--The musk antelope. + +Kalmuck.--A Mongolian tribe, which migrated from Mongolia under +Jenghiz Khan (where they were known as the Olets or Eleuths), and +now live in the Urals and on the shores of the Volga in Russia. + +Kanpo.--The abbot of a Lamaite monastery, a monk; also the first +rank of "white" clergy (not monks). + +Kanpo-Gelong.--The highest rank of Gelongs (q.v.); an honorary +title. + +Karma.--The Buddhist materialization of the idea of Fate, a +parallel with the Greek and Roman Nemesis (Justice). + +Khan.--A king. + +Khayrus.--A kind of trout. + +Khirghiz.--The great Mongol nation living between the river Irtish +in western Siberia, Lake Balhash and the Volga in Russia. + +Kuropatka.--A partridge. + +Lama.--The common name for a Lamaite priest. + +Lan.--A weight of silver or gold equivalent to about one-eleventh +of a Russian pound, or 9/110ths of a pound avoirdupois. + +Lanhon.--A round bottle of clay. + +Maramba.--A doctor of theology. + +Merin.--The civil chief of police in every district of the Soyot +country in Urianhai. + +"Om! Mani padme Hung!".--"Om" has two meanings. It is the name of +the first Goro and also means: "Hail!" In this connection: +"Hail! Great Lama in the Lotus Flower!" + +Mende.--Soyot greeting--"Good Day." + +Nagan-hushun.--A Chinese vegetable garden or enclosure in Mongolia. + +Naida.--A form of fire used by Siberian woodsmen. + +Noyon.--A Prince or Khan. In polite address: "Chief," +"Excellency." + +Obo.--The sacred and propitiatory signs in all the dangerous places +in Urianhai and Mongolia. + +Olets.--Vid: Kalmuck. + +Om.--The name of the first Goro (q.v.) and also of the mysterious, +magic science of the Subterranean State. It means, also: "Hail!" + +Orochons.--A Mongolian tribe, living near the shores of the Amur +River in Siberia. + +Oulatchen.--The guard for the post horses; official guide. + +Ourton.--A post station, where the travelers change horses and +oulatchens. + +Pandita.--The high rank of Buddhist monks. + +Panti.--Deer horns in the velvet, highly prized as a Tibetan and +Chinese medicine. + +Pogrom.--A wholesale slaughter of unarmed people; a massacre. + +Paspa.--The founder of the Yellow Sect, predominating now in the +Lamaite faith. + +Sait.--A Mongolian governor. + +Salga.--A sand partridge. + +Sayn.--"Good day!" "Good morning!" "Good evening!" All right; +good. + +Taiga.--A Siberian word for forest. + +Taimen.--A species of big trout, reaching 120 pounds. + +Ta Lama.--Literally: "the great priest," but it means now "a +doctor of medicine." + +Tashur.--A strong bamboo stick. + +Turpan.--The red wild goose or Lama-goose. + +Tzagan.--White. + +Tzara.--A document, giving the right to receive horses and +oulatchens at the post stations. + +Tsirik.--Mongolian soldiers mobilized by levy. + +Tzuren.--A doctor-poisoner. + +Ulan.--Red. + +Urga.--The name of the capital of Mongolia; (2) a kind of Mongolian +lasso. + +Vatannen.--The language of the Subterranean State of the King of +the World. + +Wapiti.--The American elk. + +Yurta.--The common Mongolian tent or house, made of felt. + +Zahachine.--A West Mongolian wandering tribe. + +Zaberega.--The ice-mountains formed along the shores of a river in +spring. + +Zikkurat.--A high tower of Babylonish style. + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg Etext Beasts, Men and Gods, by F. 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