beasts, men and gods-第16章

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re　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　capsuch　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　Kuk