beasts, men and gods-第18章
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ight 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 KhanKhans 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
