beasts, men and gods-第42章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
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
