r　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　MinistersKhans　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　heaventhus　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　organize