Union beacon. (Macon, Miss.) 1849-1859, 1852-03-10

Bdr6arouS and DiabolicaL Cere.

Bdr6arous and DiaJolicaL Cere.
monaes Of Ldmanism. The fol-
lowing is an extract from Mr.. Hue's
Travels in Tartary, Thlbet and
China" lately published in Paris.
1t is painfully interesting:
! On the fifteeHfiI day of the new
moon, we came upon numerous
caravans, following like ourse YES,
the direction from east TO west. The
road was filled with men, women
and children, riding on camels or
oxen. They were all repairing,
they said, to the Lamasery of Rache
Tchurin. When they had asked
whether our journey had the same
object, they were surprised at re.
celving an answer in The negative.
These numerous pilgrims, the as
|Io1,Etmetn they showed upon hear
ing that we were not going TO the
hamasery OF Rache -Tchurin, ex
cited our curiosity. At the turn of
deflle, we overlook an old Lama.
VINO, laden with heavy pack,
seemed 10 make his wav with great
labor and pain. Brother,' said we,
You are old your black hairs are
not sonumerous as the gray. Doubt
9iess yonr fatigue must be extreme.
Place your bur,hen upon one of our
camels; that will relieve you lit.
tle." Upon hearing these words, the
old man prostrated himself Before us,
IN order TO express his gratitude.
We made camel kneel. and Sam.
dadcblemba added to our baggage
that of the Lama. SO soon as The
pilgrim was relieved from the weight
which had oppressed hIm, his walk
became more elastic, and an express.
sion of satisfaction was diffused over
his couulenance. Brother" said
we, 1--WE are from the west, and the
affairs of your country not being
known 10 us, we are astonished a.
finding so many pilgrims here in ihe
desert We are going to Rache.
Tchnrin, " replied he, in accents or
emotion. "Donbtless." said We
some grand soemnlty calls Won TO-
getberw !" Yes, TO morrow will be
great days Lama Bokte will
manifest his power; kill himself,
ye, not die"
We al once understood what so.
lenhlty II nas that thus. attracted
q asIa4s Ias'asE saa Ms gas
trails aud place then before bin,
and then resume bis previous con.
dlnon This spectacle, so cruel and
Disgusting, is very common In the
Lamaseres OF Tartary. The Bokte
who is to manifest his power, as the
Mongols phrase it, prepares himself
for the formidable operation by many
days fasting and prayer, pending
which he must abstain from all
communication whatever with man.
kind, and observe the most absolute
silence. When the appointed day is
come, the multitude of pilgrims as
semble in the great court of the La
masery, where an altar is raised in
front of the iemple.gate At length
ihe Bokte appears. He advances
gravely, amid the acclamations of
the crowd, seats himself upon the
altar, and takes from his g,rdIe a
large knife, which he places upon
his knees. AT his feet numerous
Lamas, ranged in circle, com,
mence the terrible invocatons of this
frightfnl ceremony. As the recila
tion of the prayers proceeds, you
see the Bokte trembling in everv
limb, and gradually working him~
self mp into phrenetic convulsions.
The Lamas themselves become ex.
cited their voices are raised their
song observes no order, and at last
becomes a mere confusion of yelling
and ontcry. Then the Bokte sud.
denly throws aside the scarf which
envelops him, unfaslens his girdle,
aud, selZlng The sacred knife, sliis
open his stomach IN one long cut. -
While the blood flows in every dts
rectlon, the multitude PROSTATE
themselves before the terrible spec-
tacle, aud the enthusiast is interro>
gated about all sorts of hidden things
as 10 future events, as 10 The destiny
of certain personages. The replies
of the Bokte 10 all these questions
are regarded by everybody as ora
cles.
When the devout curiosity of the
numerous pilgrims is satisfied, the
I,amaS resume, but now calmly and