Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1891-12-11
THE SACRED CITY.
A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE PRAY
BY MACHINERY.
The Nongolian Settlement ofOurga-
An Immense Idol-The Queer
Prayer Wheels and
Prayer Books.

rene which means the settlement oil
the Bogdo-t though it contains nearly
fifteen thousand inhabitants, cannot, even
by the widest stretch OF the imagi-
nation, be called a city with any archi-
tectural pretensions to beauty.
With the exception Of the Chinese
portions of it, only small part, its
streets consist of mere rows OF high
wooden palisades, which enclose the
space in the centre OF which is erected
the inevitable ''yourt," for so nomadic
is the Mongol by nature that, even when
settled here in the capital, his old in
stincts compel him to continue dwelling
in his original tent. The effect, there
fore, OF these long monotonous rows Of
rough logs, relieved at regular intervals
by tall wooden doors, all exactly OF the
same pattern, is indescribably dreary;
and were it not for the two or three
large open spaces where the bazsr is
daily held, there would be but little to
see, for Ourga has but few "lions;"
there is really only one building of any
pretcnsion in the place, and that is the
large wooden Buddhist temple which
enshrines the huge gilt-bronzc figure
dedicated 10 the apostle "Maidhs.
Either the Mongols don't know or won't
tell-most probably the former; but, at
any rate, / was unable to find out any
thing about the mysterious figure, or how
or when the immense mass of metal was
brought 10 the Desert city.
It's certainly not less than forty feet
in height, and is in the familiar seated
position in which Buddha is always rep
resented The body and extremities of
this immense figure are draped in yellow
silk, and are almost .ost in the surround
ing obscurity; but the face itself, which
is surmounted by a majestic crown, IS
lighted up by hidden window in front
of it; so it stands out in foreshortened
relief against the darkness of the dome,
which gives it certain weird appear
auce that is somewhat increased by the
eyes being painted natural color.
Still, Ourga is most interesting, rep
resenting as it does one Of the stand
points of the Mongol Buddhist faith, and
the capital of fast disappearing nation !;
for here is the abode OF that most holy of
holy personages, the "Bogdo of Kur-
enc, and long and weary are the pill
grimages frequently made by devout
MoDgols fer a glimpse Of this mysterious
man.
Among the principal features OF Oar
ga are the "prayer- wheels, which are
placed for public use in most OF the big
open spaces. These wheels, or rather
hollow wooden cylinders, are placed un-
der cover of rough wooden sheds, and
present at first sight very curious ap.
pearance. Most OF them are covered
with Tibetau Inscriptions; all are COM
pletely filled with prayers written on
pieces Of paper.
In order to pray, all that is nesessary
beyond, of course, sincere faith in
what you are doing-is to walk round
and round, inside the shed, and tnrn the
cylinder with you; the more it turns the
better. Many OF the old people, while
operating the large whee! with one
hand, at the san time diligently turn a
small portable one with the other. MaDy
of the wheels were very large, so that
several people could pray together; but
most of them were small, and evidently
were only used for private communion,
the sheds in many instances being Gec-
grated with odds and ends of silk and
bits of rags, intended as offerings to
Buddha.
Apart from the wheels are the "pray
er-boards, also placed for public use in
various parts of the city, and on which
are continually to be seen PROSTATE fig
ures lying on their faces, and thus liter
ally humbling themselves to the very
dust. From little distance, these
boards present very ludicrous appear
ance. which so reminded me of the
familiar spring-board in a swimming
bath that never pass them without an
inward grin-if you can imagine what
that is--for any outward sign OF mirth at
the strange proceedings would probably
get me into trouble. The whole action
OF the people using them WAS exactly
like that of person preparing to make
run along the board and take a
"header" rather than prelude to de-
votional exercise.
1 don't think was ever in a more
strangely religious place than Ourga.
Everywhere, at the most unexpected
places, at all times, one often saw peo-
pie throwing themselves suddenly face
downward, full length on the ground,
saying their prayers, just as the fit took
them, suppose, these curious pro-
ceedings attracting no attention.
Many a time have been riding quietly
along, when ali Of sudden my horse
would be made to swerve violently by
some hideous old man or woman, who
was seized just in front Of bis feet. And
their deyotions do not end here, for every
"yourt," however humble, not only con