Southwest-sentinel. [volume] (Silver City, N.M.) 1883-189?, 1894-05-01
The "BuddhIst Llfo Of Issn. -

A wonderful story is claimed to
have been discovered in Thibet-
an monastery by a Russian travel
er named Nicholas Notovitch. It
is Life of Jesus Christ" known
and honored among the Buddhists
of that country under the name of
Issa. The story is said to be
written in Pail. According to the
alleged translation Issa was born
in the Land of Israel. At the age
of thirteen he fed from his faith
er's house and went with mer-
chants to SinGh, instead of being
carried to Egypt and back while
yet an infant. He learned to read
and understand the Vedas, but
afterward denied their divine oIi-
gin and the incarnation of Brah-
ma. Then the priests threatened
his life and he fed to another
place, learned the Pail language,
and was initiated into the myster-
les of Buddhism. He went west
ward, preaching against idols, in
Persia opposed the religion of To-
roaster, and returned to Judea at
the age of twenty-nine. He at
once began to preach there, was
arrested, tried and found innocent.
The enthusiasm Of the multitudes
who followed him caused the gov
ernor to fear mutiny. Issa was
imprisoned, tortured and crucifed
in company with two thieves, and
on the third day his sepulcher was
found open and empty.
The story must be received with
a very large off," or not at all. 1t
appears to have been so received
in Paris where the account was
published, with the claim that it
had been translated from the Pail
manuscript. 1t has excited so
much interest in London that the
authorities there are reported to
favor an investigation by the In
dian Viceroy, who is to be request
ed to secure the work if 1t exists,
and put its authenticity beyond
doubt. The Oriental scholars in
the British and French capitals
are reported TO be conservatively
incredulous, as is but natural, see
ing this is not the first hoax thai
has been tried on them 10 recen;
years, if it be one. 1t IS only pro.
per that they should refuse to
credit the tale of the finding un-
less it be proven by something
more than the unsupported word
of one man who may have wished
to achieve a cheap sensation at the
expense of yeracity. But that
should not prevent the matter from
be investigated. 1t ought TO be
comparatively easy to make the
test, since the place is given. Il
is alleged to be at a convent called
Hemis, in the City of Leh, in the
Ladak country. According to the
story the manuscript Was left there
when the traveller departed. Itf
existence would seem to be known
by several persons outside, and il
is said the memory of the prophet
Issa is honored by the Buddhist
of Thibet. Hence there 10 no Sc.
crecy Gbout the matter, and the
guardians of the treasure ought tc
be only too glad to place its con.
tents at the service of the Christ,
ian world if they have any to im.
part. since to do so would be to ex,
tend the knowledge to many mil,
lions who now are utterly iguorant
Of the story.
Without any commitment to the
truthfuhess Of the clai.l that suct
a manuscript exists as stated, Il
may be mentioned chat the accoun
itself would "a Ear from irseconcil
able with tho life OF JesLs as told Il
the Gospels. They tell as that a
the ago Of twelve he was tound b.
Sis Darents in the to- e dispat