Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-08-05
Buddbistic Life Of Jesus.

1itE tNhNON y lslf Il Of' JESl >
CHRIST. From Buddhistic records. BY
Nicholas Notovltch. Translated ty ]. II.
Connolly and l.. Landsberg, New York:
1884 q. ". Dillingham;. Pages, 2sS
This is a handsome volume well gotten
up. 1t contains n preface, travels in
Thibet. the life of st. lssa. the authors
historical and critical resume, and his ex-
planatory notes.
Our curiosity had been excited by some
brief notices which we had seen of this
work, and we werc very glad Of an OPP
portunity to examine 1t In fun. We can
not lay claim TO much knowledge of
its author. but from his own account we
gather that he is Il Russian physician
Of some repute as an inquisi,ive traveller
and with leisure. money. and taste for
the extensive explorations in which he
has INDUCED himself.
In about \. j.. 1887 he was in long
desired, and much admired India. Whilst
there his interest in Thibet was so aroused
that he resolved TO visit IL. His account
OF Thbetan journeyings shall not detain
US much. Some OF his statements are
striking. amusing, and disgusting He
says the men are so lazy that they will
not retress their hair for several months.
though they grease il every day. and
mark with Il the backs OF their unclean
ovcrcoats. that they do not change their
shirts until they fall to pieces; that they
wash themselves only once a year. be-
caus. required by law. and emit such a
terrible stencil that one avoids as much
as possible being near them. The women,
on the contrary, are cleanly and neat,
and wash themselves daily. and as often
as may b. necessary, and pay attention
to their picturesque costumes.
he also visits and describes the
lovely vale Of kachmyr-"the Vale OF
Eternal Bliss
one day at Buddhist convent Dr..
NOtOVitch learned from a chief lama that
there Were in the archives OF Ihassa.
III. capital and sacred city Of Thibet,
ancient memoirs relating TO the life OF
Jesus Christ. and that certain monas-
ferries possessed copies and TRANSACTIONS
Of them.
lie resolved 20 put off his return to
Europe. and. cost what 1t might, either
find tins copies. or go 10 Lhassa itself,
At the great convent OF Himls, near Leh,
the capital % laiak. he found that copies
OF the desired MSS. we're there. Yet from
fear of exciting suspicion and being him
dered In his Journey. he concealed his
Joy OF this discovery. and pretended that
he would depart for India. But, fortu-
nately, he broke his leg, and was taxi n
back 10 the convent of Himis where he
received proper attention. There does
not seem to have been any real ground
FOR his ruse and mystery. for the chief
lama furnished him with the MSS In his
library. relating to Jesus. and said they
desired the spread Of such knowledge
Wei. the delighted Doctor arranged the
materials of his wondrous lind. and, pro-
posing to publish them with his notes
and comments. consulted various dist.n-
suished persons on that subject. Mgr.
Platon. Me iropoltan Of Kew. thought the
discovery an important one. but advised
against publication. which. too, would
have probably been interdicted by the
Censor of the Press III Russia. A year
later. In Rome, nigh cardinal dis
couraged the publication and offered to
buy the manuscript. Then our author
went 10 see NJ. Jules Simon, who advised
him 10 consult VI. Renan. He followed
this advice. but treated Renan tricky
and diSingenuous!y. NJ. Renan proposed
that the contemplated work should be
coniided TO him that he might make 10
the Academy n report upon Il.
Rut Notovitch. though proud OF such
an offer took away his manuscript under
the pretext of further revising 1t, but
some OF his thunder" So. instead OF
ever carrying his work again to Renan,
he determined to wat for his death,
which he fcresaw could not be very far
OF And this was done lin order not &c
wound the susceptibility OF the great
master for whom he felt a profound
respect"
Renan al die, and Notovitch, after
again consulting NJ. Jules Simon without
much satisfaction. has published. But
why all this fuss and diplomacy? HAD
NOT the Christian world already faced thC
works OF Hume. Paine. Gibbon. Voitaire
Ingersoli, and even Of ''the great master.
Renan? There was not the least occa
sion for Mr.. Notovitch to have made suci
An ado about his appearance before th'
public.
Now that he has thus ventured, he say
| "he reserves the right to substantial
| the authenticity Of these chronicles" WHY