Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1898-05-20
IN LAND OF IDOLS.
Cinnamon Pray by Aid of an Appara-
tus Something Like the Yam
kee Slot Machine.

With Germany, Russia, France, Eng
land and Japan spelling, or threaten
ing to spoil the seaboard of the celestial
empire, all eyes have been turned for
some little time past upon the far east.
China we are all pretty familiar with
from the writings of travelers-that
portion of China, though, which lies
along the coast Whether this great
country of 400,0O0,OOO inhabitants or
| thereabouts is TO be cut up and par
celed out among the European powers
yet remains to be seen. If it is, queer
lot of people will come under the sway
of the different flags of European civili-
zation.
Mongolia, for instance, which is
threatened by Russian absorption, that
practically uneXplored country in the
neighborhood of Shame, the sea of sand,
or better known 10 European geogra-
phists rs the Cobb desert. This is part
Of China; at least this tremendous tract
of country, embracing mountains,
rivers and plains, owes suzerainty to
the Chinese emperor. But, although in
personal appearance the inhabitants OF
Mongolia are Chinese to degree, yet
the few civilizing influences which have
crept in on the seaboard have not yet
reached them.
Mongolia may be set down as coun.
try of barbarians, il not of religious
fanatics. They are idol worshipers of
the most pronounced type, and at Urga,
the capital town and the seat Of the
grand lama, religious moderation is TO
be seen in its most despotic form. Urga
is a town with a considerable popula-
tion, a town of mud, wattle-roofed
houses, pigtailed inhabitants and in
Vulnerable dogs. It's center is occupied
by the house or palace of the lama,
who is practically ruler over all Mon
golian Chinese.
Should any reader happen upon Urga
and walk through its streets, the first
thing that will strike him will be pc.
culiar changing noise on all sides. II
will not take him long TO discover
whence proceeds this strange clangor
of BELLS for at every corner, in almost
every open space, he will see peculiar
erection, like nothing so much as q
gigantic turnstile, the center of whici
Is boX-shaped and from whose sidei
protrude several bars of wood. ThiJ
turnstile arrangement Is covered by
conical canopy to protect 1t from the
elements, and forms the celt brated
praying mill of Mongolia. The drum or
wooden box in the centeris filed, some
times to overfiowing, with prayers writ
ten on all sorts of materials. A passer-
by, wishing for something good, writes
q prayer Of he has the ability, and
then puts it in the box. after which he
seizes one of the handles of the machine
and walks solemnly around, the idea
being that this system Of grinding Is
necessary before the prayer can reach
its proper destination.
In front of the palace itself there ere
some score of these praying mills,
while, not dependent entirely upon
these, every Mongol who has any re-
spect for himself will carry n miniature
mill in his hands, and as he walks, or as
lie sits, or as he eats or drinks, he will
from time to time turn this mill, in
which he has already deposited his
latest prayer to his particular idol.
To approach the palace of the grand
lama is, indeed, a ceremony. Nothing
in the shape OF vehicle is allowed
within couple of hundred yards Of the
entrance, nor is any visitor allowed TO
approach on foot. No, he must 90 down
on his stomach and squirm along
through the mud into the presence Of
the second god.-London Mail.