The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-08-25
Strange GODS
Human Sacrifice offered by
Thibetan Fanatics.
n rus
ORGIES OF THESE DEVILS
Witnessed by Chance by
Travellers in Hiding.

an arduouS undertaking as UnaL on WHICH
we were now engaged, we had, after ma
ture consideration, wisely concluded tina
our real strength lay in paucity Of
numbers; and for the purpose we had Sc
lected two Of the most trusty Of oul
Ktangsi crew and three native Gharl
kauese, leaving the remainder of our ex.
peditionary force to guard the canoes and
stores until our return.
We had attired ourselves as Tourgouth
peasants-not In the expectation that our
disguise would be fmpenetrabie, but ac-
tuaIted with the desire to be spared from
an abundance of troublesome curiosity.
We had planned to reach Tzuchan at the
end of five days expedition journeying
across the sterile mountain plateau be-
fore the fact OF our presence in the coun-
try should become widely known, and
having gained as many scientific points
concerning the regions and its people
as we could gather in that short space OF
time, to return with as much celebrity as
possible: for the impending evidences OF
an almost arctic winter settling in over
thehigh attitudes could not be lightly rec
oned on.
BY 10 a. m. of the thirtieth we had pass.
ed over the first mountain ranage, and
were at last In the country Of the Chites.
It had been our intention to steal into
the city under the cover Of night. but
from our position Of vantage we could
see that some religious demonstration
was in progress, and we did not dare to
move. One of the Gharlkauese, accom-
panied by one of the Kiangsis, volun-
teered to cross the open space aand enter
the city in seacrh of food. With fearful
hearts we saw them depart, and half
dead with cold and exposure waited in
silence for two long hours, when we
breathed a sign of involuntary relief as
they reaappaeared with several loaves of
bread and two large pieces OF yak meat
which they had secured from a deserted
hut.
The reports which they brought Of the
condition of the town wer far from re-
assuring. The natives were engaged in
a weeks religious orgy; should we dare
to enter the city our presence would be
Immediately detected ,anad, with their
fierce and vindictive natures fed on the
fires of religious frenzy, our instant fate
would be assured. For another half hour
our guides crawled out on the plain and
returned with the information that they
had discovered a considerable cave in
the hillside to the left of the town, which
would screen US from observation, and
at the same time permit US to watch the
movements of those within the walls.
Cautiously we crawled along on our bel
lies for what seemed to be ages of time,
until one Of our guides pointed to a mar
row opening ahead, just sufficient to ad-
NIT a man in STOPPING position.
With a sigh Of relief we entered, and
with thankful hearts Toasted on the raw
yak meat. Fearful and watchful we re-
manned all night.
Next morning the religious festival
which we had witnessed the night before
was still in progress. and we were about
TO venture forth to secure a better view
when we were hurried back by the I'M
nerving spectacle of a long procession
approaching In our direction. beating
drums and tom toms and led by dozen
filthy looking priests. They halted n a
few minutes. and then, reformed. COM
menced the ascent of the hilly slope
where we were concealed Onward sti
they came, the priests chanting in do
lorous voices, while the horde following
took I'D the wild refrarin until the din
was simply indescribable
For half an hour the ear-torturing
strife of discord waxed louder at every
moment, until a hundred devils in human
form fitted beneath the sepulchral glare
of Pickering torches like a wierd and
supernatural picture of another world.
A frenzied enthusiast would leap into the
air. frothing at the mouth. carried away
by the sangulrary and fanatical spirit OF
of the moment; decorating himself with
knife. grasping the CORY strip of emu
lation by Haunting before his eyes the
CHASTITY piece of flesh.
Suddenly there was a stir amongst thu
group of priests on the platform, and
form the dark Granny in which the leer-
ing image stood a new conner. a man of
admirable proportions. not so tall as
powerful and patriarchial looking. de-
scended He advanced rapidly forward,
loosening his ragged garments as he
came. until he was naked, save a small
cloth girdle around his loins. Ae he
turned toward the stone image and rais-
ed. his hand the group OF worshfpers
ceased their turmoil and fell PROSTATE
to the ground. meanwhile keeping I'D an
incessant groaning. Toward this gro
tesque. incongruous. inanimate piece of
carved stone the eyes Of all were turned
in alteration.
For atime the Frustrated horde lay
bowed to the floor In prayer. until a
quickly descernahie stir and show OF in
terest gave evidence that some moment
of extraordinary interest was at hand.
Quietly and unobserved a dozen men had
been carrying immense armfuls OF wood
on TO the platform and placing them be-
fore the stone image.
Soon the full import of this movement
was apparent. Here before our eyes was
to take place one Of those barbarous hu-
man sacrifices of which we haad heard
rumors at Gharlkau. II did not take
long to cofrm our suspicious. for Quietly
and without murmur Of any kind half a
dozen new corners had mounted the ele-
waited space. absolutely naked and bound
with cords-the intended victims of the
bloody carnival thata was to follow. The
fire had already been touched to the
wood; the first faint flicker had been
famed into an open flame. and in min
ute the whole mass was seathing roar
ing furnace. lighting 10. the interior Of
the cave as with the MONDAY sun. The
bright glow OF the IRE permitted US TO
secure a better view of che doomed VIC
Tins Five were men Ia the ,sere and
r.ai,u- lruaf c.rn...ni.. 80 a. 80. -.