The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-08-05

~~ HE country known to English
speaking folk as Thibes, SAYS
DR.. Henry 1.iddell. In the Home
Magazine. hears very different
IL name among its own people. II
is called Bod or Bod-yli, 'the
country OF Bod The name Bod probab-
~ refers to Ruddha. Thibct being the
headquarters Of what is termed northern
buddhism of Ceylon, which is spoken OF
Buddhism In contradistinction to the
as southern buddhism. In India proper
buddhism is no longer a dominant cult
Though ostensibly Buddhists, the. people
of Bod are in reality slaves 20 lamaism
a system of theology which has been de-
fined as Buddhism corrupted by Sivaism
and by Shamanism or spirit Worship
Shamanism Is the dominant cult OF Mon
golia. and is a system OF demon worship
rather than spirit worship
Thibet Is regarded by students of the
occult the home of magic and whether
or no there be ''mahatmas'' In that wild
and weird land. In which the late Nine.
Blavatsky. the high priestess OF Theoso-
ply. II is claimed. served a scven-year APP
premiership in the magic art, we have 1t
on the most respectable testimony that
the lamas OF Bod-yul can and do perform
feats which have not vet been explained
In terms of science and which can only
be classed as magical.
A Thibetan bokt. who had wandered
from his native land and penetrated as far
as Bensres gave an exhibition OF his
wonderful powers In one OF the vast tenn
pies Of the holy city few years ago He
was accompanied and assisted by a mon-
greI crowd OF half-humau compatriots
The exhibition promised by the wonderful
magician was truly an astounding one
He proposed, In view of behoiders to rip
up his abdomen. remove handful OF In
testines. display them to the spectators
and then replace them again and heal up
the wound by few magical passes. leav-
Ing no vestige Of the damage inflicted
When the hour Of noon arrived the lama
appeared and took his seat before the
raised altar. on which candles had been
lighted Before him was radiant image
Of the sun. and on either side OF the
altar were grim idols which had been
placed there by the attendants.
The lama was In person n small spare
man. with fixed, glittering eyes, an ema-
ciated frame and an immense mass OF
long black hair. which fioated over his
shoulders. He appeared altogether like
a walking corpse. in whose head two hlaz-
ing fires had been lighted. which CLEANED
in unnatural luster through his long, al
eyes. He was about 40 years
OF age, and report alleged that he had
already some four times previously per-
formed tho great sacrtncial act he was
now about 10 repeat.
From the moment this skeleton figure
had taken his seat the seventy fakirs
who surrounded him In a semicircle began
to sway their bodies back and forth, sing
ing meanwhile loud monotonous chant
In rhythm with their movements In a
few minutes the gesticuIations of the
fakirs increased almost 20 frenzy They
tossed their arms on high, hen; their bod
les to earth. now forward now backward.
now swung them around as II thrown by
the hands of others
Meantime their monotonous chant rose
into shrieks and yeiis so frightful that
the ears ~ tho listeners we're deafened
and their senses distracted by the clamor.
On every side OF the auditorium brasi.rs
Of Incense were burning Six fakirs
swung pots OF frankinccnse. niling the air
With Intoxicating vapors. while six Others
stood behind. beating metal drums or
ciashing cyfnhals. which they tossed ON
high with gestures of frantic exultation.
For some time the bowls, shrieks and
actions OF this maniac crew
produced no effect on the immovahie Ia
ma He sat like one dead, his liked and
CLASSY eyes seeming To stare into i,Iimft-
sble distance, without needing the nam
temoniun that was raging around him.
Can he be really livlng?" whispered ore