The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-09-29

ter, and he renews them during the day
by constant mumbling of the mani prayer
(Om mani padme hum or some special
formula given him by the lamas. There
is nothing superficial or skin deep in his
devotion, even though to civilized eyes it
is but hollow mockery. With him it is all
absorbing, heartfelt, a part of his daily
life and being. There is more than mere
frivolous badnage OF words in his constant
twisting of prayer wheels and telling of
rosaries. 1t is a sentiment fully consid-
cred and desired, and in all things there
is a veneration and willing submission to
a higher order of spiritual beings which
characterizes the Oriental mind.
RELIGIOUS BUT NOT MORAL.
High in the most prominent corners of
his dwelling are placed small images of his
patron deities; these in measure reflect
the social condition of the owner Of the
abode, for the more prosperous his condi-
ton the more numerous are these sacred
images of beaten silver or gold, with small
butter lamps constantly burning before
them day and night. Thus every dwelling
becomes a chapel, and the yearning, the
passion, the poetry Of the people find ex-
preston through the religious sentiment.
His prayer wheel. rosaries and image Of
his tuteiar deity accompanies the semi
civilized Mongol or Thibetan on all his
Journeys, and for every undertaking in
life-the moving into new house, the
breaking up of fallow ground. the
slaughtering Of his CATTLE he conforms to
stated religious observances. using a
rosary, burning juniper boughs, dipping
his finger in his wine or teacup before
drinking and scattering little around him,
or making oblations at the shrines of the
lamasery.
In spite Of their more civilized customs
the natives of the towns and villages in
their moral characteristics are not greatly
to be preferred over the savage nomads;
the fact of their being more enlightened is
not exemplified to any great extent in
their mental traits. They are familiar with
death and are audacious in attack but
easily discouraged by failure; excessively
turbulent and unsubmissive to law or dis
cipline; apparently afable and frank in
manner, especially when they hope to gain
some object, but capable of the grossest
brutality and treachery when the hope
ceases. They are INSCRIPTIONS in perjury.
treacherous, vain and Unsuitable, passionate
in vindictiveness, which they will satisfy
at the cost of their own lives and in the
most cruel manner. Nowhere is crime COM
mitted on such trif1ing grounds-murder
and infanticide are common or practiced
with general impunity. Among themselves
they are quarrelsome, intriguing and dis
trustful, arrangements and ARRAYS are of
constant occurrence, and they see no harm
IN misrepresenting to a traveller the time
and direction Of his journey. If from habit
or tradition he respects a stranger within
his Threshold he does it merely with the
ostensible purpose of securing substantial
remuneration, and he has no scrupIes in
overtaking and plundering the guest who
has just quilted his roof, but out of all the
general accumulation of badness il is not
impossible to find some commendable
traits; sobriety, industry and hardness
characterize the bulk of the people, though
the higher classes are too often stained
with deep and degrading debauchery