The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-12-01
A dROUP OF sPEECHMAKERs
A NATIVE ORACLE WHO WOULD FIG
q RE WELL ~ VAUDEVILLE.
The Funeral Among MongoIs Is
Cheerful Function on Account of
Gifts Received by Family.


". g. ]. Reld.l
From now on the Mongols Of this region
Seemed TO have more resources for food
than those farther west, the country being
intersected with numerous good trade roads
So that what could not be locally grown
could be procured from the numerous trad
.ng caravans passing from Lan-ChOu,
Kung-Chang. Titao and other important
towns. In addition, the increased fertility
OF this country admits OF successful cul-
tivation IN the summer months, when
ceilent crops grow very rapidly. The soil.
which is composed OF black, sandy mold,
and numerous lOess deposits in the valleys,
IS fertilzed alternately by the rains and
the semi-tropical heat Of summer, not less
than by the numerous streams which wind
through every part Of the district. We
learned that barley and other grain sown
in April Is gathered in July, which forms
a supply sufficient TO last them over for
year, although IL the natives were not so
indolent they might easily gather another
crop before the winter season set in. Their
method OF making the flour consists in ex-
posing the grain to the heat OF the sun,
after which it is put into a mortar and
cleared from the chaff, which, with their
primitive utensils. requires considerable
a second time. and when thoroughly cleared
1t appears white and OF about the coarse
ness Of gunpowder. After this stage it is
stored away in bags and not ground to
greater .fineness until il is wanted for i'm
mediate use, when il is washed, drained
through a sieve until it has swelled a lit
tie. pounded in mortar and reduced to
-four. Aside from meat, this forms the
principal article Of food OF the natives,
being made into a sort Of pudding or paste
called tcha. mixed with herbs and butter
and eaten with sauce composed of dried
fish reduced To powder, TO which little
spice or arreH is added 10 give it
agreeable flavor. At mealtime the guests
assemble round the dish, and each in turn
takes a lump of the doughty mixture.
molds it between his hands until it forms
a sort of bowl. dips this imprOvised utensil
into the sauce and then very conveniently,
TO reduce the labors Of housekeeping, swal-
lows his dish. From wha. I observed OF the
domestic customs of the MOngOls east of
Duan-Ko tea does not seem to possess the
same fascination for them as among the
Thfbetans; one sees it rarely in use, and
then only on festal occasions. but the
change l. by no means for the better since
intoxicating liquors are consumed in large
quantities. In fact, drunkenness seems to
be the customary state Of many of the head
men of the villages and encampments.
ACTING AS HEALERS.
During an evening spent near a village,
several natives, mostly women, came TO
Us for medical treatment. Medicine they
refused with contempt, but they begged
Us 20 write charms, one to make her nus
band who intended to beat her. change ms
mind: another TO procure a husband f1r
her daughter. In fact, we eventually dis
covered that physician in this instance not
only meant treating bodily distress but like
wise proving ones self, in addition. a ma
gician soothsayer. diviner. judge and gen.
eral jack Of all trades. To each Of these
patients we gave a small quantity of water
and salt One man who was troubled with
sore eyes promptly bathed the afflicted
parts. finding them smart he considered
himself cured. and forthwith announced to
the wondering group that he had seen me
make symbols on a piece OF paper. wash
the writing in water. and that when he
used the liquor he was entirely cured. This
1ulsome gratitude drew upon us most IN
pleasant infections; mothers brought to US
children In so disgusting a state that we
could not look upon them without horror;
r. vain did we try TO turn them off. they
only became more importunate and crowded
round with plaintive howings compelling
US 20 so through the mummery OF examin-
Ing the miserable beings for whom they
solicited aid. We could do no better for
them than 10 recommend allopathic &C
ouaintance with water and cleanliness, but
this simple remedy they despised and would
not be content with anything short Of the
marvellous. Their total lack OF cleanliness
IS no doubt the cause OF the chronic oph-
thalmia and other disorders with which the
natives Of this district are ahiicted-the only
wonder is that they are not swept away
entirely by pestilential ravages.
The road 10 Kfak-chen skirted the foot
OF the mountains up the left bank of the
Ka-gol. and in the latter part along the
banks OF the Tungsata and Chan. The
country now becomes more thickly popu-
lated than before; we were hardly ever
out OF sight OF encampments or small viii
lagos. while numerous herds of yak could
&c seen grazing in the valleys. where the
herbage was very luxuriant the green
shoots peering above the snow and pro-
oucing the singular effect OF temperate fer
tility IN the midst of Arctic winter. Kiak-
chen itself was miserable little village
OF sixty small stone dwellings occupied by
a few Thibetans and settled Mongols. while
IN the courtyard between the adobe walls
the nomads had erected about half as many
tents enjoying all the pleasure OF nomadio
life. with some OF the security OF town,
Tie head man visited Us shortly after our
arrival. taking the precautiOn TO ingratiate
himself in our favor by sending a messen-
ger beforehand with a present Of several
pals OF buttermilk and small quantity
CT boiled mutton.
a FLOOD OF ORATORY.
On arriving in our presence this unpre-
possessing ambassador calmly took several
swallows OF the liquid and bit OF a large
piece Of the mutton in order to show that
they were not poisoned. and then made a
speech that took a good half-hour In de-
livery. wherein he pronounced a lofty eulo-
GUM on the head man. his master. giving
us a complete resume OF his LIES history.
LIS many encounters with brigands in the
surrounding district ard finished OF with
the delight he experienced at receiving a
visit from such illustrious princes" as we
certainly must be. His speech being over.
he stuck out his tongue Infinite number
o. times, abased himself 70 the ground and
threw handfuls OF d:rt all over himself. un-