The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1901-02-15
THE HOME OF MAGIC.
MARVELLOUS SIGHTS SAID TO HAVE
. BEEN SEEN IN TIBET.

A Revolving Exhibition In Which
the Body LIS Horribly MutIlnted and
the Wounds Are Instantly Healed,
Leaving Not a Scar Behind.
The country known to English speak
ing folk as Tibet bears very different
name among its own people. 1t is called
Bod, or Bod-yul, "the country of Bod"
The name Bod probably refers to Bud
dha. Though ostensibly Buddhists, the
people of Bod are in reality slaves to
Lamasm, a system of theology which
has been defined as Buddhism corrupted
by Sivaism and by Shamanism, or spirit
worship" Shamanism is the dominant
| cult of Mongolia and is q system of de-
mon worship rather than spirit worship.
Tibet is regarded by students of the oc-
cult as 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, it is claimed, served a seven year
apprenticeship in the magic art, we have
it on the most respectable testimony that
the lamas of Bod-yul can and do perform
feats which have not yet been explained
in terms of science and which can only
be classed as magical.
The performances of the Bokts, or won
der working lamas, are quite as astound-
ing in their way US those Of the Indian
fakirs. who are Mohammedans, or Of the
Sanyahis Of Yogis. who are Brahmans,
but they are usually terrible and revolt
ing. A Tibetan Bokt who had wandered
from his native land and penetrated as
far as Benares gave an exhibition Of his
wonderful powers in one of the vast tenn
pies of the holy city a few years ago.
He was accompanied and assisted by
mongrel crowd Of half human compatri-
OTIS. The exhibition promised by the
wonderful magician was truly an as
founding one. He proposed, In view Of
all beholders, to rip up his abdomen. re-
move a handful of intestines. display
them to the spectators and then replace
them again and heal up the wound by a
few magical passes, leaving no vestige
Of the damage inflicted.
Needless to say such exhibitions are
not everyday occurrences, and the ordi-
nary globe trotter might traverse India
from Cape Comorin to Nepal and not be
fortunate enough to witness SO marvel
Gus, if revolving, a spectacle as that IN
question.
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 a 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 a small, spare
man, with fixed, glittering eyes. an ema-
ciated frame and an immense mass Of
long black hair, which foated over his
shoulders. He appeared altogether like
walking corpse, in whose head two blaz-
ing fires had been lighted, which gleam-
ed in unnatural luster through his long,
almond shaped eyes. He was about 40
years of age. and report alleged that he
had already some four times previously
performed the great sacrificial act he was
now about to repeat.
From the moment this skeleton figure
had taken his seat the 20 fakirs who sur
rounded him in a semicircle began to
sway their bodies back and forth, sing
ing meanwhile a loud, monotonous chant
in rhythm with their movements. IN
few minutes the gesticulations of the
fakirs increased almost to frenzy. On
every side of the auditorium braziers Of
incense were burning. Six fakirs swung
pots Of frankincense. filling the air with
intoxicating vapors. while six others
stood behind beating metal drums or
clashing cymbals, which they tossed on
high with gestures Of frantic exultation.
For some time the bowls, shrieks and dis
tracing actions of this maniac crew pro-
duced no effect on the immovable lama.
He sat like one dead, his fixed and
CLASSY eyes seeming to stare into illim-
liable distance, witho' needing the pam
demonium that was raging around him.
HCon hn ho I1u Ii,,sp
one of the awestruck Englishmen to his
neighbor. But this question was speedily
answered by the series Of convulsive
shudderings which at length shook the
lama's frame. His dark eyes rolled wild
ly, and finally nothing but their whites
were to be seen, spasm after spasm
threatening to SILVER the frail tenement
and expel its quivering life. The teeth
were set and the features distorted as In
the worst phases of epilepsy, when sud-
denly, and just as the tempest of horrible
cries and distortions was at its height,
the lama seized the long, glittering knife
which lay across his knee, drew 1t rapidly
up the length of his abdomen and then
displayed in all their revolving horror the
proofs Of the sacrifice in the protruding
intestines.
The crowd of awestruck ascetics bent
their heads to the earth in mute worship.
Not n sound broke the stiffness but the
deep breathing of the spectators. At
length one Of them, who had witnessed
such scenes before. addressed the living
creature-for living he still was, though
he uttered no sound nor raised his droop-
ing head from his breast-and said:
MAN, can You tell us by what power
this deed Of blood is performed without
destruction of life?
A dead silence ensued. The living
corpse moves. 1t raises its quivering
hands and scoops up the blood from the
wound. bears it to the lips. which breathe
upon it. They then return to the wound,
begin to press the severed parts together
and remake the mutilated body. The IA
kris shout and send up praises to Brah-
ma; the drums beat; the cymbals clash;
shrieks, prayers, invocations resound on
all sides. The fragrant incense ascends;
the flute players pour forth their shrill
cadence; the harps Of some European
servants stationed in a distant apart
ment and previously instructed send forth
strains of sweet melody amid the frantic
ciamor.
The ecstatic makes a few more passes,
and, after wrapping a scarf previously
prepared over the body. as If to cleanse
1t from the gore in which it was STEPPED
suddenly he stands upright, casts all his
upper garments from him and displays
a body unmarked by single scar. GEES
ticulations, cries, shouts subside; low
murmurs Of admiration and worship pass
through the breathless assembly, and
then the Bokt, clasping his thin hands
and elevating his glistening eyes to heav-
en-. utters in a deep, low tone. far differ
ent from the shrill wall of the half dead
sacrifice. a short but fervent prayer of
thankfulness, and all is fnished.-Home
Journal.
1t is supposed that the average depth
Of sand in the deserts of Africa il from
80 to 40 feet.