The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-11-17

- N1A AaAaAAAAN 2"ahlAlAlAhE anu A
fered US "A little bucketful OF sour milk,
some fresh butter and cheese. and on our
Offering payment really seemed angered
that we had so misinterpreted their benev-
olent intentions. With these un~mistakable
hospitable intentions Of the rude nomads
IN the vicinity our preconceptions Of I'm
taou itself took an upward bound. But
alas for our optimism. as it was a small
and abOminably squalid village Of but half
a dozen stone huts and thirty or forty
tents. inhabited by a morose and surly
population Of several hundred persons.
Some little distance from the village we
were approached by an old man, barely
able TO totter along. and the first greeting
he gave US was to ask for food. His
emaciated form was covered merely with
a small strip OF yakskin. leaving his body
almost exposed 10 complete nudity. He was
IN a most pitiable condition, a mere skele-
ton from fasting. We gave him a little
tsamba and tea, which he devoured raw,
and tried to draw out from him something
regarding his story, and why, in the midst
OF such plenty, he should be allowed to die
in this lingering manner. Either he could
not or would not understand US, but from
his constant pOintings in the direction Of
the village, and the vehemence and fierce
ness OF his curses. We concluded that old
age had made him a burden to his rela-
tives, and that he had been turned out to
die Horrible as the thought may be, as
has been mentioned before as a Mongol
characteristic. it is by no means uncom-
mon TO desert the old and helpless in this
manner, and to permit them TO die alone
and unaided. a Mongol son. in fact, sees
nothing out of the way in killing his
father and mother when they have become
a burden to him; this is not only true of
the savage nomads, from whom one might
expect no higher moral or ethical code,
but, according TO Rockhin. is as prevalent
among the semi-civilized Mongols of even
such large cities as Hsi-Ning, Kumbum
and Lan-ChOu.
While here at Imtaou-the weather condi-
tons continuing so adverse that we waited
over until the 23d-we were able to notice
the difference between these eastern Mon
gols and those occupying the country west
of T~chong-Siba as far as the Tcharing-Nor,
the wide variance in physical traits, and
also In their customs and characteristics,
very naturally leading one at first to the
erroneous conclusion that they were two
distinct races with no mutual bond of eth
nolOgical connection. These eastern Mongols
were lighter in color and better looking,
many Of the women having somewhat aCu-
line features-haze or blue eyes and curly
or wavy hair were not I'M and from
leading a life less attended with hardship
they seemed able TO keep their good looks
for a longer time. In addition, monogamy
appears to be the ruling marriage practice
east of the Tola-Koun-Cho; polyandry is
almost unknown, though here, as in other
regions. the Weather chieftains sometimes
indulge in ~polygamy, all these plural wives,
however, being legitimate and their off
spring recognized on an equal scale. In
case of polyandrous marriages the children
recognize as father the one whom the
mother instructs them TO call by that
name; the other husbands being ''uncIes,'
patterning after the Thibetan custom in
similar procedure.
TRICKY AND DECEITFUL.
The ancients were of the opinion that the
face was always the index of the mind.
Modern ph-ysiognomists have gone a step
further. pretending that a fine form. per-
feet in all its parts, cannot contain a
-ked or Imperfect mind. Judging the
min of the eastern Mongols by such a rule,
It would be pronounced deficient in talent.
But, unfortunately for this reasoning, it is.
Physically they may appear a superior race,
but this is the mere concealment of cunning
and dupIcity under an open and dignfhed
exterior, and if they are not so barbarous
or hostile as their physically less imposing
prototypes they are somewhat more than
their equals IN Discrimination, fraud and
deceit. Any act, no matter how disgraceful,
If attended with success, will make them
perfectly happy. The general character of
Thara f-of-f1fzaG NTOnrol- (. fro~I~ o,l
sociable to all external appearances, but
this, however, does not appear 10 rise from
b~enevolence of disposition so much as from
a degree OF etiquette, and habits arising
from relationship and docility, their politi-
cal wisdom consisting in duplicity and pet
ty cunning.
They are exceedingly vindictive and re-
~vengefuI, but if the injured party be pro-
pitiated with gifts. and the enemy acknowl-
edge the error of his doings, apparent
corGiality and unanimity generally succeed
TO the most inveterate hatred. From the
head man down TO the poorest individual of
the community theft is a prevailing vice Ito
them a sterling ~virtuel, and from what 1
have seen of them 1 am confident that the
weaithiest and most exalted amongst them
would not hesitate to steal the shirt off
ones back could he effect it without being
compromised. We suffered greatly from
their thievish propensities, and wondered
after all what degree of difference there
could be in the category of robbers. since
these settled natives, who complain so
loudly against the brigandish nomads. ar
rive at the same results only by more
peaceful. but none the less nefarious,
means. When grouped around our camp
fires I have known them to abstract the
knives from our belts, and once they actu-
ally took the meat out of the pot as it was
boiling over the fire, substituting a stone,
and this while under our direct observa-
ton, but effected so cleverly and stealthily
that we did not detect them. on complain
ing TO the chief, far from showing any COM
miserauon for our repeated losses, to our
establishment and disgust he laughed out
right and told US that he could not control
his followers in this respect, and that his
own relations would play him the same
trick.
Dealers in the BLACK art" are numerous
among all these people, who place the most
implicit confidence in the sayings and pre-
scriptions of the wizards. Many Of the lat
ter enjoy great celebrity, not only in their
49,, DISTRICT hut throughOut Kansu and