Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1913-03-14

/ OF mystery, is slowly giving up
] its secrets. though the time is
far distant when familiarity
will breed contempt. The sharp
st contrasts to the civilization of the
ID and new worlds are there seen
ealnst the picturesque background Of
N lmmemorial past. extending so far
ack as 639 A. D., when Buddhism was
lrst introduced from India
There are wizards and necroman-
ers enough in the country to run the
Industries Of thriving modern town.
nd 1t is difficult for a westerner to un-
lerstand how the natives can unques-
ioningly accept their hanky- -panky as
nduDltable proofs Of supernatural
owers. No Occidental can thorough
understand the beliefs and prac-
Ices OF people like the Tibetans, un-
ess his mind is entirely denuded of its
Material prepossessions. Buddhism
mDraces practically the whole social
tructure Of the people, for the half
dillon Ponbos, who conserve the
arlier religion of the land, are the vic
Inns OF similar superstitions and prac-
Ices.
IN no other country in the world is
he priestly influence SO paramount.
wizards abound. Exorcists and reli-
1ous impostors live on the fat of the
and. For all the people of Tibet and
ar Eastern Asia, of whom the world
nows little. the universe is full OF
mmaterial powers and intelligences,
emoniac and dangerous. Every Incl
ent is believed to have supernatural
dgnificance. All the epochs of life are
rdered by the wizards or the down-at-
leel mendicant priests. who thrive es-
ecially among the poorer classes.
he people build many temples ex-
aust their resources in erecting sta
ues. they PROSTATE themselves, sing
Veird hymns and mutter endless
rayers. make offerings and give ban
uets to all the gods and all the
evils.
sorcerers' Thriving Trade.
The wizard in Tibet is sort of uni
ersal provider Of every kind of assist
nee. It Is the wizard who comes to
he sick mans bedside II he dies a
commemorative ceremony Is held a
ear after his decease. Every year,
lbations are offered to the shades of
lead ancestors. A cord is stretched
'efore each tent horizontally, and
treamers covered with Buddhist in.
criptions are fastened to 1t. 1t is more
han probable that the departure of
many sick to the other world is has
ened by the dancing sorcerer, or mag
"a, as he is called, and his horrible
ellis, supposed to be calls for aid.
The sorcerer also does a thriving
rade as fortune teller while divina-
ion Is remunerative side line. When
'ebbles are arranged In a certain way
hey are supposed to convey an oracu.
ar message, and the inspection of the
Ihoulder blade of a sheep, when held
lose to the fire. is also part Of the
AXE ceremonial. There is no end to
t. A house has to be built, a village
leeds quelling, the crops are back.
yard and scanty. the region needs
ain. there is marriage, funeral or
birth-for all these affairs a wizard
called in for advice, and for the, ex.
rcise Of his mysterious powers over
III forces that work against the well.
icing Of mankind.
Most Of the wizard-priests are men
# degenerate habits and Of repulsiye
lemeanor. Some engage themselves
or the merest pittance, a few bowls
II rice, few cobs Of maize and a gen.
ral debauch when the feasts cele-
,rating any Of their professional du.
les are carried out.
Lamaism is the particular form of
Buddhism of which these superstitious
PRACTICES form an integral part, and
he strange ritual Of the Ponbo sect Ia
much the same. But the Ponbo priests
ire compelled to celibacy. Some of
hem live in converts and others are
distributed among the population, from
whom they are scarcely distinguish.
,ble. As for the monks, the more sol.
tary they are. the greater their repu.
alton as magicians. When engaged
n their mystic rites the sorcerers be.
onging to the Ponbo sect wear a tall
pointed black hat, surmounted by
leacock's feather, a deaths head and
pair of crossed thunderbolts. and