Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1913-02-15

VTV LET. the mountain-cradled land
of mystery. is slowly giving up
its secrets. though the time is
III far distant when familiarity
will breed contempt The sharp
est contrasts to the civilization of the
old and new worlds are there seen
against the picturesque background of
an immemorial past. extending so far
back as G39 A. D.. when Buddhism was
hrst introduced from India.
There are wizards and necroman-
GERS enough In the country to run the
Industries of a thriving modern town.
and II is difficult for westerner to un-
derstand how the natives can unques-
tioningly accept their hanky-panky as
indubitable proofs of supernatural
powers. No Occidental can thorough
ly understand the beliefs and prac-
tices of people like the Tibetans. un-
less his mind is entirely denuded of its
material prepossessions. Buddhism
embraces practically the whole social
structure of the people. for the half
million Ponbos. who conserve the
earlier religion of the land are the vic
tins of similar superstitions and prac-
tees.
In no other country in the world is
the priestly influence so paramount.
wizards abound. Exorclsts and reli-
gious impostors live on the fat OF the
land For all the people of Tibet and
far Eastern Asia. of whom the world
knows little. the universe is full OF
immaterial powers and intelligences
| denoniac and dangerous. Every Incl.
dent is believed to have supernatural
sgnlficance All the epochs of life are
ordered by The wizards or the down-at.
heel mendicant priests. who thrive es.
pecially among the poorer classes
The people build many temples. ex.
haust their resources in erecting sta.
tues. they PROSTATE themselves. sing
weird hymns and mutter endless
prayers. make offerings and give ban.
quets to all the gods and all the
devils.
Sorcerers' Thriving Trade.
The wizard In Tibet is sort OF uni,
versal provider of every kind OF assist.
ance. 1t Is the wizard who comes to
the sick mans bedside II he dies
commemorative ceremony is held a
year after his decease Every year
Iibations are offered to the shades of
dead ancestors cord is stretched
| before each tent horizontally, and
| streamers covered with Buddhist In.
| scriptions are fastened to 1t. It is more
| than probable that the departure of
/ many sick to the other world is has
tened by the dancing sorcerer, or mag
| pa. as he is called. and his horrible
ta ha noI1 "A
The sorcerer also does a thriving
trade as fortune teller. while divina.
ton is remunerative side line When
pebbles are arranged in certain way
fhey are supposed to convey an oracu.
| lar message. and the inspection OF the
shoulder blade of sheep when held
close to the fire. is also rart OF the
I fake ceremonial There Is no end to
| It, house has TO be built a village
needs queling. he crops are back
ward and scanty the region needs
rain. there is marriage. funeral or
a hirth--for all these affairs wizard
| is called In for advice. and for the ex-
ercise of his mysterious powers over
| all forces that work against the we'll
being of mankind
Mos, of the wizard-priests are men
ct DEGENERATE habits and OF repulsive
fdemeanor Some engage themselves
for the merest pittance. a few bowls
OF rice few cobs OF maize and a gen.
eral dehauch when the feasts cele-
brating any of their professional du-
ties are carried out.
I.anaism is the particular form OF
! Buddhism OF which these superstitious
| practices form an integral part. and
| the strange ritual of the Ponbo sect is
/ much the eame But the Ponbo priests
are compelled to ceiibacy Some of
them I've IN converts and others are
distributed among the population fryn
whom ihav are scarcely distinguish
1 able As 70 he monks. the riore sol.
! itary they are. the greater their repu.
tation as magicians When engaged
In their mystic rites the sorcerers be
/ lonsing 10 the Ponho sect wear tall
pointed black hat. surmounted by a
peacock's feather. a deaths head and
a pair OF crossed thunderbolts. and
beat a drum formed of two human
skulls There is cne srell still prac-
ticed among them which until recent
years has been occasionally used BY
rustcs IN Outot-tnS way parts OF iCu-
rope This is the sticking of pins into
the efi'gy of man over whom 1t is
desired o cast Q spell
Weird Cure Of Diseases.
| The methods employed to cure dis
eases are extremely weird One pre-
scription is to dress up clay figure in
he sick mans clothes His name is
written upon the figure which, is
thrown away They believe that the