The Coolidge examiner., 1936-11-06


shells, lent mystery to the whole
scene. A tall, curiously decorated
and plumed iron hat, weighing about
so pounds, was placed beside him.
Soon the Sungma began to accom-
pany the lamas in their mumbling
prayers, while the incense went the
round, and the silent audience
awaited the spirit of Chechin. Sud-
denly sonorous blasts of large
trumpets and deafening clash of
cymbals burst forth, and tn e
Sungma moved uneasily in his seat.
An Extraordinary Performance.
A deep, gargling sound escaped
him, and his hands clasped his
throat. The attending lama, a
brother of Balung, now lifted the
huge hat upon the Sungma's head
and tied it firmly under the chin. By
this time the performer was fully
possessed by the spirit. The gargling
sound is believed to be a sure sign
of the presence of Chechin, who,
the classic relates, died by suffocat-
ing himself with a kattak, a silk
scarf.
Balung still sat dreaming for a
while; then all at once his body
began to sway and his legs to shake.
Frantically he threw himself back
ward while lamas held him and
tried to balance him. He spat and
groaned; blood oozed from his
mouth and nostrils; his face became
purple-infated to such an extent
that the leather chin strap burst.
He took a sword handed to him,
strong Mongolian steel blade. In
the twinkling of an eye he twisted
il with his naked hands into several
loops and knots!
The Sungma tossed the 50-pound
hat above his head; adjusted it
again, meanwhile putting like a
steam engine. The perspiration run
ming down his face mingled with
the blood which oozed from his nose
and mouth.
The attending lamas wiped his
face, and tried to comfort him. A
lama now stood in front of him with
a round silver platter on which re-
posed an Offering, a triangular pyr-
enid of tsamba, or barley-four.
dough. This the lama held to the
Sungmas face, so that his forehead
touched it. The lamas changed the
tune and tempo of their chant.
Still shaking, the possessed Sung
ma took a handful of rice, and threw
it violently into the crowd. At this
point the abbot of the monastery
approa ched, bowling and koWtoWing,
only to be beaten severely on the
back with the flat of sword welded
with merciless fury by the Sungma.
Fear spread among the crowd; the
abbot fled; the Sungma continued to
shake from head to foot with un-
controllable convulsions!
Now was the time for worshipers
to receive Chechin's blessing. A reg
ular fight enSued as the lamas of
the monastery, each carrying a
small silk scarf (kattak) as offering,
thronged forward. Each lama tried
to get to the Sungma to place a kat
tax on his shaking knees and re-
ceive the blessing of blow, a puff
of breath from his distorted mouth,
or gentle laying on of his hands.
Forward they surged, eager to
reach the Sungma before the spirit
of Chechin should leave his body.
A few managed to receive the bless
ing, while attending lamas, laying
on unsparingly with birch whips,
kept off the eager mob.
Three More Seizures.
All at once the Sungma, putting
and blowing, threw himself back
ward exhausted and lay like a life
less form for a few minutes. The
spirit of Chechin had flown, none
knew whittier.
When BaIung rose, he was weep
ing and whining. His garments now
were adjusted, and different head
gear, the sort worn by minor Sung
mas, was placed upon his head
Three of the underlings of Chechi
were to manifest themselves in this
Chungtien lama.
Seizure was not long i'll coming.
Almost Immediately the afflicted
man leaned forward and began to
shake. The lamas near him handed
him bow and arrows and flagstaff.
With outstretched arms he stood
erect, spat, pulled, and blew.
The Iamas again rushed to re-
ceive his blessing. The more
privileged, the abbot and the Liv-
ing Buddha of Yungning, came first;
then the mob. The latter were less
fortunate, for only two had received
the blessing when the shaking
stopped and the Sungma again threw
himself backward, groaning.
He rested thus for only minute;
then rose and with terrific thump
fell back upon his chair, shaking like
an epileptic. In this state he received
the homage of the throng.