etary told
us that the Bogdo had been greatly excited this morning. At noon he had
entered his shrine. For a long time the voice of the head of the Yellow
Faith was heard in earnest prayer and after his another unknown voice
came clearly forth. In the shrine had taken place a conversation between
the Buddha on earth and the Buddha of heaven--thus the Lamas phrased it
to us.

"Let us wait a little," the Baron proposed. "Perhaps he will soon come
out."

As we waited the General began telling me about Jahantsi Lama, saying
that, when Jahantsi is calm, he is an ordinary man but, when he is
disturbed and thinks very deeply, a nimbus appears about his head.

After half an hour the Lama secretaries suddenly showed signs of deep
fear and began listening closely by the entrance to the shrine. Shortly
they fell on their faces on the ground. The door slowly opened and there
entered the Emperor of Mongolia, the Living Buddha, His Holiness Bogdo
Djebtsung Damba Hutuktu, Khan of Outer Mongolia. He was a stout old man
with a heavy shaven face resembling those of the Cardinals of Rome. He
was dressed in the yellow silken Mongolian coat with a black binding.
The eyes of the blind man stood widely open. Fear and amazement were
pictured in them. He lowered himself heavily into the easy chair and
whispered: "Write!"

A secretary immediately took paper and a Chinese pen as the Bogdo began
to dictate his vision, very complicated and far from clear. He finished
with the following words:

"This I, Bogdo Hutuktu Khan, saw, speaking with the great wise Buddha,
surrounded by the good and evil spirits. Wise Lamas, Hutuktus, Kanpos,
Marambas and Holy Gheghens, give the answer to my vision!"

As he finished, he wiped the perspiration from his head and asked who
were present.

"Khan Chiang Chin Baron Ungern and a stranger," one of the secretaries
answered on his knees.

The General presented me to the Bogdo, who bowed his head as a sign of
greeting. They began speaking together in low tones. Through the open
door I saw a part of the shrine. I made out a big table with a heap of
books on it, some open and others lying on the floor below; a brazier
with the red charcoal in it; a basket containing the shoulder blades and
entrails of sheep for telling fortunes. Soon the Baron rose and bowed
before the Bogdo. The Tibetan placed his hands on the Baron's head and
whispered a prayer. Then he took from his own neck a heavy ikon and hung
it around t