Chapter IX
During the preceding September we had arranged to meet a party in the Gobi Desert and they were to accompany us to the site of three of the ancient ruined cities, the locations of which are given by some of these records. While we had not, as yet, seen these records, we had been told of their existence. Those which we had previously seen and which had aroused our curiosity were but copies of the records we had before us. Both of the sets place the dates of these cities back two hundred thousand years. It is claimed that the inhabitants were in a high state of civilization, as they knew the arts and crafts and were able to work with the metals; that gold was a very common metal, so common that they used it in making drinking vessels and for shoeing their horses. It is claimed that these people had a good command over all the natural forces as well as their own God-given powers. In fact, the legends—if legends they are—as told therein are quite similar to those of Greek mythology. If the maps are correct, this huge empire covered the greater portion of Asia and extended into Europe as far as the Mediterranean Sea, where France is now located, and the greatest elevation was about six hundred feet above sea level. It is claimed that this was a great plain area, very productive and well populated and a colony of the Motherland. there is no question that, if the remains of these cities can be found and uncovered, some very valuable history will be disclosed, as the description the records gave of this country far out-shone that of ancient Egypt for pomp and splendor during the dynasties of its seven kings. Even before the reign of these kings, it is described as being far more prosperous. The people ruled themselves; there were no wars and no vassals or slaves. They unquestionably named their ruler, “Directive Principle,” and they loved and obeyed that Directive Principle. These records state that the first king of the first dynasty usurped the rule from the Directive Principle and set himself upon a throne as ruler.
Time had passed rapidly. We were busy getting everything in readiness to join the expedition, as we were obliged to be on our way in order to keep our appointment in May at the meeting place agreed upon, where we were to replenish our supplies and equip the main expedition for the final journey.
Words absolutely fail me when I undertake to record my thoughts and feelings as the time for our departure drew near. Every hour of our stay had been a joy, not one being dull.
Although we had been with these people and shared their homes for more than five months, the time had passed so rapidly that it seemed but a few days. Yet a world of possibilities had been opened to us. It was as though the door had been thrown wide open. Everyone felt the boundless possibilities—and still we hesitated to step through the door, just as we hesitated to leave these magnificent people whom we looked upon as brothers.
I believe there is a time in the life of every mortal when he or she can see the door fully opened— just as each of us saw it that beautiful April morning—and each and every one can see the vast possibilities that may be attained. (I am going to ask the readers to throw aside all prejudices for a time and, if they are able to do so, see as we saw. I do not expect you to believe but I do want you to understand that it is one thing to write about these people and an entirely different thing just to sit at their feet and listen.) It seemed that if we would walk boldly up and step through the door, all attainment would be ours—yet we hesitated. Why was it so? Because we did not fully believe; we allowed tradition to drag us back and close the door; then we said the hand of fate had closed it to us. But we must come to realize there is no fate save that which we ourselves allow.
Here were a kindly, simple, yet most magnificent people, some of whom for generations and perhaps always have lived just through that door and that life is practical to them. There is no precedent nor tradition here, nothing but a pure, honest life, well lived and lived right here on this earth. I leave it to the reader to make the contrast.
We did hesitate to leave these dear kindly souls to whom we had become so attached in the last few months, yet we know that other things awaited us and we looked forward eagerly to them. We bade our friends good-bye that beautiful April morning, with cordial handshakes and salutations, amid hearty invitations to come again. With a final good-bye and Godspeed, our faces were turned northward, this time actually to cross the great Gobi, with its tales of terrible hardships as dim visions in our imaginations; but we were unafraid, for Emil and Jast were again with us, and Chander Sen in Neprow’s place.
To us, who had visited many lands, as the company swung along the trail it was but a part of the day’s work. Everyone in our little band was glad to be there. Not one but recognized that a new world had begun to open and unfold. All recognized the remoteness of the country and the hazards of an ordinary trip of this nature, yet there was that irresistible urge to go on. With the absolute confidence we had in our great friends, all fear or thought of inconvenience for self was thrown to the winds and we entered into the zest of the thing with the enthusiasm of schoolboys.
We were accustomed to the remote places of the earth, but never had we experienced a country so remote yet one where we could travel with the freedom and ease that we were experiencing here. Do you wonder that we were infatuated with the country and our benefactors? We felt that we could go right on north until we had negotiated the polar regions and conquered them. We had not gone far when one of our party remarked, “If we could travel as those fellows can, this part would be easy. Just because we cannot travel as they do, they plod along with us.”
All went well until the evening of the seventh day out. At about five o’clock that afternoon we were just emerging from a deep ravine which we had followed down in order to gain access to the more open country below, when one of the party called out that there were horsemen in the distance. We turned our glasses upon them and counted twenty-seven horsemen who seemed to be fully armed. We reported this to Jast and he said they probably were one of the roving bands that infest the country. We asked if they were one of the bandit bands and he said that he suspected they were, as they did not appear to be tending any flocks.
We left the trail and proceeded to a clump of trees and made camp for the night. While the camp was being prepared, two of our party crossed the stream near which we were camping and climbed to the top of a ridge that would give them an outlook over the rolling country. When they had gained the summit they stopped and, placing their field glasses to their eyes, stood for a moment, then turned and hurried toward camp. As soon as they came within hailing distance they reported that the party of horsemen was not over three miles away and was riding toward our camp. At this time someone remarked that he believed it was going to storm. We looked and, sure enough, there was a heavy bank of clouds gathering in the northwest and fog was drifting in from every direction. We became very uneasy as we could now see the band of horsemen through the approaching storm, coming down a rolling slope directly toward our camp. We were very much disturbed about the appearance of this band. Although there were thirty-two in our party, we did not have a firearm of any description.
At that moment the storm broke upon us with all the fury of a blizzard. For a few moments the wind lashed and roared and drove the fine particles of snow around us with the fury of a seventy-mile gale and it looked as if we would be obliged to move our camp to escape the falling limbs that were being broken from the trees by the storm. Then everything became calm where we were, and we thought for a moment that it had been only a squall, such as often happens in that country, and that it would soon blow over.
Since there was a dim half light which enabled us to see, we turned to and set the camp in order. We were occupied with this work for about half an hour and had not given a thought to either the storm or the supposed bandits who had caused so much uneasiness a short time before. As we stopped a moment for breath, our Chief walked to the entrance of the tent and looked out, then turned and said, “The storm seems to be raging a short distance away, but where we are there is scarcely a breath of air stirring. Just look, the tents and trees around are hardly moving and the air seems warm and balmy.” A number of our party followed him outside and we stood for a moment wondering.
While we had been in the tent and occupied, we had been half conscious of the noise the storm was making but we supposed it had blown over and was traveling up the ravine, as some of the storms in that country come on like a cyclone and travel for miles before they expend their fury and after they have passed there is a dead calm. This was not the case here. The blizzard was raging with all its fury within a hundred feet of us but where we stood the air was still and warm. Our former experience had been that the cold was intense and pierced one through and through, while the wind drove the icy needle-like particles of snow around and along with it in blinding fury until one was nearly suffocated.
Suddenly the circle lighted up as if by magic. As we stood wondering, we thought we heard shouts of men above the din of the storm. Supper was announced; we went in and sat down. While we were eating, one of the party wondered what had become of the horsemen we had seen descending the slope. Another said, “We thought we had heard shouts while we were outside and wondered if we could not be of some assistance in case they were lost in the blizzard.” Jast stated that these men belonged to one of the most notorious bands of bandits which roamed the nearby country. He added that they did nothing but rob and plunder villages and drive off the herds of sheep and goats. After supper, during a lull in the storm, we could hear shouting and the lunging and snorting of horses, sounding as though they would break from control. Although they seemed but a short distance away, we could now see them, so dark and dense was the snow that was whirled along by the wind; neither could we see any sign of a camp fire.
In a few moments Emil arose and said he would invite them to our camp. Unless they were well prepared, it would be impossible for man or beast to survive the storm until morning, as the cold was growing intense outside. As he was preparing to leave the tent, two of our party asked to be permitted to accompany him. Emil seemed pleased; he accepted and they disappeared in the storm. After about twenty minutes had elapsed they reappeared, followed by twenty of the bandit band leading their horses. They told us afterwards that seven had become separated from them and were probably lost in the storm. Those who gathered in our circle were a unique and motley lot of half- wild looking creatures. The moment they entered the circle of light they became suspicious that there was some plot to capture them. They showed their alarm until Emil assured them they were at liberty to go any time they wished and showed them that we had no mode of defense if they wished to attack us. This, their leader said, they had prepared to do when they saw us emerge from the ravine before the storm came on. After the storm came, they had become bewildered and lost their way so they did not know where their camp was located. When Emil and the two from our party had found them they were huddled together against a cliff about a hundred yards downstream. The leader said if they were driven out they would certainly perish. Emil assured them that this would not happen.
They made their horses secure for the night among the trees, then gathered in a group by themselves, sat down, and began eating dried goat meat and yak butter which they had taken from their saddle pouches. While they were thus occupied, they kept their arms near at hand and would start and listen at any increased sound. They talked and gesticulated freely. Jast told us they were wondering at our equipment and the light; why the wind was not blowing, why it was warm within the circle, and why the horses were so content. One of the party, who was doing most of the talking, had heard of our friends before. He was telling the group that these people were like gods and could destroy them (the bandits) in an instant if they would. Jast also said that some of the party were attempting to influence the others to take everything we had and go on, as they thought it was a plot to capture them; but that this one man was standing firm that we should not be molested. He was telling them that if they did harm us they would all be destroyed. After the talk had gone on for considerable time, eight of them arose and came over to us and told Jast they would not stay; that they were very much afraid and were going to try and go to their camp, as it was located on the same stream but a few miles below. They had been able to get their location from the clump of trees where we were encamped. They then mounted their horses and rode away downstream.
In about twenty minutes they all returned, saying the snow had fallen so deep their horses could not travel and face the storm, which was the heaviest they had experienced for many years. Then they began making themselves comfortable for the night.
One of our party said, “Well, I suppose they will be more comfortable here even if they are afraid, than they would be out in the storm.” Jast turned to us and said, “The Father’s house is where you are abiding; if you are within that house and do there abide, you are in the glad spirit of the Father. Of what avail is the warmth and cheer that abides within the house if you are not of the house, or know not the warmth and cheer that abides therein? You may invite those that remain just without and they will not enter, for they know not where you abide. These dear ones here, while they feel the warmth, will not come nearer for the reason that they have always preyed upon their fellow men and they cannot understand that those same men whom they have looked upon as legitimate prey should befriend them without some reason for doing so, especially as they do not belong to their band. They do not know that within the snow or cold, or heaviest storm, the Father abides; and that those who make His home their home and therein abide cannot be harmed by storm or wind or tide. It is only when you are out of contact with God that the winds, the storms, and tides sweep over you.
“It is when one can stand steadfastly and unwaveringly with his eyes fixed directly on God, knowing and seeing no other, that he can accomplish what you now see. Our thought is, `I stand steadfastly with my eyes fixed on You, O Father; knowing naught but You, Father; and I see naught but God in all things. I stand firmly on the Holy Mount, knowing naught but Your Love, Life, and Wisdom. Your Divine Spirit pervades me always. It surrounds me and abounds within and without me always. I know, Father, that this is not for me alone, but it is for all Thy children. I know, Father, that I have naught but that which they have and there is naught but God for all. I thank Thee, Father.’
“The real peace may be found even in the heart of the storm; but deep in the heart of the man who has found himself, is the true calm. On the contrary, man may be in the remote wilderness alone with the twilight and the vast silence of nature and yet be torn by the winds of passion or shaken by the thunders of fear.
“Nature, carelessly observed, seems to have given brute strength, greed, and capacity for shedding weaker animals’ blood an incomparable advantage; but notice the following simple facts that few have thought about.
“There are more lambs in the world than lions. That is not an accident. Nature is not a blind, blundering thing. Nature is God at work and God neither wastes material nor does He blunder in His building. Does it not strike you as a strange thing that in the melting pot of Nature’s primal forces the lion had not eaten up the lamb before man appeared upon the scene? The lamb has literally whipped the lion in the struggle for existence. Nor is it man’s siding with the lamb against the lion that explains the result. In all probability man began his career of slaughter by killing the docile first. It is certain that he kills more lambs than lions. It is not man but Nature that pronounces condemnation of lion’s kin. Reflect a moment and you will see that Nature cannot give distinctive strength in opposite directions to the same animal. The lion is a great fighter but a slow breeder. All the strength of his fine body goes to fighting form. Having young is detrimental and becomes the incident of his life. The lamb, on the other hand, is not a fighter and, therefore, is weak. The lamb spends no energy in fighting and accordingly is a better breeder. Nature acknowledges that in creating the lion she made a mistake. She is correcting that mistake. The lion and all other animals whose instinct is to kill are disappearing.
“There are no exceptions to this sentence of extinction pronounced by Nature’s immutable law against all beings of the preying kind. Nature rules according to an eternal equity and, by the very law of the universe, the fighter fights a losing battle, always has and always will, whether he be the animal or the animal man, in the forest or in the city, now and forever. The lion loses. He loses when he wins. He dies when he kills. He is by the very nature of things eating his own kind when he rends the warm flesh of the lamb he tore from the flock. When the first lion struck his prey with his mighty paw and growled through his bloody chops the delight he felt, he was singing, not the death of the helpless that he was eating, but the funeral hymn of his own kind. Savagery is a poor rallying point. Lions do not herd. Bears do not go in flocks. Savages among men form small groups and fight each other. Wildness turns on its own kind among beasts or men and is a source of weakness.
“In the analogy of things wild beasts must go. No great soldier ever really conquered anything. His victories are all illusions. Soldiers’ empires, if they rest on nothing more substantial than the sword, swiftly fall to pieces. In the end, the soldiers must repudiate force and resort to justice and reason or their empires crumble. The beast of prey, whether he is brute or human, is solitary, hopeless, and helpless, irrevocably doomed, for gentleness is the real strength. Gentleness is the lion, with all of the lion’s attributes, except the taste for blood and slowly all life is coming beneath its all- conquering rule.
“Man is made or unmade by himself. In the armory of thought he forges the weapons by which he destroys himself. He also fashions the tools with which he builds for himself heavenly mansions of joy, strength, and peace. By the right choice and true application of thought, man ascends to the Divine Perfection. By the abuse and wrong application of thought, he descends below the level of the beast. Between these two extremes are all of the grades of character and man is their maker and master.
“These bandits are the remnants of a once great and prosperous people. Their forefathers inhabited this country when it was a beautiful, thriving, industrial empire. They knew the sciences and arts. They also knew their own origin and power and they worshipped that origin and power only. There came a time when they began to look to the body for pleasure and in time the body failed them.
Then a great cataclysm swept over the land, devastating it and leaving only a few scattered people on the higher ground. These developed into communities and became the larger races of Europe.
“The region where we are and that of the Gobi were cut off and raised bodily until nothing grew. The people were so nearly destroyed that there were only a few isolated communities and, at times, only one or two families left. These gathered in bands and are the ancestors of the present people. They cannot prosper, as they are continually at war with each other. While their history and origin have been forgotten, their religion and legends can be traced to the one source. Wherever you find them you will find some of the fundamentals alike, although their forms differ widely.”
When we were leaving, two of the men asked if they could join our party. As we were, expecting to recruit a number of helpers in the next large village, about seventy miles farther on, we gladly accepted them and they were with us until we returned that fall.
