This Does Not Signify, As Asserted By Rubruquis, God!
Thou
knowest it; nor, as supposed by Messerschmid, God have mercy on us.
But its true import is, that Mani, who holds the flowers of the
Lotus, and is the beginning and end of the higher Magic, may hear
their prayers, be propitious to them, and render them happy.
"They have rolls or cylinders inscribed with their prayers, which they
twirl round on an axis, continually pronouncing these mystic words,
and they believe that all the prayers on these rolls are virtually
pronounced at each turn of the roll; The religion of the Dalai-Lama,
is a branch of the Shamanian and Braminical superstitions, and has for
its foundation the Manichaean doctrine of the two principles, which
Manes attempted to incorporate into the Christian religion, so that it
is no wonder the practices of the followers of the Dalai-Lama should
resemble those of the Manichaean and Nestorian Christians." - Forst.
Voy. and Disc. 105.
SECTION XXVIII.
Of sundry Nations, and of certain People who used to eat their Parents.
I am convinced that these Jugurs, who are mixed with Christians and
Mahometans, have arrived at the knowledge and belief of one God, by
frequent disputations with them. This nation dwells in cities, which were
brought under subjection to Zingis, who gave his daughter in marriage to
their king. Even Caracarum is in a manner in their territories. The whole
country of Prester John and of Vut or Unc, his brother, lay round the
territories of the Jugurs, only that the subjects of the former inhabited
the pasture lands on the north, while the Jugurs dwelt among the mountains
to the south. As the Moals have adopted the writing of the Jugurs, these
latter are the chief Scribes among the Tartars, and almost all the
Nestorians are acquainted with their letters.
Next to the Jugurs, among the mountains to the east, are the Tanguts, a
powerful people who once made Zingis prisoner in battle; but having
concluded peace, he was set at liberty, and afterwards subdued them. Among
the Tanguts, there are oxen of great strength, having flowing tails like
horses, and their backs and bellies covered with long hair. These are
shorter legged than other oxen, but much fiercer, having long, slender,
straight, and very sharp pointed horns, and they are much used for drawing
the great houses of the Moals; but the cows will not allow themselves to be
yoked unless they are sung to at the same time. These animals are of the
nature of the buffalo, for when they see a person clothed in red, they run
furiously upon him to put him to death.
Beyond these are the people of Tebet, who were wont to eat the dead bodies
of their parents, from a motive of piety, considering that to be the most
honourable sepulchre; but they have discontinued this custom, which was
looked upon as abominable by all other nations. They still, however,
continue to make handsome drinking cups of the skulls of their parents,
that they may call them to remembrance even in their mirth.
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