A Journey in Southern Siberia: The Mongols, Their Religion and Their Myths

CHAPTER V

Annoying delays. — A wedding. — Russian influence. — Journey to Olzoni.— Palisaded prison. — Tembovski, a Polish exile. — Visit to the Alexandroffs. — A night journey. — Difficulties encountered at post stations. — Count Muravieff-Amursky Count Nikolay Muravyov-Amursky, a notable Russian statesman. — "Shamaning" Performing shamanistic rituals to drive away sickness. — Crossing Lake Baikal. — The "Watchers." — Muravieff and the elder of Nur. — Arrival at Seven Pines. — Lodging in a church . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53

CHAPTER VI

A search for old men who know Mongol folklore. — Forced to move out of the church. — Lack of food. — Leave Olkhon. — "Ragatz" station. — An Italian blacksmith. — Buriat food. — Picturesque dress of Russian women. — Climate of Siberia. — A Russian exile and his family. — Taking down myths. — Siberian fruit. — Baiandai, a village of ex-convicts. — An exile from Little Russia An older term for a region of Ukraine. — My servant, a murderer. — Soldiers ordered to China. — Arkokoff and his surroundings. — A night-watch who had served out a sentence for murder. — Disorder and dirt. — Difficulties encountered. — Wild flowers of Siberia. — Kongoroff exhibits his gods. — A battle with cockroaches. — An inhuman driver. — A German exile. — Return to Usturdi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73

CHAPTER VII

A birthday in Siberia. — Search for Manshut. — The Red-nosed exile. — "Red-nose" finds Manshut. — Night ride to Usturdi. — The dissipation of young girls. — Leave Usturdi. — Iyok, a town of ex-convicts. — A night in Kudá. — An ignorant official. — Arrival at Irkutsk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87

CHAPTER VIII

Customs of the Buriats. — Making of tarasun A traditional Buriat alcoholic drink made from fermented milk. — Marriage ceremonies. — Ceremonies after the birth of a child. — Buriat Ongons, gods. — Sickness. — Rites attending the Burning of the Dead. — Buriat Burial of the Dead . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92

CHAPTER IX

Origin of Shamans. — A Shaman story. — Second sight Clairvoyance. — Sacred groves of the Shamans. — Sacred groves of the Burkans Burkans: deities or holy figures in Buriat mythology. — Sacred trees and groves . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105

CHAPTER X

The gods of the Buriats. — House Ongons (gods). — Outside Ongons. — Field Ongons. — The Creation. — Esege Malan. — Gesir Bogdo. — Esege Malan and Mother Earth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118