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in and harder than stones； wrap them in magic cloths； bind them and then pray to the Great God。 The petrified youths lie with eyes and ears open and alert； seeing； hearing and remembering everything。 Afterwards a Goro approaches and fastens a long； steady gaze upon them。 Very slowly the bodies lift themselves from the earth and disappear。 The Goro sits and stares with fixed eyes to the place whither he has sent them。 Invisible threads join them to his will。 Some of them course among the stars； observe their events； their unknown peoples； their life and their laws。 They listen to their talk； read their books； understand their fortunes and woes； their holiness and sins； their piety and evil。 Some are mingled with flame and see the creature of fire； quick and ferocious； eternally fighting； melting and hammering metals in the depths of planets； boiling the water for geysers and springs； melting the rocks and pushing out molten streams over the surface of the earth through the holes in the mountains。 Others rush together with the ever elusive； infinitesimally small； transparent creatures of the air and penetrate into the mysteries of their existence and into the purposes of their life。 Others slip into the depths of the seas and observe the kingdom of the wise creatures of the water； who transport and spread genial warmth all over the earth； ruling the winds； waves and storms。 。 。 。 In Erdeni Dzu formerly lived Pandita Hutuktu； who had come from Agharti。 As he was dying； he told about the time when he lived according to the will of the Goro on a red star in the east； floated in the ice…covered ocean and flew among the stormy fires in the depths of the earth。〃
These are the tales which I heard in the Mongolian yurtas of Princes and in the Lamaite monasteries。 These stories were all related in a solemn tone which forbade challenge and doubt。
Mystery。 。 。 。
CHAPTER XLVII
THE KING OF THE WORLD BEFORE THE FACE OF GOD
During my stay in Urga I tried to find an explanation of this legend about the King of the World。 Of course； the Living Buddha could tell me most of all and so I endeavored to get the story from him。 In a conversation with him I mentioned the name of the King of the World。 The old Pontiff sharply turned his head toward me and fixed upon me his immobile； blind eyes。 Unwillingly I became silent。 Our silence was a long one and after it the Pontiff continued the conversation in such a way that I understood he did not wish to accept the suggestion of my reference。 On the faces of the others present I noticed expressions of astonishment and fear produced by my words； and especially was this true of the custodian of the library of the Bogdo Khan。 One can readily understand that all this only made me the more anxious to press the pursuit。
As I was leaving the study of the Bogdo Hutuktu； I met the librarian who had stepped out ahead of me and asked him if he would show me the library of the Living Buddha and used a very simple； sly trick with him。
〃Do you know； my dear Lama；〃 I said； 〃once I rode in the plain at the hour when the King of the World spoke with God and I felt the impressive majesty of this moment。〃
To my astonishment the old Lama very quietly answered me： 〃It is not right that the Buddhist and our Yellow Faith should conceal it。 The acknowledgment of the existence of the most holy and most powerful man； of the blissful kingdom； of the great temple of sacred science is such a consolation to our sinful hearts and our corrupt lives that to conceal it from humankind is a sin。 。 。 。 Well； listen；〃 he continued； 〃throughout the whole year the King of the World guides the work of the Panditas and Goros of Agharti。 Only at times he goes to the temple cave where the embalmed body of his predecessor lies in a black stone coffin。 This cave is always dark； but when the King of the World enters it the walls are striped with fire and from the lid of the coffin appear tongues of flame。 The eldest Goro stands before him with covered head and face and with hands folded across his chest。 This Goro never removes the covering from his face； for his head is a nude skull with living eyes and a tongue that speaks。 He is in communion with the souls of all who have gone before。
〃The King of the World prays for a long time and afterwards approaches the coffin and stretches out his hand。 The flames thereon burn brighter； the stripes of fire on the walls disappear and revive； interlace and form mysterious signs from the alphabet vatannan。 From the coffin transparent bands of scarcely noticeable light begin to flow forth。 These are the thoughts of his predecessor。 Soon the King of the World stands surrounded by an auriole of this light and fiery letters write and write upon the walls the wishes and orders of God。 At this moment the King of the World is in contact with the thoughts of all the men who influence the lot and life of all humankind： with Kings； Czars； Khans； warlike leaders； High Priests； scientists and other strong men。 He realizes all their thoughts and plans。 If these be pleasing before God； the King of the World will invisibly help them； if they are unpleasant in the sight of God； the King will bring them to destruction。 This power is given to Agharti by the mysterious science of 'Om；' with which we begin all our prayers。 'Om' is the name of an ancient Holyman； the first Goro； who lived three hundred thirty thousand years ago。 He was the first man to know God and who taught humankind to believe； hope and struggle with Evil。 Then God gave him power over all forces ruling the visible world。
〃After his conversation with his predecessor the King of the World assembles the 'Great Council of God；' judges the actions and thoughts of great men； helps them or destroys them。 Mahytma and Mahynga find the place for these actions and thoughts in the causes ruling the world。 Afterwards the King of the World enters the great temple and prays in solitude。 Fire appears on the altar； gradually spreading to all the altars near； and through the burning flame gradually appears the face of God。 The King of the World reverently announces to God the decisions and awards of the 'Council of God' and receives in turn the Divine orders of the Almighty。 As he comes forth from the temple； the King of the World radiates with Divine Light。〃
CHAPTER XLVIII
REALITY OR RELIGIOUS FANTASY？
〃Has anybody seen the King of the World？〃 I asked。
〃Oh； yes！〃 answered the Lama。 〃During the solemn holidays of the ancient Buddhism in Siam and India the King of the World appeared five times。 He rode in a splendid car drawn by white elephants and ornamented with gold； precious stones and finest fabrics； he was robed in a white mantle and red tiara with strings of diamonds masking his face。 He blessed the people with a golden apple with the figure of a Lamb above it。 The blind received their sight； the dumb spoke； the deaf heard； the crippled freely moved and the dead arose； wherever the eyes of the King of the World rested。 He also appeared five hundred and forty years ago in Erdeni Dzu； he was in the ancient Sakkai Monastery and in the Narabanchi Kure。
〃One of our Living Buddhas and one of the Tashi Lamas received a message from him； written with unknown signs on golden tablets。 No one could read these signs。 The Tashi Lama entered the temple； placed the golden tablet on his head and began to pray。 With this the thoughts of the King of the World penetrated his brain and； without having read the enigmatical signs； he understood and accomplished the message of the King。〃
〃How many persons have ever been to Agharti？〃 I questioned him。
〃Very many；〃 answered the Lama； 〃but all these people have kept secret that which they saw there。 When the Olets destroyed Lhasa； one of their detachments in the southwestern mountains penetrated to the outskirts of Agharti。 Here they learned some of the lesser mysterious sciences and brought them to the surface of our earth。 This is why the Olets and Kalmucks are artful sorcerers and prophets。 Also from the eastern country some tribes of black people penetrated to Agharti and lived there many centuries。 Afterwards they were thrust out from the kingdom and returned to the earth； bringing with them the mystery of predictions according to cards； grasses and the lines of the palm。 They are the Gypsies。 。 。 。 Somewhere in the north of Asia a tribe exists which is now dying and which came from the cave of Agharti； skilled in calling back the spirits of the dead as they float through the air。〃
The Lama was silent and afterwards； as though answering my thoughts； continued。
〃In Agharti the learned Panditas write on tablets of stone all the science of our planet and of the other worlds。 The Chinese learned Buddhists know this。 Their science is the highest and purest。 Every century one hundred sages of China collect in a secret place on the shores of the sea； where from its depths come out one hundred eternally…living tortoises。 On their shells the Chinese write all the developments of the divine science of the century。〃
As I write I am involuntarily reminded of a tale of an old Chinese bonze in the Temple of Heaven at Peking。 He told me that tortoise