lls us that even the local priest
himself was finally converted, and that after a year or so the Governor
of Vladivostock, who had heard rumours, began to grow uneasy about his
subordinate, and despatched a steamer to Guigiguinsk to find out what
had become of him. Upon arrival the captain hastened to fulfil his
mission, but the people suspected that some danger threatened their
"god" and took steps to hide him, assuring the inquirers that he had
gone away on a visit and would not return for a long time. As
navigation is only possible in those parts for a few weeks in the year,
the captain was obliged to return to Vladivostock. Another year
passed, and still there was no news of the sub-prefect. The captain
returned to Guigiguinsk, and having received the same reply as before
to his inquiries, made pretence of departure. He came back, however,
the next day, and with his sailors, appeared unexpectedly among the
Yakuts.

An unforgettable spectacle met their eyes.

The little town was _en fete_, church bells ringing, songs and reports
of firearms intermingling. Great bonfires flamed along the seashore,
and a solemn procession was passing through the streets. Seated on a
high throne in a carriage, the sub-prefect, the "great god" of
Guigiguinsk, was haranguing the crowds, with partridges' wings,
ribbons, tresses of human hair and other ornaments dear to the Yakuts,
dangling round his neck. To his carriage were harnessed eight men, who
drew it slowly through the town, while around it danced and sang
_shamans_ and other miracle-workers, accompanying themselves on
tambourines. Thus did the believers in the new religion celebrate the
happy escape of their "god" from danger.

The appearance of the captain and his armed men produced a sensation.
The "great god" was seized and carried off, and forced to submit,
subsequently, to all kinds of humiliations.

CHAPTER III

THE RELIGION OF THE GREAT CANDLE

On the outskirts of Jaransk, in the Viatka district, a race called the
_Tcheremis_ has dwelt from time immemorial. While Russian scholars,
like Smirnov, were employed in unveiling all the mysteries of their
past, the authorities were endeavouring to imbue them with Russian
conceptions of religion and government. But these people were not
easily persuaded to walk in the right way, and from time to time there
arose violent differences of opinion between them and the
representatives of officialdom.

In 1890, a