ainted with the secrets of life, but we will
pray to Jehovah for this sick person. You have not heard of this
Almighty God--your Lamas know him not; but, be assured, Jehovah is the
master of life and of death." Circumstances did not permit us to dwell
on the theme to these poor people, who, absorbed in grief and anxiety,
could pay little attention to our words. We returned to our tent to
pray, the Tartar accompanying us. When he saw our Breviary: "Are these,"
asked he, "the all-powerful prayers to Jehovah, of which you spoke?"
"Yes," said we; "these are the only true prayers; the only prayers that
can save." Thereupon he prostrated himself successively before each of
us, touching the ground with his forehead; then he took the Breviary, and
raised it to his head in token of respect. During our recitation of the
prayers for the sick, the Tartar remained seated at the entrance of the
tent, preserving a profound and religious silence. When we had finished,
"Holy men," said he, again prostrating himself, "how can I make
acknowledgments for your great benefits? I am poor; I can offer you
neither horse nor sheep." "Mongol brother," we replied, "the priests of
Jehovah may not offer up prayers for the sake of enriching themselves;
since thou art not rich, accept from us this trifling gift;" and we
presented to him a fragment of a tea-brick. The Tartar was profoundly
moved with this proceeding; he could not say a word, his only answer to
us was tears of gratitude.

We heard next morning with pleasure that the Tartar woman was much
better. We would fain have remained a few days in the place, in order to
cultivate the germ of the true faith thus planted in the bosom of this
family; but we were compelled to proceed. Some of the Tartars escorted
us a short distance on our way.

Medicine in Tartary, as we have already observed, is exclusively
practised by the Lamas. When illness attacks any one, his friends run to
the nearest monastery for a Lama, whose first proceeding, upon visiting
the patient, is to run his fingers over the pulse of both wrists
simultaneously, as the fingers of a musician run over the strings of an
instrument. The Chinese physicians feel both pulses also, but in
succession. After due deliberation, the Lama pronounces his opinion as
to the particular nature of the malady. According to the religious
belief of the Tartars, all illness is owing to the visitation of a
_Tchutgour_ or demon; but the expu