Samdadchiemba; "they don't give themselves the trouble to watch their
animals, and then, when they are stolen from them, they run about wanting
people to draw horoscopes for them. After all, perhaps, it's no wonder,
for nobody but ourselves tells them the truth. The Lamas encourage them
in their credulity; for they turn it into a source of income. It is
difficult to deal with such people. If you tell them you can't draw a
horoscope, they don't believe you, and merely suppose you don't choose to
oblige them. To get rid of them, the best way is to give them an answer
haphazard." And here Samdadchiemba laughed with such expansion, that his
little eyes were completely buried. "Did you ever draw a horoscope?"
asked we. "Yes," replied he still laughing. "I was very young at the
time, not more than fifteen. I was travelling through the Red Banner of
Thakar, when I was addressed by some Mongols who led me into their tent.
There they entreated me to tell them, by means of divination, where a
bull had strayed, which had been missing three days. It was to no
purpose that I protested to them I could not perform divination, that I
could not even read. 'You deceive us,' said they; 'you are a
_Dchiahour_, and we know that the Western Lamas can all divine more or
less.' As the only way of extricating myself from the dilemma, I
resolved to imitate what I had seen the Lamas do in their divinations. I
directed one person to collect eleven sheep's droppings, the dryest he
could find. They were immediately brought. I then seated myself very
gravely; I counted the droppings over and over; I arranged them in rows,
and then counted them again; I rolled them up and down in threes; and
then appeared to meditate. At last I said to the Mongols, who were
impatiently awaiting the result of the horoscope: 'If you would find your
bull, go seek him towards the north.' Before the words were well out of
my mouth, four men were on horseback, galloping off towards the north.
By the most curious chance in the world, they had not proceeded far,
before the missing animal made its appearance, quietly browzing. I at
once got the character of a diviner of the first class, was entertained
in the most liberal manner for a week, and when I departed had a stock of
butter and tea given me enough for another week. Now that I belong to
Holy Church, I know that these things are wicked and prohibited;
otherwise I would have given these horsemen a word or