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SEPTEMBER, 1887.)
MISCELLANEA.
279
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(d). Contributions to the History of the Depe- confine their hair under a comb; and as the majo. lopment of Buddhism in the Country beyondrity of their priests were naturally of the lower Lale Baikal (Zabakailski), by 4. Posdneiev.- class they persuaded the Russian governor that Pozdneiev remarks 'that he had put into his red was the national dress of the country. After hands, while in the country, a little packet of this the Buriats seem to have been for some time papers written in the language of the Buriats. unmolested and much intercourse took place At first they appeared of but little importance, between them and their brother Mongolians in except that he naturally preserved everything in the Chinese territory. Another document gives Buriat writing, but on arranging the papers he an account of relations between the Buriats and found that they threw great light upon Buriat Manchuria. The last is written on yellow satinlife, and especially the development of Buddhism the sacred colour. Another letter solicita assistamong them. In order to explain matters, he gives ance in building a temple. We find Buriata a slight sketch of the development of Buddhism helping Mongolians for this purpose and Monamong this people from the earliest times. golians Buriats. The article winds up with the When it was first introduced it is hard to say: translation of an interesting letter from a Buriat the Russians only became acquainted with the to a friend in Tibet. Buriat steppes by means of the Cossacks about (@). Arabian accounts of the Defeat of Romanus 1648 ; i. e. the first half century after Buddhism Diogenes by Alp-Arslan. Part II. by Baron V. became the dominant faith in Khalkha. The Rosen. Nomade then dwelling in Zabakailia were called The secretary of Salahu'ddin, Ima'du'ddin Tungses and professed the Shaman belief. of Isfahan, belongs to the rhetorical school of The Buriata in their chronicles say that when they Arabian writers. He groups facts well together settled in the country they professed Shamanism, and has an elegant style. Unfortunately most of In the earlier period, even if Buddhism was known
the Arab historians only affected conceits, ezag. to them it had but little influence. The first great
gerated metaphors, &c. In spite of this, many of development was about 1712 when 150 ldmas
them, especially when they narrate contemporary came from Tibet. They gained much influence
events, are invaluable; e.g. the well-known history over the nations by their medical skill. Count
of Mahmad of Ghazni, Tarih-i-Yamint, compiled Raguzinski did a great deal some time before
by Al-Utbi, the history of the taking of 1741 to put Buddhism on a regular footing among Jerusalem by Saladin (Salahu'ddin) and the his. them, and placed under the protection of the
tory of the Salj&qe by Ima'du'ddin. The latter Russian law, Buddhism rapidly increased. In
was written in a style too lofty for the Arabs 1767 the chief lama was presented to the themselves, and therefore a certain Al-Fath ibn Empress Catherine at Moscow, and from her Muhammad Al-Budârf Al-Isfahậni undertook to received a yearly pension of fifty roubles, and a edit it in & plainer style. This recension has gold medal. In 1772 among the Buriats there
come down to us in two MSS. the first preserved were 617 lamas. Towards the close of the cen- in the Bodleian and tho second in the Bibliothèque tury many temples and monasteries were built, Nationale at Paris. The text is now being edited and these increased to a great extent in the at Leyden by Dr. Houtama. Ima'du'ddin comfirst 20 years of this century. The Russians then posed his history in 579 and carries it to the began to limit their number, thinking that they year 576, beginning with the reign of Malik would be a heavy burden to the country. The Shah, i.e. 472 (1079.1080). Ima'du'ddin does not Emperor Nicholas made many efforts in this tell us of the source whence he has taken his direction, and the first of these documents is account of the defeat of the Romans. a prayer of the Buriats complaining to one 1 ). A Buddhist Sacred Formula, by Minayev. of the Mongolian khutukhs of their miserable
At the end of manuscripts we often find a distich condition in being deprived of sc many of their in Sanskrit or Pali! These contain the teaching iamas. The Russian officials were in many cases sol of the four sacred truths which lie at the foundaignorant of the rites and ceremonies of Buddhism tion of ancient Buddhism. The form of this is that it was possible for the Buriats to play tricks given in Sanskşit with notes. It is taken from a upon them with regard to their temples &c., 80 manuscript in the Cambridge University Library, as to conceal their use. The appearance of the mentioned by Bendall in his catalogue, and clergy among them, who shaved their heads and another manuscript written at Kathmandu by wore a peculiar dress, could not so casily be the celebrated Pandit, Sri GunAnanda, mentioned hidden.se the upper ecclesiastics were dressed in by Wright in hie History of Népdl. yellow and the inferior in red. To moet this (g). Romarka on the Georgians by Al-Kalka. difficulty, the Buriats directed their priests to shand, by Baron Tysenhausen.
