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lai and Tashi Lamas； the decrees of the Russian and Chinese Emperors and the Treaties between Mongolia； Russia； China and Tibet。 In this same casket is the copper plate bearing the mysterious sign of the 〃King of the World〃 and the chronicle of the last vision of the Living Buddha。
CHAPTER XLV
THE VISION OF THE LIVING BUDDHA OF MAY 17； 1921
〃I prayed and saw that which is hidden from the eyes of the people。 A vast plain was spread before me surrounded by distant mountains。 An old Lama carried a basket filled with heavy stones。 He hardly moved。 From the north a rider appeared in white robes and mounted on a white horse。 He approached the Lama and said to him：
〃'Give me your basket。 I shall help you to carry them to the Kure。'
〃The Lama handed his heavy burden up to him but the rider could not raise it to his saddle so that the old Lama had to place it back on his shoulder and continue on his way； bent under its heavy weight。 Then from the north came another rider in black robes and on a black horse； who also approached the Lama and said：
〃'Stupid！ Why do you carry these stones when they are everywhere about the ground？'
〃With these words he pushed the Lama over with the breast of his horse and scattered the stones about the ground。 When the stones touched the earth； they became diamonds。 All three rushed to raise them but not one of them could break them loose from the ground。 Then the old Lama exclaimed：
〃'Oh Gods！ All my life I have carried this heavy burden and now； when there was left so little to go； I have lost it。 Help me； great； good Gods！'
〃Suddenly a tottering old man appeared。 He collected all the diamonds into the basket without trouble； cleaned the dust from them； raised the burden to his shoulder and started out； speaking with the Lama：
〃'Rest a while； I have just carried my burden to the goal and I am glad to help you with yours。'
〃They went on and were soon out of sight； while the riders began to fight。 They fought one whole day and then the whole night and； when the sun rose over the plain； neither was there； either alive or dead； and no trace of either remained。 This I saw； Bogdo Hutuktu Khan； speaking with the Great and Wise Buddha； surrounded by the good and bad demons！ Wise Lamas； Hutuktus； Kampos； Marambas and Holy Gheghens； give the answer to my vision！〃
This was written in my presence on May 17th； 1921； from the words of the Living Buddha just as he came out of his private shrine to his study。 I do not know what the Hutuktu and Gheghens； the fortune tellers； sorcerers and clairvoyants replied to him； but does not the answer seem clear； if one realizes the present situation in Asia？
Awakened Asia is full of enigmas but it is also full of answers to the questions set by the destiny of humankind。 This great continent of mysterious Pontiffs； Living Gods； Mahatmas and readers of the terrible book of Karma is awakening and the ocean of hundreds of millions of human lives is lashed with monstrous waves。
Part V
MYSTERY OF MYSTERIESTHE KING OF THE WORLD
CHAPTER XLVI
THE SUBTERRANEAN KINGDOM
〃Stop！〃 whispered my old Mongol guide； as we were one day crossing the plain near Tzagan Luk。 〃Stop！〃
He slipped from his camel which lay down without his bidding。 The Mongol raised his hands in prayer before his face and began to repeat the sacred phrase： 〃Om！ Mani padme Hung！〃 The other Mongols immediately stopped their camels and began to pray。
〃What has happened？〃 I thought； as I gazed round over the tender green grass； up to the cloudless sky and out toward the dreamy soft rays of the evening sun。
The Mongols prayed for some time； whispered among themselves and； after tightening up the packs on the camels； moved on。
〃Did you see；〃 asked the Mongol； 〃how our camels moved their ears in fear？ How the herd of horses on the plain stood fixed in attention and how the herds of sheep and cattle lay crouched close to the ground？ Did you notice that the birds did not fly； the marmots did not run and the dogs did not bark？ The air trembled softly and bore from afar the music of a song which penetrated to the hearts of men； animals and birds alike。 Earth and sky ceased breathing。 The wind did not blow and the sun did not move。 At such a moment the wolf that is stealing up on the sheep arrests his stealthy crawl； the frightened herd of antelopes suddenly checks its wild course； the knife of the shepherd cutting the sheep's throat falls from his hand； the rapacious ermine ceases to stalk the unsuspecting salga。 All living beings in fear are involuntarily thrown into prayer and waiting for their fate。 So it was just now。 Thus it has always been whenever the King of the World in his subterranean palace prays and searches out the destiny of all peoples on the earth。〃
In this wise the old Mongol； a simple； coarse shepherd and hunter； spoke to me。
Mongolia with her nude and terrible mountains； her limitless plains； covered with the widely strewn bones of the forefathers； gave birth to Mystery。 Her people； frightened by the stormy passions of Nature or lulled by her deathlike peace； feel her mystery。 Her 〃Red〃 and 〃Yellow Lamas〃 preserve and poetize her mystery。 The Pontiffs of Lhasa and Urga know and possess her mystery。
On my journey into Central Asia I came to know for the first time about 〃the Mystery of Mysteries；〃 which I can call by no other name。 At the outset I did not pay much attention to it and did not attach to it such importance as I afterwards realized belonged to it； when I had analyzed and connoted many sporadic； hazy and often controversial bits of evidence。
The old people on the shore of the River Amyl related to me an ancient legend to the effect that a certain Mongolian tribe in their escape from the demands of Jenghiz Khan hid themselves in a subterranean country。 Afterwards a Soyot from near the Lake of Nogan Kul showed me the smoking gate that serves as the entrance to the 〃Kingdom of Agharti。〃 Through this gate a hunter formerly entered into the Kingdom and； after his return； began to relate what he had seen there。 The Lamas cut out his tongue in order to prevent him from telling about the Mystery of Mysteries。 When he arrived at old age； he came back to the entrance of this cave and disappeared into the subterranean kingdom； the memory of which had ornamented and lightened his nomad heart。
I received more realistic information about this from Hutuktu Jelyb Djamsrap in Narabanchi Kure。 He told me the story of the semi… realistic arrival of the powerful King of the World from the subterranean kingdom； of his appearance； of his miracles and of his prophecies； and only then did I begin to understand that in that legend； hypnosis or mass vision； whichever it may be； is hidden not only mystery but a realistic and powerful force capable of influencing the course of the political life of Asia。 From that moment I began making some investigations。
The favorite Gelong Lama of Prince Chultun Beyli and the Prince himself gave me an account of the subterranean kingdom。
〃Everything in the world；〃 said the Gelong； 〃is constantly in a state of change and transitionpeoples science； religions； laws and