224 COMMERCE BETWEEN 



the principal ' The principal idol is feated alone, in the middle re- 



idol : 



ceis, between two columns, entwined with gilded dra- 

 gons. Large ftreamers of filk, hanging from the roof 

 of the temple, veil in fome meafure the vipper part of 

 the image. His name is Ghedfur, or Gheffiir Chan * ; 

 the Chinefe call him Loo-ye, or the firft and moft an- 

 tient ; and the Manfliurs, Guanloe, or the fuperior god. 

 He is of a gigantic fize, furpaffing more than fourfold 

 the human ftature, with a face gliftening like burniflied 

 gold, black hair and beard. He wears a crown upon 

 hi« head, and is richly dreffed in the Chinefe fafliion : 

 his garments are not moulded out of clay, as thofe of 

 the other idols ; but are made of the fineft filk. He 

 holds in his hands a kind of tablet, which he feems to 

 read with deep attention. Two fm all female figures, re- 

 fembling girls of about fourteen years of age, ftand on 



* The Mongols and Caimucs call h\m by this name of Gheffur Chan ; 

 and although they do not reckon him among their divinities ; yet they 

 confider him as a great hero, the Bacchus and Hercules of Eallern Tar- 

 tary, who was born at the fource of the Choango, and who vanquifhed 

 many monfters. They have in their language a very long hiftory of 

 his hcroical deeds. His title, in the Mongol tongue, is as follows : 

 At-ban Zeeghi Effin Gheffur Bogdo Chan : the king of the ten points of 

 the compafs, or the monarch Gheffur Chan. 



I poffefs a copy of this manufcript, containing the Hiftory of Gheffur 

 Chan ; it is in the original Mongol language, and was a prefent from 

 Mr. Pallas : I fhould be very happy to communicate it to any perfon 

 verled in the Eaftern languages. 



each 



