THE SACRED CITY OF THE LIVING BUDDHA 71 



was due to the Lama Church. Lamaism, which was in- 

 troduced from Tibet, gained its hold not long after the 

 time of Kublai Khan's death in 1295. Previous to this 

 the Mongols had been religious liberals, but eventually 

 Lamaism was made the religion of the state. It is a 

 branch of the Buddhist cult, and its teachings are 

 against war and violent death. 



By custom one or more sons of every family are dedi- 

 cated to the priesthood, and as Lamaism requires its 

 priests to be celibate, the birth rate is low. To-day there 

 are only a few million Mongols in a country half as 

 large as the United States (exclusive of Alaska), a 

 great proportion of the male population being lamas. 

 With no education, except in the books of their sect, 

 they lead a lazy, worthless existence, supported by the 

 lay population and by the money they extract by prey- 

 ing upon the superstitions of their childlike brothers. 

 Were Lamaism abolished there still would be hope for 

 Mongolia under a proper government, for the Mongols 

 of to-day are probably the equals of Genghis Khan's 

 warriors in strength, endurance, and virility. 



The religion of Mongolia is like that of Tibet and the 

 Dalai Lama of Lhassa is the head of the entire Church. 

 The Tashi Lama residing at Tashilumpo, also in Tibet, 

 ranks second. The Hutukhtu of Mongolia is third in the 

 Lama hierarchy, bearing the title Chept&wndampa Hu- 

 tukhtu (Venerable Best Saint). According to ancient 

 tradition, the Hutukhtu never dies; his spirit simply 

 reappears in the person of some newly born infant and 

 thus comes forth reembodied. The names of infants, 



