ISO Holmboc — Traces of BuddJdsm in JVorwn//. [Nov. 



w liicli resembles that of a horse, and has ])laced in juxta-positioii drawings 

 of the yak tail and three of the bracts under notice, which bear animals 

 with similar tails. 



But, it may be asked, what connexion can there exist between Scan- 

 dinavia and Tibet ? We reply that the Scandinavians, like other inhabi- 

 tants of Europe, came from Central Asia. In pre-historic times it was not 

 dijftcult for the Scandinavians to have been acquainted with the yak, when 

 they were probably on the mountains where the Ixana and Jaxartes have 

 their sources. To obviate any objection that may arise from the circum- 

 stance of the two countries being at such a great distance from each other, 

 the author has an ulterior argument to the eifect that among the idols of 

 Tibet now current, there is one which bears a strong resemblance to the 

 figure on the bracts. This is represented on plate No. 253, of M Sclagin- 

 tweit's Buddhism in Tibet. It is a horse named Langtu, carrying on its back 

 a figure named JSforhon, which evidently is a degenerate representation of 

 the head of S'iva, as M. H. proves by placing on a plate the horse Langtu 

 alongside of a drawing of Siva reproduced form Pallas' work on the 

 Mongols and Kalmuks. Each of these heads have three eyes and the 

 top of the hair divided, or perhaps in flames. The heads resemble each 

 other as closely as a rude carving on wood can resemble an engraving on 

 copper. The three eyes, so prominent on Norbon, are the parts most 

 revered, and they are what the Kalmuks place on the back of the horse, the 

 three e^^es surmounted by a representation of the flaming hair of Siva, and 

 this horse is an ornament on their altars, as shown on one of M. H.'s plates. 



There is also another analogy between the ritual customs of the 

 Tibetans and the Scandinavians. These are the constructions called manis 

 or votive altars, formed of two similar walls placed at a short distance from 

 each other, the space enclosed between which is filled up with gravel 

 and earth, and which have the form of a roof, thus 

 The shape, the height, the width and the materials are the 



same in Norway and Tibet, but the length varies much here I ^| 



and there. 



