A TORGHUT LAMA'S WITNESS.

Waiapu Church Gazette, Volume 26, Issue 11, 1 November 1936, Page 1

A TORGHUT LAMA'S WITNESS.

Mr. Halsund-Christiansen has recently written "Gods and Men m Mongolia" (an account of his part m the Sven-Hedin Expedition). He is by no means an advocate of Christian Missions, so the following incident is the more impressive. The ruling Lama-Chief of the last independent Torghut tribe, during Mr. Halsund's long stay with him, told him of a criminal who had fled from the tribe to Urumchi. There he came m contact with a medical missionary, who, after a time during which the criminal became a Christian, engaged him as a general factotum. Learning his whereabouts, the Lama sent for him to be delivered to tribal justice; but on the doctor's promise that he would be surrendered if he again did evil the Lama agreed to leave him. This had happened years before, and the criminal had steadily developed into a thoroughly fine character. "This is what I cannot understand," said the Lama. "With so evil a man, hundreds of rebirths are needed before he can rise to a higher plane. How could it happen so quickly, m one earthly lifetime?"