Produced by Donald Lainson BEASTS, MEN AND GODS by Ferdinand Ossendowski EXPLANATORY NOTE When one of the leading publicists in America, Dr. Albert Shaw of the Review of Reviews, after reading the manuscript of Part I of this volume, characterized the author as “The Robinson Crusoe of the Twentieth Century,” he touched the feature of the narrative which is at once most attractive and most dangerous; for the succession of trying and thrilling experiences recorded seems in places too highly colored to be real or, sometimes, even possible in this day and generation. I desire, therefore, to assure the reader at the outset that Dr. Ossendowski is a man of long and diverse experience as a scientist and writer with a training for careful observation which should put the stamp of accuracy and reliability on his chronicle. Only the extraordinary events of these extraordinary times could have thrown one with so many talents back into the surroundings of the “Cave Man” and thus given to us this unusual account of personal adventure, of great human mysteries and of the political and religious motives which are energizing the “Heart of Asia.” My share in the work has been to induce Dr. Ossendowski to write his story at this time and to assist him in rendering his experiences into English. LEWIS STANTON PALEN. CONTENTS PART I. DRAWING LOTS WITH DEATH CHAPTER I. INTO THE FORESTS II. THE SECRET OF MY FELLOW TRAVELER III. THE STRUGGLE FOR LIFE IV. A FISHERMAN V. A DANGEROUS NEIGHBOR VI. A RIVER IN TRAVAIL VII. THROUGH SOVIET SIBERIA VIII. THREE DAYS ON THE EDGE OF A PRECIPICE IX. TO THE SAYANS AND SAFETY X. THE BATTLE OF THE SEYBI XI. THE BARRIER OF RED PARTISANS XII. IN THE COUNTRY OF ETERNAL PEACE XIII. MYSTERIES, MIRACLES AND A NEW FIGHT XIV. THE RIVER OF THE DEVIL XV. THE MARCH OF GHOSTS XVI. IN MYSTERIOUS TIBET PART II. THE LAND OF DEMONS XVII. MYSTERIOUS MONGOLIA XVIII. THE MYSTERIOUS LAMA AVENGER XIX. WILD CHAHARS XX. THE DEMON OF JAGISSTAI XXI. THE NEST OF DEATH XXII. AMONG THE MURDERERS XXIII. ON A VOLCANO XXIV. A BLOODY CHASTISEMENT XXV. HARASSING DAYS XXVI. THE BAND OF WHITE HUNGHUTZES XXVII. MYSTERY IN A SMALL TEMPLE XXVIII. THE BREATH OF DEATH PART III. THE STRAINING HEART OF ASIA XXIX. ON THE ROAD OF GREAT CONQUERORS XXX. ARRESTED! XXXI. TRAVELING BY “URGA” XXXII. AN OLD FORTUNE TELLER XXXIII. “DEATH FROM THE WHITE MAN WILL STAND BEHIND YOU” XXXIV. THE HORROR OF WAR! XXXV. IN THE CITY OF LIVING GODS, 30,000 BUDDHAS AND 60,000 MONKS XXXVI. A SON OF CRUSADERS AND PRIVATEERS XXXVII. THE CAMP OF MARTYRS XXXVIII. BEFORE THE FACE OF BUDDHA XXXIX. “THE MAN WITH A HEAD LIKE A SADDLE” PART IV. THE LIVING BUDDHA XL. IN THE BLISSFUL GARDEN OF A THOUSAND JOYS XLI. THE DUST OF CENTURIES XLII. THE BOOKS OF MIRACLES XLIII. THE BIRTH OF THE LIVING BUDDHA