Other editions of book Among the Mongols

James Gilmour ( 1843 - 1891) was a Scottish Protestant Christian missionary in China and Mongolia.At the time Gilmour went to the field, Mongolia embraced that vast territory between China proper and Siberia, stretching from the Sea of Japan on the east to Turkestan on the west, and from Asiatic Russia on the north to the Great Wall of China on the south. In the center is the great Gobi Desert. To carry the Gospel to the nomadic bands of this land, Gilmour of necessity adopted a roving life and puts up with its hardships. In 1882 the Gilmours took furlough to England. While home he published "Among the Mongols". One critic wrote, "Robinson Crusoe has turned missionary, lived years in Mongolia, and wrote a book about it."THIS book is a record not many journeys; not a few weeks passed in scouring Mongolia, but of long years spent in unusually intimate intercourse with its people. The writer introduces his readers to a people of whom very little beyond the name is known. In fact, the all-pervading quality of this book is its freshness, and this quality manifests itself in style, incidents, things and scenes described, and, not the least, in the object and end for which the travels narrated have been undertaken.Every page of this book testifies that the writer goes about with eye and ear open; and as he also possesses the gift of narrating in interesting and lifelike style what he sees and hears, his book possesses the charm which attaches to all true pictures of human life. With many good qualities, and with almost a superabundance of religion, the Mongols have no love of truth, and are wont to despise a man who cannot meet the stress of daily events by an apt lie.Gilmour possesses in a high degree the power of graphic description. The book abounds in passages that could be adduced in support of this statement, notably his account of a journey across the desert of Gobi, and a visit to Lake Baikal in midwinter. No one can read these pages without feeling that to Gilmour has been given by the Master in a very high degree the true missionary spirit. He thinks it a small thing to cut himself off from the comforts of civilization; he wanders about for months at a time living in smoky Mongol tents and striving to win the affection of darkened Mongol hearts; he has laid it down as a fundamental principle 'never to take offence at the conduct of a heathen, however bad it might be ;' and he has learnt that in this as in other fields the work of God is accomplished slowly, though he doubts not that it will be done in His own good time and way. No one can carefully read this volume without feeling that it is the work of a man who is possessed by that love for souls ; and that in the accomplishment of the aim of his life, the conversion of the Mongols, there is no sacrifice he would not make, there is no toil he would not endure.No one can read this book without pleasure and benefit. The reader can hardly open at any page without finding something fresh, human, and interesting. CONTENTS. I.FIEST ACQUAINTANCE WITH MONGOLIA. II.PICKING UP MONGOLIAN. III.THE BAIKAL IN WINTER. IV.TRACES OF THE OLD BURIAT MISSION. V.LEARNING TO RIDE. VI.A NIGHT IN A MONGOL'S TENT. VII.BUYING EXPERIENCE. VIII.HOW TO TRAVEL IN MONGOLIA. IX.DINING WITH A MONGOL. X.APPEAL TO A MONGOL MANDARIN. XI.LAMA MIAO. XII.UKGA. XIII.WU T'AI SHAN. XIV.KALGAN. XV.DOCTORING THE MONGOLS. XVI.THE GOSPEL IN MONGOLIA. XVII.MONGOLS' DIFFICULTIES ABOUT CHRISTIANITY. XVIII.MONGOLIAN BUDDHISM. XIX.THE FIRST OF THE WHITE MONTH. XX.NORBO'S MARRIAGE. XXI.FRIENDLY MONGOLS. XXII.THIEVES IN MONGOLIA. XXIII.A MONGOL COURT OF JUSTICE. XXIV.A MONGOL PRISON. XXV.WHISKY IN MONGOLIA. XXVI.THE MIDSUMMER FESTIVAL. XXVII.MONGOL TOILET. XXVIII.MSOF IN MONGOLIA. XXIX.MONGOL STORIES. XXX.WOL

James Gilmour ( 1843 - 1891) was a Scottish Protestant Christian missionary in China and Mongolia. At the time Gilmour went to the field, Mongolia embraced that vast territory between China proper and Siberia, stretching from the Sea of Japan on the east to Turkestan on the west, and from Asiatic Russia on the north to the Great Wall of China on the south. In the center is the great Gobi Desert. To carry the Gospel to the nomadic bands of this land, Gilmour of necessity adopted a roving life and puts up with its hardships. In 1882 the Gilmours took furlough to England. While home he published "Among the Mongols". One critic wrote, "Robinson Crusoe has turned missionary, lived years in Mongolia, and wrote a book about it." THIS book is a record not many journeys; not a few weeks passed in scouring Mongolia, but of long years spent in unusually intimate intercourse with its people. The writer introduces his readers to a people of whom very little beyond the name is known. In fact, the all-pervading quality of this book is its freshness, and this quality manifests itself in style, incidents, things and scenes described, and, not the least, in the object and end for which the travels narrated have been undertaken. Every page of this book testifies that the writer goes about with eye and ear open; and as he also possesses the gift of narrating in interesting and lifelike style what he sees and hears, his book possesses the charm which attaches to all true pictures of human life. With many good qualities, and with almost a superabundance of religion, the Mongols have no love of truth, and are wont to despise a man who cannot meet the stress of daily events by an apt lie. Gilmour possesses in a high degree the power of graphic description. The book abounds in passages that could be adduced in support of this statement, notably his account of a journey across the desert of Gobi, and a visit to Lake Baikal in midwinter. No one can read these pages without feeling that to Gilmour has been given by the Master in a very high degree the true missionary spirit. He thinks it a small thing to cut himself off from the comforts of civilization; he wanders about for months at a time living in smoky Mongol tents and striving to win the affection of darkened Mongol hearts; he has laid it down as a fundamental principle 'never to take offence at the conduct of a heathen, however bad it might be ;' and he has learnt that in this as in other fields the work of God is accomplished slowly, though he doubts not that it will be done in His own good time and way. No one can carefully read this volume without feeling that it is the work of a man who is possessed by that love for souls ; and that in the accomplishment of the aim of his life, the conversion of the Mongols, there is no sacrifice he would not make, there is no toil he would not endure. No one can read this book without pleasure and benefit. The reader can hardly open at any page without finding something fresh, human, and interesting. Contents I. FIRST ACQUAINTANCE WITH MONGOLIA. II. PICKING UP MONGOLIAN. III. THE BAIKAL IN WINTER. IV. TRACES OF THE OLD BURIAT MISSION. V. LEARNING TO RIDE. VI. A NIGHT IN A MONGOL'S TENT. VII. BUYING EXPERIENCE. VIII. HOW TO TRAVEL IN MONGOLIA. IX. DINING WITH A MONGOL. X. APPEAL TO A MONGOL MANDARIN. XI. LAMA MIAO. XII. URGA. XIII. Wu T'ai Shan. XIV. KALGAN. XV. DOCTORING THE MONGOLS. XVI. THE GOSPEL IN MONGOLIA. XVII. Mongols' Difficulties About Christianity. XVIII. MONGOLIAN BUDDHISM. XIX. THE FIRST OF THE WHITE MONTH. XX. NORBO'S MARRIAGE. XXI. FRIENDLY MONGOLS. XXII. THIEVES IN MONGOLIA. XXIII. A MONGOL COURT OF JUSTICE. XXIV. A MONGOL PRISON. XXV. WHISKY IN MONGOLIA. XXVI. THE MIDSUMMER FESTIVAL. XXVII. MONGOL TOILET. XXVIII. IN MONGOLIA. XXIX. MONGOL STORIES. XXX. WOLVES IN MONGOLIA. XXXI. THE MONGOLS IN PEKING. XXXII. Mongolia's Two Neighbours, Russia and China.

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1883 edition. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER XXXII. MONGOLIA'S TWO NEIGHBOURS, RUSSIA AND CHINA. Russia, in contrast to China, offers protection. Provides travelling facilities. Has a fixed currency. Fosters industry. Brings over her subjects to Christianity. The advances of Russia in Central Asia are at present occupying a good deal of attention; perhaps, therefore, some observations about what Russia does for the tribes over which she extends her empire may be interesting. As the range of my personal observation has been confined to Mongolia and Siberia, I limit my remarks to what I have seen and heard in these parts, contrasting the effect of Russian influence on the north, with the effect of Chinese influence on the south. Protection is the first and most important consideration for any nation or tribe, and in this respect Russia shows to immense advantage when compared with China. The Mongols under Chinese government seem to have no protection at all. A band of robbers has only to appear, and the country far and near is at their mercy. Messengers may be sent to Peking on the fleetest horses; the officers at the nearer military centres may bestir themselves as they like, the military organisations are such that no protective force can appear on the scene RUSSIA PROTECTS HER SUBJECTS. 367 till long, perhaps months, after the country has been eaten, and the inhabitants dispersed or slain. Then, after all is past, ponderous and expensive military detachments arrive, and take up their residence somewhere or other, remaining inactive perhaps for a year or two, drawing their pay, making their squeezes, sending to Peking reports of imaginary actions and victories, while the robbers either continue their career' in some conveniently distant part of the country, or gradually...

Excerpt from Among the MongolsWith regard to the Buddhism spoken of through out the work generally, and especially treated of in the eighteenth chapter, it should be remembered that this is not the theoretic system of that ancient religion, but the development of it which now obtains in the practical life of the present-day Mongols, namely, the old doctrines mixed up with extraneous beliefs and superstitions native and imported, and for which perhaps the best name would be Lamaism.About the PublisherForgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.comThis book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.

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This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the original. Due to its age, it may contain imperfections such as marks, notations, marginalia and flawed pages. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions that are true to the original work.

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work. This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the original. Due to its age, it may contain imperfections such as marks, notations, marginalia and flawed pages. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions that are true to the original work.