a third clerical grade. The gelun must be a celibate,
must shave his head, fast on the 8th, 13th, and 20th of
each month, abstain from wine and tobacco, and not
wilfully kill an animal, even an insect. The gelun
wears on ordinary occasions a long robe, enveloping
him from head to feet, above which is worn a yellow
gown with wide sleeves, and a yellow hat. When
conducting religious ceremonies he wears many other
and multiform garments.
The gelun’s tent is always placed in the centre of
the sumul, and is distinguished by its white, thin felt,
and prayer-inscribed banner floating from a staff at the
door. Here live the gelun and his disciples (shabi),
usually five, who are not less than 12 years of age.
Some of the disciples are simply servants, who look
after domestic arrangements; and the third class, called
getsul, assist in the performance of religious worship.
The gelun’s tent is also the house of prayer, as well
as a dispensary, whence the great man administers
medicine. His tent, like a chemist’s shop, is accessible
at all times to all persons, whether to a man with a
sick cow or seeking a strayed horse, or one about to go
on a long journey. On entering, the suppliant places
his hand on his breast and bows, whereupon the gelun
lays a holy book on the head of the visitor and pronounces
a blessing. The gelun is maintained partly
at Government expense (^4 i6i. a year), but chiefly by
his scattered “ parishioners,” some of whom he visits
weekly, accompanied by one or two of his disciples.
On arriving at a collection of tents • he is joyfully
received by the Kalmuks, who regard it as an honour
to entertain him with their best,' and give a feast
usually of fresh mutton, tea, and kumiss. He says
prayers in his tent at the prescribed hours, as if he
were at home, and the whole of the aul, men, women,
and children, Come and ask for his blessing.
As a cleric the gelun is subject to his spiritual superiors,
but not to civil jurisdiction. He is supposed to
take no part in the secular affairs of the people, but simply
to render a quarterly report of births in the sumun to
the zang, with whom he is considered to be on an
equality. Indirectly, however, he can influence secular
affairs through the lamas, who are numerous, since one
of every three brothers in a family adopts the clerical
calling. All the lamas in a sumul live by themselves,
and are in constant relation with their gelun, and receive
from him personal assistance. The gelun’s superiors
are the heads of monasteries, who may fine, and even
inflict corporal punishment on the geluns, which is not
often done, however, on account of the tolerance of the
Kalmuks for the frailties of their pseudo-virgin geluns.
The zang, or civil administrator of the sumul, ranks
with an European major. His tent is better than, but
not otherwise different from, the rest. The sole distinguishing
mark of his costume is a hat with peacock’s
feather, and dark blue button. It is his duty to arrange
the turn of military duty on the frontier pickets, and to
mount guards over government horses. He also investigates
non-capital crimes committed in the sumul, and
may award from 27 to 54 blows with a whip, but not
more. The people are not on such intimate terms with
the zang as with their spiritual ruler. They appear
before the zang only when summoned, and kneel on
one knee. No one dare sit in his presence without
permission, or criticise his orders. Usually he connives
with the rich and oppresses the poor, who uncomplainingly
submit.
The faith of the Ili Kalmuks who emigrated to