Among the Celestials : vol.1 / Page 160 (Color Image)

0160	Among the Celestials : vol.1

130 AMONG THE CELESTIALS. [CHAP. VI.

Crusades, when they were establishing a power

in Asia, the last remnant of which only dis-

appeared with the Moghal Emperor at Delhi

in 1857.

What fused this inert mass into so vivid a

life, was the genius of one great man. Un-

scrupulous, treacherous, and pitilessly cruel,

Chengiz Khan undoubtedly was, but he had to

a supreme degree, that vital energy which in

one direction irresistibly attracted men to him,

and in another direction crushed down every-

thing before it. Driven by this fiery force, the

Mongols were hurled forth over Asia as from a

volcano. The eruption subsided, and to-day

only the bare crater is visible. Whether the

volcano is altogether extinct, time only can

show. It may after centuries of quiescence

break out again. But certainly now there is

no indication of such an eventuality, and any-

thing less dangerous than these listless nomads,

it would be hard to conceive.

Two new camels having been purchased, we

set out again on the 28th, in spite of the violent

wind that was blowing ; but we did not get far,

and had to halt again the whole of the next

day on account of the wind. Although it was

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