(This is chapter 10 of the Nicholas Roerich's book
Shambhala.)
HIDDEN
TREASURES
Through
the immense spaces of Siberia, many ancient wanderers scattered their treasures.
Many tribes, in an unceasing procession, filled the soil of Mongolia, Minusinsk
and Altai. In Altai they remembered the call of other remote mountains, and
again strove onward, counting nor the days, nor years, nor centuries of their
wandering.
The
memory of the people preserves the sacred stories about the relics of these
great wanderers. And fantasy adorns them with most beautiful garlands.
Oh,
these hidden treasures! What aspiration is directed towards them!
This
is not merely anxiety to become possessor of riches. It is the eternal striving
toward the mystery of the earth.
Many
manuscripts flow through the people’s hands. Wandering singers, minstrels,
monks and beggars carry wonderful tales inscribed in a peculiar secret
language.
And why do these not
acquire the treasures themselves?
They
have always some excuses; the hidden language must be understood…
At
times you can see these curious writings on yellow leaves, their corners ragged
from long usage. Through many villages and camps these scriptures went their
ways. They were written in old script, sometimes like old prayer books, with
strange flourishes and ornamentations.
Really
it is not easy to decipher these rudimentary signs. Many people try to follow
these indications. It is true, that some places are indicated correctly. Some
typical details are marked down. But it is not known that precisely in these
places treasures were found. Either an exact indication was veiled, or
fortunate discoverers had reason for maintaining silence.
From
most ancient times, old graves and tumuli have been pillaged. It appears that
people who lived shortly after their erection carried on the sacrilege. It
seems that the desecrators knew well all approaches and passages to the places
of burial. The old custom to kill all who performed the burial had its special
reason. But we do not speak now of burials, but of treasures; about the
treasures, whose origin and destiny are so mysterious. We are speaking of
treasures.
One
remembers the majestic burial sites in the tumuli, under huge golden plaques.
How many of them have been pillaged! I remember how in the steppes a boy
shepherd noticed on a slope of a hill a spark of gold. His attention was
attracted and he was rightly rewarded. He found two hundred pounds of gold in
ancient vessels.
Let
us see how treasures are indicated in the books of treasure seekers:
“From the Red Field thou shalt go in the
direction of the winter’s sunrise. Follow this trail until thou shalt see a
tombhill. Ascend this hill and turn to the left and proceed to the rusty
stream. And then go up the stream until thou shalt see a huge gray stone. Upon
this stone find a trace of a horse’s hoof. Leave behind thee the stone and
proceed from this imprint of a hoof until thou comest to a small swamp. Thou
must know that some strange unknown people buried in there five huge pieces of
gold.
. . .
In the elkforest on the crosspath, is a huge
horny fir-tree. This fir-tree remains here not without reason. He who searches
can find some signs cut into it. Stand with your back to these signs and walk
straight from them across a moss swamp. And having passed, there will be a
stony place. Two stones will be larger than the others. Stand between them in
the center and count forty steps towards the spring sunset. There is a large
barrel of gold buried there during the time of Tzar the Terrible.”
Here
is a still better treasure:
“On the river Peresnya find a fording. And it
will be called the Prince’s fording. From this fording walk again toward the
spring sunset. And when you will have walked three hundred steps turn half
sideways. And walk across thirty steps to the right. And there will be
something like an old pit. And behind this pit you will see a stump of a large
tree. And there is buried a great treasure. All gold krestovics (big golden
coins) and all kinds of golden armor. And one cannot count all the golden
treasures. And this treasure was buried during the Mongol invasión.”
Another
good big treasure:
“On the very shore of the Irtysh you will
find an old site. And on this site is an ancient chapel. And behind it you may
see an old cemetery. Amidst the tombs you behold a small kurgan. Under this
kurgan, as told by old men, is a deep subterranean passage. And this passage
leads into a small cave and in there are to be found untold riches. An old
writing about this treasure is in the cathedral of Sophia. And the high one
himself, the Metropolite, once a year gives this writing to read to those who
come from afar.”
Now
I shall tell you the most difficult one:
“This treasure was buried with a deathly
conjuration. Should you decide to go after it, you will have headaches and
great anxiety of the soul. And at midnight you will hear horrifying voices. And
a bell will ring over you, as for a funeral service. But if you will succeed in
conquering all deadly terrors, if your heart will decide to go against all
fear, then yours is the great fortune.
There is a place called Great Mane. From the
mountain there flows a golden stream and into this stream robbers have sunk
innumerable quantities of gold. And over this place tiny birds are always
fluttering. It is said that the souls of the former masters of this gold turned
into these birds. And when you hear the chirping of the birds and behold this
place, close your ears and look into the stream. If you see that you are not
looking in alone do not be disturbed by this.
You will see on the bottom of the stream a
large slab. And into this slab is screwed an iron ring. And above it, from the
mountains flows the water, and it will seem to you in the ripples that this
slab is shaking and the ring is disappearing. Do not be disturbed by this
either, but begin to read the sacred prayer to the Holy Virgin Mary. And after
this prayer say: ‘Omnipotent! On Thy Vestment are woven all healing herbs. Be
merciful! Send me from out of these herbs an herb of power!
And here know how to show your luck. If you
succeed in deflecting the water from the ground and if you succeed in
unearthing the conjured slabs, and if you catch hold of the ring in time—then
your luck is untold and inexpressible!
Many treasures are buried everywhere. I do
not speak in vain. Our grandfathers wrote much about them. Even recently in our
forge a passing traveler repaired a wheel. He spoke and I overheard: ‘In
subterranean Siberia,’ said he, ‘many riches are buried. Guard Siberia!’
He was of great appearance, this man.
From grandfather I know this. Sometimes on
the eve of a great holiday he spoke to us, lighting the candles before old
ikons.
Thus he spoke: ‘For every man a treasure is
buried. Only one must know how to take these treasures. To a traitor, a
treasure is not given. A drunkard does not know how to approach it. Do not
harken to the treasure with evil thoughts. The treasure knows its worth. Do not
dare to harm the treasure. One should cherish the treasures. Many treasures
fell from the stars. Angels guard many treasures. Treasures are not buried with
a foolish word, but with prayers and conjurations. And the conjurations are
awe-inspiring. And wherever there is blood on a treasure it is better not to
approach it.’
Satan himself and with him all devils guard
the bloody gold.
And if your heart has decided to go for a
treasure, then go cautiously. Long before approaching, do not talk in vain, do
not show yourself too open; think your thoughts. There will be terrors before
you, but you should not fear. Something will appear to you, but do not look. Do
not harken to cries. Go in great caution. Do not stumble. Because to go for a
treasure is a great thing.
Over the treasure hasten thy efforts.
Do not look around and chiefly do not rest.
Because to every one the rest is ordained later on earth. And if you should
want to raise your voice, sing prayers to the Virgin. Remember, never take with
you any companions in the quest for the treasure.
If your luck comes and you take the treasure,
do not prattle to any one about it. Let people think that misfortune silences
you. But be you silent, because of fortune. In no way reveal at once to people
your treasure. Because the human eye is heavy. Treasures are unaccustomed to
people. Treasures lay long in the honest earth. If you reveal them to people,
they will again depart into the earth. And you will not have the treasure nor
shall any one else. Many treasures were spoilt by people because of their
pettiness.”
-
“And
where is your treasure, blacksmith? Why did you not take your treasure?”
-
“And
for me there lies buried a treasure. I, alone, know when to go after it.”
And
the blacksmith spoke no more about treasures.
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