CHAPTER XXX.

_THE BURIATS._

Country of the Buriats.--Their physiognomy and costume.--Habitations.--Mongol yourts.--Hospitality.--Fuel.--Possessions in cattle.--Character of Buriats.--Their religions.--Buddhist Buriats.--The soul of Buddha.--The lamas.--Their celibacy, classification, employments, disabilities.--Buddhist doctrines.--A prayer cylinder.--Christian Buriats.--English missions.--Reports of English travellers.--Results of Russian missions.--Distribution of Buriat Scriptures 364