AMONG EARTH'S STRANGEST PEOPLE.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 15 May 1901, Page 4

AMONG EARTH'S STRANGEST PEOPLE.

Will the Russian Bjeguny Survive the Coming Ordeal ?

The Russian Courts will presently bo hearing a case absolutely unprecedented in the annals of religious fanaticism, Eays the "Daily Mail."

There recently arose in Southern Russia a new sect called the "Bjeguny." Its leader was one Kowalowski, who, "in order to expiate the sins of the world," sentenced thirty-two of his followers to be buried alive! This so-called "religious" rite was duly performed, the fanatical victims cheerfully submitting to the grim ordeal.

As announced in the "Daily Mail" the other day, exhumations on the site of the Bjeguny's dwellings have resulted in the discovery that twenty-eight other peasants suffered a living intermei t, making a total altogether of sixty. Kowalewski, who is at present in a monastery, is to be brought before a court of law to show cause why he should not be held responsible for the lives of these people.

Such men as Kowalewski—men of superior intelligence and gifted with some eloquence frequently appear among the simple peasantry of Southern Russia. They announce that they have a new mission and that they arc destined to set the world aright. A man of this stamp was one Ivan Gregorief. He was of the humblest parentage—his father was a peasant—and yet he .©reated practically a now religion. His Jieiples live iike the;early Christians, but :srguo that ho who allows himself to be restrained by law is not a true Christian.

An even more fantastic sect is called, the " Klyati. " It has a very numerous membership of men and women. They lead a strict, ascetic life, and never marry. Each member i.s a ' gcd, ' of equal powir, and yet, somewhat unreasonably it appears to Western ideas, they endeavour to propitiate one another, When the Klyati assemble they solemnly dispute as to which of their nmnber can exercise the greatest good for their fellows- The point is decn'ed in favour of the members who can receive the most blows across the ears and stili turn the e';eek of forgiveness to the challenger ! This rite is performed in all solemnity almost every week. The peasants wno follow these people are very poor and ignorant, and easily led. Occasionally the rain sweeps down the Bjeguny villages in fearful torrents and converts the unpaved streets into rushing rivers. Children are drowned, and sometimes adults also ; but in a place where life is held so cheap, such a calamity is regarded with equanimity. For the most part the houses are built of wood, somewhat resembling the wigwam of the Far West The Bjeguny and the other curious sects of Southern liu?sia are very devout. The authorities of Ht Petersburg are at present in possession of the recently discovered sacred writings and pictures of Kowalevvski'3 followers. The former are invariably written on scarlet linen, the characters reading from left to right; where as in ordinary correspondence the letters ran from top to bottom in columns. One of the sacred writings found its way to England, but the owner, despite every effort, failed to get it translated or even to determine what language wa3 written in. In the district where the Bjeguny thrive are miles of tumul and other sacred burying places. One of the most curious in appearance recalls our own Stonehenge, but it is many times larger. Frequently one of the great tombs is excavated. Vast treasure is sometimes found within them. One gigantic place of interment, as large as a smaJ 1 mountain, contained among other valuables, a braclet of massive gold weighing three-quarters of a pound and studded with rubies and diamonds. It was sent to the Emperor.