Page:Christianity in China, Tartary, and Thibet Volume I.djvu/248

236 236 CHRISTIANITY IN CHINA, ETC. Rubruk wishing to take measures that should ensure him the victory, proposed to the Nestorians to have a kind of rehearsal, in which he would take the part of Bonze, and argue against them. But as his adversaries were not very skilful, they were continually worsted, in this preparatory exercise ; and as they never brought for- ward any other proofs than those from Holy Scripture, Rubruk had to point out to them that these could be of no avail with men who did not accept the Scriptures. It was therefore decided that Rubruk should speak first, and maintain the thesis. These things being settled, the meeting took place on the eve of Pentecost ; three of the emperor's secretaries, a Mussulman, a Buddhist, and a Christian, being ap- pointed as umpires in the contest. At the opening of the debate, a proclamation by the Kha-khan was read, in which it was forbidden, under pain of death, that either of the orators should say anything abusive of their adversaries, or raise any tumult that might stop the discussion. After the reading of this proclamation, there was a profound silence in the assembly, to which the most learned men of each party had been invited ; and then the Christians placed Rubruk in the midst of them, and charged him to maintain their cause against the pagans. Then a Bonze, who came from China, rose, and began to speak. " My friend," said he, addressing Rubruk, " if you find yourself driven to extremity, you would do well to seek for some one more skilful than yourself." Rubruk made no answer to this impertinent speech, and the Chinese continued, " With what wilt thou com- mence the discussion ? Shall it be on the creation of the world, or on the fate of the soul after death ? "