Min tibetanska barndom i Zorgay - Life and Culture on the Tibetan ...

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GHOST STORIES
L
ocal people have seen ghosts <strong>and</strong> have been chased by
them. These ghosts, however, are different from the
ghosts in 'Journey to the West'.
Captured by Ghosts
Dugar described how ghosts had captured her. Afterwards, we
were so scared that we dared not go outside even during the
daytime. It happened when the sun had nearly hidden itself
behind West Mountain, just as we were driving our cattle back
home. The sunshine is not bright then. Local people call dusk
'the time of sunshine for ghosts' ghosts appear at this time.
All the cattle came home except one belonging to
Dugar, who went searching for it in the forest above our
village. She looked everywhere, but could not find it. To her
surprise, she heard someone calling her name from deep in
the forest. She walked toward the sound <strong>and</strong> the further she
went, the more distant the sound became. She was about to
turn back when she heard someone invisible talking nearby.
By the Three Jewels! She realized it was a ghost,
which was a hair-raising truth, but it was too late. Invisible
ghosts gripped her shoulders tightly <strong>and</strong> began leading her
away. The ghosts said while putting dust in her mouth, "This is
tsampa, eat it. We must take good care of her or her family will
be angry with us when we take her back." It seemed they were
kind. Then they gave her tree bark <strong>and</strong> said, "This is bread.
Eat it. You won't be hungry."
Dugar understood what the ghosts were saying, but
could not reply. Many ghosts were walking with her. They
chatted, were full of laughter, <strong>and</strong> walked so fast that she
could barely keep up. They pulled her roughly when she
lagged behind.
When it was entirely dark <strong>and</strong> Dugar had not returned
home, her worried husb<strong>and</strong> called some villagers to help
search for her. Elders guessed ghosts had captured her, <strong>and</strong>
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