Communism -- Soviet Union; Mongolia -- Description and travel
I asked them to take me to Domojiroff. Through the dark I saw four big
yurtas and two Mongol sentinels with Russian rifles. We entered the
Russian “Noyon’s” tent. A very strange picture was presented to our
eyes. In the middle of the yurta the brazier was burning. In the usual
place for the altar stood a throne, on which the tall, thin, grey-haired
Colonel Domojiroff was seated. He was only in his undergarments and
stockings, was evidently a little drunk and was telling stories. Around
the brazier lay twelve young men in various picturesque poses. My
officer companion reported to Domojiroff about the events in Uliassutai
and during the conversation I asked Domojiroff where his detachment was
encamped. He laughed and answered, with a sweep of his hand: “This is my
detachment.” I pointed out to him that the form of his orders to us in
Uliassutai had led us to believe that he must have a large company with
him. Then I informed him that Lt.-Colonel Michailoff was preparing to
cross swords with the Bolshevik force approaching Uliassutai.
“What?” he exclaimed with fear and confusion, “the Reds?”
We spent the night in his yurta and, when I was ready to lie down, my
officer whispered to me:
“Be sure to keep your revolver handy,” to which I laughed and said:
“But we are in the center of a White detachment and therefore in perfect
safety!”
“Uh-huh!” answered my officer and finished the response with one eye
closed.
The next day I invited Domojiroff to walk with me over the plain, when
I talked very frankly with him about what had been happening. He and Hun
Boldon had received orders from Baron Ungern simply to get into touch
with General Bakitch, but instead they began pillaging Chinese firms
along the route and he had made up his mind to become a great conqueror.
On the way he had run across some of the officers who deserted Colonel
Kazagrandi and formed his present band. I succeeded in persuading
Domojiroff to arrange matters peacefully with Chultun Beyli and not to
violate the treaty. He immediately went ahead to the monastery. As I
returned, I met a tall Mongol with a ferocious face, dressed in a blue
silk outercoat--it was Hun Boldon. He introduced himself and spoke
with me in Russian. I had only time to take off my coat in the tent of
Domojiroff when a Mongol came running to invite me to the yurta of
Hun Boldon. The Prince lived just beside me in a splendid blue yurta.
Knowing the Mongolian custom, I jumped into the saddle and rode the ten
paces to his door. Hun Boldon received me with coldness and pride.
“Who is he?” he inquired of the interpreter, pointing to me with his
finger.
I understood his desire to offend me and I answered in the same manner,
thrusting out my finger toward him and turning to the interpreter with
the same question in a slightly more unpleasant tone:
“Who is he? High Prince and warrior or shepherd and brute?”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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