Communism -- Soviet Union; Mongolia -- Description and travel
Boldon at once became confused and, with trembling voice and agitation
in his whole manner, blurted out to me that he would not allow me to
interfere in his affairs and would shoot every man who dared to run
counter to his orders. He pounded on the low table with his fist and
then rose up and drew his revolver. But I was much traveled among the
nomads and had studied them thoroughly--Princes, Lamas, shepherds and
brigands. I grasped my whip and, striking it on the table with all my
strength, I said to the interpreter:
“Tell him that he has the honor to speak with neither Mongol nor Russian
but with a foreigner, a citizen of a great and free state. Tell him he
must first learn to be a man and then he can visit me and we can talk
together.”
I turned and went out. Ten minutes later Hun Boldon entered my yurta and
offered his apologies. I persuaded him to parley with Chultun Beyli
and not to offend the free Mongol people with his activities. That very
night all was arranged. Hun Boldon dismissed his Mongols and left for
Kobdo, while Domojiroff with his band started for Jassaktu Khan to
arrange for the mobilization of the Mongols there. With the consent of
Chultun Beyli he wrote to Wang Tsao-tsun a demand to disarm his guard,
as all of the Chinese troops in Urga had been so treated; but this
letter arrived after Wang had bought camels to replace the stolen horses
and was on his way to the border. Later Lt.-Colonel Michailoff sent
a detachment of fifty men under the command of Lieutenant Strigine to
overhaul Wang and receive their arms.
CHAPTER XXVII
MYSTERY IN A SMALL TEMPLE
Prince Chultun Beyli and I were ready to leave the Narabanchi Kure.
While the Hutuktu was holding service for the Sait in the Temple of
Blessing, I wandered around through the narrow alleyways between the
walls of the houses of the various grades of Lama Gelongs, Getuls,
Chaidje and Rabdjampa; of schools where the learned doctors of theology
or Maramba taught together with the doctors of medicine or Ta Lama;
of the residences for students called Bandi; of stores, archives and
libraries. When I returned to the yurta of the Hutuktu, he was inside.
He presented me with a large hatyk and proposed a walk around the
monastery. His face wore a preoccupied expression from which I gathered
that he had something he wished to discuss with me. As we went out of
the yurta, the liberated President of the Russian Chamber of Commerce
and a Russian officer joined us. The Hutuktu led us to a small building
just back of a bright yellow stone wall.
“In that building once stopped the Dalai Lama and Bogdo Khan and we
always paint the buildings yellow where these holy persons have lived.
Enter!”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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