Contains a letter that Howard wrote to Adventure. It was printed in the March 20th, 1924 issue. Volume 45, number 5. Probably written late 1923. The letter on page 188 goes like this:

Tatar Tongues and Ways

HOW Mongolians jail a man without resorting to the use of a jail:

Question:—”I am writing for information in regard to the tribes of Mongolia.

  1. What is the Mongol word for “wolf”? For “tiger”? For “sword”?
  2. Is the language used by the Mongols similar to that of the Tatars?
  3. Do the Kirghiz inhabit Mongolia or Chinese Turkestan?
  4. Are there any Baskir tribes in Chinese Turkestan, and are they allied to the Turkomans?
  5. Am I right in supposing that swords or similar still form an important part of a Mongol or Tatar warrior’s armament?
  6. Do the Mongol and Tatar tribes worship Erlik, Bon or Buddha? Or all three?
  7. Is it still customary for the tribes to meet at some place and engage in wrestling, horse-racing and other contests?
  8. Is polygamy practised?
  9. What are the different forms of punishment by law and tribal custom?
  10. What are the powers of the khan of a tribe?
  11. About what is the population of Mongolia?”
    —Robert E. Howard, Cross Plains, Tex.

The answer from Adventure:

Answer, by Dr. Twomey:—I will try to answer some of your questions in this letter and write you again as soon as I can secure the information you desire.

  1. Will report later.
  2. No, Mongol and Tatar are separate languages. Furthermore, there are several branches of Mongols and Tatars, and each branch has a different language. Among the Tatars there are the Manchu, Mongol, Chinese, Tibetan and Siberian Tatars. These tribes are mixtures of the old Tatar stock and the other tribes. In Siberia, there are also the Buriats, who are of Tatar origin and who have their own language. All these tribes have many words in common and many words peculiar to themselves. The Mongols are now also mixed with other tribes, and while they adhere to many of their ancient customs their language is mixed with many words from the Chinese and other languages.
  3. The Kirghiz tribes inhabit Sinkiang or Chinese Turkestan.
  4. Will report later.
  5. Yes, the Mongols and Tatars have adopted modern firearms whenever they can get them, but the sword is still an important part of their armament.
  6. Never have heard of Erlik. Can you send more information? Several well-posted people whom I have asked have never heard of this term.
    Bon is the name of the religion affected by the Tibetans before the advent of Buddhism. At present, the Tatars and Mongols are adherents of Lamaism, a corrupt form of Buddhism.
    Lamaism is under control of the Dalai Lama at Lassa. He is supposed to be a reincarnation of Buddha. Under him are three living Buddhas in Tibet. These men are reincarnations of some of the most famous Buddhist saints. At Urga in northern Mongolia is another living Buddha, known to the Mongols as the Bogda. He is the holy man of the Mongols and derives his authority direct from Lassa.
  7. Yes. If you will write to the Pioneering Company, Kalgan, Mongolia, Peking, they will send you a lot of information about this subject. They own a large ranch in Mongolia and every year entertain tourists with a fiesta of Mongol sports.
  8. Yes, to a limited extent. As in most other countries where polygamy is practised, it depends on the wealth of the men. Usually in Mongolia the officials are the only ones who can afford to possess more than one wife.
  9. Fines, whipping, imprisonment and in aggravated cases imprisonment in a small box. This box is locked. It contains a small hole, through which the friends and relatives of the prisoner can feed him if they wish. The prisoner is left in this box until he dies of starvation if his friends do not feed him.
  10. As in all pastoral countries, the chief has nominal power. He is usually the head of a family or group of families, and much is settled by family conferences. Most of the temporal and spiritual authority in Mongolia is in the hands of the lamas.
  11. Nobody knows. No census has ever been taken. The tribes are migratory, and no census can be taken. Some authorities say the population is about five million; but your guess is as good as theirs.

 

Contents

  • 1 – “Ointment-Pots” by Gordon Young
  • 35 – “The Horse from the North Country” by R. E. Hamilton
  • 44 – “The Thumb” by Kingsley Moses
  • 66 – “Slants on Life | Fruit-Tramps” by Bill Adams (article)
  • 67 – “The King of No Man’s Land” (Part 1 of 4) by Arthur O. Friel
  • 93 – “A Stone Age Vendetta” by L. P. B. Armit
  • 105 – “A Frontier Robin Hood” by Michael J. Phillips (article)
  • 114 – “Indian Tribes of Missouri” by Raymond W. Thorp (article)
  • 115 – “Porto Bello Gold” (Part 5 of 5) by Arthur D. Howden Smith
  • 143 – “Seamen All” by John Webb
  • 153 – “Blood and Fire” by L. Patrick Greene
  • 175 – The Camp-Fire
  • 181 – Various Practical Services Free to Any Reader
  • 182 – Old Songs That Men Have Song
  • 183 – Ask Adventures (where Howard’s letter was printed)
Download magazine Howard Works

Miscellaneous

Ask Adventure
Camp-Fire Stations
The Camp-Fire
Lost Trails
Old Songs That Men Have Sung
The Trail Ahead
Various Practical Services Free to Any Reader

Notes

Editor: Arthur Sullivant Hoffman
Data from the Richard Bleiler Index (via Howard Works)

Publisher :The Ridgway Company
Year :March 20, 1924
Replica by: 
Format :Periodical (Pulp Magazine)
Pages :192
Cover :Frank C. Herbst
Illustrations :Bernard Westmacott

 

Adventure March 1924

Contains a letter that Howard wrote to Adventure. It was printed in the March 20th, 1924 issue. Volume 45, number 5. Probably written late 1923.

Tags: Bernard Westmacott / Frank C. Herbst / Pulp / Robert E. Howard