The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1914-01-02

vast neroS Oh HOIsts ""H"NA -
!. isemiwild state over the steppes or
" plains OF southern Russia.
Ma There the land Is 8 mouotonous
1level, presenting less OF diversity OF
T. 8appearance. perhaps, than any otheI
horton OF the entire earth's surface.
r One may proceed IN straight Ene
~ Tor hundreds Of miles without en-.
Xcountering tree or even bush, ana
/. Xfown can hardly be said to exist Inc
g. aituation is so exposed that there i
no shelter either from the parchlhs
heat OF summer or the Arctic coiu OF
49, winter. In such climate the principal
S3 occupation OF the inhabitants is TO rear
Thorses cattle, and sheep The horses
l4,& gupplv the Russian cavalry mounts
~ and a great portion OF those required
LIN the eastern countries of Europe.
~ The horses are reared in herds call
~ ed "taboons," under the care OF
n. herdsfnan, the ''tabuntshik, VINO mas
NJ several men TO assist him.
10 When a taboon IL about 10 be FORM
II led on one OF the great estates
|~Ifew stations and mares are placed
lin the care of tabuntshik and these
sare kept together year after year
I.v.tfll the number amounts 10 between
- Il 900 10 1 800 IL is not till taDoou
F44is full that the proprietor Oesihs 70
fseu either af the great horse sales
held in different parts OF the steppes'
{rnpr to the military contractors VINO
3travel round from taDoon 10 taDoVh.
|hd From April 10 October when the
Mains are covered with grass, the
u fahoons are constantly grazing. Dur
Ting the other months they remain IN
3der what shelter may be procurabie
Int night, and during the daytime Craze
kT1Cn what little pasturage they find be-
meath the snow Although there is
!. kah.naant- grass for hay grown In Inc
8 !. hummer too frequently very little
r,tcare rs taken TO lay In store OF Tod
der for the horses during the winter. |
q lAnd thus IL often happens that the
= animals are so reduced az to eat each |
tother's names and tails for lack OF
<fanytling In the form of provender !
$4Tne shelter usually provided consists
v}mprely OF space of ground enclosed 1
+{hy an earthen mound. usually In 4
c{rrumbling condition and with now and ]
{Jfhen something like roof toward the |
sXnorth to keen of the merciless colo I
n}winds that blow unchecked all the /
flway from the Pole,
"a When the winter is over the taboons !
1are herds of walking skeletons worn /
! n Gown almost 10 death. by cold and /
n starvation. But they speedily pick mp I
r condition when the grass appears.
s about the end OF April. and for
e couple OF months are in very prime I
= condition Then by July and August /
VI the steppes baked and dried by the |
g summer droaghts, show hardly a /
q vestiee Of herbiage, and all the /
~ streams and water holes are dried up. |
lathe horses find little to eat or drink, |
Y and try 10 shield themselves from the |
II burning sunshine by grouping or hud- /
q ding themselves together, each partly /
/ q under the shadow OF another.
II The autumn. however brings abund. !
~ ant pasturage and plenty OF water. |
= and the taboons get into condition
y again. only to experience starvation
" during the Ave winter months. II has
~ 10 be stated however. that not all /
= the proprietors nowadays are so inn |
/ IA Erovident as not TO stack convenient |
8ly, sufficient store OF winter fodder |
2 The German immigrants for instance. |
are noted for their foresight in thts |
z respect.
liz The tabuntshiks take great care
k1 70 keep their taboons at a good dis
lance from each other II they meet a
! desperate fight generally takes place,
all the stations OF one herd making
3 common cause against the strangers,
= the mares and foals standing aloof
IE For every horse that is lost or stol.
Ten tho tabuntshik is held liable, and
Al de has as much to guard against
OK the wildness of the animas as
Z AGAINST wolves and thieves. He almos
4 lives In the saddle. and that more by
night than by day: for IL is then the
4 tabo0n II most apt TO stray, as well
4 an to be attacked by marauders and
wolves. Whether in the Arctic cold OF
3 winter, or the almost tropical heat
OF summer. the tabuntshik is alike
over his charge A roof in
F winter, and shady spot In SUMMER
3saro almost unknown to him.
<H There Is no more picturesque a
n nnnre In the Old World than that OF
Ell the tQbuntshik, whose habits usually
~ shape him Into desperate. though
II a. wages go In Russia he gets very
- Nm money, from $1,000 To $4,000
~ Clothed in his principal gar
{ OF leather bound round his
BE by leather girdle--with
cylindrical. Tartar cap OF black
maxim covering his unkempt head,
large brown WOODEN cloak slung
er his sholders, the tabuntslnk sits
. horse as II IL Is part and parcel
hts own body, and in dexterity OF
ats of horsemanship has no equal
Europe. His sling. like a -lasso
- uses To catch the horses, throwing
! && round the neck without hurting the
nntmal. Near the peaked pommel Of
4 4 m saddle hangs his club, three 10
n f6ur feet long and armed with spiked
Il 1ron knob nj one end, which he hurls
4 II 4 wolf, and seldom without the de
tired and fatal effect. His whip or 'haf-
ab,ick." has p short thick handle
ana thong from rs TO 25 feet in
length. II is the chief and most ter
rIble weapon by means OF which he
koeuo his disorderly taboons in hand
WI>h provisions the tabuntshik Is
noor1y provided lie carries cask OF
Waf1r, for water IL not plentiful on
n oteppes. also "A bag OF bread, 9ni
n5Voeal bottles OF brandy. together
40 sundry trifies. lie depends ON
<6I<~ Wild Me OF the plains for his
&. and chance meetings with the
1ocko OF sheep that roam the
1no1ty with the "tschabawns"
After them. Az to replentshIng
~ stores. the tHbnBfsbib ~
8Io f0rlorn little Villages,
~ ep<uds HIS earnings on
) horse sale or fair r. held
- ~ very few towns. the