January 29, 1977
I have your manuscaript on Bulatovich [early draft of the novel The Name of Hero] and I am very much impressed. It is excellent and the story is mostly interesting and vivid.
I read it once only and there are some points that I would correct but these are details. I will write you again and will pinpoint what I consider not "truth like."
I can also send you some of my father's memories which pertain to his relations with Bulatovich.
It should be noted that Mr. Bulatovich was not only a brave, or lucky mulitary man, not only a mystic, but also a practical man. For instance, when in Abyssinia, he was mapping the country and to do this he used an altimeter and an astrolab and a chronometer to make the point as the navigators do in the navy. And there was no radio to correct the time or the bearings. During his trips in Abyssinia, he took photographs, but had all the chemicals to process them in his tent, and at the time there was not the prepared and practical equipment for doing this. He had to use his knowledge of chemistry.
During his early years as a cavalry officer when he was only a praporchik [lieutenant], he bought a bike. At that time the bicycle was a toy or rather a ridiculous instrument for fun. But Bulatovich was foreseeing the use of it for moving infantry raster than just by foot.
Later on, in his regiment, he probed the endurance of his regiment horses, making long trips with his company from Gatshina to Luga, for instance, in one ride, without stopping and feeding. This knowledge of the horse was then used in the Manchurian campaign, and much later by Budenny during the Civil War in the south of Russia in 1918, 1919. Something of the nomad's knowledge of horses which was the success of invasions in the 13th century.
When I knew Bulatovich, my unclde, during 1915-1916 in Petersburg and I was a schoolboy at the Tenishevsky Commercial School in Petersburg and he was living with us in a dark room because of his eyes.
He was typing endless letters and pamphlets about his imyaborchestvo. He was typing blind in the darkness and typing well, with very few misprints.
Speaking of his character or his pride I can say that his pride is "internal." Usually pride means an urge for human approval. His pride was an urge for his own approval, or if you want it otherwise, an urge for God's approval.
He was not dogmatic nor was he fanatic. I remember endless arguments between my father (an atheist) and my uncle Bulatovich. These arguments were always friendly. These two were sincere friends in spite of opposite ways of thinking.
I never heard about his Abyssinian "marriage" but I have lived for ten years in Africa and I do understand some of the situation. Bulatovich could not avoid a marriage in the Abyssinian way if one of the Abyssinian leaders desired to establish a relationship with him. But the arrival of this "wife" to Petersburg is impossible. And if she would arrive, Bulatovich, as you know him, would not send her away. He was not that kind of man.
I rather suppose that one of the Russian who were in Abyssinia with Bulatovich and who knew about this marriage, could spread the rumor in Petersburg.
An Abyssinian Ras would never allow his daughter to leave the country and run behind her man. That is what I think.