An Imperial Russian Savage.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 7068, 14 February 1893, Page 3

An Imperial Russian Savage.

Letters from Tashkend report that General Baranok, who recently died at tbat town, and is generally believed to have been poisoned by persons having cause to apprehend the results of the administrative reforms which he was about to introduce in Turkestan, had in hand, at the time of his death, a commission of exceptional delicacy and difficulty. He had been deputed from a high quarter to investigate and report upon the conduct of tbo Grand Duke Nicholas Constantinoviteh, the Ozar’s cousin, who bad lived in exile in Central Asia since the painful drama which twenty years ago brought about the disgrace of hie Imperial Highness, 't he Grand Duke’s manner of living in the remote Central Asian city is described as strange beyond measure,

j so extraordinary indeed that many peop;e I supposed him to be either demented or I addicted to habits of intemperance. Hi# tyranny to those about him is excessive, and all his people tremble at their master’s approach. Lately the Grand Duke has had a magnificent palace built at Taahkend, but he lives in an old and dilapidated building with his wife, a person whom he married in a fit of eccentricity, and whonv he constantly beats. Another of the peculiarities of his Imperial Highness is to wear both at home and abroad a native robe ! or khalat, which rcsemb’ea a robe de chambre, and is neither rich in appearance nor free from rents. At his orders are some twenty Ural Cossacks, who carry out his orders with blind obedience. More than once it has happened that the Prince, to punish people who have offended him. has had them buried up to their necks in the sand, while their heads were exposed to the burning sun. Not long ago a doctor who was subjected to this barbarous treatment suffered bo terribly that he went out of his mind. It is therefore no matter for wonder that complaints of the Grand Luke’s conduct reached St. Petersburg, and that instructions were sent to General Baranok to institute an inquiry into the proceedings of the august exile.