Tents in Mongolia: Adventures and Experiences Among the Nomads of Central Asia

by Henning Haslund

Published in 1934: This book describes his adventures and experiences among the Nomads of Central Asia.

366 pages, ebook

Published April 11, 2019

About the author

Though born in Denmark, Henning Haslund had the soul of a Mongol nomad. The foot-loose young man originally journeyed to Outer Mongolia in 1923, ostensibly to help run an experimental agricultural project. Yet it didn’t take long for the call of adventure to out-sing the tune of the peasant’s plow. Henning, who was an excellent horseman, had already explored far afield by the time the farm failed. He was quickly offered more suitable employment by the Swedish ex-patriot, Hertog Larsen, who was known as the “Duke of Mongolia.” Larsen introduced young Henning to Sweden’s most celebrated Central Asian explorer, Sven Hedin. In the company of these two living legends, Henning spent several years exploring the Gobi desert and learning the basics of scientific research. By 1930 Henning had decided to branch out on his own. These plans were delayed when he was badly wounded in an avalanche and had to return to Europe for surgery. Following his recovery, Henning lectured in Denmark and Sweden, then announced that he was returning to Mongolia with state of the art recording equipment to record the music and oral legends of Inner Asia. The lacquer discs which Henning ultimately produced now form the crown jewels of a prized ethnic collection housed at the National Museum in Copenhagen. Despite a life full of adventure, war and danger, Henning found himself in Afghanistan in 1947, bound as always for another adventure. Yet the camel bells of the ultimate caravan were calling the Danish rover. He died as he lived, far afield. Henning Haslund lies buried in Kabul, close to the grave of that other Central Asian wanderer, Sir Auriel Stein.