Of tlic illustrations contained in the book, one hundred and 

 twenty are from my own photographs, and for the remaining ten I 

 owe thanks to Captain Ronald Cheape, ist King's Dragoon 

 Guards. 



In connection with my arrangements for the expedition from 

 its inception to its final conclusion I am indebted to many for 

 much ready and willing assistance. Foremost in this respect I 

 would beg His Excellency Sir Arthur Nicolson,thcn His Majesty's 

 Ambassador at St. Petersburg, to acceijt grateful thanks for 

 much kindly interest shown me when frostbitten near the Siberian 

 frontier, and to his representations thereon to the Russian Govern- 

 ment on my behalf. 



I am under a deep sense of obligation to Colonel .Sir Francis 

 Younghusband, K.C.I.E., late British Resident in Kaslimir. for 

 invaluable assistance rendered me prior to the start. 



To all the British Officials met with I would tender my cordial 

 thanks and particularly to Captain A. R. B. Shuttleworth, Indian 

 Army, then acting as His Britannic Majest\''s Consul in Chinese 

 Turkistan. I am sensible of much sympathetic interest and ever- 

 ready help he afforded me during my trek through Kashgaria— and 

 afterwards. 



It is, too, a pleasing task to place on record my grateful 

 recognition of much kindness and courtesy exhibited b)' Russian 

 and Chinese Officials, especially by the Russian authorities at 

 Zaisan, that far distant outpost of the Czar's Empire on the borders 

 of Siberia and Mongolia. To them I owe a debt of gratitude for 

 their care and attention, both to m}'self and my orderly, when 

 suffering from severe frostbite. 



Finally, I cannot close this Preface without a tribute of praise 

 to my Garhwali Orderly, Rifleman Giyan Sing Pharswan, who 

 accompanied me throughout the journey, and was the onl\- man to 

 compass tb.c entire route with me from start to finish. 



P. T. ETHERTOX. 

 Jainiary 191 1. 



