Across the Roof of the World. 



It had been a long-cherished desire of mine to undertake 

 a big-game shooting expedition into Central Asia, a scheme as 

 bold as it was comprehensive, since it included the Pamirs, the 

 Thian Shan, and the Great Altai Mountains, thence through 

 Siberia to the Trans-Siberian Railway. Such a journey, em- 

 bracing as it does so vast and varied a field, necessitates a con- 

 siderable amount of preparation and forethought, and might well 

 appal the most enthusiastic shikari. The idea first took definite 

 shape in Chitral, in 1906-7 where my regiment was then 

 stationed as garrison of the most northerly outpost of the Indian 

 Empire. During 12 months spent there I first experienced that 

 fascination for the lands which lay beyond, that desire to penetrate 

 into the heart of Asia culminating in the Trans-Asiatic journey 

 the following pages endeavour to describe. 



I fully appreciated the difficulties, and realised it would be a 

 hard proposition, so with a view to rendering the chances of 

 success as favourable as possible I devoted much time and 

 care to the necessary preparations. I did not, however, believe 

 the enterprise to be beyond the power of accomplishment, for 

 I had had the good fortune to gain much of that experience 

 in various parts of the world so necessary to one who would 

 venture into the unknown, travel off the beaten track, and 

 penetrate regions where man is still in the most primitive state. 



The spring of 1909 saw my preparations completed and 

 everything ready for the great trek. The fundamental principle 

 underlying success in such an expedition is the thoroughness of 

 one's arrangements, or " bundobast," as it is known in India. 

 I therefore go somewhat fully into the question of outfit and 

 personnel, in the hope that the outcome of my experience may 

 be of use to future travellers in the composition of their caravan, 

 prefacing my remarks with some account of the formalities 

 necessary to obtain the requisite sanction of the Government 

 of India, and as to the passports needed to enable one to 

 enter and travel in Russian and Chinese territory. 



An apphcation must first be submitted to the Government 



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