Welcome Assistance. 



between me and Southern Turkistan and the happy lands of the 

 Thian Shan. 



Tlirough the kindness and personal interest shown me by 

 His Majesty's Ambassador in St. Petersburg, I was provided 

 with permits by the Governor-General of Western Siberia, acting 

 on instructions from the Russian Government. The latter com- 

 municated with the local authorities at Zaisan and along the line 

 of my route to the Trans-Siberian Railway, 800 miles to the 

 north, with the result that many difficulties were removed and I 

 was enabled to travel at greater speed than would have been the 

 case were I less powerfully accredited. 



401 



