Marcu 28, 1912] NATURE 89 
other documents on wood, leather, and clay, as 
well as on paper, thus recovered, some are official 
secular documents throwing light upon the every- 
day life and history of that early period. The 
: majority are religious, mostly Buddhist, but also 
- Taoist, Manichzean, and Nestorian Christian; and 
the writing is in the ancient Indian Brahmi and 
Kharoshthi characters, in a Sanskritic language, 
also in Chinese, Tibetan, Sogdian, archaic Turk- 
ish, and several are in ‘‘ unknown”’ script. The 
detailed reports on this vast mass of material are 
under preparation, with the collaboration of 
experts, and will take several years to complete. 
Of the geographical results, which gained for Dr. 
Stein the Founders’ gold medal of the Royal Geo- 
graphical Society, we haye an instalment in several 
excellent maps in the volumes. Scientific observa- 
tions were alsc made upon the general desiccation 
of the area, and the ad- 
vance of the desert, with 
the resultant changes in 
the sites of the settlements 
under the altered economic 
environments. A large 
series of anthropometric 
measurements Was se- 
cured, and is to be eventu- 
ally published. 
The personal narrative 
now chronicled is of fas- 
cinating interest. It is told 
with vivid clearness and in 
charming style, and 
through it all we feel the 
haunting presence of the 
great deserts. The splen- 
did photographs, taken by 
Dr. Stein himself, which 
_adorn the book are superb, 
and many of them repro- 
duce the paintings and 
frescoes in colours’ by 
_photomechanical processes 
suecess of his plans. With inexhaustible energy 
and devotion in the pursuit of science he bravely 
and cheerfully faced and endured great privations 
and actual frostbite. 
The magnificent results he has achieved are 
| worthy of such great self-sacrifice. But what is 
the reward desired by this intrepid scholar, with 
such unique qualifications for archeological 
Oriental research? In his concluding sentence he 
says: “‘ When may I hope that the gate will open 
for work in those fields to which cherished plans 
have been calling me ever since my youth, and 
which still remain unexplored? ’’ It is to be hoped 
that this appeal in the interests of science may 
soon be realised. May the Government of India 
at no distant date enable our author to proceed to 
Badakhshan and the Upper Oxus region (to the 
north-west of India) to recover the Western con- 
with great technical accu- 
racy and beauty. Fic. 2.—Ruins of small Buddhist stupa and shrine at Kichik-Hassar, Turfan. From ‘‘ Ruins of Desert Cathay.” 
The methods of research 
revealed by these pages are most instruc- 
tive. The author combines in his personality 
all those qualities that are essential for the 
highest achievement in archeological research. 
A scholar and archeologist of repute with the 
practical experience, resourcefulness, and physi- 
eal vigour of the trained explorer, he is able 
to penetrate to the most remote regions, and, 
_ though isolated, yet instinctively to miss no clue 
_or opportunity that may present itself. His sym- 
_ pathetic insight and attitude towards the shy and 
usually suspicious nomads amongst whom he 
moved, and on whose assistance he largely de- 
_ pended in his research, won him at every turn the 
_ entire confidence of these people, who even became 
inspired with some of his own abounding enthusi- 
asm. His unfailing tact smoothed over many difh- 
culties ; his foresight and business talent in leaving 
_ nothing to chance contributed much to the ultimate 
NO. 2213, VOL. 89] 
necting links between the ancient culture of the 
Orient and the Near East and West, which still 
await the masterly discovery by such a peerless 
explorer as Dr. Stein has proved himself to be. 
L. A. WADDELL. 
NOTES. 
A CONSIDERABLE area of ‘‘submerged forest’? has 
recently been laid bare at Freshwater West, Pem- 
brokeshire, owing to extensive shifting of sand and 
shingle by a gale in conjunction with an unusually 
high spring tide, and has been examined by Lieut.- 
Colonel F. Lambton. Stumps of trees rooted in place 
are frequent, embedded in a foot or so of peat cover- 
ing an old land-surface. No implements appear to 
have been found, but there is little doubt that the 
deposit is of the same age, viz. Neolithic, as the 
similar formation found elsewhere along our coasts. 
