THROUGH ASIA 
xii 
Swedish artists. The illustrations to which I allude 
must not however be regarded as mere products of the 
artistic imagination. For each of them I supplied 
sufficient material in the nature of sketches and photo- 
graphs, and where such were wanting I furnished precise 
and detailed descriptions. In a word, each individual 
picture has come to life as it were under my own eye 
and under my own controlling hand; and I cannot help 
expressing my admiration of the quickness of appre- 
hension and the lively interest which the several artists 
have manifested in their work. 
For the original calculation of the altitudes, which 
occur throughout these pages, I am indebted to the 
kindness and skill of Dr, Nils Ekholm. For the con- 
version of the metric heights and other measurements 
into feet, miles, etc., and for the conversion of the 
Celsius scale into the Fahrenheit scale, as well as for 
the transliteration of the place-names, the translator is 
responsible. 
Finally, it gives me pleasure to acknowledge a special 
debt of thanks to Mr. J. T. Bealby, b.a., sometime of 
the editorial staffs of the Encyclopa;dia Britannic a, 
Chambers Encyclopcedia, etc., for the ability and ex- 
perienced and conscientious care with which he has 
rendered my original Swedish into English. In the 
translation of a portion of the book Mr. Bealby was 
assisted by Miss E. H. Hearn. 
SVEN HEDIN. 
Stockholm, \st May , 1898. 
