700 
THROUGH ASIA 
forth ? Be that however as it may, it is certain that the 
members of the Boundary Commission of 1895 carried 
away home with them many a pleasant memory of their 
stay on the cold, inhospitable plateaus ; the which plateaus 
no doubt, had they possessed the capability, would have 
been amazed at finding themselves the object of so much 
interest. 
I am very proud of having been so fortunate as to 
have witnessed such a signal episode in the political 
history of Central Asia, and that not only because of the 
importance of the event itself, but also because of the 
real pleasure vouchsafed me in making the acquaintance 
of such an excellent set of officers and gentlemen. 
