Travels In Central Asia

<p>With respect to the arrangement of these pages in order that there may be no interruption I have divided the book into two parts; the first containing the description of my journey from Teheran to Samarcand and back the second devoted to notices concerning the geography statistics politics and social relations of Central Asia.</p><p> </p><p>I hope that both will prove of equal interest to the reader; for whilst on the one hand I pursued routes hitherto untrodden by any European my notices relate to subjects hitherto scarcely if at all touched on by writers upon Central Asia.</p><p> </p><p>And now let me perform the more pleasing task of expressing my warm acknowledgments to all those whose kind reception of me when I arrived in London has been a great furtherance and encouragement to the publication of the following narrative. Before all let me mention the names of SIR JUSTIN and LADY SHEIL.</p><p> </p><p> In their house I found English open-heartedness associated with Oriental hospitality; their kindness will never be forgotten by me.</p><p> </p><p>In Central Asia I bestowed blessing for kindness received; here I have but words they are sincere and come from the heart.</p><p> </p>