Towards the end of April 1909, I received a telegram from the Indian Government asking me to enter their archveological service for a period of eighteen months, from the 1st June of that year. I arrived in Simla on the 30th May and from the 1st to the 14th June, Dr. J. H. Marshall, C.I.E., Director-General of Arch veology, sacrificed a great deal of bis time in drawing up a plan for my journey and discussing with me various matters connected therewith. Thanks to his energy, all preparations were finished on the 12th June, and on Monday the 14th June, our caravan started for the frontier districts.
As regards our plans, it was determined to cover as much ground as possible and to spend a considerable portion of the summer months within the limits of the Jammu and Kashmir State. For within its territory are known to exist several interesting relics of Tibetan antiquity which have not yet been properly examined. Putting aside the ordinary routes,the Kashmir State can be entered from two parts of Indian Tibet, from Lahul and from Spiti. As Lahul had already been investigated by Dr. Vogel,' the course to be taken by me was to enter the Kashmir State from the Spiti side. Spiti was one of the countries of Indian Tibet which I had not yet seen. As the road to Spiti took me high up in the Satluj valley, I proposed to pay a short visit to Tholing and Tsaparang beyond the frontier. These places interested me particularly on account of their connection with Ati4a and d'Andrada. This proposal was, however, not sanctioned by the Supreme Government, and I was advised to remain within the Indian Frontier.
Our party was to consist of a Government Photographer, Babu Pindi Lal of the Archeological Survey, who also knew how to take impressions of inscriptions, and a Khalasi who had to be engaged in the interior. In addition to these there were two men whom I engaged privately, a bearer and cook in one person, and a Tibetan who assisted me in the reading and copying of inscriptions and documents. Dr. Marshall was very fortunate in his choice of the photographer ; for in the case of an expedition like ours, an ordinary proficiency in photography would not have sufficed ; what was wanted was a man ready to endure hardship, and one who was prepared to carry on his work under adverse circumstances. Pindi Lal has amply justified Dr. Marshall in his choice.
1 Cf. his Trilőknátk, J. A. S. B., Vol. LXX (1902), Part I, pp. 35 ff.
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