of months. This request, which was rather in the nature of an order, fitted in very opportunely with our own desire as far as possible to complete our earlier researches in this highly interesting region. In the course of our geographical researches in the Lop-nor country during this season we found, inter alia, a number of ancient graves, which we excavated. In September, the collections from these graves had been taken without mishap to Urumchi, where they would certainly have been lost to science if the Soviet Russian Consul-General, G. A. APRESOV, with the great influence he wielded in the province, had not obtained for us permission to take these finds with us on our journey ' eastwards. The authorities in Peking settled their final destiny by deciding that we might take them to Sweden on loan, for scientific purposes. I wish here to express my hearty thanks to those whose aid in the matter contributed so powerfully to this fortunate issue. It is the description of these collections that constitutes the central part of the present volume.
Stockholm in February 1939.
Sven Hedin.
IIIF Color HighRes
