PREPARATION OF PERSONAL NARRATIVE xxiii
dear eyes since closed for ever by Death:- Though my account was intended for a wider public than that of Orientalist or antiquarian scholars, yet I felt it incumbent to take every care that it should neither contain statements which further scrutiny might require to be modified in • my scientific Report, nor pass over unnoticed any essential facts connected with my archeological discoveries.
The preparation of my narrative on these lines has implied far more labour than may, perhaps, appear on the surface. It would, in fact, have been impossible to accomplish it with the scanty leisure left from official duties as Inspector of Schools in the Punjab, to which I had to return on the conclusion of my explorations, in the autumn of 1901. Fortunately, however, the Government of India, on the proposal of the Punjab Government and with the concurrence of the Secretary of State for India, granted to me in the following year a period of deputation to England in order that I might be enabled to elaborate the results of my journey with the help of the original finds temporarily deposited in the British Museum.
For the generous consideration thus shown to me I feel -it my duty to record here ' my deep sense of gratitude to His Excellency the Viceroy and the Indian Government.. Just as my explorations were rendered possible only through their powerful aid, so, too, I owe to their liberality the temporary freedom for scholarly labour which has permitted me to complete the present narrative. I feel confident that its contents will be found in more than one respect a necessary complement to my Detailed scientific Report which is still under preparation. On the other hand, I must refer my readers to the latter publication for many illustrations of antiquities, ruins, scenery, etc., which to my regret it was found impossible, on account of technical difficulties and other reasons, to provide here.
It remains for me to record my grateful acknowledgments for the manifold assistance which I have received while preparing this volume. To none do I feel more indebted than to my artist friend, Mr. Fred. H. Andrews, who ever since my return from Chinese
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