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Preface
Subsequent to the Turkish war (1877-1878) I undertook a series of journeys in the Orient. Having visited all the localities, more or less remarkable, of the Balkan Peninsula, I crossed the Caucasus Mountain to Central Asia and Persia, and finally in 1887; 1 started for India, a most extraordinary country, which had attracted me from my early days.
The aim of my journey was to become acquainted with the inhabitants of India, and to study on the spot their manners and customs, the grand and mysterious archaeology, and the colossal and majestic nature of this country. Wandering from one place to another, without a settled plan, I reached the mountainous Afghanistan, from where I reached India by the picturesque passes of Bolan and Guernai. Having ascended the Indus as far as Rawal Pindi, I crossed the Punjab, the country of the five rivers, and visited the Golden Temple of Amritsar and the tomb of Ranjit Sing, the king of the Punjab, near Lahore. 1 then directed my steps towards Kashmir, “the valley of eternal felicity." There in order to satisfy. my curiosity, 1 recommenced my wanderings and continued them until I arrived at Ladak, whence I decided to return to Russia, through Karakorroum and Chinese Turkestan.
One day in the course of my visit to the Buddhist convent, situated on my route, I learnt from the chief Lama, that there existed in the archives of Lassa very ancient memoirs treating of the life of Jesus Christ and the nations of the Occident, and that
