This book focuses on Chinese Turkestan approached from Russia through Siberia; from Kashgar and Yarkand the route leads over the Karakoram into Ladakh and the Himalayas and winds up in India. The journey took place in 1873 – 74, in a period of particularly strong rivalry for hegemony by Russia, Britain and China in the area concerned. The ‘Great Game’ was exacerbated by the exceptional forward thrust of a stately diplomatic mission from British India to Kashgaria.