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# George Roerich. Trails to the Inmost Asia
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## Author's note
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Inner Asia with its towering mountain ranges and limitless deserts and steppes, a
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country of great climatic extremes, and the cradle of hardy nomad tribes that once shook
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the frontiers of China and of the Near Eastern countries, has always been an endless
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lure to the explorer. In the past a brilliant line of men inaugurated the fight for
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geographical discoveries in the forbidden lands of Asia. The story of their achievement
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is one of the most fascinating pages in the history of such explorations. Besides
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securing valuable scientific information and opening new regions for the progress of
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humanity, they upheld that spirit of adventure to which our civilization owes its
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spread. Their example made it possible for others to continue the hazardous task of
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conquest of distant and unknown lands.
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In inner Asia we are able to survey one of the grandest mountain systems of the world;
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to journey for months across waterless deserts of sand and stone and upland plains; and
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to study the vestiges of a past culture that once linked ancient China with the
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countries of the Mediterranean basin.
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The vast, undrained area of inner Asia is buttressed on the south by the mighty
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Trans-Himalayas, and the bleak highlands of the successive ranges of the Karakorum. Its
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northern frontier is formed by the Altai and the mountain chains along the southern rim
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of the Siberian lowlands. To the east and west this great inner basin is open toward
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vast expanses of desert and steppe that comprise the Great Mongolian Gobi and the steppe
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lands of Russian Turkestan.
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This inner region of Asia the Roerich Central Asian Expedition, under the leadership of
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Professor Nicholas Roerich, traveled and explored for almost five successive years. The
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chief object of the expedition was to create a pictorial record of lands and peoples of
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inner Asia; the five hundred paintings by Professor Roerich, brought back by the
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expedition and now on permanent exhibition in the Roerich Museum at New York, constitute
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a unique achievement of this purpose.
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The second object of the expedition was to survey the possibilities for new
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archaeological explorations and thus to prepare the way for future enterprises in the
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same region.
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The third object was to secure an extensive collection of ethnographical and linguistic
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material, illustrating the culture of these regions. During its long journey along the
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T'ien Shan, the steppe region of Jungaria, the Altai, the mountains of southwestern
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Mongolia, and the highlands of Tibet, the expedition surveyed numerous archaeological
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sites; and it is hoped that another expedition may be mustered to carry out extensive
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excavations of vast necropoli left by nomad tribes, which date back to the period
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between the first and eighth centuries A.D. A large collection of Tibetan and Mongolian
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books was gathered during the expedition's stay in Mongolia and Tibet.
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In sending out this expedition into the field, the Trustees of the Roerich Museum felt
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the growing necessity of an active American participation in a work which for several
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decades had attracted the attention of prominent scientists in Great Britain, France,
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Germany, Japan, and Russia.
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The expedition left New York in May, 1923, and in December of the same year reached
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Darjeeling in British Sikkim. Here a base was established and several trips were
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conducted into Sikkim. The whole of 1924 was spent in Sikkim in preparation for the more
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extensive journey into inner Asia. It was imperative to acquire a good speaking
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knowledge of the Tibetan language before starting on a journey which would require
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constant relations with natives. The narrative in the present volume begins with the
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moment of the expedition's departure from Darjeeling.
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During his five years of active field service with the expedition, the author profited
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on many occasions by the help and advice of friends and it is a pleasant task to convey
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his appreciative thanks for the services they so willingly rendered:
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To the President and Board of Trustees of the Roerich Museum, for their devoted care and
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friendly assistance during the expedition's perilous journey.
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To Col. F. M. Bailey, C.I.E., British Political Officer in Tibet, Sikkim, and Bhutan,
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for his valuable help during the expedition's stay in Sikkim and on its return from
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Tibet in 1928.
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To Major Gillan, British Consul General at Kashgar, for his active assistance during a
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most trying period in Khotan.
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To His Excellency M. Louis Marin, for his ever helpful assistance and for contributing
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an introduction to this present volume.
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To my teacher, Professor Jacques Bacot, who first introduced me into the ancient lore of
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Tibet.
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To my friend, Dr. Georges G. Chklaver, of the University of Paris, for his untiring
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interest in my exploration work and his trusted friendship.
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To Dr. Johan van Manen, learned Secretary of the Asiatic Society of Bengal, who placed
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at my disposal the resources of the library of the Society at Calcutta.
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To Lama Lobzang Mingyur Dorje, my teacher and friend, for his untiring help in my
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Tibetan studies.
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To Mr. Malcolm W. Davis, editor of the Yale University Press, in appreciation of his
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interest in this publication.
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Last, but not least, I wish to record my admiration and gratitude to all the European
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and native members of the Roerich Central Asian Expedition, who unfailingly carried out
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their duties under most trying conditions.
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I dedicate this volume to my Mother and Father, who guided me on the path of exploration
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and since my boyhood inspired me in the quest for new discoveries and new knowledge.
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June, 1931.
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G. N. R.