“The First and Second Danish Expeditions to Pamir, whereof this book is one of the results, were undertaken at my initiative and under my guidance during the years 1896-97 and 1898-99, the object of both journeys being the exploration of South Pamir from the territory round the river Gund, the lake of Yashilkul and Alitshur Pamir, to the Hindu Kush.
The First Danish Pamir Expedition, which I was able to perform through the goodwill of some private gentlemen,* lasted from March 25, 1896, to March 1, 1897. We went from Copenhagen through St. Petersburg, Moscow, Vladikaukas and Tiflis to Baku ; thence by steamer across the Caspian to Usun Ada, at that time the starting-point of the Transcaspian Railway, and so by rail by way of Merv and Bokhara to Samarkand. Thence the journey was continued by carriage (" tarantas ") through Tashkent, Khodjend, Kokand and Margelan to Osh in Ferghana. At Osh I equipped a small expedition with people, saddle-horses, beasts of burden, tents and stores, which in June started from Ferghana to Pamir, and returned to Osh in September.” (From the preface of the present book).