É. Apor (ed.): Stein, Aurel: Old Routes of Western Iran. (Budapest Oriental Reprints, Ser. B 2.)

xii INTRODUCTION graphic instructions from Tehran stopped further progress in this direction. A move into ancient Media undertaken instead had to be abandoned by December 1936, when increasing signs of illness obliged me to seek relief by an operation in Europe. This rapid synopsis of my labours will sufficiently indicate the wide extent of the ground covered on this journey and the varied interest presented by its ancient remains. Regard for the time available, besides other practical considerations, was bound to impose on my work mainly the character of archaeological reconnaissances. Yet in recording their results, I felt obliged to aim at such adequacy of detail as would assist others in testing the conclusions drawn from my observations and using the information recorded for future investigation. The study of archaeological facts could not divert my attention from the manifold points of interest, geographical in the main, but historical and ethnological also, which daily observation on such a journey, done for the most part on horseback, brought to notice. A personal narrative, kept on this as on former travels for communication to friends, helped to keep fresh essential observations and impressions of this kind. There were special reasons for me to draw upon this personal record in the present publication. > The fascinating country which European history and literature knows as Persia is undergoing at present Westernizing influences even more rapidly than other parts of the great region of the Middle East and Central Asia to which as a whole the ancient name of Iran properly applies. This phase of transformation has its counterpart in the process