Percy Allen was one of Stein's closest friends and most regular correspondents. They exchanged letters every one or two weeks, even when Stein was on expedition as here. Stein, stoical in his public accounts, was more open in his letters to Allen. This one, dated February 16, 1908 was written at 'Camp Tonguz-basle, Keriya River'
following his crossing of the Taklamakan Desert: 'a hard march, this tramp of close on 200 miles over absolutely lifeless desert.'
Ink on paper
The Bodleian Library, University of Oxford, MSS Stein 5, ff.21v-22r