the "amir" having given to france exclusive rights of archaeological research in afghanistan, excavations near kabul are commenced by alfred foucher, a professor at the sorbonne, and a leading authority on buddhism. on representations being made by the british government foucher declares his intention of inviting the distinguished british authority sir aurel stein to take a share in the investigations in afghanistan. for one reason or other, however, the invitation is not extended, and in december foucher, instead of commencing excavations near jalalabad, as was his original intention, leaves, under instructions from paris, for balkh, 350 miles north of kabul in the neighbourhood of the hindu kush, which has been regarded as the special archaeological province of sir aurel stein.