Marc Aurel Stein was a remarkable chap. The 19th century Hungarian-born British archaeologist had a passion for exploring Central Asia, China, India and the Middle East, and studied Sanskrit, Old Persian, Indology,  philology, and map-making as part of his military service in Budapest. After that, it was off to India for positions as registrar of Punjab University, principal of the Oriental College, and principal of the Calcutta Madrasah.

Stein, however, was primarily known for his explorations and archaeological discoveries in Central Asia. He carried out three expeditions to the western regions of China between 1900 and 1916 where he conducted archaeological excavations, charted geographical and ethnographical surveys, and photographed everything.  His claim to fame was probably for ‘discovering’ the library cave at the Mogao Grottoes, Dunhuang.

Throughout all his travels, Stein traveled with canine companions, a succession of dogs all named “Dash,” and all but one, Fox Terriers.

Dash I given to Stein in 1896 by Stein’s servant, Mirza. Also known by the Turki name, “Yolchi Beg” (Sir Traveller). At the right, Dash is seen napping while wearing a Kashmiri coat specially made to protect him against the desert winter. Dash died in India in 1902 while Stein was in England, and one hopes he died in his sleep since the lives of the subsequent Dashes didn’t all end peacefully. 

Dash II, or “Dash the Great” was evidently Stein’s “heart dog,” the companion against which all other dogs would be measured. Stein sometimes called him, “Kardash Beg, or “The Honorable Snow Companion” after discovering with delight that Dash loved snow. This Dash traveled along on the second Central Asian Expedition and made it back to England with Stein in 1909. He lived in retirement until 1918 when he was run over by a bus.

Dash III accompanied Stein on the third Central Asian Expedition and survived until 1919 when he was killed by a pack of dogs in Srinaga.

Dash IV was brought back to England by Stein in 1924, but died the following year. We never did find his cause of death.

Dash V came along in 1927 and was the only Dash who wasn’t a fox terrier (pictures suggest that this Dash was a mixed breed). He went along with Stein on the fourth Central Asian Expedition, but died at Kashgar in 1930.

Dash VI was considered by Stein ‘a very promising reincarnation of “Dash the Great” and travelled with Stein on his archaeological investigations in Iran and Iraq. This dog survived until 1941 when he was killed by a leopard near Mohand Marg.

Dash VII came in 1943, and his fate is unknown.

In 1943, when he was in his 80s, Stein embarked on his long-awaiting expedition to Afghanistan, but died in Kabul a week after arriving in the country. By then, however, Stein had been knighted for his contribution to Central Asian studies. Honors should also have gone to the dogs who were “schlepped” all over the world in all sorts of climates and altitudes, encountered exotic creatures, learned to mount horses, and sometimes were trussed up in bags and passed along wire ropes to cross gorges or rivers.

You can read more about the Dashes here.