The following has been received by Capt. Plant and crew S.S. Pioneer, 5th August, 1900. Cupt. Plant, 8.8. Pioneer.
Dear Sir,—The passengers on board this vessel feel that they owe you a debt of gratitude for your unwearying kindness and courtesy, and your care for their comfort on the occasion of nearly 90 passengers availing themselves of your services to remove them from Chungking. To provide as you have done for them, was a dificult task, and the way you hae done it has won general admiration. We beg your acceptance of a slight souvenir in the shape of a gold watch-chain, and would express @ sincere wish for your own happiness and that of Mrs. Plant, and also hearty success to. the good' ship Pioneer in her future voyages. Ere closing we would further respectfully request you to convey our best thanks to your Foreign officers for their marked consideration and kindness to us all on so very taxing an occasion. We hope that, they also will do us the favour of accepting smalitoken of our appreciation of their generous services and attention on the voyage down.
We are, dear Sir, your well-wishers, (Signed) M. F. A. Fraser.
D. Moorhead,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.