Story of a Trip from Chungking to the Summit of Chinshan Carried Out in 1893; First Ascent by Foteigners By Isaac MAsox, Pcs:
Chinshan, or Chinfooshan, the Golden (Buddha) Mountain, lies about 100 miles southeast of Chung. king, 29 N., 107.60 E., and is one of Szechuan's" sacred mountains, a place of pilgrimage for devout Chinese, The first mention of it by foreigner was made by the late H. Parker, who, when living at [Chungking in' the British Consulaz service some 40 years ago, travelled in the vicinity and ascended part of the mountain, but did not reach th jtop. He reconied the Reight of 4,860 feet, and says it was is much as six men could do to get his empty Jehair thus far to the pass by which he creased to the other side. There still remained some 2,500 feet to the summit, and it was my privilege to be the first Englishman to reach the top. In these sweltering days on the' Shanghai plain it is refreshing] to think of the cool hills, and an account of the journey made long ago may be of interest.
Tu the summer of 1893, in company with an Irish colleague and his Englith wife, I left the crowded city lot Chungking, with its shimmering heat, and went in search of this 2 dreadful noise just underneath, land discovered that the pigs were being removed as the rising waters! threatened their habitation, The! pigs were evidently snugly tucked in for the night and raised vigorous objections, but in vain.
T was just forgetting all this lumber whet a loud knocking at door once more awakened me. JOur cook called me to get up and Jelear out as soon as possible as the waters were now beating round! the piles supporting the building, and were within three or four fee! lof our floor, meaning a ten-foot rise fin a few hours! That is the way {foods come in this land. Tt was! feared our rooms would be swept Jaway as they had been a few years previously on a similar occasion. hastily shifted bag and baggage, into a filthy little room, abounding cobwebs, and as black as" the inside of a chimney. However, I managed to sleep a few hours five o'clock' in the morning, the water was a little lower, [After waiting for the roads to become useable we started at 11.15, Jand crossed some mountains clu smoking opium. However, we are comfortable enough to.decide to rest! here a day before making the ascent. Rice is not easily procured here as the altitude is unfavourable for its growth; maize is largely cultivated the "high levels.
July 18.—Slept long. and soundly; Jglad not to be disturbed in the early, morning to travel as usual. A very restful day, during. which I sketched the top of the mountain as seen at is distance. In the evening there arrived Dr, McC. from Chungking we knew he was intending to leave a few days after we did, in quest of suitable place where the members of his mission might enjoy change and rest for a few weeks. He had travelled some little river to Mutung, pony had made a vey quick journey fand caught us up sooner than expected. We have decided to make the ascent to-morrow together.
To the Top of the Mountain July 19—Up and doing at 4.20} 'a.m, After breatsfast we started off at 6 o'clock, My companion Mr. D,, Dr, McC. and I went ahead on foot to find the path, leaving Mrs. D, to follow with the chairs and Jcoolies and servants. We had stiff, but not dangerous, climb to a. pass called the Shintzuk'i (Lion's mouth) after two and a half hours' hard going. The top of the mountain is a sort of table-land of considerable length and dread ith, famous high and cool mountain, At that time there were nq bunga-the day; lovely cascades were in *r. and on three sides there' are shi I few hondoed nbondarce, We. dined at Palaha lifts for the final few hundred fects Hows on the hills opposite Chungking to which residents could retire for Jo change from the oven-like streets Jot the walled city.
In the middle] hil lot July the Yangtze river runs swift and high, and the erossing at Chung. king is a matter of some danger; hour or more may, be occupied in the operation as the boatmen pole up the stream for a long distance, s0 that when they cast off into the Jeurrent and row their hardest, the boat is swept along to some far-away point on the opposite bank where a Precarious landing can be made, The Journey Begins The hills near Chungking rise to} some 2,000 feet and from them can be Chinshan, three or four stages distant. Our stopping-place for the night was a village named Taotsominc, The foreigner was referred 1d crowds of people raya avis in those parts in the days
Jeame to ys vet respectful and friendly. We had very inferior accommodation, with marked malodorous smells from the pig-sries and unmentionable places adjoining out rooms, After becom. ting nccustoraed to the general vileness of the place, I slept soundly; but my companions next morning reported having passed a Jéreadful night hunting and being hhunted by insect enemies in battalions, of formidable size and aggres-sivaness!
We started off again at 5.30-a.m, and went 20 li before breakfast, enjoying a lovely sunrise over the mountains, At noon passed through village' named Tungch'inmiao, where a busy market was in pro-jewess; we had crowds of people round us there, and also at other places during the day. We came to Jo small river, Weshat'an, and after erossing it by means of a stone bridge, we kerr along its banks for] some "60 i. We saw splendid waterfalls and datas, some of which were utilized for the turning of very primitive mills. The river Joften 50 yards wide, but varies much; it abounds with cobbles and fooulders. After a lovely day, a storm broke over us towards even-jing when we were about a mile from Jour stopping-place, The rain came in torrents and streams rushed Jdown the banks to the river, almost freeding the path. We put up for the night at Shuangtungtzy, a village where {wo small rivers m The day's march had been 90 JOur inn was a large tumble-down sort of place, quite close to the river, and near to it was a large natural stone dam over which the water poured furiously with great force. We had horrid smells to Jendure, even worse that last night! meanwhile the tiver continued to rapidly, Pig's to be Salvaged July 15.—Retired to rest at nine o'clock last night, after covering up [with paper some of the many holes, which were not bed as ventilators, had it not been for the mang curious leyes peeping everywhere to behold Jour movements. Soon after droping off to sleep I was awakened by chin, watched by a large crowd, somewhat unmannerly. Passed through a valley among seriatei and arrived for the night at Tienchiach'iao, 2 quiet place with, nice stream close by; few people, Jand they quite well-behaved.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.