From tHe "Norta-Cima Day News" or Sepremaer 3, 1877
We have been favoured with perusal of a private letter from Mr. Baber, dated July 26, in which he describes himself as drifting down the Min River in delicious weather, winding among low hills covered with fir and insect wax trees. To the Southwest an enormous mass of rock thrusts its head and shoulders above the clouds. I first described it from a distance of more than sixty miles, and knew it at once, It is the holy mountain of Omi, on the borders of Thibet, and the bourne to which I am journeying is its summit. I am roughing it in a somewhat complete sense, no bed; no mattress, and Chinese food. The day after leaving Chungking, was so appallingly hot, and the inn we put up at so insectivorated, that I slept on a hill side with a coolie to fan the mosquitoes away. In a few days I shall be among mountain snows; and as my extra clothing consists of three pocket handkerchiefs, I fear I shall have to wear a blanket all day.' I shall probably be back in Chunking in about six weeks' time.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.