On its west coast Mull is largely bounded
by rocky cliffs & islands. Elsewhere the
slopes are mostly covered with [?]
The sea swarming with water birds during 
the entire sail. Herring Gulls, Murres &
Razorbills by thousands, Lesser Black
backs & Kittiwakes by hundred, many
Shags & Cormorants and three Gannets.
Swarms of Black head Gulls & Common Terns
& a few Roseate Terns in channel east
of Mull. One Carrion Crow & many Rooks
& Jackdaws on Iona.
  Gulls following steamer & surprisingly tame
coming within 15 yds. [yards] or less.
Two small schools of large porpoises.
Heather dull & faded yet giving hills a 
warm copery [coppery] tint.
  Scaped acquaintance with Lord Archibald
Campbell son of Duke of Argyll. Fine
looking man of 45 very cordial & unreserved.
In full Highland dress with kilt, dagger etc.
Daughter with him. Most beautiful woman.
Oban to Edinburgh
Sept. 5. Cloudy with hard steady rain
most of the day.
  I rose at 5 A.M. intending to take the trip 
to Ballachulish, Glenco, & Loch Etive and
then go on to Edinburgh by a late train
but on leaving the hotel I found it was
raining hard and the mountains were all
cloud-capped. So I returned back and
went to bed again.
  With C. & E. I took the 8.20 train for
Edinburgh. About a mile from Oban train
slowly came to standstill. Rails wet and
engine unable to mount steep grade. Made
many attempts backing & starting, three men
shoveling gravel on track. Finally divided
train & took up half at a time.
  Scenery through the mountains very fine. Heather
past its prime but still richly colored in 
places. Saw covey of about 8 Grouse. They
rose near track and flew about 200 yds. [yards] finally
alighting all together. Flight like Quails & 
about as swift. Near Stirling saw a 
man beating a clover field with