Each week we scour the web for interesting and historic documents that catch our eye.

Title: Beggar Who Informed Passers-by of News, Current Events, and Town Gossip in Lyrical Form, for a Living. Beijing, 1874

Description: In 1874-75, the Russian government sent a research and trading mission to China to seek out new overland routes to the Chinese market, report on prospects for increased commerce and locations for consulates and factories, and gather information about the Dungan Revolt then raging in parts of western China.

Photographer: Boiarskii, Adolf-Nikolay Erazmovich; Date Created: 1874

From: World Digital Library; Contributed by: National Library of Brazil

This post first appeared on AHA Today.