„:|il 
 

 MISSIONS 
 
 TO 
 
 THE WOMEN OF CHINA. 
 
 (IN CONNEXION WITH THE SOCIETY FOR PROMOTING 
 
 FEMALE EDUCATION IN THE EAST.) 
 
 WRITTEN FOR YOUNG PERSONS. 
 
 / 
 
 By a. F. S. 
 
 MISS WHAT ELY. 
 
 LONDON: 
 
 .TAMES NISEET & CO., 21 BERNEIIS STREET, 
 
 MDCCCLXVI. 
 
 |P^?*'5TIlr7- 
 
 ■ "* -livr^f "f 'fWt 
 
 ■^JtojMiMM 
 
1 ^- 
 
fROPERT)' op 
 
 PRINCETOIT 
 REC. JANI881 
 
 THEOLOGIC:. 
 
 EDITOR'S PUEFAGE. 
 
 The subject of Female Missions to the heathen is just 
 now one of peculiar and daily-increasing interest. Per- 
 hajis never, since the gospel was first preached, has there 
 been a time when opportunities of evangelising the women 
 and children of heathen nations have been so remarkable 
 find so numerous as within the last few years. It is 
 therefore a time when all who can should bo called on 
 to help in this" important work ; and at home, as well as 
 abroad, help is greatly needed. 
 
 The Society for Promoting Female Education in the 
 East has been one of the principal, as it was one of the 
 earliest, agencies employed in this cause ; and its organi- 
 sation affords a peculiar facility for tlie employment of 
 active helpers among tiie young. It is with a view of 
 introducing its working, to young readers especially, that 
 the little book before us has been drawn up. China, as 
 the earliest scene of the Society's labours, is selected as 
 
■. Miiil > |it! 
 
 the first country to bring under the notice of young 
 people ;• but eventually other fields of labour may, in 
 subsequent publications, be described in the same'lRan- 
 ncr. , I 
 
 It is hoped that many may be stirred up by the pei-usal 
 of this little work to more diligent exertion and perse- 
 vering prayer in tlie great cause~of promoting the ex- 
 tension of our Redeemer's kingdom, and the spread of 
 the everlasting Gospel. 
 
 If this book should be instrumental in thus rousing 
 even one reader to be more active in the Lord's cause, it 
 will not have been written in vain. 
 
 E. J. WHATELY. 
 
 Scptmbin- 18B6. 
 
 *.i:' 
 
 
 These Letters were originally addressed to the Members 
 of a Working Party. 
 
 For the historical and geographical information, the 
 writer has chiefly consulted Hue's "Travels in China," 
 "The Chinese," by Sir J. F. Davie-s, and the Earl of 
 Elgin's " Mission to China." The missionary details have 
 been taken from the Female Missionary Intelligevcer, a 
 magazine published monthly by the Society for Promoting 
 Female Education in the East, also from " Extracts from 
 the Agents' Correspondence," kindly supplied for the pur- 
 pose by Miss Webb, the Secretary of the Society. 
 
pm^ 
 
 mmmm 
 
 PEUTCT.-:::.; ^ 
 
 REG. JAN 1 8b. I 
 
 T HBO LOG. •' 
 
 MISSIONS TO THE WOMEN^OF CHINA. 
 
 n 
 
 LETTER I 
 Bepork I enter into any details of missionary woric, I .shoul.l 
 
 1 romoting I'cmale Education in tbo East " 
 
 As its „an,e tells, it was established for the rurnosc of ' 
 tca..|„„. he „,,men of heathen lands. But why ySu wil 
 ask ...as ,t „eeess.ary to fonn a society to do this'/ Wou J 
 not the srent m,ss,o„ary soeieties have answered? PeZs 
 
 hey nnght, ha,l they been for„,ed for th.at purpose, but tS 
 
 socehes were established for the special object ;f Ldin^ 
 
 m^ssionanes to ^reack to the heathen, and therefore co . d "nt 
 
 engage ,„ the nnportant work of ev.angelising heathen woL n 
 
 i on see there is a great difference. 
 
 but^'rl,'i'i!7f'''T '"'^'■'':"!^'T societies had established schools, 
 out (\nvi\y for boys. This m.ade it very necessary that fl, 
 ^^ heathen ^ris should be thought o^ i^li^rLJtlp 
 -Ily. puis and boy.s are not allowed to attend the ^fne 
 
 Indeed, it would bn thought strange were a missionary in 
 Jnd,, even to speak to a little girl or her mother. And 
 ha. few opportun,t,e.s to do so, were he di.sposed to bre k 
 through long-established cust,.in. 'Jort.ak 
 
 When a missionary preaches in the b.a.,aars or public places 
 n Ind,.a, hero are no women .amongst the listeners. Ev n 
 « church be bu.lt. women do not come to it : perhaps a L 
 
MISSIONS TO ruF, k 
 
 in:iy staiul outside the window to look on, but tLey have no 
 idea of entering, and soon pass by. | 
 
 Or if a, Christian preacher calls at a Hiiidno shop, lie may 
 be kindly received by the father and grown-np softs of the 
 household, and they perhaps listen whilst he reads the word 
 of life, which says that "an idol is nothing in the world, and 
 that there is none other gods but one." But in the meantime, 
 where is the mother — where the daughters and little children? 
 
 The missionary could not ask for them without gi\ing offence, 
 much less could he leave books for them, for, from the eldest 
 to the youngest, not one can read, and pcrhars, at the very 
 moment when he is trying to teach the wortlifflssncss of gods 
 of wood and stone, in another room, not fflr distant, the 
 heathen mother might be found teaching her Mfant child to 
 lift its hands in prayer to Vishnoo or to Siva. I 
 
 Now, if you think of the influence which moneers have over 
 their children — as they are under their sole care' W nt feast' the 
 first seven years of their life — and think, too, how hard it is 
 to root out early impressions, yo1i will see what an almcfst end- 
 less task missions in the East are, so long as the women remain 
 heathen. " I can't give up my mother," .said a little girl in 
 India not long ago ; "I know that Jesus came to .save me, but 
 what can I do ? I will give up Jesus Christ. I can't give up 
 my mother. I will go home." Early recollections were too 
 strong, and she did go back to her heathen home. 
 
 Many of the missionaries' wives, and other ladies who re- 
 sided abroad, did all they could to form schools, and you will 
 be interested to hear that the first native girls' school in India 
 was established by the Baptist Missionaiy Society in the year 
 1820, just forty-five years ago. 
 
 But it was found that, however anxious Cliristian ladies re- 
 siding in India might be for the good of the heathen children, 
 still, as they had their own families to attend to, they could 
 not give much time to schools, so a Society was formed just 
 for the purpose of sending out teachcr.s, whose sole business it 
 should be to teach the wives and little girls of the heathen. 
 This was done fifteen years later, in the year 1831. Wil! j'ou 
 
 WOMEN OF CHINA. 3 
 
 try to remember this date— /^/y ]xf, 1834— the birthday of 
 the " Society for Promoting Female Education in the East?" 
 
 And now th.at you know w/iy and w/icn the Society was 
 formed, I must tell you vhere its agents were sent, and some- 
 thing of their work. 
 
 The committee, after prayer to God for guidance, and much 
 thought, determined to send, firsf of all, teachers to China and 
 the neighbouring countries. 
 
 The Chinese empire is very extensive, and its population 
 vei-y large. It is bounded on the north by Tartary, on the 
 west by the Burman empire, on the east and south by the 
 Indian Ocean, covers an extent of 1570 miles from north to 
 south, and 1800 from east to west, and contains upwards of 
 400,000,000 inhabitants. 
 
 It will help you to understand what a very large population 
 tills is, if I tell you that it is " more than twenty times as 
 large as that of Greenland, Labrador, the C'anadas, the West 
 Indies, the South Sea Islands, the Cape, Madaga,scar, Greece, 
 Jilgypt, Abyssinia, and Ceylon— that is, more than' twenty 
 times as large m nearly the whole field of Christian missions, 
 India and the East being excepted." 
 
 Within China Proper (which native writers call "the centre 
 of the world") are lo72 towns, the [.rincipal of which are 
 I'ekin, Canton, mid Nankin; liys fortresses, 2700 temple-^, 
 and 32 imperial palaces. 
 
 Tlie country is divided into eighteen provinces, and these 
 havo every variety that you can imagine of soil, dim.ate, and 
 character. Some parts are very wild and grand, with ranges 
 of lofty mountains ; in others you would see flat and rich 
 l-lains ; or again, you might travel through a bleak and barren 
 desert, where you would find nothing but vast prairies covered 
 with dry yellowish gras.s. In .some parts the people are em- 
 ployed in farming and in out-door pursuits, whilst in others* 
 ■you would see great manufacturing citie.s, such as our own 
 Birmingham. 
 
 Then, as to the productions of the country, you could 
 sc.ircely name one article necessary to our comfort or enjoy- 
 
4 MISSIONS TO THE 
 
 int'tit, wliicli is not found there. In the north, wlicre the 
 climate is cold, hemp and barley grow ; towards the central 
 parts, the tea plant, mulberry, cfitton plant, orange tree, sugar 
 cane, and bamboo, and immense harve-sts of rice, sufficient to 
 feed the whole country. The eastern part is famed for its 
 silk and cotton, while the west abounds in woods fit for 
 building. 
 
 jMetals of all kinds ,arc to be found in China — gold and 
 silver, copper, tin, and lead ; also precious stones in abun- 
 dance — the ruby, emerald, ja.?per, and serpentine, and the 
 preciou.s green stone, called by ii.s jatli', and by the Chinese 
 yu. 
 
 The Chinesfc are a most industrious people, and very skilful 
 in turning all the natural productions of tlieir country to good 
 account. The manufacture of .silk has arrived at great perfec- 
 tion, also that of porcelain ; they make also beautiful flowered 
 satins and crSpes, nankeens, and cottons. The internal com- 
 merce of the empire is carried on by means of a great canal, 
 called the Cha-ho, or river of flood gates. It was constructed 
 many years ago, according to Chinese tradition, by order of 
 the Emperor Yu, B.C. 2100, and, for its extent and magni- 
 tude. Is " unrivalled by any other work of the kind in the 
 whole world." 
 
 Many valuable discoveries, which, comparatively speaking, 
 have boon only recently known to us, have been familiar for 
 ages to the Chinese. The polarity of the loadstone was re- 
 marked by them 2.i00 years B.C. ; gunpowder has been known 
 to them from a very remote period. We read of tlieir having 
 " thunder-carriages" in the tenth century ; these were pro- 
 bably a rude kind of cannon. " Printing from plates of wood 
 was practised by them at the end of the sixth century of the 
 CJiristian era." In a.d. 593, there was a decree for the collec- 
 tion of " old designs" and text, and for their cutting in wood 
 for publication. In 032, the canonical books were ordered to 
 be engraved on wood, and printed for general sale, and in 082 
 the work was completed, and the books circulated over the 
 empire. Movable types were first employed in the middle of 
 
 / 
 
 ■WOMEN OF CHINA. 5 
 
 the eleventh centurj'.* In 1154 the institution of bank-notes 
 and exchange offices took piace. 
 
 Indeed, the Chinese and the neighbouring nation of the 
 Tartars have probably been ovr teachers in times gone by. 
 The science of eastern nations penetrated into Europe .at the 
 time of the Crusades, but there was an event which occurred 
 in the year 12G2, which, more than any otiicr, brought about 
 a communication between the East and the West. In that 
 year a war broke out between the Iilohgolians and the I'cr- 
 sians, and these latter jirocured as auxiliaries the Franks of 
 Syria. I need not delay to tell you the cause or the result of 
 the war ; it is enough for you to know that on account of it 
 twaiti/ amhasmdors were sent from Mongolia to Italy, France, 
 and England. Afterwards many travellers from Crermany, 
 Italy, and France went to China and Tartary ; and on their 
 return, gave wonderful accounts of the manners and customs 
 and the knowledge possessed by these distant countries. 
 
 These " traveDers' tales" may have been like precious .seed, 
 which, long slumbering in the earth, at last buds forth ; and 
 it is thought liy some that those inventions by which the 
 close of the middle ages is distinguished, were not so much 
 independent discoveries as the bringing to light amongst us 
 of the knowledge which had been familiar for centuries to 
 the Chinese. It would be strange if this were true, and if 
 the stories of science told by these travellers, listened to partly 
 with incredulity, yet handed down from father to son, were in 
 fact the origin of so many wonderful discoveries. If so, there 
 have been few who have travelled to so much purpose as these 
 vi.sitors to China in the thirteenth century. 
 
 But to return to my little description. With regard to the 
 knowledge of architecture possessed by the Chinese. You 
 have, of course, heard of the great wall built by Chi-Hoang- 
 Ti, the first universal monarch of China, who reigned 237 B.C. 
 This wall (extends 1500 miles, is 30 feet in height, and 20 in 
 tluckness. Ro great were the difficulties undergone in build- 
 ing it, that 400,000 meii are said to have died of hunger, ill- 
 
 * 'Sir J. IJowrinir. 
 
 «.ilMBSD!«tHMif''r»T"^ 7 
 
(i MISSIONS TO THE 
 
 usage, and excessive fatigue. And Cliincse liiatoriaiis say, 
 that it was "the annihilation of one generation, hut tlie sal- 
 vation of a thousand." 
 
 Then as to the Chinese cities, these are almost all built on 
 the same plan, usually in the form of a square. The houses 
 are low, seldom more than one story ; the whole of one side 
 of the apartments is occupied with windows — paper, and some- 
 times talc, being used as a substitute for glass. 
 
 But perhaps the best way to give you an idea of the 
 buildings would be to take you to a Chinese city ; so, will 
 you come with mo to Pckin, which is the present capital of 
 China ? 
 
 Pekin (which means Northern Cnpital) is a largo city, 
 containing two millions of inhabitants. It is 25 miles in 
 circuit, and walled all round, and these walls are 40 feet 
 high, and so broad that horsemen can ride on them. The 
 city is divided into two parts — one inhabited by the Tartars 
 exchisivcly, the other by the Chinese. Within the Tartar 
 city is the part reserved for the emperor. It is surrounded bj' 
 a wall, called the " Prohibited Wall," within which none may 
 enter excepting the imperial household and his majesty's 
 retinue and visitors. 
 
 The palace of the emperor, or, as he is called, the " Son of 
 Heaven," is very splendid indeed. He lives in great state, 
 and a gong and boll are struck and rang whenever lie enters 
 or goes (Uit ; for such is the respect in which he is held, that 
 when he crosses the streets every door must be closed, and 
 every person must, on pain of deatli, remain sUent and 
 within his house. 
 
 One of the gates, called the " Gate of Everlasting Peace,' 
 leads to one of five avenues. It is built of white marble, 
 and is 110 feet high. There are steps up it, whereon the 
 emperor, on state days, receives the prostrations of his minis- 
 ters. Among the buildings is Kcen-tsing-King, or the 
 " Tranquil Palace of Heaven." This is the emperor's private 
 palace, and it is lofty, rich, and magnificent. In the court 
 before it is a small tower of gilt coiiper, adorned with a num- 
 
 WOMEN OF CHINA. 7 
 
 ber of be.autiful figures ; and on the east side a large vessel, 
 also of gilt copper, on which incense is burned day and 
 night. 
 
 There is also the " Palace of the Earth's Repose." — that is 
 the palace of the emperor's wife ; also the " Temple of Impe- 
 rial Ancestors," where the emperor sacrifices on great occa- 
 sions. Again, the '' Hall of Intense Mental Exercise." What 
 docs that mean, do you think ? Not a hall where pupils are 
 asked hard questions, but just a hall sacred to Confucius, 
 about whom I will tell you by and by. 
 
 Besides the gardens and jileasure-grounds, fountains and 
 shrines which arc to be seen in Pekin, there are seven hundred 
 palaces of princes, many temples and altars; — one, the Groat 
 Temple, the outer wall of which is .said to be .'3000 feet in cir- 
 cuit, — a temple to the discoverer of the silkworm, — the 
 Temple of Great Happiness, which is a large Buddhist temple, 
 with a copper statue GO feet high. Not very far frf)m this 
 temple is an artificial mountain called King-sh.an, l.TO feet 
 high, with terraces, walks, plantations, — an artificial lake, 
 with a bridge of white marble with nine arches. 
 
 Then, if you visited Pckin, the pomes, oi the streets would 
 amuse you. There is ■' Barbarian Street." " Imme.asurabl}- 
 Great Street," "Handkercliief Street," "Newly-opened Street," 
 " Sugar Plum Street," " Stone Tiger Street," and " Obedience 
 Street." Also tlie " Street of Perpetual Repose," so called, 
 perhaps, because there never is repose there, but the unceas- 
 ing hum of business. Tinkers, barbers, blacksnuth.«, and 
 cobblers, — sellers of tea, rice, vegetables, and fruit, maj^ all 
 be heard recommending their goods ; and when an English- 
 man is seen, many are the cries of " olo bronzes," " too muchee 
 olo crackly china."- 
 
 Tlio jiouses are nearly all built of brick ; roofs of a gray 
 colour, or j)ainted red. The imperial houses only have the 
 privilege of being painted yellow. 
 
 The sjiops are painted red, blue, and green. Over the 
 doors are to be seen inscriptions such as these : — " No second 
 price asked;" "No credit given;" "No goods taken back." 
 
» MISSIONS TO THE 
 
 Or the more mysterious mottoes, — " Mny the jiencil and the 
 ink flow fragrantly;" "Ten thousand united to all eternity." 
 Tlie Chinese maxims of business are excellent: "Whoever 
 would succeed must employ the morning;" " Gossipping and 
 long sitting injure business." 
 
 Book-stalls are abundant. If so disposed, you could buy 
 numbers of books for less than a farthing each. 
 
 If you wi.shed to buy anything, yon would not be at a loss 
 to know what shop to go to. The shopkeeper in Pekiu stands 
 in the street describing his wares. As you may suppose, this is 
 rather noisy, and policemen are obliged to walk about to keep 
 all in order. 
 
 In the middle of the street are seen vehicles, foot-passengers, 
 strings of dromedaries, and, occasionally, Tartar horsewomen. 
 Or, again, you might see public officers, attended by their 
 retinue, with a company of cavalry before them to clear the 
 w.ay, which is a most necessary office ; for, besides the vendors 
 who carry on their business in the streets, there are crowds 
 of conjurors, jugglers, fortune-tellers, quack doctors, actors, 
 nmsiciaus, and mountebanks. These, on the approach of a 
 great man, are forced to make way, and .nrc rudely interrupted 
 in their employnient. Perhaps a bridal procession may 
 attract the attention, but the shouts of joy and peals of music 
 which accompany it are often drowned by sounds of a very 
 different character ; and coffins, attended by white-clad 
 mourners, may be seen carried towards their last resting- 
 jilace. 
 
 Here and tliere are streets which look like arches. These 
 are built as monuments to distinguished persons. 
 
 All night the great streets ccmtinue noisy, and are lighted 
 by torches and painted paper lanterns, either carried along 
 by the passengers, or suspended over the shop doors. 
 
 I must not omit to tell you of two more temples. One is 
 called the " Temple to Heaven;" it occupies a circuit of three 
 miles. The other is the " Temple to Earth," within the cir- 
 cuit of which the emperor performs every year the national 
 ceremony of ploughing with his own hands. 
 
 ■WOMEN OF CHINA. 9 
 
 About three leagues from Pekin was the famous Yucn-men- 
 Yuen, destroyed by the English and French armies in 1860. 
 This, the favourite summer residence of the emperor, was 
 tvvclve miles in diameter, consisted of waste and Avoodland, 
 canals and .streams, and contained fifty distinct places of re- 
 sort for his majesty. 
 
 But I have perhaps told you sufficient to show you the 
 kind of country to which our missionaries go. My next letter 
 will be about the people and their religion. 
 
 LETTER II. 
 
 I PROMISED to give lyou in this letter .some account of the 
 people who inhabit the vast empire of China. 
 
 Their history, however, would not be very interesting to 
 you. I do not think you would care to hear about the 
 founders of the Yuen or Ming dynasties, nor about the 
 Chinese revolutions and secret societies which often disturbed 
 the country. So frequent have been these revolutions, that 
 during the space of 1224 years China underwent fifteen 
 changes of dynasty, and at one time the country was over- 
 run by fight distinct rebel armies. 
 
 But there are a few remarkable facts connected with China 
 which you would do well to remember; one of these is its 
 great antiquity. 
 
 Chinese tradition, indeed, goes back scver.al thousand years, 
 and some of its most ■moderate historians place the foundation 
 of the empire about the time of the Deluge. But without 
 claiming fur it so early a date as this, it is certain that China 
 is very ancient, the most ancient empire in existence. Its 
 autlientic history reaches back to nearly .3000 years ago, and 
 during that time no attempt has been made to change the 
 form of government. Such a thing as a republic seems never 
 to have been thought of ; the different revolutions which have 
 
10 
 
 MISSIONS TO TOE 
 
 nccurrcd have been merely changes of dynasty : all through, 
 the people have been governed by emperors. 
 
 Besides the great antiquity of the Chinese empire, tlic 
 sfationitry character of its institutions is very remarkable. 
 There is no jjcople who dislike change so much ; the customs 
 handed down by their ancestors are religiously observed from 
 generation to generation. Indeed, an order on the part of 
 the Tartar conquerors, in the seventeenth century, to make a 
 slight change in the customs, nearly brought about a revolu- 
 tion. It was desired tliat aU should dress their hair in the 
 Tartar, and not in the Chinese fashion. But the people were 
 long before they agreed to the alteration, and many preferred 
 to die rather than submit to it. 
 
 Another remarkable fact connected with China is its sedu- 
 fioii. Great, powerful, and extensive, and with so civilised a 
 people, you would suppose that it would often be mentioned 
 in histor}'. But it is not so. The people shrink from inter- 
 course with strangers; are very jealous of interference; think 
 their own country the best and finest in the world, and call 
 all who do not belong to it harharians. 
 
 We do read, indeed, of one emperor who was superior to 
 these ideas. This was Kang-hy, a contemporary of Peter the 
 Great, wliom he rescmliled in many respects. But Chinese 
 historians never praise this their greatest monarch, but speak 
 of him as an innovator. And Kang-hy certainly did act in an 
 unusual manner for a Chinese emperor. Ho condescended to 
 learn from foreigners, and often invited them to his table in 
 order that he might converse with them upon scientific sub- 
 jects. It was no wonder that the prejudices of the people 
 were .sliocked ; yet as their learned Kang-hy was victorious in 
 war, and by his firmness commanded tlieir respect, tlicy call 
 his reign by the name of " Elk-hc-taifin," (tranquillity and 
 prosperity,) and in the ancestral hall he bears the name of 
 " Shing-tsoo-jin-hwang-te," which means the " holy guardian 
 and benevolent emperor." 
 
 As regards the government, the Chinese are niled by an 
 absolute monarch, whose will is law. He is called the " Holy 
 
 h 
 
 AVOMEN OF CHINA. 
 
 U 
 
 son of Heaven," "Sole guardian of the earth," " Father of his 
 people." He is not only reckoned the .sovereign of China, but 
 of the whole world, other kings being merely his subjects. 
 " Heaven has not two suns," (says one of their books,) " earth 
 has not two kings ; a family has not two masters ; sovereign 
 power has not two directors — only one God and one em- 
 peror." 
 
 The emperor ran dispose of his subjects at his pleasure, and 
 make whatever laws he likes. He can even appoint his own 
 successor to the throne. He is held up as a denii-god, and, 
 indeed, believed to be of divine origin. He bears two charac- 
 ters — one, that of high priest ; the second, that of sovereign of 
 the empire. In his first capacity, he is the sole mediator with 
 Heaven for the sins of the people, and the procurer of favours 
 for them. The people give him the credit of all the blessings 
 they enjoy, such as plentiful crops, favourable weather, &c., 
 and though storms, imindations, and all public troubles are 
 also laid to his charge, his faults are forgiven in consideration 
 of the proof thus given that Heaven regards his wishes. 
 
 The emperor seldom appears in public. Even on so import- 
 ant an occasion as Ids birthday he does not .show himself, but 
 remains hidden beliind a .screen, so that he can enjoy the cere- 
 monies without fatigue. These ceremonies consist chiefly in 
 an adoration of himself. Slow, solenm music is heard at first ; 
 this ceases, and is renewed again at short intervals ; then the 
 band, vocal and instrumental, strikes up with all its powers. 
 Instantly the whole court falls prostrate before his liidden 
 majesty, and a kind of anthem is heard, of which the burden 
 is, " ]5ow down your heads, all ye dwellers on the earth, bow 
 down before the great emperor ! — the great emperor !" 
 
 When a favoured individual receives an audience with the 
 emperor, impo.sing ceremonies are observed. The " Son of 
 Heaven " is seated on an ebony throne, attired in a yellow 
 robe, wrought over with dragons in gold thread ; on his head 
 a crown adorned with gold and precioiis stones. His minis- 
 ters are ranged around him on their knees, whilst at a little 
 distance are seen the band and the emperor's guard of honour. 
 
12 
 
 MISSIONS TO THE 
 
 The name of tlie person to be introduccil is called out as he 
 approaches, and the band strikes up as he draws near the 
 throne. Looking meekly on the ground, he falls on his knees. 
 Then the emperor moves his hand, down goes the humble 
 head of the visitor, and he strikes his forehead nine times 
 against the step leading to the throne. Then rasing his 
 head, he listens with downcast eyes to the " iSon of Heaven's" 
 commands. 
 
 The Emperor is never said to die ; the " monarch of end- 
 less years" only " leaves this world to become immortal," and, 
 " mounted on a dr.agnn, he departs to the ethereal regions." 
 
 The people of Chin.a are divided into four ranks or orders. 
 The first, the learned ; second, the husbandman ; third, the 
 manufacturen ; and fourth, the merchants. 
 
 Tlie first place, as you see, is given to the learned. Great 
 importance is attached to education, and, as a rule, the 
 Chinese are a well taught people ; with few exceptions, all 
 know how to read and write. Their maxim is, " Bend the 
 mulberry -tree when it is young ;" for they s.iy, " By learning, 
 the sons of the commcm people become great ; without learning, 
 the sons of the great become mingled with the mass of the 
 jieojile." 
 
 So long ago was the importance of education known in 
 China, that a work written before the Christian era .sjieaks of 
 the ancient system of instruction, which required that nearly 
 every town and village .should have a common school. Those 
 ■who can afford it employ private teachers, and there are even- 
 ing schools in large towns attended by tho.sc who are employed 
 at labour during the daj'. The children are obliged to be 
 very attentive ; they are warned against " repeating with the 
 mouth while the heart (or mind) is thinking of .something 
 else." 
 
 Then as to what tliey are taught, it i.s just what has been 
 lianded down from their " ancestors ;" for, unless the emperor 
 him.self ordered it by a s]iecial edict, no change could be 
 made. Children are, fir.st of all, taught the principal charactem, 
 (for in the Chinese language there is no alphabet,) then the 
 
 f 
 
 .3; 
 
 i. 
 
 WOMEN OF CHINA. 
 
 13 
 
 " tnmctrical cla.ssic." This is a formidable word, but it just 
 means rhymes with three words in each line. Arithmetic, 
 geography, &c., are taught in these rhymes. Here is a speci- 
 men of the arithmetic ; — 
 
 Che mo shu. Learn to classify numbers. 
 
 She mo wen. Investigate first principles. 
 
 Ye urh she. One and ten. 
 
 She urh po. Ten and hundred. 
 
 Po urh tsien. Hundred and thousand. 
 
 Tsien urh wan. Thousand and ten thousand. 
 
 After they have learned the " trinietrical classic," children 
 are taught the " Four Books," which contain the doctrines of 
 Confucius. A Chinese school is a very noisy pl.nce. In order 
 to make his pupils pronounce the char.-xcters correctly, the 
 master commences by repeating a certain number. Then the 
 pupils .say the lesson over and over again in a kind of chant, 
 meanwhile rocking themselves backwards and forward.s, and 
 you may imagine the confusion which prevails, for each pupil 
 repeats his lesson aloud, not thinking how much this must 
 puzzle his neighbour, whilst the master, every now and then, 
 corrects the pronuniiation. When a pu])il has learned liis 
 lesson ho goes up to the master, makes a low bow, ])reseiits 
 his book, f.iinis hln bad; (for it would be considered di.src- 
 spectful to look at his teacher,) and repeats his lesson. 
 
 A little Chinese boy is also taught a book called " The 
 Kites," which contains lessons on manners. 
 . Great value is set on fine writing, as they say an " elegant 
 pencil " is always much admired. There are many varieties of 
 character, some of tlieni most fanciful and graceful, though 
 not at all easily read. 
 
 If a man is .well educated Ire can rise to any office in the 
 state. Mere wealth is deR]iisod, whilst poverty is hehl tC^be 
 no reproach. The two things most respected are, station 
 reached by personal merit, and old age. As a proof of the 
 honour paid to the latter, I may tell you an anecdote about 
 the good emperor Kang-hy. " An inferior oflRcer, of more than 
 a hundred years of age, having come to an audience to do 
 
iiii 
 
 11 
 
 MISSIONS TO THE 
 
 homage, Kang-hy rose from his seat and met him, desiring the 
 old man to stand up without ceremony, and telUng him he 
 paid this respect to his great age." And the ordinary address 
 of civility in China is Laoii-yay, " old or venerable father," 
 ■which is often addressed to a person half the age of the speai^er. 
 There is, indeed, a great deal of good in the natural character 
 of the Chinese, and they are, as a people, quiet, jieaceful, and 
 industrious ; but they have one great fault, which, liowcver, 
 they do not consider such. They are very deceitful, and from 
 their earhest childhood they are trained up in the belief that 
 it is not only no harm, but a clever thin.r; to be able to tell lies 
 well, especially if it is to a " barbarian." Their '■ powers of 
 invention " are very great, and often they tell lies when nothing 
 whatever can be gained. Of course, when anything is to be 
 gained their word cannot be trusted, and "no reliance can be 
 placed on them for the fulfilment of engagements." 
 
 I mu-st next tell you about some of the Chinese customs, 
 which are very strange. You remember that I mentioned a 
 book taught in the schools called " The Kites," containing 
 rules of politeness. These rules a Cliincse never thinks of 
 breaking. 
 
 If you called to pay a visit in China, the first question you 
 would be asked wouhl be, " What is your honourable sur- 
 name V And if you were polite you would repl}', " My vulgar 
 
 surname is , my triflint) name is , the /o?/' and 
 
 humble ]Aa,ce from which I have come is ." And then 
 
 you would commence to ask the person whom you called on, 
 " And pray, sir, what may be your e.rcfllcnt surname, honow- 
 ahle name, famous native place," <i'c., &c. On leaving, you 
 would shake your own hand, not that of your friend. If you 
 were invited to dinner, you would commence by taking sweet- 
 meats, and end with meat and soup. A Chinese dinner gene- 
 rally consists of nine courses ; often these are composed of 
 strange dishes, such as egg.s, a year old, (which have been pre- 
 served in clay,) shark fins, radishes pared and boiled into a 
 thick soup, shrimps made into a paste with chestnuts, bamboo 
 oils and garlics, flavoured with pickles. 
 
 WOMEN OF CHINA. 
 
 lo 
 
 But to return to the rules of politeness. 
 
 Perhaps you might be invited on a visit for a few days, and, 
 if so, the host would say to you, on parting, that he had 
 .annoyed you in every possible way, and rendered your life 
 extremely unpleasant; whilst, on the other hand, you would 
 bo bound to declare that you had great need of indulgence 
 and pardon, for you had been most troublesome and exact- 
 ing. 
 
 Then, if you went into a hotel .and ordered your dinner, 
 Chinese politeness would require yon to invite every one pre- 
 sent to partake of it ; but the invitation is always declined. 
 It would be ccmsidered extrenielt/ rude to accept it, however 
 pressing it might be. A story is told by an eye-witness, 
 which illustrates this. 
 
 One day a master of a house -po.sted himself in the middle 
 of his court, and said, " Don't let anybody go away. To-day 
 I invite every one to eat rice at my house," and then he ran 
 from one group to another, urging all to stay. But every one 
 gave some reason for going. The host seemed quite distressed, 
 and at last he spied his cousin, who had almost reached the 
 door, and rushed towards him, saying, "What, cousin, are you 
 going also? Impossible! Yim must stop." "No," said the 
 other, " I have, business at home that I must attend to." 
 " Ihisiness ! what I to-day ? You shall stop, I won't let you 
 go ;" and then he seized his cousin's robe, and said, "If you 
 will not stop to take rice, you must at least take a few gla.sses 
 of wine. I .should be quite ashamed if my cousin went away 
 from my house without taking something." At last the 
 cousin was over-persuaded, and saying that it would not take 
 nnicli time to drink a gla.ss of wine, he went into the house. 
 The master then called with a loud voice, but without address- 
 ing any one in particular, " Heat some ^vine,* and fry two 
 eggs." Some time passed, and no wine having appeared, 
 the cousin, who really had business, ventured to ask his 
 host how long he thought it would be before the wine was 
 ready. 
 
 ' In China wine is ahviiys t.iken u-urm. 
 
^m^^-- 
 
 16 
 
 MISSIONS TO THE 
 
 "Wine!" replied the host; "wine! H.ave we got any 
 ■wine here ?" " In tliat case," said the cousin, " s\irely you 
 miglit have let me go. Why did you press me to stay?" 
 
 On these words the master of the house arose, and said 
 with indignation, — " Anybody might know what country you 
 come from. What? I have the politeness to invite you to 
 drink wne, and you have not even the politeness to refuse !" 
 And the poor cousin stammered out some words of apologj', 
 and left the room in confusion. 
 
 This appearance of politeness is carried into everything. 
 " Venerable elder brother," a Mongolian robber will say, " I 
 have need of thy cloak. I am cold, and thy purse would be 
 useful to me ; let me ease thee of it." In this case it is polite 
 to yield, and if the elder brother does not do so, he is soon 
 taught manners in a rougher way. 
 
 Perhaps, however, I could not give you a better idea of the, 
 Chinese customs than by telling you that they arc c.vactly 
 the oj>posite of ours. 
 
 A Chinese gentleman wears a string of beads round his 
 neck, and carries a fan. If he is in mourning, ho dresses 
 altogether in v>Inf^. Old men are often seen carrying about 
 birds, with which they seem much amused, — or, stranger still, 
 they employ theni.selves in flying paper kites, .whilst a group 
 of bo;/" will look gravely on. 
 
 When a distinguished guest is received he is placed on the 
 left hand, as being the scat of honour, and the host does not 
 uncover his head, as that would be a sign of familiarity. 
 
 But these arc only s^rawi;*; customs; the Chinese liave many 
 others which are not only strange but wrong. For the people 
 of China, however clever, active, and industrious they may 
 be, arc a people " given to idolatry." 
 
 All religions are tolerated in China so long as they are not 
 considered dangerous to the state. 
 
 Three are admitted. Of these the most ancient is that of 
 Confucius, which is called the doctrine of the Leilered. 
 
 Confucius was a wise man, who lived more than 2000 years 
 ago, and taught and wrote a great many good things about the 
 
 WOMEN OF CHINA. 
 
 17 
 
 w.ay in which people should act in this life, but he taiight 
 nothing about God, or the way to serve Him. 
 
 The religion taught by Confucius is merely Pantheism, — 
 that is, it finds a god in everything, and worships the spirits 
 of heaven and earth, of the stars, the mountains, the rivers, 
 and the souls of deceased relations. This worship has no 
 ])riests and no idols; the emperor is the head of it, and nearly 
 all the liter.Try persons belong to it. The tablet of Confucius 
 is iu all the schools, and the masters and pupils are required 
 to prostrate themselves before his name. In every city tem- 
 ples are built to his honour, and upwards of 300,000,000 of 
 men declare him to be the highest saint. Twice in the year, 
 in spring and autumn, one morning before daybreak, all the 
 city chiefs go to his temple and bow down, knocking their 
 heads on the ground several times before his shrine, which 
 has no image, but only a wooden tablet on which his name is 
 engraven. 
 
 The second religion in C'liina is the sect of the Taosse, or 
 Taouists, — the Doctors of Picason, — founded by Laotzc, a con- 
 temporary of Confucius. 
 
 Laotze believed in one supreme Being : this Being he knew 
 not how to name, but he called him Reason; he s.aid that all 
 human souls carne from this fir.st wuse, and after death were 
 united to it, the wicked alone being excluded. His sayings 
 are full of benevolence and kindness, but his doctrines are 
 involved in great obscurity. Even the learned Confucius could 
 not understand them. Ho went one day to pay L.aotze n, visit, 
 and, on his return, remained three days without saying a word. 
 One of his disoiples asked him the cause of his silence, and 
 Confucius replied : — 
 
 " AVhen I see a man make use of his thoughts to escape mo 
 like a bird that flics .aw.ay, I dispose mine like a bow armed 
 v:\i\\ its arrows to pierce him, and I never fail to reach and 
 master him. AVhen I see a man make use of his thoughts to 
 escape me like an agile stag, I arrange mine like a running 
 dog to pursue him, and I never fail to come up with him, and 
 throw hira down. When a man makes use of his thoughts to 
 
18 
 
 MISSIONS TO THE 
 
 escape from me like the fish of the deep, I arrange mine like 
 the hook of the fisherman, and I never fail to take liim, and get 
 liim into my power. But as to the drngnn, who rises on the 
 clouds and floats in ether, I cannot pursue him. I liave seen 
 Laotze, and lie is like the Jragon. At his voice, my mouth 
 remained wide open, my tongne came out of it with astonish- 
 ment, and I had not the power to draw it back, — my soul was 
 jihinged in perple.tity, and has not been able to recover its 
 previous calmness." 
 
 AVhen Laotze's doctrines puzzled even Confucius, we need 
 not be surprised when we find that ordinary people altogether 
 misunderstood him, and that his disciples are now as unlike 
 as possible to their master. The priests and priestesses of 
 this worship practise magic, astrology, and many other ab- 
 surdities : they teach the existence of spirits and demons, 
 and have almost a countle.';s number of gods. One, whom 
 they call the San Kwan, consists, they say, of three persons, 
 who rule the heaven, earth, and water. They believe also 
 in the spirit of the earth, the god of thunder, the spirit of 
 water, the s|)iTit of riches, itc. Besides these, they have a 
 number of famous heroes, whom they have raised to the rank 
 of gods. Indeed, it is hard to say what they do not believe, or 
 ■wh.at they do nnt try to persuade the people that they know. 
 These Doctors of Reason even pretend that they have discovered 
 the eli.^ir of immortality I 
 
 Last of all we come to Buddhism, which was introduced 
 into China about A.n. 65. The founder of Buddhism was 
 Gautama Buddha, borrf in India about the year 960 before 
 Christ. Eastern tradition says that he was a most wonderful 
 person ; at the age of ten years he understood fifty languages, 
 and performed many miracles. His followers, like those of 
 Laotze, differ very much from their leader, for Buddha him- 
 self taught against, idolatry, whilst the religion now consists 
 of idol-worship. 
 
 Its doctrines are, that " there is no creator and no supreme 
 (tod by whom all things are governed; that the earth came 
 into being of itself, and continues by its own power ; that 
 
 WOMEN OF CHINA. 
 
 19 
 
 m.ui <»n obtain ha].pines3 in the next world by his own merits, 
 and by obeying the precepts of Buddha ; that forgiveness of 
 sins is impo.ssible ; and tli.at every man will re.ap the conse- 
 quences of misdeeds he now commits by sufferings undergone, 
 after being born again in this or in same other world as a man, 
 or a devil, or an animal." 
 
 The Buddhists' ideas of geography are very strange. They 
 teach that " the earth is immovable, and upon it is placed a 
 round mountain, one million and a half miles in height, the 
 earth itself being two and a half millions of miles in thickness, 
 below which are three worlds of stone, water, and wind, each of 
 incredible thickness. The sun, they say, is .500 miles in heio-ht, 
 length, bre.adth, and 1.500 in circuit; the moon 490 miles' in 
 length, breadth, and thickness, and 1470 in circuit. Not- 
 withstanding these dimensions, both luminaries arc sw^Uowed 
 by a certain Assur Rahu, a giant of prodigious .size,\liose 
 mouth is 3000 miles deep, with head, and limbs of .suitable 
 proportions."* 
 
 Such is the belief of the mass of the people of China. 
 Numbers of temples are built and idols set up in honour of 
 the god lUiddha. " His image is a huge ugly figure, more 
 than twenty feet high, gilt all over, jesting on a loUis flower. 
 Daily, in front of this image, numbers of Chinese may be seen, 
 kneeling, knocking their heads, burning gilt paper, or lightin'^ 
 candles and incense-sticks," hoping thereby to procure bless^ 
 ing.s, and escape evils td come. 
 
 Besides the.se three religions, there are many in China who 
 follow the jirccepts of Mohammed. These Mussulmans, or 
 Hoei-Hoei, have built several mosques, and have great influ- 
 ence, for they are so closely united that if an insult is offered 
 to one, it is resented by all. 
 
 But taken as a people, the Chinese are very indifferent even 
 to their own religion. Indeed, one of their emperors declared 
 on a review of all religions, (Christianity included,) that he re- 
 commended his subjects to have nothing to do with any ; and 
 this advice is in general followed. A Chinese never thinks of 
 " Church Missionary Juvenile Instructor." 
 
.;m^ 
 
 ■^'TK'^^s^f^-'^^^-.'^^f.^r':^!'^?^^ 
 
 20 
 
 MISSIONS TO TnK 
 
 WOSIKN or CHINA. 
 
 21 
 
 God, the soul, a future life ; be agrees to everything, but does 
 not care ■whether it be true or false, good or bad ; this world 
 absorbs all his energies. If three persons meet — one a Con- 
 fucian, another a Buddhist, and the third a disciple of Laotze — 
 the question is asked, " To what sublime religion do you be- 
 long V And then each one delivers a long speech in praise of 
 the religion to which he does 7iof belong ; after which they all 
 repeat in chorus. " Eoligions are many, — reason is one, — we 
 arc all brothers." 
 
 This want of religious feeling leads to great indifference to 
 death. A'coffin is a usual present for one person to make 
 to another ; and arrangements for his own funeral are often 
 ordered by a sick man. 
 
 And when the time comes for them to die, they " salute the 
 world" with calmness. But a strange custom is often observed 
 by the relations of the dying person. It is the belief with the 
 Chinese (as it is with us) that death is the scpamtion of the 
 soul from the body, and they do all they can to persuade the 
 sold to remain, or, if it has left, to return to its fcTrmcr habi- 
 tation. They utter loud cries, and say, " What have we done 1 
 ■What motive can you have for going away? Come back, we 
 pr.ay you." They even take lanterns to show the soul the 
 way back, lest it might not know how to return. 
 
 This custom is followed just because it is a nis/om. The 
 people would not think of praying to their god Buddha to ask 
 for the cure of one dear to them ; they have no idea of the 
 existence of any lieing sufiBciently powerful to save or destroy 
 life. 
 
 No day of rest or worship belongs to Chinese idolatry ; but 
 feasts, festivals, or processions are held occasionally in honour 
 of some fabled monster, superstition, or natural object. 
 
 The new year (which falls in our February) is almost the 
 only universal season of leisure and rejoicing. All public 
 offices are closed for some days in advance ; all debts are paid 
 off; and the whole empire gives itself up to enjoyment. On 
 the eve of the new year, everybody sits up, and at midnight a 
 feu de joie of crackers is fired. Then commences the perform- 
 
 ance of sacred rites, and the preparations of the houses for 
 new year solemnities. " Every dwelling is garnished, and the 
 shrine of the household gods adorned with huge porcelain 
 dishes, or vases containing the fragrant gourd, the citron, 
 (called by Ciiinese the head of Budh,) and the flowers of the 
 Narcis.sus." Early in the morning, crowds repair to the 
 temples in their best drosses, and then visits are paid to offer 
 the conrpliments of the season. Friends exchange presents 
 with one another; these usually consist of delicacies, as rare 
 fruits, .sweetmeats, fine tea, and ornaments, and are accom- 
 panied by a list inscribed on a rod ticket, which is returned 
 by the bearer with the addition, Received with thanls. The 
 compliment is immediately to be returned by presents of the 
 s.amo kind. About this time the emperor honours husbandly 
 by going through the ceremony of holding the plough. He 
 proceeds in state to the enclosure which surrounds the Temple 
 to Earth, which I have described to you. Everything has 
 been duly prepared by regular husbandmen beforehand, so 
 that the emperor has very little trouble in plougliing a few 
 furrows, after which his suite follow his example. 
 
 On the 1.5th of the 1st moon is held the Feast of Lanterns, 
 when labour is suspended, visits of ceremony paid by the rich, 
 and gaiety indulged in by the poor. The object of this feast is 
 not known, and it appears now to be only an opportunity for 
 the disjilay of skill in the manufacture of lanterns and fire- 
 works. The whole empire is illuminated from one end to the 
 other, and the number of lanterns used on the occasion is said 
 to exceed 200,000,000 ; they arc made of pearl-shell, mica, 
 horn, glass, paper, cotton, or silk, and are of every shape, often 
 in the form of birds, beasts, and fishes. The effect in the 
 dark night is said to be very good of illuminated fish, or the 
 dragon darting out from its eyes flames of fire ; whilst brilliant 
 fireworks make the show still more attractive. 
 
 But, as a relirfioiis ceremony, it seems quite without mean- 
 ing, though the people connect it in some my.sterious way 
 with their superstitions, for visits are paid to the halls of 
 Confucius and temuks of their idol-gods. 
 
22 
 
 MISSIONS TO THE 
 
 Another festival — that of the " Dragon Boat" — is leas 
 beautiful. 
 
 The destinies of the Chinese empire are said to be under 
 the power of four animals : the stag, the tortoise, the phoenix, 
 and the dragon. The first presides over literature, the second 
 over morality, and the third controls divination. The fourth, 
 the dragon, represents authority, and is the national ensign of 
 China : it is painted on their standards, with the inscription, 
 " Tlic flying dragon is in heaven," and is attached to precepts, 
 edicts, and books. 
 
 The dragon, they believe, inflnences tlie seasons, and causes 
 eclipses, for his appetite is so great that he devours the sun 
 and moon, leaving the empire in total darkness. To appease 
 his wrath, and send him elsewhere, the festival of the " Dragon 
 Boat' was instituted, and is held every year in the Canton 
 river on the 5th day of the 5th moon, answering about to our 
 June. The great object is to find out and frighten away the 
 dragon, who is supposed to hide in some of the creeks of the 
 river. So a long, narrow boat is built, having a figure-head 
 resembling a dragon ; and this boat, propelled by sixty or 
 eighty rowers, cuts through the water with great rapidity, 
 accompanied by the shouts of spectators, sound of instru- 
 ments, and rolling of drums. As soon as the festival is over, 
 the dragon is respected as before. 
 
 One more festival observed by the Chinese I may tell you 
 about. It is held in the 7th moon, " for the benefit of their 
 departed relations in the world of spirits." Large mat-houses 
 are erected, in which lanterns are placed, and images of the 
 infernal deities. Buddhist priests then chant masses for the 
 dead, offerings of food are made, and large quantities of paper, 
 cut in the shape of clothes, are burned ; these ai'e supposed to 
 pass to the other world for the use of the departed. 
 
 Bi'presentntions are also made of the Buddhist heaven and 
 hell ; but thoy do not seem to impress the spectators, who 
 spend the day in feasting and entertainment. 
 
 Such is the religion, and such the sacred days, observed by 
 the Chinese. 
 
 WOMEN OF CHINA. 
 
 23 
 
 LETTER in. 
 
 I TOLD you in my last letter about the sad condition of China 
 — 400,000,000 people sunk in idolatry. 
 
 Of the.se it is calculated that upwards of 150,000,000 arc 
 women. 
 
 How impossible, you will say, to reach all these, and how 
 very, very .sad to think of the numbers who live and die, and 
 never hear the glad tidings of salvation. 
 
 It is so indeed ; but the more we think of these great num- 
 bers, the more anxious should we be to send them the gospel. 
 We should not sit with folded hands and say, " There is so 
 much to be done, there is no use in our even trying." We should 
 remember that God is often pleased to make use of apparently 
 insignificant means for the carrying out of His purposes, and 
 that although tve may " have no power against this so great 
 a multitude," yet He wh^ is almighty has promised that His 
 people shall come to Him, not only from the north and .south, 
 but " some also from the land of Sinim," (Isa. xlix. 12.) 
 
 The women of China, at least those that belong to the upper 
 classes, live a very secluded life ; with the exception of an 
 occasional visit to one another or to the temples, they spend 
 most of their time indoors. Even if it were considered right 
 for them to go out much, they would find it diflicult to walk, 
 for, as you know, when they are children their feet are ban- 
 daged i\ order to make them small. I suppose there are few 
 who have not seen a Chinese lady's shoe. How very tiny it 
 is, and of such a strange shape ! Do you know the ori.gin of 
 the custom? About the year 950 A.D., a Chinese empress 
 excited great admiration from the smallness of her feet, which 
 just covered the flower of the golden lily as she walked in her 
 garden. The court ladies tried to imitate her, but they found, 
 it impos.sible ; their feet could not be made sufficiently small ; 
 .so they determined that at least their children should possess 
 this advantage, and at two years old they bandaged their feet, 
 which prevented their growth. The custom soon spread 
 
24 
 
 MISSIONS TO THE 
 
 through the crhpire, and now all Chinese women of the upper 
 classes, in town and country, are lame, as we would call it ; 
 liut they consider it to be a beauty, and call their little I'eot 
 by the name of " golden lilies." 
 
 With tlie exception, however, of the " swinging gait " of 
 the Chinese women, you would admire them very much, for 
 their costume is graceful and elegant, and they have great skill 
 ill the arrangement of tlieir ornaments and the colours of their 
 dress, so that the general effect is pleasing. 
 
 As regards their abilities, there have been many instances of 
 learned Chinese women, and in the catalogue of the imperial 
 library the names are entered of a very large number of 
 authoresses. The most celebrated of these is Pan-Hevai-Pau, 
 who lived about A.i). 80. She wrote a book called "Female 
 Precepts,'' teaching the doctrines and responsibilities of 
 domestic life. And, to come down to later times, in 1820 one 
 of the governors of Canton published a volume of his deceased 
 daughter's poems. 
 
 We read also of several who were remarkable in other ways. 
 Confucius, the wise man of whom I have told you, was brought 
 up by his mother, (his father having died when he was three 
 years old,) and he hmg mourned her loss. 
 
 Another wise man, named Mencius, the next in rank to 
 Confucius, was also educated by his mother, and he owed 
 much of his greatness to her care of him. She was .so anxious 
 to keep him from bad ex.ample, that three times she removed 
 her dwelling on account of some fault in the neighbourhood. 
 And this must have involved a good deal of expense, which 
 she could ill meet, as she was a poor woman, and earned Iier 
 living by weaving. She taught her son a useful lesson by 
 means of her web. One day, when ho returned from .school, 
 she examined him as to what he had learned, and found that 
 he had been very idle. She said nothing, but taking hold of 
 the web at which she had been working, she violently tore it 
 a.sunder. Mencius asked her the reason of the strange jiro- 
 ceeding, when she replied, " My son, if you do not carry on 
 your learning, but neglect your education, it will all be of no 
 
 WOMEN OF CHINA. 
 
 25 
 
 use, just as my labour on this web is now lost by my having 
 torn it." Mencius took the hint, we are told, and fiom that 
 time learned with all diligence. . 
 
 This good mother of Mencius also tried to make her son 
 truthful, and this is remark.able, for, as I have mentioned, 
 deceit is the national sin of Cliina. But, however .she may 
 have licard it, Mencius' mother knew that it was wrong. 
 This is evident from thg following anecdote. The boy saw 
 a butcher one d.ay kill some animals, and he asked his mother 
 what he meant to do with them. "To feed you with them," 
 she replied in jest. I'ut afterwards she feared lest these care- 
 less words might te.ach her son to tell lies, and .she wont imme- 
 diately and bought some meat which she gave to him. 
 
 To pass to the higher ranks. There was once an empress 
 who ruled the kingdom alone, ami who was, we read, " every 
 inch a queen." (5u-heon, the Elizabeth of the East, reigned 
 about the end of the seventh century, one of the most remark- 
 able eras in Chinese history. 
 
 The late emperor, Hien-foung, raised his wife to the rank 
 of a reigning empress. On the occasion of her coronation 
 he issued the following proclamation : — 
 
 " Even as in nature we see the earth ohdy the laws of the 
 heavenly bodies, to whom the earth itself is nevertheless of 
 essential importance, so do we learn from the Canonical Books 
 that good emperors have availed themselves of the assistance 
 of exemplary empresses. For example, the excellent Ngo-tai, 
 wife of the renowned Emperor Chun, and the worthy consort 
 of the great Yu, perfectly fulfilled all their domestic duties, 
 and, moreover, set examples which were highly edifying to the 
 whole empire. 
 
 " Absorbed day and night by the vast occupations belonging 
 to the inheritance which heaven has intrusted to me, through 
 the medium of my ancestors, I have need of an assistant 
 actuated by tho same spirit as myself. Niu-lou-kou is a lady 
 of honourable extraction, whose excellent dispo.sition is highly 
 esteemed within the precincts of the palace, wherp the natural 
 goodness of her heart and her exemplary character are shown 
 
riitliiiiilii 
 
 26 
 
 MISSIONS TO THK 
 
 by the acnipulous exactness with wliich she performs her 
 domestic duties. Frugal and amiable, kind and gentle, she 
 deserves to enjoy every kind of happiness. I shall, therefore, 
 in conformity with ancient usage, respectfully communicate 
 this event to heaven, to earth, to the manes of my ancestors, 
 and to the spirits of the territory and of the harvests, on the 
 7th of the first moon, the day on which she will be seated 
 bj' us on the imperial throne. From that time she will re- 
 side in the palace of tlic Nenuphars, and will aid us in our 
 administration in the perfumed precincts of her apartments." 
 
 Another distinguished lady, of whom we read, was the wife 
 of the governor-general of the Chinese army during the late 
 war. She is now no more, and a poem, found in her hus- 
 band's room, shows how her loss was mourned. 
 
 Translation of a Poem in Memoriam of Tau's Wife. 
 
 {The characters in black velvet, right hand.) 
 
 '• In the Me* bowered window the .spring is mild. 
 In the Lant bordered pathway the breezes are fragrant." 
 
 Tlie following scrolls, on blue and white silk, are funeral 
 tributes tn the ^nrtucs of a distinguished lady, presented by 
 mourning relations, blue and white being the appropriate 
 colours for mourning. 
 
 "Combining the qualities of Tan J and Ki, the Vermilion 
 Pencil§ has honoured her with a title. 
 
 " Uniting the graces of Ha and Chang, the Scarlet Tube 
 has ])ublished her excellence. 
 
 " Possessing high rank of imperial bestowraent, favour 
 rested on her door-posts, and abundant graces on her house- 
 hold. 
 
 " Decorated with an imperial distinction, her virtues were 
 
 • M^ is a plant indipenoiis to China. 
 + Lan is the name of a very sweet flowering plant. 
 
 + Tnn and Ki were women famed for tbeir virtucB; Ha and Chang for 
 their nccnmi»li''hmcnt8. 
 § Vermilion Pencil and Scarlet Tube are figures denoting the Emperor. 
 
 WOMEN OF CHINA. J< 
 
 published through her native district, and diffused the repu- 
 tation of her worth. 
 
 " Clad in ivory-adorned vestments, she has gone to worship 
 the True (one :) and her benevolent countenance, where shall 
 we look for it ] 
 
 " Having taught her son to respect her example, and hold 
 fast the classics, she saw him pluck with his own hands the 
 sprig of the Guc wha*. 
 
 " Having aided her husband to display his virtues, her 
 gentle influence flowed over her kindred, and she long com- 
 manded the hearts of her relations." 
 
 When we see how much ability and goodness are respected, 
 we find it hard to understand why the Chinese national idea 
 should be, that a lady ought to do nothing, for " the more use- 
 less she is, the more she shows her high rank." There are, 
 no doubt, many who take advantage of this idea to lead an 
 idle life ; but one who lived hmg in China and had oppor- 
 tunities of observing the manners and customs of the higher 
 classes, tells us that the ladies are by no means deficient in 
 energy. Many are active both in mind and body. They 
 are taught to embroider, also to paint on silk, and music is 
 a favourite accomplishment. They have many amu.scments, 
 such as private theatricals and concerts ; and card-pla3'ing 
 occupies a great deal of their time. Tlicy keep a great variety 
 and number of pets ; often their rooms are filled with rabbits 
 and fancy dogs ; whilst in the beautifully kept grounds about 
 the house may be seen tame deer, sciuirrcls amongst the trees, 
 and perhaps gold and silver fish .sporting in an artificial lake. 
 
 Amongst the lower classes, the country girls, in addition 
 to household work, are engaged in cleaning cotton and wool, 
 in spinning and weaving ; in the silk districts they gather the 
 mulberry leaves for the silkworms, and in the tea plantations 
 pick the tea leaves. In towns tliey make beautiful artificial 
 
 * ThLi plant, the lilossom of which yields a rich perfume, is accepted 
 as the emblem of the degree of Kin-jin, crjuivalent to Our M.A. ; pluck- 
 ing a sprig of the (lu^ wha is therefore equivalent to attaining the second 
 literary degree. 
 
28 MISSIONS TO THE 
 
 flowers, and a great number are em[iloyed in cutting paper 
 into the shape and size of coins and of articles of dress, which 
 are bouglit and burned, and thus sent (as I have mentioned) 
 to the world of spirits for the use of deceased relations. 
 
 In this account you miss, I am sure, one employment. 
 Do the Chinese ■women never read ? 
 
 With very few exceptions they are, sad to relate, never 
 taught to read or write. According to a common proverb, 
 " only one woman in a hundred can read,'" and the " literary 
 ladies," of whom I have told you, must have won their way 
 to distinction tlirough hhidrances .and drawbacks of every 
 kind. Indeed, the general idea in China i.s that women cannot 
 learn, and no schools are provided for girls, whose chief edu- 
 cation consists in being taught to work well. 
 
 The life of Chinese girls must bo very dull, for as soon as 
 they are eleven years old, they are shut up in their own 
 houses, and are not even allowed to leave their room without 
 their mothers' express permission, imtil they marry. When 
 they marry, the want of education is a sad drawback to their 
 happiness. They may be very intelligent, and may occupy 
 themselves busily in such occupations as I have told you, but 
 never having lenrncd even to read, they must be greatly 
 l)uzzled when their husbands allude, for instance, to some of 
 the wise sayings of Confucius. A Chinese woman has also 
 to endure much unkindness from her mother-in-law, a person 
 who, in a Chinese household, exercises a great deal of autho- 
 rity, and who is often jealous when her son is kind to his viife. 
 So, between the fceUng of inferiorit}- (owing to the want of 
 education) and the fear of incurring the displeasure of her 
 inother-in-law, the life of a Chinese woman is at first not 
 happy. As years pass on, however, she becomes a per.son of 
 consequence. The training of her children is committed to 
 lier, and all, the boys as well as the girls, are obliged, by law 
 and by custom, to res[)ect her. " Filial piety," says the Chi- 
 nese proverb, " is the first of all virtues, the root of all good 
 actions ;" and this not only in childhood : the more dej)endent 
 their mother becomes, the more is it considered incumbent on 
 
 li- 
 
 WOMEN OP CHINA. 
 
 23 
 
 the son to pay her reverence, and gray-haired men have been 
 seen to prostrate themselves before their mother in token of 
 honour. This law of filial obedience is not confined to any 
 particular rank — all yield to it, from the emperor on his throne 
 to his subjects of the lowest degree. 
 
 As regards religion, a common saying among the C'hinefc is, 
 " Women have no souls," and we should suppose from this 
 that they would hardly take much trouble about the matter; 
 and yet the W(mien of China arc by no means indifl'ercnt to 
 it. Of re.al religion, indeed, they have no idea, but they have 
 a variety of beliefs and of superstitious fancies. Images of 
 their favourite deity (" the Goddess of Mercy," representing 
 a woman with a child in her arms) are in almost every bed- 
 room, and incense is burned before them constantly. Occa- 
 sionally the temples are visited, and there mothers may be 
 seen teaching their little ones to fold their hands and bow 
 before the idol gods. What kind of places are these temples ? 
 you ask. " The larger temples are usually .situated in some 
 beautiful spot, either in a valley or on a hill side ; sometimes 
 with a clear artificial lake or pond in front, and an avenue of 
 fine old trees and a broad paved walk leading to them." We 
 will, however, take <me temple, of which I have read a descrip- 
 tion. It is composed of half a dozen or more buihlings, "some 
 of which are occupied by the priests connected with the est:ib- 
 lishment. The first house is about as large as most churches. 
 The front door stands open ; a few yards back from it is a 
 large gilt image of Veh, or Buddh.a, which is sometimes called 
 the laughing Veh, because he has a peculiar smiling expression 
 of countenance, as if he might be laughing at the follies of the 
 world. Just behind him is a warrior deity clad in a coat of 
 mail. This is the guardian of the place. On both .sides of 
 this room, ranged along the wall, are rows of inferior deities. 
 Some are sitting, some standing ; one has a book in his hand, 
 as if reading ; one is playing a guitar ; one stretches out his 
 arm with a drawn sword, as if in the .act of striking some one ; 
 <mc with glaring eyes and open mouth stares at you as if in a 
 rage ; another silly-looking thing bends upon you a soft and 
 
no 
 
 MISSIONS TO THE 
 
 melting glance ; and another, with a wise patronising air, 
 gazes upon you as you move slowly by. At one corner of this 
 room, on great occasions, a little shop is opened for the sale of 
 something like indulgences. A worshipper, by giving a few 
 cash, perhaps about as many as are equal to a penny, receives 
 a paper with an order upon it like this : " The bearer of this 
 paper, having paid the .sum of ton cash, and having re]icated 
 over it the name of Yeh one thousand times, is entitled to 
 receive one tliDUsand dollars in the spirit world." They also 
 get a stamp put on tlieir li.andkcrchiefs, certifying that at this 
 time and place they have attended to their religions duties. 
 
 But now go through the back door, also open ; pass through 
 a paved court, lip a broad flight of stone steps, through another 
 paved court, and you will come to a house somewhat larger 
 and finer than the first. A few steps within, and facing the 
 door, stand three images of Vch, called the Pnst, Present, and 
 l-'uture. They are sitting tailor-fashion on a pedestal, ten or 
 twelve feet liigli, looking very demurely down upon those who 
 come before them to worship. Behind these is a favourite 
 goddess called Kuanyin, (the goddess of mere}'.) She is in- 
 tended to be very sweet and attractive, and sits on horseback 
 with a child in her arms. Against the walls are rows of idols 
 similar to those in the room we have just left. 
 
 When the temples are new, the idols are covered over with 
 gilt, or painted with bright colours, but generally they are old 
 and faded, and covered all over with dust, and sometimes have 
 an arm fallen off, or an eye gone, or corners eaten off by the 
 rats. 
 
 In the spring, Avhich is the time when people attend most 
 to their religious duties, crowds may be seen flocking to the 
 temples. Rich ladies come up to tlie door in sed.an chairs, 
 with a servant following, and the poorer classes, staff in band, 
 make the journey on foot. Arrived at the first building, they 
 begin their worship, which consists in burning incense and 
 candles, prostrations before the idols, saying over and over 
 again the name of the god 0-me-da-vah, meantime u.sing a 
 string of beads or rosary. So they go from one to another of 
 
 womi:n of culn'a. 
 
 31 
 
 the many images, and afterwards seat themselves on one side, 
 chanting in a low sing-song tone, " 0-mc-da-vah, 0-me-da-vah," 
 as fast as they can speak, at each repetition shoving along one 
 of the beads of their rosary. The one who spends tjie most 
 time and money in these exercises is thought to be the most 
 jiious.* 
 
 Such a religion could give but little peace of mind. Chinese 
 women live, indeed, in a state of almost constant fear, for they 
 people tlio air, and earth, and sea with all kinds of imaginary 
 beings ; they tremble in the dark ; every sound terrifies them, 
 and in the thunder and the storm they think they hear the 
 voice of malignant spirits, from whom they try to defend them- 
 selves by charms which they wear about their person. 
 
 Some profess to lead a holy life in Buddhist nunneries, to 
 wliich parents de.licate their little girls in infancy ; but do 
 you think they can be really holy when they do not know the 
 true God ?— and they certainly cannot be very happy : they 
 arc shut up there all their lives, and .sjiend their time partly 
 in saying prayers over and over again to the " Goddess of 
 Mercy" — ])artly in the service of the temple. 
 
 " What hope have they as reg.ards the future 1 " you ask ; 
 " where do LUiineso women expect to go when they die 1 " 
 
 Tliey believe that they will live again in this w(jrld in some 
 new form, dependent on their conduct now. If they arc good 
 and kind, they expect to have a higher position in society the 
 next time they are born ; but as for the harsh and ill-tem- 
 pered, they must become animals or reptiles. 
 
 This little sketch of China wo\ild be very incomplete were 
 I not to tell you that there the wicked custom of infanticide 
 is common, so common that in Pekin, the residence of the 
 oni]ieror, about four thoiimnd Utile girls are aimmdhj put to 
 ihalh, and between twenty and thirty thousand throughout 
 the emi>iro. 
 
 Native scholars have written tracts against the practice, 
 and quote the proverb : " The savage tiger docs not eat its 
 wlielp, the cruel brute yet knows its offspring ; but per- 
 * "Juvenile Missionary Instructor." 
 
32 
 
 MIS3SI0NS TO THE 
 
 sons Trim murder their daughters are worse than tigers and 
 wolves." 
 
 Much in the same terms it was condemned in a recent 
 special edict. The em])eror told liis people that it was wrong 
 to gnidge the e.^peusr of bringing up their daughters ; that 
 they .should consider the insects, birds, fishes, and wild ani- 
 mals, how all love their little ones ; how then could human 
 beings act so unnaturally ? 
 
 But there is no occasion to dwell longer on this sad sub- 
 ject. 
 
 LETTER IV. 
 
 It is time now to turn to the bright side of the picture, and 
 to tell you of some of the efforts that have been made for the 
 women of Ciiiiia. 
 
 The first thing to be done was to send out teachers who would 
 establish schools. These teachers were obliged, of course, to 
 learn the Chinese language, which is very difficult, and takes 
 years quite to understand. 
 
 The name of the fir.st teacher sent out by onr Society was 
 Miss Thornton. Slie went, in 1835, to Batavia, in Java, where 
 at that time there was a population of 20,000 Chinese and 
 180,000 natives. Three mission schools for boys had long been 
 held there, but there was not even one, girls' school ; and the 
 Rev. W. H. ^Medluirst himself wrote to urge onr Society to 
 supply the deficiency. " There is. no dcuibt," he said, " that 
 girls' schools may bo set up to an;/ extent among the Chinese, 
 and partially' among the M.alays. The Dutch Government, 
 though it will not help, will, however, not hinder the work so 
 long as it is carried on jirudently." Our Society was not slow- 
 to t:ike advantage of this opening, and on August 19, 183-5, 
 Miss Thornton arrived at Batavia. 
 
 Here, in about a year after her arrival, .she had the superin- 
 
 WOMEN OF CHINA. 
 
 33 
 
 tcndonco of tliree Cliinesc girl.s' scliools, containing thirty chil- 
 dren. Tlie ajipearance of these children you would have thought 
 very peculiar. The greater part of their head was .shaved, the 
 remaining hair dre.ss'xl in long plaits, which were twisted round 
 the top of the head ; then their dress was generally white, which 
 contra.sted strangely with their yellow skias. 
 
 They were intelligent children, and in eighteen months could 
 very nearly read, which, con.sidering the diflicuities of tlic laii- 
 giMge, was a great deal to accomplish. They were taught to 
 write their own language, and still more, though they were all 
 idolaters, they were taught that there is "one God, who ni.ido 
 heaven and earth and all things ; that we must love and fear 
 Tlim ; and that when we die we shall enter into His presence." 
 Jliss Thi.rnton's schools were chiefly composed of Uttle children, 
 for, as I have told you, no Chinese girl is allowed after she 
 is olcv(!n years of age to leave the house. 
 
 But though they were such little one.s, God was pleased to 
 make thmn (as ITo did the captive m.aid of old) to influence 
 grown people. Each child who was able to read brought homo 
 some texts of Scrii>tiire, written in Jlalay, the common lan- 
 guage of the island. These they showed to their p.arcnts, who 
 wore ninch interested, and many of the fathers came to the 
 school to hear the children repeat their lessons. 
 
 " I will let my little daughter go to your school when .she 
 is old fiiongh," Biid a lich Chinaman one day to the teachers, 
 " next year .she shall come." These were glad words ; they 
 artfd like a spur on their efforts, and their hearts overflowed 
 with gratitude to God, who had so, broken down the wall of 
 pTejudii;e against educ-ation. 
 
 JfiM Tliorntoa had, however, no ca.sy task. Often was she 
 grieved to sec the carelessness and want of interest shown by 
 her pupils, for whose good she worked so incessantly; her whole 
 time, from five o'clock in the morning till five o'clock in the 
 evening being spent in teaching ; but she was a very hopeful 
 person, and in a life of much anxiety, her love and patience 
 did not fail — she did not even appear disheartened ; " she 
 forbore ns forbearing not." 
 (/ ^/ c 
 
34 
 
 MISSIONS TO TIIK 
 
 The Chinese schools of which I have Icilil you were mrroly 
 superintended b)' !Miss Thornton; for though slic simui le.irneil 
 to speak and teacli in Malay, the Chinese language required 
 more time than she could give, which was only a few hours at 
 the end of a day spent in teaching. Aftei- some years she 
 gave up her work amongst the natives, and opened a achool 
 for the children of Europeans. This was a most useful under- 
 taking, and soon she had the large number of thirty boarders. 
 
 But the poor Chinese were not left to themselves. In 
 December 1839, 5[iss Thornton was sent two helpers — Miss 
 Hulk ; also Madllc. Combe, a Swiss lady, sent out througli our 
 society by the kindred societies of Geneva and Strasburg. 
 
 Both ladies were most useful. Madlle. Combe commenced 
 to learn the Chinese language on her voyage out, and devoted 
 several hours every day to study, so even on her arrival she 
 was able to speak a little to the children. And when she 
 arrived, she studied with increased earnestness, for " nothing," 
 she say.s, " could more excite me to study with ardour than to 
 be a hundred times a day at a loss for words to tell these chil- 
 dren what to say." But soon she could make herself intelli- 
 gible in the language, and then she commenced her missionary 
 work with great zeal — visiting amongst the natives as well as 
 teaching the children, and meeting at one time with encour- 
 agement, at another with the rever.'jc. At times she was 
 .sadly cast down by the irregular attendance of the children, 
 who, when the novelty of the " .strange lady's" school wore 
 off, very often played truant; but though she felt this severely, 
 she laboured all the more diligently, and jirayed that the Lord 
 " would be entreated for the people, and give at last their 
 souls for a hire to His servants." 
 
 Madllc. Combe married the Rev. Thomson, of the Ame- 
 rican Missionary Society, and removed to the Island of Borneo. 
 Here she was not idle, but commenced to teach, and .soon 
 found that there was more work than she could manage. Our 
 .society, therefore, (aided by the Geneva committee.) sent a 
 teacher to help her labours in Borneo in the year 1844. 
 
 The Island of Borneo is described as very deceptive in ap- 
 
 WOMEN OF CHINA. 
 
 .3.5 
 
 pearance. To a traveller approa.Jiing it towards the N K 
 coast, n seems at a distance so beautifully verdant, that it look-, 
 like a highly-cultivated country, while the groups of acacias 
 and palm-trees which are studded over the landscape, make the 
 ' whole scene most attractive. But a nearer approach shows the 
 traveller his mi.stake. Borneo is, in fact, for the mo.st part a 
 low swampy i.sland, covered with ranges of long, damp gras. 
 which IS infested with venomous snakes ; and the trees which' 
 grow so luxuriantly, form an entangled ma.ss, which can neither 
 be j.enetrated by European or native. The villages in Borneo 
 would scarcely be called such by us. The word village sugcesfs 
 the thought of neat little houses and regular streets. But a 
 Horneo village is in fact ovr house. It is built in this way • 
 hrst of .all a number of men and women, perhaps thirty, forty 
 or fifty, agree that they will live together under one roof; they 
 then go into the wood, cut down the grass or trees, and build 
 an altar on which they offer up a sacrifice to .some unknown 
 god. Next, they watch the birds, and in some w.-iy find out 
 wiicrc thoy ought to settle themselves. As soon as tlie site has 
 been decided on, the men, women, and children go ont to get 
 suitable wood, and they build a house often eighty or a hun- 
 dred feet long, according to the number of the inmates The " 
 house is generally wised three or four feet from the ground to 
 pro*!rve it from the snakes. A thick i)iece of wood with 
 notches m it, forms the stairs. A large platform is built out- 
 ride, on which they dry their rice. This platform is made of 
 «nall sticks tied together, often four or five inches apart, .so 
 thiit one 1ms to be careful not to .slip through. The flooring 
 of the hall is something stronger, and here the people eat their 
 food, and w<dc, each family having a little room in which they 
 sprenJ their mats for sleeping. They keep a great many doer,, 
 and gcneMlly one or two monkeys, in the hall. Underneath 
 the house they keep pigs. In the centre of the hall is always 
 hmig np a human head, which is supposed to bring good for- 
 tune. 
 
 The Dyaks (as the natives are called) are degraded, super- 
 Ptitiou.s, and ignorant. They see no difference between truth 
 
satTsr-s-, st--i~ 
 
 .k,«iifliliiii 
 
 3G 
 
 MISSIONS TO THF. 
 
 and falselinod, and are so prone to steal that persons living 
 amnngst thorn arc obliged to secure ovorvthing under lock and 
 key. 
 
 As to religion, they have some idea of supreme beings, 
 whom they call Jubata, but they hate learning of every kind, 
 and when Jliss Pojipy (o>ir agent) tried to teach them, their 
 only response .was — " Wc arc ignorant, we do not know. What 
 is the \ise of Dyaks learning ? " 
 
 Did the teacher regret that she had come amongst such a 
 people i No ; her own words were — " This is the people 
 among whom the Lord has graciously placed me, and I heartily 
 thank Him for it. I know not the person with whom I would 
 wish to change. If the Lord will, I trust I shall live and die 
 amongst the Dyaks." 
 
 In God's strength she laboured, and taught the children of 
 the tn/e Jiihata, the One Almighty God, and was cheered when 
 finding that Dyaks could learn, they did not so often say — 
 " We are ignorant. We do not know." 
 
 Her school was, in general, well .attended. She taught the 
 children to sing, at which they were greatly delighted ; and at 
 noon, when the school was closed, she instructed adults, or else 
 lenrned the language, so that her time was fully and liapjnly 
 employed. 
 
 I cannot tell you of any very evident result of Jfiss Poppy's 
 mission to Borneo. Her work met with nnich opposition. 
 " Many received .sufficient light to show them their sins, and 
 they h.ated the light lest their deeds might bo reproved." I3ut 
 if she prepared the way for future missions there, was not that 
 a great deal to be allowed to do ] 
 
 In December 1845 was received the ,sad account of Mrs 
 Thomson's death, and not very long afterwards Mis.s Poppy 
 married a Mr Bausum, and went to Penang, also an i.sland of 
 the Eastern Archipelago. 
 
 Here she had not to break new ground, for a school had bee?n 
 opened so early as the year 1838, by Mrs ]")avies. It was com- 
 posed of children who were given up to the teacher by their 
 parents for a certain time, — either three, four, or five years 
 
 WOMEN OF nilNA. 37 
 
 according to their ages on entering the school. They were 
 obliged to leave at twelve years of age, to be shut up, accord- 
 nig to the Chinese custom, until their marriage. 
 
 Thoy wore taught English reading and writing, Chinese 
 rending and writing, plain sewing, and Chinese embroidery. 
 
 But the great desire of the teachers was, to teach them the 
 Way of salv.ition through the Lord Jesus Christ, and this many 
 learned, so as to be able to give good answers to quosti.jns put 
 to them. Often, however, it was f,;ared that the truths had 
 not entered into their hearts, though the teachers wore not left 
 without encouragement. 
 
 In 1851 sickness broke out in the school, and many were 
 laid aside. Amongst these was a girl who had been but a 
 short time under Mrs Bausum's care, but who had always .shown 
 much interest when the way of salvation was spoken of. Mrs 
 Bausnm sat down one evening by her pupil's bedside, and 
 began to talk to her. In a few minutes thirteen little girls 
 gnthered round to listen, and many of the elder ones, who did 
 not xvi.sh fo be noticed, came and .sat behind the teacher, who 
 .'ipoke to her litlle audience of sickness, death, .and eternity, 
 iiml oxhorted thein to jiray, and turn to the Lord. All.'^ccmed 
 jniieh .affertcd. Then she put the following questions to the 
 
 *irk eliild, and either she or her younger sister answered : 
 
 " By whose mercy is it that you are a little better ? " 
 " By God's,'" was the reply. 
 
 " If yon had died when you were so ill, where would your 
 $oul be now ? " The child was silent, when Mrs Bausum said, 
 " Where must all sinners go if they die in their sins ? " and 
 the answer was, 
 " To lielL" 
 
 " Is there any escape from hell ? " asked Mrs Bausum. 
 " "^'es ; " was the auswer, " through Jesus Christ, because He 
 bore our sins." 
 
 " 'Who is Je.sus Christ ? " 
 
 " The Son of God." 
 
 " Why did He come from heaven ! ' 
 
 " Because He loved us." 
 
'SaSKC MOW<ll»ll Hv 
 
 S8 
 
 MISSIONS to THK. 
 
 " Did Jesus die for all men ? " 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 " T]ien are all men saved 1 " 
 
 " No, only those that believe." 
 
 " What does God give to make people believe and love 1 " 
 
 "The Holy Spirit." 
 
 Such were the que.stions answered readily by the.sc little 
 heathen children, and Mrs Rausnni's heart was indeed cheered. 
 Slie thought that .surely if God had not intended to bless, He 
 would not have shown them such things. Tlic next day the 
 j-ounger sister became ill, and both were taken awaj' by their 
 father. Before they left, Mrs Bausnm said — " You will not re- 
 ceive instruction every day in the AVord of God, but dtin't for- 
 get what you have been taught," and tears filled the elder 
 girl's eyes as she replied tliat she would not. 
 
 The next niissionarj- .station of which I have to speak will 
 occupy some time, so I will reserve my account of it for another 
 h'tter. 
 
 LETTER V. 
 
 ,[f you will look at the map of Asia, you will find, at the very 
 .south of Malacca, an island named Singapore. This is an im- 
 portant place, being a famous resort for the Chinese. The 
 capital, which is also called Singapore, is largo and handsome, 
 and densely populated with Malays, Indians, Armenians, .Jews, 
 and Chinese, — each nation residing in its own quarter. The 
 houses occupied by the Chinese are easily distinguished by the 
 fantastic characters on the red lintels of the door-posts, and 
 they themselves, not only by their dress and appearance, but by 
 their untiring industry. From early dawn they labour on till 
 nearly midnight, when paper lanterns, covered with strange 
 devices, throw a subdued light over crowds of yellow figures 
 all actively employed. 
 
 WOMEN OF CHINA. 
 
 3!) 
 
 The Malay population is very numerous. " They are a fine 
 sot of people, but reckless ; and when one of them gets into 
 bad circumstances, he is overcome by despair, and finding a 
 dagger to his right hand, rushes into the street, and running 
 as he can through the crowded thoroughfares, stabs all he 
 meets, men, women, and children. This is called running a- 
 muck. A-muck is a Mal.ay word, and means one who arms 
 himself for the purpose of murdering every one he meet.s, and 
 never surrendering himself." 
 
 For some years the London Missionary Society had a station 
 in this largely pop\dated island ; but when Cliina was oj)ened 
 in 1843, they withdrew their mi.ssionaries and sent them there. 
 In 1856, the Rev. W. Tarleton (chaplain to the Bishop of Cal- 
 cutta) snys : — " It is sad to think there is no missionary in 
 Singapore. A more important sphere for missionary work 
 could scarcely be found, Imt yet it is almost unoccupied. Still, 
 I hope, there is much good doing at Singapore in connexion 
 with the Eastern Female Education Society by Miss Cooke, 
 thongh her efforts are in a great measure confined to the 
 female population, on which she ex(!rt3 some influence through 
 girls who attend her school. Miss C. has been out about two 
 years, but the school has been establi-shed some ten or twelve 
 years." 
 
 So early, indeed, as the year 1838, efforts were made to 
 establish a girls' school at Singapore, first by Mrs Squire and 
 afterwards by ^[rs Alexander Stronach, whose work was espe- 
 cially amongst the Malays. The first Chinese boarding-school ' 
 for girls, however, M'as opened in 1840 by Mrs Ball, the wife 
 of rn American missionary. Soon it was seen that sucii 
 schools had great prospect of .success; and, in 1842, Mrs Dyer 
 (wife of the Rev. S. Dyer, Londtm Missionary Society) founded 
 .1 boarding-school of twenty C'hinese girls. In IMarcli 1843, Miss 
 Grant, by J*rrR y>yer's wish, was sent out to take charge of it 
 by our society. 
 
 This school seems to have been from the first most jiro- 
 mising. 
 
 In September 184-2, just a month after it had been opened, 
 
^raesattji^ 
 
 40 
 
 MISSIONS TO THE 
 
 Mrs Dyer says that the children were easily tauglit, and took 
 great pleasure in learning. A strange ciroumstance occurred. 
 Mrs Dyer was about to teach two of the children the story of 
 our Saviour's birth, when to her utter astoni.shment she found 
 that these little Buddhist girls knew all about it, and could ex- 
 plain it to her quite well. The wonder was, how had they 
 learned it ; and on inquiry, she found it was from their brother, 
 who attended a jnission school. So, although according to 
 Chinese custom, they had been shut up in their houses for 
 three or four years, the news had been brought to them of the 
 Saviour. And now they were allowed to learn much more 
 about Him, for their mother was the person employed by Mrs 
 Dyer to teach work, anil to help in the school, and she sent 
 her sons to the mission school, whilst her daughters assisted 
 her in the care of the younger pupils, and M'ere themselves 
 under Christian instruction. 
 
 Of this school !Mi-is Grant took charge in August 184.3. 
 She describes the .schoolroom as nice and airj', with a good 
 gallery, and a number of lesson books hung all round. 
 
 Tiic children looked pleased to see their teacher, and saluted 
 her with a funny — " How do you do, Mee-t .? " 
 
 She commenced at once to learn Malay, whilst on their part 
 the children learned English, and soon all could speak a little, 
 and read the New Testament. They were eager to learn, and 
 several showed a great interest in the .subject of religion, and 
 they were more than merely intcrcsfed. 
 
 ''Were one of you snre of dying to-morrow," was the ques- 
 tion once put by Jliss («.rant to her class, " what would yon 
 do tofhr;/?" 
 
 " I would get my grave ready," said one; but another willi 
 almost a frown of resolution on her face replied, 
 
 " I would believe s/roitfjli/ in Jesus." 
 
 At another time Mi.ss Grant showed her pn]iils an "inter- 
 esting pictorial representation of the human heart,— on the one 
 side, the different shades of the evil heart, till lost in perdition; 
 on the other, the renewed heart, ending in glory." One of 
 the girls listened with the deepest interest, and when the lesson 
 
 WOMRN OF CHINA. 
 
 41 
 
 was over, she pointed to a heart in which Satan sat as king, 
 with all his evil angels in full pos.session of the soul, and burst- 
 ing into tears, and hiding her face, exclaimed, " That Ls my 
 heart." 
 
 '■ 1 don't know how to be patient any more," said one of the 
 .girls who was suffering from severe illness,— words showing 
 her efl'orts to strive against n.atural irritability. 
 
 Then there was a very remarkable spirit of prayer ainoni;st 
 the children in the school. 
 
 "•You need not give us a book of prayers to help iis'with 
 words," they said to Mrs Dyer; " we know what we want." 
 
 Every night two of the elder girls were in the habit of col- 
 lecting the school, and the one read the Bible and the other 
 prayed, closing their little service with the .singing of a hymn. 
 
 To ju-ayer was Joined earnest effort. One Sunday evening, 
 
 after church, H (who was one of the two girls taught by 
 
 their brother) addressed the school. She toldthem, in vivid 
 language, of the Jledeemor's love; then asked them how could 
 they escape if they neglected their present opi)ortunities, and 
 warned them of their danger. All were amazed. " It seemed 
 
 to me," said one, "as I looked at H , that she was filled 
 
 with the Holy Ghost." 
 
 Here is a literal translatiori of a letter written by this same 
 
 H , to Ruth, a Javanese girl, brought to the knowled,geof 
 
 the truth by the instrumentality of Mis-; Aldersey (about whom 
 I hope to tell you by aiul by) : — 
 
 "Sept. 1814. 
 
 " My dear Ruth,— Wo received your letter, which made 
 mo very glad. We thank God for having hel])ed us, and given 
 ue a teacher to teach us how we may get a blessini' for our 
 souls. Moreover, He has helped us to believe on the name of 
 the Lord Jesus Christ. Wlun you were in Singapore, we knew 
 not one thing ; but God has brought us here, and bids us learn 
 wh;it is good. See how good the Most High God is to us sin- 
 ners ! Thus let us thank God and His Son Jesus Christ. 
 
 " my friends, what you say la true. Yes, wo are all 
 
 ""■iiiiinMHiiiiiiii 
 
WOMEN OF CHINA. 
 
 4.'5 
 
 us, that God may bless us. Givo my salaam, many, many sa- 
 laams, to your.self first, and give my .talaani to your teacher 
 and .si.ster, and to all whoever love.s the Lord Jesus Christ. — 
 T am, your true friend, H ." 
 
 You may well supjiosc the influence for good which H 
 
 exorcised in the school. Miss Grant called her " John Hiis.s," 
 on acc(mnt of her energy and boldness for the truth, whilst 
 
 her elder .sister C , who was equally devoted to God, was 
 
 more like the "gentle Melancthon." They and four others, 
 named Jennio," Lexen, Beenio, and I'an Leang, lived verj- 
 happily together. There were no jarrings and disputings, — 
 they walked in love. Miss Grant says, that before six o'clock 
 in the morning she used to hear her "little band" reading 
 their Bible, and " consulting about its meaning in a way that 
 clearly proved that the Spirit was working powerfully in their 
 hearts." As a specimen of the clearness of their views on 
 scriptural subjects, I will give you a literal tran.slation of 
 
 answers made by U ■ and H to six questions asked 
 
 by Miss Grant. In these answers they were only aided by 
 their English Bibles : — 
 
 Question 1. How can a sinful man be saved? 
 
 (^ '■? ansv)e)-. Because the Lord Jesus has come into 
 
 the world to die for our sins: whoever believes in Him shall 
 receive salvation. — John vi. 40. 
 
 H '.' nimnrr. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and 
 
 that man shall receive .salvation. — Acts xvi. 31. 
 
 Q. 2. What is the state of all by birth 1 
 
 C '.« ansiuer. All are in sin, Ijccause our jiarents are 
 
 sinners. — Ps. li. 5. 
 
 II '•« unmer. The state of all, when our mother bare 
 
 us, was full of wickedness and sin. — Ps. li. 5. 
 
 Q. 3. Are there three Gods, or one 1 
 
 C 's answer. There is one only God, that is Jesus, the 
 
 Holy Ghost, and the Most High God: these three are one. — 
 1 .Tohn V. 7. 
 
 Nm is an niUUtion to tlio name, ami i.=i oquivalcnt to our JIfi.is. 
 
 ^^^ 
 
 MiPlPippiP^ 
 
 »«*7^gtfel1V i" IWIMlf 
 
 42 
 
 MISSIONS TO THE 
 
 sinners ; nevertheless the Lord Jesus Clirist came t(j die in- 
 stead of us. Besides, we are brothers with Him. We have 
 one shepherd, that is, Jesus Christ. 
 
 " I hope you will bec(mie a great light in the country of 
 China, that when men see your good deeds, they may glorify 
 our Fjither who is in heaven. 
 
 " We pray to God night and morning to bless you, and to 
 watch over you, and to keep j-ou from all dangers. You must 
 also pray to God to help us, and our mother, for she docs not 
 know the way of salvation, but God can teach her. my 
 friend, pray to God for our mother, that He may give her the 
 Holy Spirit, for it is His work to make new men's hearts. 
 When you were in Singapore, I too did not know the way that 
 gives salvation ; we worshipped stones. But see the kindness 
 of God, He helps us to believe on the Lord Jesus ; besides, the 
 Lord .Tesus has promised, whoever prays to God in the name 
 of the Lord Jesus, He will give to them. I know God has 
 power, He can change our mother's heart. O my friend, 
 pray to God to help us, and our mother, and all the girls in 
 Miss Grant's school ; for there are some who believe in the 
 name of the Lord Jesus, and there are some who do not believe 
 in .Tesus, nevertheless God can change their hearts. I hope 
 you arc well and happy. Tell me what news there is in the 
 country of China ; and when you hear your teacher teach men, 
 will they hear about the religion of thi' Lord Je.sus? You ask 
 me how the Holy Ghost first moved my heart. It was by a 
 sermon from Mr Keasberry, which, first by the blessing of God, 
 gave me the wish tn seek God by praying to Him in private. 
 See now the kindness of God to u.s. Let us thank Him and 
 Jesus. Oh, I wish to tell you we are in Mi.ss Grant's school. 
 We shall soon be separated from our beloved teacher : and 
 when I think this my heart is full of sorrow ; but God has 
 said, ' Fear not.' He will dwell with us : this gives peace to 
 my heart. I also pray to God to help us, in order that God 
 )uay m.ake us a great light to the country of Singapore, that 
 when men see that our works are good, they may glorify our 
 Father in heaven. my friend, do not forget to pray for 
 
 iPM 
 
■:'i^:^^ywi 
 
 44 
 
 MlS^ilONS TO THE 
 
 // '.« anxirer. Three in one ; that is, the Lord (tod, and 
 
 the Lord Jesus, and the Holy Ghost. We can know tliis 
 from the Gospel by Matthew iii. 17; moreover, from John 
 xiv. 26. 
 
 Q. 4. ^Vhat is repentance ? 
 
 C '•< rrn-vriT. To repent; that is, not to wish to do sin 
 
 any more, and to be sorrowful-hearted "because of sin. 
 
 // '« ait.vofr. To repent ; that is, if we have done what 
 
 is wicked and sinful, we no more wish to do it, and are sorry 
 for it, and ask pardon. 
 
 Q. 5. What is your opinion of idols? 
 
 C 's (oisu'fr. I think idols are things of no use, and 
 
 vain, vain. 
 
 7/ ',t anxuvr. Isai.ah xliv. : " They that make a craven 
 
 image are all of them vanity; and their delectable things shall 
 not profit; and they are tlieir own witnesses; they see not, 
 nor know; that they may be a.sliamed." 
 
 Q. C. How can a man know his heart is renewed 1 
 
 C '■« answer: If we love God, and obey His command- 
 ments, we know the Lord God has renewed onr hearts. — 
 1 John V. 2. 
 
 If s inmii',!-. We may know from our doings. — John 
 
 iii. 8. 
 
 Jlanv of the girls, indeed, showed by their "doings" that 
 their hearts were renewed. One incident which occurred is 
 remarkable, as it was a proof of the power of real Christianity 
 in overcoming faults of character, even when these have been 
 fostered by educaticn. The Chinese are, as I have men- 
 tioned, a people quite regardless of truth, their native motto 
 being, — " The person who knows not how to lie cleverly is a 
 weak, silly person." And so m'se are they in their own bad 
 way, that they are the most accomplished liar.s possible. 
 Miss Grant, therefore, tells with peculiar pleasure the follow- 
 ing circumstance. One day Beenio was in her room, where 
 Miss Gr.-int did not often allow her to come, but the girl de- 
 lighted so in being with her, that she had not the heart to 
 refuse. Rocnio was examining the little things on the table ; 
 
 WOMEN OF OrUNA. 
 
 i'y 
 
 amongst them she noticed a leltcr-folder, of which she in- 
 quired the u.se. Miss Grant told her, and then gave her a 
 now book to cut open for her. AVhil.st .so doing, she heard 
 the paper, as she thought, tear, and called out to Beenio to 
 stop, as she suspected she was injuring the book, to which she 
 replied, " Tidak," equivalent to our " No." She put away 
 the book, and Miss Grant thought no more about it ; but 
 next evening, when school was over, Beenio followed her 
 teacher upstairs, and she saw she was not the same bright, 
 merry, laughing thing as usual. ° 
 
 Miss Grant looked at her, concerned to know what was the 
 matter, and the tears stood in Beenio's eye.s as she .simply 
 acknowledged, " When I was cutting the book open yesterday 
 the leaves were torn before I touched them, but I did tear them 
 more, though I said ' no ' to y„u, and I have been so unhappy 
 smee I denied it. Last night I could not sleep for thinking 
 of It." " Surely," writes Mi.ss Grant, " if it be one of the 
 characteristics of the redeemed that no guile is found in their 
 mouths, this dear child seems likely to be ranged among the 
 happy hundred and forty and four thou.sand. Nor is 'this," 
 she adds, " by any means a .single instance of Becnio's ui'>- 
 rightness." 
 
 Another incident occurred, which was trifling in itself, but 
 it showed that the influence for good reached even to the'very 
 little children. Miss Grant tells us, that one Tuesday even- 
 ing she was standing by her vc»rt;r,ns (for windows there 
 were none) when she .saw a little child, name Ainoy, " come 
 from underneath the veranda surrounding the house. Here 
 she stopped, .and looked round, as if fearful of observation." 
 Miss Gr.ant feared lest all might not be right, but great was 
 her delight when she .saw the little one kneel down in the 
 midst of a thick creeping pl.int and clasp her hands in prayer. 
 Only a few words could be heard. The.se were " Ampun," 
 (pardon,) and " amut kasihan," (very kind.) The child re- 
 mained about five minutes in her " leafy oratory," and then 
 .sprang up ,and ran away, singing one of the hymn tunes. 
 But did Miss Grant meet with no disappointments 1 you 
 
 W^WW^^F^' 
 
* ■'■m-mrmr namnmt, 
 
 \«ia 
 
 4G 
 
 MISSIONS TO THE 
 
 WOJIKN OF CHINA. 
 
 47 
 
 ask. Her mission life seems to Lave been all joj'. Here is 
 an instance of the contrary: — 
 
 Chan, a dear friend of C 's, was apparently all that could 
 
 be wished. She was a pattern of what was right in the 
 school. She read her Bible, spoke much of onr Lord Jesus 
 Christ, and prayed often. But there was somefJiinq wanting. 
 As C-7 — expressively said, — " Chan prays, but docs not pray 
 (li/if/entli/." 
 
 Time passed on. Chan loft school to be married, and Miss 
 Grant received several notes expressive of her distress of mind 
 at the prospect of the approaching wedding, which, if con- 
 ducted according to the Chinese style, must be an idolatrous 
 ceremony. 
 
 Miss Grant told her what her duty was, and prayed, but 
 could do no more. And Chan knew perfectly how she ought 
 to act : for, on the occasion of a school-fellow's marriage, she 
 had declared that it would bo veri/ ivrong in such circumstances 
 to yield to idolatrous customs. 
 
 A few days elapsed, and Miss Grant went to visit her pupil, 
 whom she found ill in bed, and in tears. " The devil has 
 won ; Chan has bowed before the idols," wore the heavy 
 words which fell upon the teacher's ear, and for the moment 
 her heart failed. " .\las !" .she thought, " my labour is in 
 vain. The well-behaved and earnest Chan has not had 
 
 strength to resist temptation. Let but C and H 
 
 leave me, and let them too bow the knee to these abomina- 
 tions, and my work in Singapore is done, and my school may 
 be closed." 
 
 We can scarcely wonder at this despondency; but .soon 
 came cheering news. Chan did not fi»y<t her Bible ; it was 
 seen lying open on her table, and she wrote to Miss Grant to 
 say that she had committed a great sin when, on the occasion 
 of her marriage, she had bowed her knee to the idol, but she 
 had not bowed her heart; and now her only comfort was in 
 reading the Bible. ^ 
 
 And C and II , did they return to idolatry 1 you 
 
 ask. 
 
 No; they took what is for Chinese girls a most decided 
 step,— they were baptized. Their mother was at first opposed 
 to It, but at last she consented, and was even present at the 
 ceremony, and this was indeed a happy time to Miss Grant, 
 who tells us that she " never felt a purer or holier joy in her 
 life than when she heard the foreign accented responses of 
 her girls, as with their brother they said,—' All dis I stead- 
 fastly believe.'" 
 
 iiiit the step they had taken brought trouble on C and 
 
 H , for their heathen relations considered that they had 
 
 disgnccd themselves by submitting to the Christian ordinance, 
 and they made their life at home very unhappy. Tiie follow- 
 ing letters (written to two of Miss Aldersey's pupils) will .show 
 you better than any words of mine how these young Chris- 
 tians bore reproach. 
 
 C 's Letter. 
 
 " My m\R Frikni),— Your nice letters made my heart very 
 bnppy. TVe have returned to town, our former residence, on 
 the 8th August 1845. Oh, how sorrowful we were when' we 
 left our beloved teacher and our school-fellow.s. They were 
 all very ,sad, and some of them cried veiy much ; but we read 
 togcthiT on every Sunday. Miss Grant, our kind teacher, 
 comes on every Sunday morning, very early, with a palanquin 
 to tnke us to school, and also to Mr Koasberry's chapel and 
 St Andrew's church, and we return home at night. How God 
 in His mercy has opened our mother's heart as to allow us to 
 go to school on every Sunday ! We are now surrounded by 
 our idolatrous countrymen, far from our Christian friends; 
 but we are quite solaced when our Almighty God is with us. 
 He will never fors.ake His people who put their sure con- 
 M>m-e, upon Mim. How He was with .Joseph in the land of 
 Egypt, and so He will be with us as our defender and pro- 
 tector, if we only cast all our trust on Him. When I tiiink 
 sometimes in my house that my kind teacher and my Chris- 
 tian friends are far from me, I feel as if my heart would break 
 with sorrow. But I know it is God's will that I should live 
 
"TaasBwwsKas? 
 
 itmmM\ I w'li 
 
 4S 
 
 MISSIONS TO THE 
 
 in tlie place which I am now in ; and though in this sad 
 country, let me never murmur, but titter that precious prayer 
 which was taught by our Lord Jesus Christ, ' Thy will be 
 
 done.' I and my sister H and my brother T were 
 
 baptized at St Andrew's church, on the 3d August 1845, by 
 the reverend chaplain Moule. Are you acquainted with my 
 
 nrother T , who is now sixteen years of age ? I think 
 
 you have seen him when you were in Singapore, before you 
 went to China. He had been in Mr North's school before, 
 and he is now in the Singapore Institution: He was before 
 a boy that don't care about religion, but by God's grace ho 
 now begins to love the Saviour, and try to follow the Lord 
 Jesus Christ all the days of his life by God's grace. 
 
 " There is a Chinese boy in Singapore who has been for a 
 pretty long time in school with my brother, and his name 
 is Kisiang, and I hope ho will bo also a disciple of Christ. 
 ' Many of our nation here know that we are baptized ; some 
 of them say we arc I<]nglish, and others say we arc converted 
 into Roman Catholics, and we are now as gazing-stocks to 
 them ; but as it is written in 1 Peter iii. 14, 'But and if ye 
 suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye : and be not afraid 
 of their terror, neither be troubled ;' and by God's grace may 
 we both he enabled ' to hold fast the profession of our faith 
 without wavering, for He is faithful that promised.' Oh, how 
 sweet consolation I obtain in God's holy Word, which en- 
 courages me to follow and love the Saviour, as it is written 
 in the Book of Is.aiah, ' Hearken unto me, ye that know right- 
 eousness, the people in whose heart is my law : fear ye not 
 the reproach of men, neither be ye afraid of their revilings ;' 
 and as David also says, ' For I have heard the slander of 
 many ; fear was on every side : but I trust in thee, O Lord ; 
 I said. Thou art my God,' 
 
 " Pray much for us, because we arc in the midst of tempta- 
 tions. What do you think, whether I am the eldest or the 
 youngest t Many thanks to you because you wrote a letter 
 to Chan, which I asked you to do. Please to tell me about 
 China, and are there any schools and chapels established 
 
 WOMEN OF CHINA. 
 
 49 
 
 by Europeans 1 And also give me some information of our 
 country which you think would be very useful .and curious to 
 me ; and also if the preachings of the missionaries are effectual 
 in that dark land. Send my Christian love to Miss Aldersey, 
 and may God's grace be with you and us, and al.so to them 
 that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. 
 
 " From your affectionate sister in Jesus Christ, 
 
 " Y. C ." 
 
 H 's Letthe. 
 
 "My DEAR Frii Nd, — I have received your very nice letter 
 with the greatest pleasure, and avail myself of this favourable 
 opportunity in sending you a few lines, which I hope will, 
 through the Divine blessing, meet you in a good state of 
 health. Thanks be to Him in whom we live and move and 
 have our being ; from Him all blessings, either temporal or 
 spiritual, do flow unto us perishing sinners, and through His 
 dear Son, in whom I hope you trust, even to the saving of 
 our .souls. He is the only way through which the chief of 
 sinners can once more bo reconciled, and have access unto 
 God the Father. By Him alone we can have redemption 
 through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins. We are now 
 in town, and have left the school. How sad we and our 
 school-fellows were ! I know that it is the will of God that I 
 should reside here in the midst of our own nations, and that 
 we may glorify His name by our good deeds. I desire to do 
 the will of God, my heavenly Father, and therefore I must 
 not murmur : but may we express our prayer to God, and 
 say, ' Father, not my will, but Thine, be done.' I think 
 yon like thi.i beautiful liymn, and therefore I write it to 
 you : — 
 
 ' 'VThnt tlimiph in lonely grief I sigh 
 For frieTuls beloved, no longer nigh? 
 SilbmiBsive still I would reply. 
 
 Thy will be done.' 
 
 " You see how gracious God has been to us, that Ho opens 
 the heart of our teacher to be so kind to us. Jli.ss Grant 
 
50^ 
 
 IIISSIONS TO THE 
 
 comes oil every Sunday morning, .about half-past four, to take 
 us to school, and spend our Sabbath-day there ; and also God 
 has made our mother so kind in permitting ns to go to school 
 on every Sunday. Our relations and friends are very angry 
 with us ; and some of them, instead of being so kind to us as 
 before, they now begin to speak slanderously against us ; but 
 let us pray to God that He may pardon them, for they do not 
 know what they are doing. AVo are now amongst our idola- 
 trous n.ations, who are worshipping idols of wood and .stone, 
 as we did before. He has by His grace called me out of that 
 .state of sin and iniquity in which we are involved, in conse- 
 rpience of the fall of our first parents, into a state of grace and 
 reconciliation with God. Our Maker is justly offended with 
 us for our ,sin and transgression ; but our Lord Jesus Christ 
 having appeared in our stead, has fulfilled the broken law, 
 and satisfied offended justice, being m.ado sin for us who knew 
 no sin, that we might, be made the righteousness of God in 
 Him. Tluis He has brought us near through the blood of His 
 cross, having given Himself for us that He might redeem us 
 from all iniquity, a people zealous of good works, to the praise 
 of His glorious name. Let us therefore be crucified to sin, 
 and live righteou.'^ly, soberly, and godly in this present world, 
 having the hope of a better beyond the grave. Let us pray 
 to God that He may increase our faith upon the Son of God, 
 and, through sanctification of the Spirit, persevere in the 
 way of His commandments, till at length, having run the race, 
 and fought the good figlit of faith, we may be received into 
 the mansions of eternal felicity, prepared before the foundation 
 of the world for all those who shall be counted worthy to 
 enter in. There sorrow and sighing shall be for ever done 
 away ; there we shall for ever be with the Lord, and all His 
 holy angels and ghirified saints. We shall join with them in 
 singing that new song, ' Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive 
 glory and honour and power, for Thou hast created all things, 
 and for Thy pleasure they are and were created.' I think 
 you remember all the girls who were in the school when Mrs 
 Dyer was the teacher. They all have left the school except 
 
 WOMEN OF CHINA. 
 
 51 
 
 two, who arc now with Miss Grant; and I don't think that 
 all those that left the school love the Lord Jesus Christ, ex- 
 cept two girls, who endure trouble and persecution for Je.sus' 
 sake ; and I heard they were beaten for refusing to bow down 
 to idols. Pray for them, that God may increase their faith, 
 and enable them to continue to fight as God's faithful soldiers 
 under the banner of Chri.st. I was present when Abang Ka- 
 chel's little baby was liajitizod by the Rev. A. Stronach, in Mr 
 Kcasberry's chapel. Oh, how happy to see that pious parents 
 dev(oto their child to God ! Please give my best regards to 
 Miss Aldersey and her pupils. 
 
 " Your affectionate sister in Jesus Christ, 
 
 " Y. H .' 
 
 Such were C and H 's feelings in their lonely life 
 
 of trial : and, as time p.assed on, their faith did not fail ; they 
 remained " firm to the God whose mercy had chosen them 
 from among the heathen to glorify His name." "They have," 
 writes Miss Grant, " a daili/ cross to bear for the Saviour's 
 sake ; but trujy they seem to be ' steadfast, immovable, always 
 .abounding in the work of the Lord ;' and I doubt not that 
 for each of them a place is prepared in their Father's house 
 on Iiigh, where alone, I believe, they will be able to dwell 
 with untroubled hearts, for many ami rough are the bnirotings 
 they have to receive while passing through the waves of this 
 troublesome world." 
 
 I cannot, of course, give you the history of each of Miss 
 Grant's pupils, but [ .should like to tell you about one more of 
 the " little band." 
 
 You remember, I am sure, the truthful Beenio. She was 
 not allowed to remain long at school : her stepfather insisted 
 that she .-hould leave, — and, indeed, ho stole her away. Mi.«s 
 Grant lost sight of her for some time ; but she heard inci- 
 dentally that her mother had died, and that, on the occasion 
 of the funeral, Beenio had refused to worship her spirit, or to 
 conform to any of the customs, but remained ahme entirely 
 rilent. Afterwards she heard of Beenio's marriage ; and then 
 
"— ^N'F* "-* ' ^ *'* " " " '-' ' 
 
 .'52 
 
 MISSIONS TO THE 
 
 for some time knew nothing about lier, till one evening, when 
 returning from a country visit, she saw some person whom she 
 recognised looking out' through a hedge. Miss Grant stopped 
 the palanquin, and the next moment Beenio nished out. They 
 spoke but little that evening ; but once having ascertained 
 where her pupil lived. Hiss Clrant soon called, and was most 
 affectionately welcorfaed. 
 
 She brought to Beenio a large printed Testament, which was 
 joyfully received ; and when asked whether she remembered 
 how to read it, she said, " Yes, how could I forget." On 
 this, INIiss Grant opened the 10th of .Tohn, and pointed to the 
 14th verse : " I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, 
 and am known of mine," — which, to her .surprise, Beenio road 
 easily. " Yes," said Miss Grant, " Beenio has read this, but 
 slie does not v.nderstand." On which, looking up archly, she 
 replied, " Yes, I know," and at once translated it into Malay. 
 Still uncertain. Miss Grant doubtingly said, "Well, I am glad 
 to find you know the meaning of the words ; but you can't 
 tell me who the Good Shepherd is, can you 1" 
 
 Without a moment's hesitation Beenio said, ".I know that 's 
 Jesus Christ." 
 
 All her subsequent remarks showed that the good seed had 
 taken root. When they came out of the house they .saw a 
 hen collecting her chickens together. " Beenio," .said Miss 
 GrSint, " when you see your hen collect her chickens together, 
 what do you think off" "I know, I remember what I 
 learned at school,'' she replied, and in broken accents said, 
 " As a hen gaderet her cliickeiis under her wings, so would I 
 have rjaderfid de, but dnn wouldst not." 
 
 Of Beenio Miss Grant said, " I feel as I look at Beenio's 
 poor little hut, in the midst of the .sugar plantation in which 
 it stands, that there God is .secreting one of His jewels, over 
 which, I do believe, He will watch as over the apple of His 
 eye." 
 
 Thus Miss Grant received encouragement from one and 
 another of her pupils. There were, indeed, many who heard 
 but did not heed the things spoken, and left apparently un- 
 
 i. 
 
 WOMEN OF CHINA. 
 
 53 
 
 impressed ; but even of these there was no reason to despair ; 
 it was impossible to say irhfii and where the words of truth 
 might come home to their minds. And although no profession 
 of (Jliri.stianity may have been made, it was by no means time 
 thrown away, — they had been taught to read, and. still more, 
 they had learned by heart much of the Scriptures. The 
 teacher must wait in faith for the result. Often this came 
 after " many day.s." " I was sitting in school the other day," 
 *vrites Miss Grant, " when a Chinawoman came in, bringing 
 me a me.s.sage from the parents of one of my children. When 
 she had delivered this nie.s.sage I saw her linger, <nnd she then 
 went up to Miss Moor, who was instructing a very juvenile 
 class in the first elements of religion, and asked her if she 
 could give her the book in her hand, (a Malay tract.) Such a 
 recpiest from a native woman astonished me, on wliich she 
 informed me that she had been brought up in Mrs Tliomson's 
 school, that she had always tried to remember what .she was 
 taught, and tliat she longed for book.s, lest she should forget. 
 On this I at once handed her a Go.sjiel of John .and Matthew, 
 which she read in the Arabic character fluently. So I added 
 a hymn-book and some tracts, together with a life of our 
 Saviour, and .she thanked me like a woman who knew the 
 value of what she held in her hand. I inquired, if she valued 
 religion, wlij' .she did not place her child with ine, on which I 
 found her to be the wife of a Chinese sailor on board ono of 
 the junks, .and as she said, ' If I have books, knowing how to 
 read, I can teach myself.' " 
 
 A still more striking case was that of K . K was 
 
 the first girl whom Miss Grant saw on her arrival at Singapore. 
 She was tiien about ten years old, remarkably intelligent and 
 clever-looking, with more energy of character than is common 
 amongst the natives. At the time when she was first brought 
 to jNIiss Grant she knew very little, but it was evident that she 
 had considerable natural talent, whilst her marked fault was 
 pride. She was proud of her personal appearance, proud of 
 her family, jiroud of her intellect, proud of her nation. When 
 placed under regular instruction her progress was rapid ; she 
 
54 
 
 MrssiONS TO THE 
 
 soon mastered the English language sufficiently to read it 
 fluently and witli understanding ; and in a comparatively 
 sbort time she attained to such a knowledge of Scripture as 
 made Miss Grant tremble for her, for she could not perceive 
 
 the smallest desire in K to share in those blessings about 
 
 which she could talk so well. Meantime, her elder sisters and 
 her favourite brother openly professed Christianity, which, 
 
 ahmg with K , they had learnt at school. Shortly after 
 
 this baptism the three sisters were removed from school, they* 
 were given Bibles and Prayer-books, and also Cruden's " Con- 
 cordance," Marsden'.s " Malay and English Dictionary," and 
 other books suited to a.ssist them in the study of the Scrip- 
 tures, and in keeping up their knowledge of English when left 
 in their own homes. When thus at a distance from .school, 
 
 and living under her mother's roof, K did not return to 
 
 any open acts of idolatry, her reason, had been convinced of 
 the folly of that, and she even went so far as to join her sis- 
 ters in family worship, observance of Sunday, and occasional 
 attendance at the mission chapel. Heathen relations came 
 in from time to time, and mocked at the elder sistersfor having 
 become, a.'f they called it, Knrjlisliwoinm ; but when, on such 
 
 occasions), they would ask K whether she too meant to 
 
 di.sgrace their Chinese name by forsaking the. worship of their 
 ancestors, lier reply always was, " No, I am a Chinese." 
 Miss Grant often called to see her, but though she always 
 treated her with great respect and affection, whenever the sub- 
 ject of religion was touched on, she remained silent. And 
 Miss Grant believed her to be one whose judgment was con- 
 vinced of the truth of Christianity, but whose heart was quite 
 indifferent to it. 
 
 Time passed on, and sickness and dcalh came into the little 
 household. The heathen mother was attacked by consump- 
 tion, and K 's sorrow was very great. At the request of 
 
 the Christian sisters, Miss Grant prayed that if it was God's 
 will the mother might be restored to health, and if not, that 
 she might cast aside her idols and repent, and, strange to say, 
 K joined most heartily in this prayer. 
 
 WOMEN OF CHINA. 
 
 5o 
 
 After a h)ng illness the mother died, but, just before her 
 death, she called her brother to her bedside, and said that she 
 wished her three elder children to follow out the religion 
 which Miss Grant had taught them ; but " see," she charged 
 
 him, "that K remains in the religion of her forefathers." 
 
 On the occasion of the funeral, when the idolatrous rites at 
 the grave commenced, the three Christian members of the 
 family withdrew, and seated themselves on a bank at a little 
 
 distance, when, to their great surprise, K also withdrew 
 
 fi-om the heathen relations, and .sat beside the Christian group 
 on the bank. After her mother's death she went to reside 
 with her married sister, but her conduct was very proud and 
 insolent, and she became quite unbearable. She was then 
 placed as housekeeper over her brother's house, and here her 
 temper became greatly subdued, for she found that when she 
 Lad the care of a menage she must please others and not her- 
 self ; and when her brother became ill, and it was considered 
 necessary that he .should leave home, she requested earnestly 
 that she might be taken back into the school. Tn 18.')3 she 
 thei-eforo returned to Miss Grant, who told her that she would 
 receive her with [ileasurc, but that she expected to return to 
 Engl.ind in six or eight month.s. Nothing could be more 
 satisfactory than her conduct towards Miss Grant ; she wa.s 
 obedient and gentle, but on the subject of religion she was, 
 as before, mute, though she now attended the Bible class 
 daily, learnt Scripture by heart, was present at family 
 worship, and most regular in her attendance at service. She 
 seemed, ]\Iiss Grant said, like one inwardly trembling as she 
 heard of " righteousness and judgment to come," whilst 
 saying to conviction, " Go thy way for a convenient sea.son." 
 On the arrival, however, of Mi.ss Grant's successor (Mi.ss 
 
 Cooke) K 's wliole manner changed. She was more 
 
 than ever devoted to Miss Grant, but her liveliness of spirit 
 and proud bearing were gone, and her pale face and de- 
 jected air told that something was wrong. Miss Grant dis- 
 covered that the poor girt had never thoroughly realised tho 
 fact that her old teacher was about to leave her, until tho 
 
 ■RillMiil 
 
.56 
 
 MISSIONS TO THE 
 
 arrival of Miss Cooke convinced her of its truth. She said 
 not a word to Miss Grant, bub her grief was genuine and un- 
 controllable, and, shortly before she left, Miss Grant found a 
 
 note on her table from K , at last expressing her feelings. 
 
 She commenced with a most impassioned burst of sorrow at 
 the prospect of being separated from her beloved teacher, and 
 said that, though the struggle with pride had been dreadful 
 within her, she was determined Miss Grant should not go away 
 until she had told her all that was in her heart. For years, 
 she continued, her mind had been convinced of the truth of 
 Christianity, but she had endeavoured to harden her heart 
 against instruction, and to silence the voice of conscience. 
 The power to do so any longer was now gone, and she bitterly 
 repented of the past. Her pride was subdued, and henceforth 
 her only desire was to sit like Mary at the feet of Jesus, and 
 obey His will in all things. She expressed her wonder at the 
 goodness of God, who had not cut her off in the midst of her 
 rebellion and stout-heartedncss, and said how self condemned 
 she lind felt, as she had seen other girls of the school who had 
 not received half the instruction, and wore her juniors in age, 
 coming forward as converts to Christianity, whilst she yet re- 
 mained in heatheni-sm. She begged to be allowed to profess 
 the faith of Christ on the Sunday previous to Miss Grant's 
 leaving Singapore ; but this was thought not advisable, and 
 the baptism was deferred to the Sunday after Miss Grant's 
 departure. It then took place, and after her arrival in Eng- 
 land Miss Grant received several interesting and affectionate 
 notes from her former pupil. 
 
 LETTER Vr. 
 
 I^^ the year 1854, Miss Grant returned to England, and very 
 interesUng accounts she was able to tell our committee of her 
 
 WOMEN OF CHINA. 
 
 57 
 
 work in Singapore. One chapter in the history of her school 
 I am tempted to give you in her own words : — 
 
 " Towards the close of the year 1850 or commencement of 
 '.51, a nice, respectable, good-tempered-looking middle-aged 
 ( 'h^nese woman entered my schoolroom, and told me that she 
 had an adopted daughter whom she was desirous to place 
 under my care, and a.sked me if I would allow the .girl to come 
 and spend a fortnight under my roof, in order to try if she 
 would take kindly to the school before entering into a per- 
 manent agreement with me. The girl being about fourteen 
 years of age, (a time of life when most Chinese mothers would 
 rather think of the marriage of their daughters than of their 
 entrance (m school- life,) I was the more willing to receive her. 
 Her name was Anleang ; she was a native of Sink in the island 
 of Sumatra, and in early life had been adopted by the woman, 
 whom T must introduce to you by the title of ' 15ee-bee-km.'' 
 The latter, however, had been much disappointed in the girl, 
 and was much distressed by Anleang's peevish, perverse tem- 
 per. The only .<5ystem of education with which the Chinese 
 of the Straits of Malacca are acquainted is that coimected 
 with the rod ; and the continually-repeated injunction laid 
 upon mc by the i)arents, on placing their children under my 
 charge, was contained in these Malay words—' Pukul, pukul, 
 pukul, sama— diycr, baik, baik !' 'Beat, beat, beat her well!' 
 Bee-bee-kin told me she had followed this plan in bringing 
 up her adopted daughter, but she only seemed to grow worse 
 and worse every day. Aideang appeared to me to be an affec- 
 tionate girl, of a verj' pettish, petulant temper, luit po.ssessed 
 of very good sense, active, and willing to learn. Her igno- 
 rance on entering the school was something deplorable, and 
 well do 1 recollect overhearing her conversation with another 
 school-girl, as they were seated at work on a mat beneath my 
 window. The elder pupil asked her what she thought became 
 of people when th.^y died. She replied that Satan has a kind 
 of triturating machine, in which he puts many peojjle after 
 they are dead, in which their bones are pulverised and their 
 flesh reduced to pulp. This mass he works up again into the 
 
58 
 
 MISSIONS TO THR 
 
 sliape of pigs, ducks, fish, &c., and sends them hack thus 
 metamorphosed into tho .work! iigain. Anloang, however, 
 showed earl}' much delight in instruction, and appeared 
 greatly struck with the absurdity as well as wickedness of 
 idolatry. She also appeared to perceive the value of a salva- 
 tion bought, not ' with corruptible things, as silver and gold, 
 but with the precious blood of Christ,' for when I asked the 
 class to which she belonged whether the blood of Christ 
 could save from <ill sin, she replied, with great earnestness — 
 ' Yes ; one drop of His blnod is enough to take away the sins 
 of the whole world.' At the end of about two years, (during 
 which time I found Anlcang very gentle, e.tceedingly desirous 
 to please, and most diligent in learning,) a little note was laid 
 upon my table, written in Malay, and of which I give as 
 literal a translation as possible : — ' I have something to say to 
 you, my beloved Mi.=;s — don't be angry with me. Has not 
 God said, " Whosoever eometli to me I will in no wise cast 
 out?" I wish to turn to God, and I hope He will help me, 
 and assuredly then, as long as I live, will I serve the Lord 
 God. Teacher, please pray for me. Miss, I will never go 
 back to walk in those ways of darkness in which I formerly 
 walked, which were as wrong as foolish. From this time I 
 desire to give up myself to Him who made me. Good morn- 
 ing. This is from Anleang.' 
 
 " Soon after my receipt of this note, .she was seized with a 
 violent fever, and 1 being her sole nurse in sickness, her affec- 
 tions were drawn towards me more strongly than ever, and I 
 rndeavourod to make use of my influence over her to lead her 
 to twine those affections not around a poor, sinful teacher, but 
 around the cross of that Eedeemer whose free grace and mere}' 
 liad chosen her from among the heathen to His praise. 
 
 " The girl affording undeniable evidence of earnestness and 
 sincerity, and being instructed in the Christian religion, Miss 
 Cooke (my successor) had the pleasure of standing as a special 
 witness of her baptism, which took place about the middle of 
 the year 1853, and towards the close of the same year she 
 became a communicant iit her own earnest request ; and her 
 
 WOMKN OF CnlNA. 
 
 59 
 
 conduct since has been such as to rejoice the I'^art^ of those 
 who watched over her, and who desire to render all the p aise 
 to the free love of God, who has called this poor ignorant 
 young heathen out of darkness, and translated her into the 
 kingdom of His dear Son. The Chinese woman who had 
 adopted Anleang was struck with the i^^rvovcment in hei 
 temper, and she began often to visit the school, spending 
 w ole days among us, and appearing highly to approve o 
 the place Her sister (who was a ->clo-) died some htUe 
 time before Anleang had entered the school. She left t^o 
 very nice children, one a girl about eight or nine years old 
 named ' Kim,' the other a little boy about seven, named 
 ■ San ' These two orphan children being left totally unpro- 
 vided for, their aunt Bee-bee-kin deemed it her best p an o 
 place them both at school. ' I received them willingly, as t y 
 seemerl sprightly, intelligent children, and were sooner at home 
 with me' tlikn is usually the case with the yo-;g - -- 
 The Ur.th Psalm was frequently the portion ''f J^'l'^"^^ 
 which formed the groundwork of my instruction to the youn 
 heatlK-u when first placed under my care. The words, Ih ir 
 idols are .silver and gold,' &c., ver. 4-11, ^^ the por ons I 
 particularly wished to illustrate to them. Thus I wodd t^e 
 a flower and bi,l some of them smell it, and inquire whether 
 they would have perceived the difference if, instead of a flower 
 I had given them an auriau^ to smell. They smiled and 
 answered in the aflirmntive. I would then call one of them 
 "to me, and .haw a pin from my dress and take my oiK-n pen- 
 knife and threaten playfully to prick them, they of ~ 
 declared their unwillingness to submit to the 0P«- ;;;"' 
 on my asking them why, would answer that it would pan 
 Ihem, or that it would luake them bleed. I aMug thus 
 iTted out to them in this simple but practical way the, 
 w power of feeling, I used to ask them when they went 
 Ze to put the snn;; tests to their idols, and on their return 
 to "hool to tell me whether the idols had felt pain also. 
 
 . Th. .uHan . a fruit «.o„t the ^: :^^,^:fXl^^^^- 
 most horrible, being a compound of the smell ot garuc, t, , 
 
60 
 
 MISSIONS TO THE 
 
 The lesson thus given was no sooner henrd than forgotten by 
 the greater part, but such was not the case with my little boy 
 San. On returning home to the house of his aunt, he jumped 
 up on the altar placed beneath the idol, on which portions of 
 fowl, duct, sweetmeats, rice, ifec., were usually laid as offer- 
 ings ; and looking round for some sharp-pointed instrument, 
 spied a three-pronged fork. He seized hold of it, and summon- 
 ing up his courage, he plunged the fork into the idol's cheek, 
 and stood motionle.'^.s for a few moments to see whether blood 
 would flow from the wound, or voice of pain proceed from the 
 god. No such signs appearing, the little boy jumped down, 
 and said to his .'lister Kim, who had been solo witness of the 
 proceeding — 'What Miss told us is true: I can feel — my blood 
 woiild flow if I were wounded ; but the idol has shown no 
 signs of pain, no blood has appeared, and it has not screamed 
 as I should have done. I will not believe in idols any more.' 
 The sister Kim, somewhat horrified at her brother's audacity, 
 ran to tell licr aunt, cryiiig out, ' Heigh ! Bee-bee, Bee-bee, San 
 has pierced our idol's cheek with a fork !' The aunt, who was 
 at this time (though unknown to me) very sceptical on the 
 subject of idol power, entered the room, calling out, ' San, 
 S.an I what have you been doing 1' The little boy most 
 honestly told the whole tale, and confessed his want of faith 
 in the idol. Bec-bee-kin, more than half convinced of the 
 same, told San and Kim to say nothing about it, as she was 
 afraid her mother (a stanch old idolatress, who lived with 
 them) would be angry. In due time the old grand-aunt entered 
 the room, and sat down in the usual laz}', listless, native 
 style, when, chancing to raise her eyes, they fell upon the 
 idol, and she for the first time perceived the injury it had su.s- 
 tained. 'Heigh, heigh!' said she in dismay; 'what has 
 happened to our idol — who has done it V The daughter, 
 Bee-bee-kin, tried to soothe her, .saying, ' Mother, it was neither 
 j'ou nor I that did it, do not distress yourself about it — we 
 will hopo that no evil will befall us ;' for it is the general 
 idea that if the idol be injured in any manner, some mis- 
 fortune will descend upon the household. The old woman 
 
 WOMEN OF CniNA. 
 
 61 
 
 relapsed into silence, wlion at last a comfortable thought wa.s 
 suggested to her mind, which was indeed a bitter satire on 
 the idol in which she trusted — viz., that perhaps it was the 
 cat that had clawed its cheek. This anecdote was told to me 
 by Kim on their return to school, and shortly after repeated 
 to mo by the aunt, who told me that when she placed the 
 children in school, she had thought the Christian religion was 
 ju.9t like any other religion, and had its own rites and cere- 
 monies which it was proper for white people to observe ; but 
 that, as she had come backward and forward to school, and 
 had attended the mission chapel, she had learned to form a 
 very different estimate of it, for she perceived its intlncnce on 
 the heart, understanding, and conduct, and professed herself 
 desirous to embrace it. With a view to this she placed her- 
 self under ray care for regular instruction, which she received 
 with the docility of a little child ; and when I left Singapore 
 I commended her to the care of our very diligent missionary, 
 Mr Keasberry : and in a letter received lately from my suc- 
 cessor, she tells me that Bee-bee-kin was baptized on the 22d 
 of January of this year, {IS^)^>,) and by her desire little Kim 
 and San were baptized at the same time. They having a con- 
 tempt for idolatry, and being adopted by her and placed in 
 the mission .school for Christian education, vnll be brought 
 up in the faith into which they have thus early been bap- 
 tized." 
 
 I must now tell you something about the mission life of 
 Miss Cooke, who took Miss Grant's place as head of the girls' 
 school in Singapore in 1854. For -the first three months she 
 wa-s altogether engaged in the .school, where, in addition to 
 the daily teaching, she had a Monday-morning cla.s.s, at which 
 she met Miss Grant's old pupiLs, and reminded them of the 
 good things they had been taught, and she said that she 
 believed that " much seed sown by her would yet spring up 
 and bear fruit ; for there was much that was pleasing in all, 
 and very much that was hopeful in Bome." AU were anxious, 
 too, to persuade others to send their children, and one of the 
 married pupils succeeded in bringing two of her friends' 
 
62 
 
 MISSIONS TO THE 
 
 children ; both were entered for three years. One of these 
 chUdren gave no trouble, but the otlier proved a complete 
 " Topsy," so quick and cunning. For the first few weeks she 
 was constantly running away, and if Miss Cooke left the 
 room even for a moment, sh§ was obliged to tie the child to 
 the leg of her writing-table, or she would disappear before her 
 return. Often she used to go and hide amongst the tombs 
 in the Chinese burial-ground, or among the idols in the 
 temple, and when asked why she chose such a dismal place 
 as the tombs, the child replied, that she went to worship her 
 brother, whom, she said, crying bitterly, she could never see 
 again. ThcTi Miss Cooke talked to her about Jesus and 
 heaven, and she looked very happy. " But why do you go to 
 the idols 1 " the teacher would ask. " They will take care of 
 mo," wa-s the reply. " But," said Miss Cooke, " of what are 
 idols made?" She quickly answered, "Paper, gold, wood." 
 " And who made them ? " continued Miss Cooke. " A China- 
 man," she replied. Then Miss Cooke took some paper, gold, 
 and wood, and showed her that xke could do anything she 
 liked with (hem, but t/iri/ had no power over Iiei: At this 
 the child laughed very much, and threw the paper away. 
 !^[iss Cooke next told her how different the true God was 
 to these idols, how holy and how great Ho is, and that 
 though He is .so great and powerful, He yet loves little chil- 
 dren very much. " Topsy," as Miss Cooke always called her, 
 improved afterwards, got on nicely in reading, and learned 
 quickly. 
 
 Two other chjldren Miss Cooke told about, the one four, 
 the other three years old ; they both came by their own wish, 
 that is, when they were away, they cried so much to come 
 back to school that their mothers were glad to send them. 
 The youngest used to trot about singing all day, " There is a 
 happy land, far, far away." 
 
 After the first three months, Miss Cooke visited a great 
 deal at the houses of the Chinese women, and amongst them, 
 a.s well as the little ones, she found willing listeners. She 
 had a sort of cottage meeting every Tuesday at eleven o'clock 
 
 WOMEN OF CniNA. 
 
 6S 
 
 at a house about two miles in the country ; another at Bee- 
 bee kin'."* house ; another at the house of a sick woman, where 
 
 numbers came to be taught ; and a fourth at Q 's house in 
 
 the town. Many of the children's parents and sisters also used 
 to come and see them. Miss Cooke always gave them a 
 hearty welcome, and not one did she find unwilling to hear 
 the glad tidings of a Saviour's love. " You spoil our hearts," 
 sometimes they would say, meaning that what they were told 
 made them sorry, but yet they would come again and again, 
 and never tire of the simple gospel story. 
 
 Thus wrote Miss Cooke during the first years of her mission 
 life at Singapore. 
 
 On the Gth of Marcli 18.50, she leceived much encourage- 
 ment from the visit of the Bishop of Calcutta, who spoke in 
 high terms of the school. In a report* of the bishop's visita- 
 tion to the straits, it is said — 
 
 " The bishop visited the schools supported by the Eastern 
 Females' Education Society, and jilaced under the charge of 
 Miss Cooke. Our visit was full of interest from the fact that 
 all the girls, about thirty-five in number, were, with one or 
 two exceptions Chinese, and all composing the first cla.ss 
 Christian.s. One of those, though in heart for some time a 
 Christian, had only been baptized the evening before. The 
 answering of the elder girls in Scripture, and on general sub- 
 jects, reflected the highest credit on their zealou.s, faithful, 
 and affectionate teacher, and showed how much may be done 
 for that interesting people the Chinese. The words of a 
 round they sung are worth mentioning. ' Lord, save me, 
 teach me to know Tliee, teach jne to love Thee;' and many 
 we trust are being taught in that school by the Great Teacher 
 of hearts to know and love their Saviour, and will here.ifter 
 arl as missionaries amongst their co\uitry-women, as some now 
 do, who were trained up under Miss (looke's predecessor. Miss 
 Grant. Before his lordship left the school, an old Chinese 
 woman, seventy years of age, and quite blind, was led forward ' 
 to where he was sitting. She had been baptized two j'ears 
 ■ Taken fri>ra a Calcutta periodical. 
 
 ""iiiimipvpiiiii 
 
 W^f WV^"T'i 
 
 ^PfP 
 
Ci 
 
 MISSIONS TO THE 
 
 before,* and hearing that the bishop was at Singapore, she 
 •vrisliod him to jiray for her. In roply to some questions, it 
 was found that she know nothing more than these two great 
 truths, namely, fJ>at nhewas a nn-ner, and that Jesnx loved her. 
 She was full of joy and peace, and the Saviour's name seemed 
 ever to Vic upon her lips. As she .sat at tlie good bishop's feet, 
 his hands were placed on her-head, cand the humble prayer of 
 faitli offered. Ifay we not believe that a larger measure of 
 the Holy Spirit was given her than had been vouchsafed 
 before, confirming and strengthening her in her simple child- 
 like faith ? " 
 
 The Bishop of Victoria spoke in equally favourable terms 
 of Miss Cooke's school, and at Christmas 18.3G he wrote a 
 paper on behalf of the work. He says — ■ 
 
 " It has been on more than one occasion my privilege to 
 visit and examine the Chinese school at Singapore, superin- 
 tended by Miss Cooke, a lady who was sent out by the 
 Ladies' Society for Promoting Female Education in the East, 
 and who for more than three years has most efficiently pur- 
 sued the work of female education in that station, for so long 
 a period ably and zealously prosecuted by her predecessor. 
 Miss Grant. It is for this energetic missionary lady that I 
 would now bespeak the kindly sympathy and help of every 
 friend of Christian missions. About thirty Chinese girls, the 
 children generally of Chinese fathers and M.alay mothers, re- 
 ceive the blessing of a Christian education ; and by the term 
 education. I mean not the mere routine of instruction in Eng- 
 lish, an acquaintance with European systems of geography, 
 an introduction to some of the more prominent facts of history, 
 and a committing to memory of large portions of Scripture. 
 I mean by the term CJhristi.an education, also, the further and 
 more important work of training their youthful minds in the 
 habits of Christian life, bringing the Christian religion as a 
 motive into the details of each day's actions, and impressing 
 upon them the great lessons of practical piety, needful to 
 
 • This is incorrect, the baptism of this age<I convert liaving taken place 
 in the autum of 185.5. 
 
 AVOMEN OF CHINA. 
 
 65 
 
 prepare them for their duties as members of society, and the 
 future wives and motiiprs of Christian natives. Their pro- 
 gress is of a very satisfactory kind, and a cursory inspection 
 of the school is sufficient to prove that vital godliness among 
 the pupils is the great end and aim of their niission.ary in- 
 structress. On the la.st occasion I was accompanied by my 
 wife, and we were greatly pleased and refreshed by the sight 
 which we witnessed, and the singing of hymns to which we 
 listened. Some of the older pupils .show .sign.'; of a work of 
 grace having been begun in their hearts ; and alfurd Miss 
 Cooke valuable lielp in her out-door work for the spiritual 
 benefit of the native women in the neighbourhood. A 
 former pupil of Miss Grant, the widow of Kemlin, (one of the 
 three Chinese youths who some years ago visited England, in 
 connexion with the London j\Iissionary Society's Mission at 
 Hong-Kong.) has devoted herself with groat energy and pur- 
 pose to the work of visiting as a missionary the dwellings of 
 her native female neighbours. Miss Cooke speaks of her in 
 high terms of satisfaction and thankfulness to the Almighty. 
 
 " Ladies circumstanced as Miss Cooke have their times of 
 discouragement and ocea.sions of trial. Living in comparative 
 isolation from Christian society, they have not at all times 
 the privilege of communion with Christian friends. . . . For 
 her, and the various agents of the Society for Promoting 
 Female Education in the East, I put in these words of remem- 
 brance.' 
 
 These testimonies to the value of her work were indeed very 
 cheering to Miss Cooke. 
 
 LETTER VII. 
 
 I WILL now pass over three or four years — years of great bless- 
 ing, for this little mission at Singapore continued to prosper — 
 and come to later times. 
 
G6 
 
 MISSIONS TO THE 
 
 I will take up tlie history of the school from the year 1860, 
 and see what there is to be found of interest. 
 
 !Miss Cooke commenced a prayer meeting for her girls, and 
 a weekly working party to draw out their sympathies on be- 
 half of others. Her school was a " harbour of refuge " in that 
 heathen i.sland to several children, who, .sold as slaves, and 
 afterwards rescued by the police, found with her a happy home. 
 Some were little more than infants when they were brought, 
 but others were grown girls ; and with these Miss Cooke had 
 at first much trouble. They did not understand why they 
 should be taken to the strange house and tlie white lady ; and 
 they screamed and howled, pulled down their hair, beat them- 
 selves, and said they would rather die than remain, and that 
 they would eat no food. But Miss Cooke was not discouraged, 
 she tried the double means of love and firmness,- and though 
 some proved quite unmanageable, and had to be returned to 
 the police, with others she succeeded, and they were won over 
 to trust and love her. More than that, two of the.se "rescued 
 ones " became really changed — " I do not wish to worship 
 idols," said Ahgee ; " I know Jesus can save my soul, I will 
 follow Him." The second, named Lechoow, was long learning 
 of Christ — the Holy 8[)irit spoke gently to her heart as the 
 "still, small voice ;" but at last she too was brought out of 
 darkness to lay hold on the Saviour as her only hope. 
 
 Both these girls were baptized. 
 
 With the younger ones Miss Cooke had great comfort. 
 She still calls them her " five infants." Their names are Tien 
 (Patience), Choou (Hope), ,lin (Charity), Sin (Faith), and Inn 
 (draec). At one time Miss Cooke had twelt<e girls who had no 
 oilier home hut the Chinese girls' school. 
 
 Not only were her efforts blessed with success on behalf of 
 these homeless children, but with others also. One of Bee- 
 bee-Kin's family was baptized, and now she could rejoice over 
 all her adopted children, Anleang, Kim, San, and Keoksan, 
 who had through her instrumentality been brought to the 
 school, where she and they learned the way to heaven. 
 
 And it was no easy life which the converts chose, when 
 
 I M>«M««iiii 'fmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmimillK^ 
 
 \ 
 
 fi "''f^{r'S7^«?S^f?^:^B'"^TO'«?%^T'fX'fSr!pr^^^ " » ^pj^^fp 
 
 ■WOMEN OF CHINA. 
 
 67 
 
 they decided to join the ranks of the Christians. Times were 
 
 not changed, and many, like C and H of old, had to 
 
 meet with reproach, or with what is .almost worse, with es- 
 trangement from those near and dear to them. 
 
 It w.as the knowledge that such might be Iter lot that long 
 kept back one of IMiss Cooke's pupils from confessing the 
 Saviour. 
 
 O Kim, we read, was convinced of the trut£ of Christianity, 
 .and she showed in her daily w.alk love to her Saviour, but 
 she shrank from acknowledging Him openly, through fear of 
 her father's anger. But at length she could not refrain. Per- 
 haj)s the warning words of Christ rang in her ears—" Whoso 
 loveth father and mother more than me, is not worthy of me ;" 
 or it may be that the jnnniise strengthened her soul — " I, 
 even I, am He that comforteth you ; who art thou, that thou 
 shouldest be afraid of a man that shall die, or of the son of 
 man which shall be as grass, and forgettcst the Lord thy 
 maker?" However it may be, she zvnn encouraged, and she 
 told her father that much as she loved him, .she loved her 
 Saviour more, and that she must obey His command and be 
 baptized. 
 
 Great was her father's displeasure, and Kim's heart was 
 very sad, but she was enabled to be faithful. For many weeks 
 after the baptism she did not see him, but she j)r.ayed that 
 God would soften his licart tow.ards her ; and God heard her 
 prayer; for when O Kim went to pay the dreaded visit, instead 
 of angry words she found kindness, and her father even ordered 
 a little feast to show his forgiveness and love. 
 
 You may imagine the daughter's joy — well might she be 
 encouraged to pr.ay that God, who had " delivered her from her 
 fears," would add one blessing more, and bring her heathen 
 father into His fold. 
 
 O Kim is now an assistant teacher in Miss Cooke's school ; 
 her sistiM\s, Tek and Temping, have become Christians ; and 
 her mother is only kept b.ack by her husband, whose heart. 
 Miss Cooke hopes, is, " however, really turning to better 
 thing.?." 
 
G8 
 
 MISSIONS TO THE 
 
 By the liberality of some Christian friends at Singapore, a 
 new mission school-house was built in the year 18G1. Miss 
 Cooke and her girls removed into it in February 1862. She 
 writes — " We find our new house most comfortable, and in 
 every way suited for the school. We expect and hope that 
 the Christian Chinese will build around us, .so that, ere long, 
 wo may have quite a little Christian village hero. I hope my 
 dear friends at Ifome will all rejoice with me, and thank God 
 for His goodness in raising up such kind friends here." 
 
 I suppose that one of the first to take a house in this 
 
 " Christian village " will be C , Miss Grant's " Melanc- 
 
 thon," for her children are now pupils of Miss Cooke. Their 
 names are Chewnio and Yanio, which mean respectively morn- 
 ing and evening. 
 
 Here is a letter from A , an assistant teacher, which 
 
 tells abouf them. It is ^^Titten in English to the committee 
 of our society : — 
 
 " Sing AFORE, Dec. 13, 1801. 
 " My DEAR Friends, — I am very glad to write my report 
 again to let you know how my class is getting on. I bad nine 
 girls in my class before, but two of them have now gone up to 
 the first cl.a.ss, and one of them, I am sorry to .say, was taken 
 away by her mother and married to a heathen man, so I had 
 only six remaining. Her name was Kim. After that two 
 more new girls were added to my number, who are twins. 
 Their names are Chewnio and Yanio ; Chewnio means morn- 
 ing, and Yanio evening. They are the children of C , the 
 
 first convert in the .school; so I have altogether eight now. I 
 hope the next time, when I write my report, to be able to tell 
 you that the girls are increasing more ; I should be quite proud 
 to see my circle full. The desk at which they sit, when at 
 school, is in the shape of a half moon. All are very good and 
 attentive, trying to remember what I teach thorn ; and above 
 all, I like to te^ch them about Christ. — Believe me, your grate- 
 ful and affectionate A ." 
 
 WOMEN OF CHINA. 
 
 69 
 
 mmmmmm 
 
 ■ Another assistant wrote an equally favourable account of 
 her cla.ss : — 
 
 " My DEAR Friends, — I am very, very glad to write again 
 and tcU you how my class is going on. Nearly all are im- 
 pro^nng fast ; they arc trying very much to learn. I am sorry 
 to tell you that three are gone out from the school, so now 
 little Innio, one of the infants, has joined my class. Inn is 
 the Chinese for grace. I wish to tell you that two of my class 
 were baptized in October : their names were Jew and Poon ; 
 and I am Poon's godmother. I feel very thankful to God for 
 His great goodness to us in calling us from darkness to light ; 
 and may the blessing of God be richly poured on you all, dear 
 friends, for all your labour for us. I have nine in my class — 
 their names are Poon, Meyiiiong, Choon, Tieseng, Lengino, 
 Lengtrim, Chewnio, and little Inn. I hope again you will 
 accept my best thanks to you all, dear friends, and believe me 
 your grateful and affectionate T ." 
 
 On the 24th of January 18G2, the important event of the 
 marriage of one of Miss Cooke's pupils took place. This was 
 Eng Sahnio, a poor child who had been deserted by her father 
 when an infant. Her mother, perhaps, heard of the good, 
 strange lady, or, perhaps, she had no way of providing for her 
 child, and thought the best thing to do was to take her to the 
 school. Here Sahnio was brought when .she was six years old, 
 and she remained, cared for only by the mission, until her 
 marriage with Lee Chew Siang, a Christian. 
 
 Sahnio was very grateful for the kindness shown her, as the 
 following letter, written (in English) to our committee, will 
 show : — 
 
 " Jamiary 1S6'2. 
 " My dear Friends, — As lam to be married next Friday, 
 I wish to write and thank you first for all your goodness to 
 mc. I have had a happy homo in this school for many years, 
 where I have learnt to love my Saviotir, and now 1 am going 
 
, 3-9»-^» 
 
 70 
 
 MISSIONS TO THE 
 
 to be married to a good, Christian Chinaman. My two sisters, 
 Scenio and Unio, wOI, I hope, stop in the school till they are 
 married like me. Dear friends, I hojie you will not forget 
 me, but go on praying for me, that I may be faithful to Christ. 
 I shall never forget the school which has done so much forme. 
 I am, my dear friends, your very grateful E. Sahnio." 
 
 Would yon like to know how the bride Bahnio was dressed 
 on the important occasion 1 
 
 The wedding-dress consisted of a yellow silk petticoat richly 
 embroidered, with a dre.ss of crimson brocaded silk, trimmed 
 with rich embroidery ; her head adonicd with diamonds and 
 gold. 
 
 ThLs will appear a very handsome dress to you, but such is 
 worn by the poorest Chinese bride, and is usually hired for the 
 day. It was only Sabriio's head-dre/ts, however, that was bor- 
 rowed. The dress itself is ths property of the school, and was 
 presented by a friend. 
 
 But whj', you will ask, was it necessary tn give so very fine 
 a dress ? would not plainer attire be more suitable ? So Miss 
 Cooke thought, and for some time she stood out against all 
 this vanity. One of the girls, named Gek, was mwi-icd in a 
 very ])lain dress ; but the j)eoj>le dislike change of any kind, 
 and Gek was subjected to a great deal of trial on account of 
 having deviated from the "customs." It was therefore agreed, 
 that when the converts' cross is already so heavy, it would be 
 wrong to add to it, when it can be avoided. 
 
 At the end of this year (18G2) another of the girls was 
 married, and no doubt she too wore the gay wedding-dress 
 of diamonds and brocaded silk. Her letter to the committee, 
 written just before her marriage, will interest you ; you will 
 recognise the signature as being that of Bee-bee- Kin's adtrpted 
 daughter : — 
 
 " SiNnAFOUE, Dec. 29, 1862. 
 " My deae Friends, — I think it is a very long time since 
 I last wrote my report, and I begin this wishing you a happy 
 
 WOMEN or CHINA. 
 
 71 
 
 mmjpMiuwn i ww i w wwWWIWWIWIIW 
 
 "MVPil 
 
 New Year. , I am sure you will be glad to hear that some of 
 my class have gone up to the first class, and what I have now 
 arc quite new ; only two of them are my old .girls still remain- 
 ing. I am glad to .say they are all improving in reading, but 
 I am not quite satisfied with their geograpliy ; but, above all, 
 I am thankful to say, that they all like to hear about Jesus. 
 I hope they will soon be .able to read their Bibles. They ran 
 work very nicely, and they always take in turn to go and teach 
 the infants' class ; and I must tell you about little Younio, the 
 youngest of the infants. She is a very good little girl, and 
 always says her text very nicely and clearly. 
 
 " Dear friends, I am sorry to say that this will be my Inst 
 report, as I am to be married soon. I wish to thank you all, 
 dear friends, so very much, for your great kindness in provid- 
 ing for me, not only for my body, but especially my soul. I 
 have had a very happy home in this school for fourteen years. 
 I am so sorry to leave it and dear Miss Cooke ; but I shall live 
 as clo.'^e to the school as I possibly cau, .so that I can be ready 
 to help Miss Ryan whenever she wishes me, while dear Miss 
 Coolvc is away ; and I hope that I sh.all always feel that the 
 Saviour, whom I have here learnt to know and love, is abiding 
 with mo wherever I may be ; and I hope I may have grace to 
 glorify Him, by not living for myself alone, but by trying to 
 do good to all around me. Indeed, I shall not forget you, 
 dear friends ; but I shall hope to write to you sometimes. 
 Please do not forget me, but believe that I shall always be 
 your grateful Anleang." 
 
 The next communication which we find from Anleang was 
 one of a very different n.ature. It wa-s sent to Miss Cooke, 
 who visited England in the year 186.'i, and contained the sad 
 account of the death of Gek, whose marriage I mentioned in- 
 cidentally a short time ago. 
 
 " I know, my dearest Miss," writes Anleang, " it will grieve 
 you much to hear about poor Gek's death. I am sure you 
 will be very sorry ; yet you will rejoice when I give an ac- 
 
72 
 
 MISSIONS TO THE 
 
 count of it, and tell you how sweetly she fell asleep in 
 Jesus. 
 
 " She was ill altogether for about twelve days. On Thurs- 
 day she came to nie for our reading and prayer, and after that 
 .^he told me she had a little pain behind her car. This pain 
 went on increasing, so at last Si-boo* sent for the doctor. Dr 
 liobertson attended her, and was very kind indeed. Siie could 
 not cat anything from this pain, and on Saturday the 20th of 
 .fune, she was very ill ; after this the doctor gave her up, and 
 from this time she let us know how much she loved the Sa- 
 viour. I think she must* have known she was dying. She 
 said to Si-boo, ' When the heathen die everything must be 
 quite dark ; but when we who love Jesus die, the w.ay is as 
 bright as the sun.' On Sunday morning she did not know 
 Miss Ryan when she went to see her, and thought it was you, 
 dear Miss, and took hold of her hand and said, ' Miss, I stand 
 fast,' quite distinctly. Kaychee and Bibi Kin were with her 
 .ill Sunday, and as .soon as she saw Kaychee she said, ' Speak 
 to me onl;/ of Jesu.s.' When Kaychee read the 2.3d Psalm to 
 lier, she said, ' His will be done ;' and then she added, ' It is 
 God that takes us away from this world.' 
 
 " In the evening, when Temp.ang, Kim, and the other big 
 girls came to see her, they knelt near her bedside and prayed; 
 and when Si-boo told her they were praying for her, she covered 
 up her face and prayed very loud, and in her prayer she pr.aycd 
 that the heathen may all be brought to know Jesus. This 
 makes me think that when the heathen hear about this, they 
 must believe that our religion is the true one. 
 
 " Gek told her brother, who came to see her that morning, 
 that Jesus was able to help her from her troubles. 
 
 " She thought a great deal about you. On Sunday she was 
 calling ' Miss, Miss, Miss,' and then she took Mr Haffenden's 
 hand and said, ' Miss Cooke.' Mr HafFenden said to her, 
 ' Never mind, Gek, you will meet Miss Cooke by andby,' — 
 and then she fell asleep ; but in the middle of the night she 
 said she .saw Jesus coming to take her, and on Monday 
 * Gek'» husband. 
 
 UPPPHWIMP 
 
 WOMEN OF CHINA. 
 
 73 
 
 morning she did not seem to know anything, but breathed 
 very hard, and then it got to be more gentle, and then she died. 
 " Dearest Miss, I cannot tell you how much the girls and 
 myself feel for poor Gck's death. She is the first among us that 
 has gone ; and now I pray that we all may be like (Jck, pre- 
 pared when God sees fit to call us aw.ay. And how thankful 
 we ought to be to God for having this school open for us, 
 where we may learn about Jesus. — Your affectionate 
 
 " Anleano." 
 
 "The first among us that has gone," wrote Anleang ; but 
 Gek's death w.as not the only one of which Miss Cooke received 
 the account during her absence. Soon she had to sorrow over 
 three vacant places — not, indeed, in the .school — but in the 
 little circle of Christians. (-)ne of those on whom death laid 
 its hand had been a pupil of Miss Grant's ; but of Qu.anio Miss 
 Grant may often have said with tears—" I have laboured in 
 vain, and have spent my strength for nought;" for she left 
 school without any real change of heart, and even married a 
 heathen. But the " bread cast upon the waters was found 
 after many days," — the labour w.as not in vain. 
 
 Soon after her arrival in Singapore (about ten years ago) 
 Miss Cooke called on Quanio, and "found her reading her 
 Bible, and teaching her little ones of Jesus." Miss C()oke 
 " then commenced a weekly prayer meeting in her bright little 
 room, where other China women joined them." After a time 
 her husband consented to her baptism, and she subsequently 
 became a communicant, and lived a most consistent life, adorn- 
 ing the gospel which she professed. 
 
 Few could be so ill spared, we should say; her example was 
 so valuable to her heathen hu.sband, her children, and the ido- 
 lators amongst whom she lived. 
 
 But " God's thoughts are not as our thoughts." Quanio was 
 struck with illness, lingered a very short time, yet long enough 
 to exhort the heathen women around her to believe in Jesus, 
 and then died in peace. Her eldest girl. Pin, was taken ill 
 sLx weeks after her mother, and Miss Cooke says that she is 
 
74 
 
 MISSIONS TO THE 
 
 happy in believing tliat both mother .ind child have met in 
 glory. 
 
 The next death recorded is a very melancholy case. It waa 
 that of Beenio, vrho, found by Miss Grant after she had left 
 school, was believed to have been re;dly " found," a wander- 
 ing sheep brought back to the Good Shepherd's fold. 
 
 But Satan's devices are man}', and it may be that God left 
 her, in order that she might see that her own strength was very 
 weakness, and learn to trust herself less and her Saviour more. 
 
 Whatever may have been the reason, sad to relate, it was 
 discovered, during Miss Cooke's absence in England, that Beenio 
 (who had acted for the last few years as matron in the school) 
 had behaved verj* wrongly in being the channel of coramuni- 
 .cation between one of the girls in the school and the people 
 wi'jiiout. When remonstrated with for her conduct, she secretly 
 left the school, and was not seen there again until she came 
 back, alas ! to die. She was forgiven, I need scarcely tell you, 
 and carefully tended by the teacher and girls. 
 
 Though very inconsistent and easily led astray, Beenio, how- 
 ever, really loved Jesus, and now, in her hour of .sickness, when 
 he.arti and strength failed, it was His name that brought com- 
 fort to her soul, and she listened with pleasure as the words 
 were repeated — 
 
 *' How .qwcct the name of Jc.siis Rounds," kc. 
 
 At the last she was taken suddenly, and was found dead in 
 her bed, but in the absence of any human friend we cannot 
 doubt that the Saviour was with her, soothing her sorrows, 
 calming her fears, and that, finally. He brought this poor weak 
 one safely home, whence she can never wander more. 
 
 Miss Cooke has now returned to Singapore, where, assisted 
 by Miss Hnustone, she continues her labours of love. 
 
 The boarding-school now (186.'i)numbers about forty children. 
 Of these four are supported by specific contributions. Their 
 names are Ahtot, Jew, Unio, and Choon. Until lately, there 
 was a fifth, but Tekniong, a few months ago, died. 
 
 WOMEN OF CniNA. 10 
 
 Tekniong was an orphan, homeless and friendless, and was 
 received into the Chinese girls' school when she was six years 
 old. At the age of twenty-two she was engaged to bo mar- 
 ried, but in the midst of wedding preparations her last illness 
 came on. 
 
 She was, however, quite happy in the anticipation of death, 
 and said that she had had enough of earth, and wished to be 
 with Jesus. She repeated the hymns, " The hour of my de- 
 parture's come," " Rock of Ages," and " I heard the voice of 
 Jesus say;" and when her illness was found to be hopeless, 
 she said, "Now you need take no more care of me; I am 
 going to be with Jesus ;" and soon after she entered into "the 
 glory of the Lord." 
 
 In addition to the boarding-school, prayer meetings, and 
 work parties, Miss Cooke has commenced a ragged school, to 
 which the Earl of Shaftesbury was requested to become the 
 patron. He gave the following kind reply : — 
 
 " It will give me very great pleasure, far more pleasure to 
 me than benefit to the school, to accept the office of patron. 
 
 " I heartily wish I could render any service to a ' Chinese 
 ragged school' I know the immense good done by ragged 
 schools, and heartily thank God for it. Tliere is every reason 
 why the same good should result at Singapore.— Yours, 
 
 " SnAFTESP.URY." 
 
 This school, which is Miss Houstone's special charge, was 
 commenced March 6, 18G5. 
 
 As yet only a few children have come, — six or eight on some 
 days, twenty on others; for " it is uphill work," a-s Miss Cooke 
 says, " to do good amongst the many hindrances " that meet 
 the missionary. " You teach my children to be disobedient," 
 said one woman ; and this because they had been taught not 
 to worship their mother's idols ; for, of course, this must be 
 one of the first lessons, and a difficult lesson it is, so much do 
 these little ones know of idolatry. One of them was watch- 
 
 mmmmm 
 
76 
 
 MISSIONS TO TriE 
 
 inc; a boat trying tn enter the harbour ; at last it s^icccedcd, 
 ■wlien the child exclaimed, — " Then they must have our dotoh 
 (idol) in the boat, or they could not have got in." 
 
 They are quick children, and remember what they are told. 
 Once the tenchcr spoke to them about Satan making children 
 ■nicked. Soon after, a child told a lie, when another said, — 
 " Oh, don't tell lies; if you do, Satan will be glad." 
 
 Every d.ay Miss Cooke's " five infants" (now about seven 
 or eight years old) go with Miss Hou.stone to the ragged 
 school to try to win other children, and very earnest little 
 missionaries they are. 
 
 Miss Houstone has also a mother's meeting, to which eight 
 women have come so far. The women learn to crotchet shoes 
 and boots for their babies, while the " foreign lady " tells 
 them about Jesus. 
 
 We will now take leave of Singapore, and visit another 
 missionarv station. 
 
 LETTER VIII. 
 
 We will next visit the Ea.st Coast of China, as I wisli to tell 
 you about two missionary stations there. 
 
 The first of the.'se is the island of Amoy, chiefly remark- 
 able for its spacious harbour, which can contain many thou- 
 sands of vessels. The sea is so deep there, that the largest 
 ships can come up close to the shore and ride in perfect safety. 
 Tliis harbour, or rather bay, is described as extremely beauti- 
 ful. Sheltered as it is by an island (named Kolong-see, or 
 " Island of Crystal Fountains") from the winds and wave.s, it 
 almost resembles an inland lake in its calmness. Lofty and 
 picturesque mountains rise above the bay, and the island 
 itself is very fertile. 
 
 There is not much remarkable about the city of Amoy. 
 Tlie public buildings are large, but not handsome. The great 
 gate, however, would attract your attention, the favourite figure 
 
 WOMEN OF CHINA. 
 
 77 
 
 of the dragon being carved on it, also some of the wise .sayings 
 of Confucius. On the top of the gate is a curious boat- 
 shaped design, emblematic of the means by which the greater 
 number of the inhabitants earn their livelihood, — the deep- 
 water fishery of the coast being extremely productive. On 
 passing into the .streets you would find them, as is commonly 
 the case in China, so very narrow, that two persons could 
 hardly walk together. They are not at all pleasant streets, 
 being dirty and crowded, and the interior of the houses is 
 also very far from clean. The first objects seen on entering 
 a hou.sc are the idols, enshrined on a high table or desk, de- 
 corated with various fantastic ornaments. In the very streets 
 idolatrfius scenes are often witnessed. 
 
 One of th6se superstitious observances I may describe to 
 you. 
 
 On the seventh month of the Chine.sc calendar it i.s believed 
 that the infernal regions are open, and the evil spirits and 
 dqvils come out to be fed. The offerings presented, therefore, 
 to satisfy and keep off these hungry ghosts, are very nume- 
 rous. Immense fires are lighted in the streets, and men carry 
 basket after basket and empty their contents in the fire. 
 These baskets are chiefly filled with silver pnper, cut in squares 
 larger than one's hand, covered with Chinese characters, and 
 representations of money and various articles of clothing, 
 which are .supposed to become, while burning, the reality of 
 what they represent, and to go to feed and clothe the sjjirits. 
 They are brought in such quantities as woidd fill several 
 English carts. The fire is continued till a late hour, the 
 priests walking round it with music and gongs. Then men 
 come and gather up the ashes, still glowing with heat, and 
 carry them away in tubs. After this a play is performed on 
 the spot, and continued till daylight next morning, while the 
 noise of the heathenish music and the beating of gongs is 
 most deafening. 
 
 Amoy was made in 1843 a free port; and about 1848, Mrs 
 W. Young (wife of the Rev. W. Young, London Missionary 
 Society) opened a school for Chinese girls there. It vrns in- 
 
 *««iililililllHR^ 
 
78 
 
 MISSIONS TO THE 
 
 deed greatly needed. Mrs Young longed to have, not one, 
 but many schools, in which the children could be taught of 
 the true God. " I think," she writes, " that if ladies in Eng- 
 land could be brought out here only for a few hours in the 
 midst of this heathen people, how diligent they would be in 
 their endeavours to forward our work on their return home," 
 the more especially as there was great encouragement to be 
 found from the natives, who were most anxious to be visited, 
 and to give their cliildren to be taught. Indeed, little girls 
 were often offered as presents to Mrs Young; for Chinese 
 mothers are often only too glad to be saved the expense of 
 bringing up their daughters. 
 
 From the first Mrs Young's school was well attended. In 
 1850 she had fifteen pupils, whose progress was most satis- 
 factory. 
 
 Should you like to know what they learned 1 Tiiey were 
 taught entirely in their own language, and their hours of 
 learning were from nine o'clock in the morning till half-past 
 twelve, and from half-past two till half-past three o'clock. A 
 short time was given to the Chinese classics, and then they 
 were taught needlework and everything that would be useful 
 to girls in their position to know. 
 
 They were carefully instructed in the Bible; the elder ones 
 learned from five to seven verses out of the Testament each 
 week to repeat on Sundays, also a Chinese hymn ; the little 
 girls learned a religious tract called the " Three-Character 
 Classic." After repeating their lessons they were questioned 
 on them, and their answers would not have been thought 
 bad even for English children. 
 
 Again and again Mrs Young wrote to urge our society to 
 send an agent to Amoy. She greatly needed help ; and when 
 she left the island, as she occa-sionally did for change of air, 
 the school was obliged to be broken up, for there was no one 
 to take her place. Besides, Amoy was in itself a most pro- 
 mising .station. " I think," writes Mrs Young, " that this 
 would be a very good field for your society's agents. There 
 is plenty of work for ladies to do ; a large number of girls to 
 
 mmmmmmmmmmmmm 
 
 WOMRN OF CHINA. 
 
 79 
 
 educate, and many women to instruct, which must be done by 
 talking to them, as few or none can read. Ladies can go 
 where they like in Amoy; the people are pleased to see them. 
 The women are very civil whenever I go to see them, and I 
 .should like to devote more time to them if I had not so very 
 much to do at home. Girls in any number can be got if the 
 parents have sufficient confidence in the lady under whoso 
 care they are j)laced; .and a wide field is also open for doing 
 a great deal amongst the women if time and strength jicr- 
 mitted. Should yoil send out an agent to Amoy," Mrs 
 Young continued, " we shall be happy to assist her in any 
 way we can. She might have a school of her own, or I should 
 be glad that she should take part in mine, and then, if we 
 could get a proper place, the school might be enlarged as o\ir 
 funds allowed of it." 
 
 In answer to this urgent appeal, Miss Harvett was sent out 
 in 1851 to assist Mrs Young. Since th.at time there have 
 been many changes in the teachers at Amoy. For some years 
 a native teacher was employed, and her salary paid by our 
 society; and with a brief interval, the school was kept open 
 (under the superintendence of Miss Stronach) up to the year 
 18fi0. I am sorry to say, however, that owing to the mar- 
 riage of the native teacher and other circuni.stances, the school 
 is now closed. But I hope that it is only temporarily so, and 
 that soon our society may be able to have an agent at Amoy. 
 
 Farther south than Amoy is the island of Hong-Kong, 
 which has been for some years a missionary station of our 
 society. 
 
 As Hong-Kong now belongs to the English, having been 
 ceded in 1842 to "Her Britannic Majesty and her successors 
 for ever," it is a i)lacc in which you ought to take a .special 
 interest. 
 
 A rocky islet in the mouth of the Canton river, Hong-Kong 
 is at first sight not unlike the Highlands of Scotland. Its 
 high precipitous hills terminate in sharp peaks, and are covered 
 with strangely-shaped rocks. And on landing the illusion is 
 carried out. The scenery about Victoria, the capital, (a town 
 
80 
 
 MISSIONS TO THE 
 
 which extends two miles from end to end,) is very like Scot- 
 land. " A good idea of the place may be gained by supposing 
 ourselves looking down on a Scotch lake, — Loch Lomond or 
 Loch Long. Wo must imagine a handsome city, of light, airy 
 houses on tbo margin of the lakes, and climbing up the hills. 
 Then we must fill the lakes with .shippin.u; of everj' nation, and 
 pour over all the glare of an Eastern sun."* 
 
 Down the precipitous hills flow beautiful cascades, and it is 
 thought tliat to the fact of this abundance of water the island 
 owes its name. The word Hong-Kong is taken from" Heang- 
 Keang," the fragrant stream ; or " Hoon-Keaiig," the red or 
 bright torrent. Perhaps in bygone ages it was so called in 
 gratitude by some tempest-tossed mariners, who, faint from 
 ■want of water, found here a supply in time of need. 
 
 One of our missionary agents has written a description of 
 Hong-Kong, and as it is a recent account, I will tell you what 
 she says about it. 
 
 " Hong-Kong after nightfall, as we .survey almost the whole 
 place from our verandah, i.s as quiet as can well be imagined. 
 I think this perfect quietude of a large and populous city 
 must result from the absence of wheels, — a fact to be noticed 
 by one who has always been accustomed to the distant 
 rumbling of the London streets. You must bear in mind, 
 too, that no Chinaman is allowed in the .streets after nine 
 o'clock without a pa.ss, or ' Kaichi,' so there is no busy hum 
 of voices to float upon the evening air. The only sounds 
 borne upwards to us from the little world at our feet are the 
 quarter-chimes of the clock tower, the barking of numerous 
 dogs, the occasional rap of the watchman as he goes his 
 rounds, and the half-hour bells from the ships, with now and 
 then the cheery voices of the sailors, as they haul away at 
 the ropes at the turn of the tide. Very lovely, especially when 
 the moonlight steeps the scene in its soft brightness, is the 
 view, as the poet has it, ' of the city in its sleep.' The large 
 nlansions, with their surroundings of trees, the Mohammedan 
 mo-sque, the Roman Catholic church, the Protestant cathedral 
 Cooke's China. 
 
 mmmmmmmmmmmmmimm 
 
 AVOJIEN OF CHINA. 
 
 81 
 
 and chaprl, the large clubs and pl.aces of business, and the 
 smaller .and more closely-built houses in the town itself all 
 look more interesting at night than by day. The mountains 
 ot the opposite coast seem nearer on a clear evening than' nt 
 any otlier time, while the hundreds of craft, of all shapes and 
 sizes, in the harbour between, from the Chinese sam-pans 
 with their freight of human life, whicdi p.asses its whole exist- 
 ence in these narrow waters, to the English man-of-war which 
 came m but yesterday from the cruise of half the world all 
 seem, with their steadily-lmrning lights, to be at perfect repose, 
 as It their wanderings were for ever over. There is some 
 thing in the very aspect of the low, ronghb'-thatched, comfort- 
 less Chinese houses, and in tlie promiscuous huddling tocrether 
 ot junks and sam-pans on the bosom of the water, tiiat .seems 
 to excite a feeling of coinjiassion for the j.eople of the land 
 outnumbering ourselves as they do in such a disproportionate 
 way. Walk in any street or road in the i^lace by day and 
 you will see it at a glance. With every Engh'sh face you wUl 
 soon become acquainted ; German and Portuguese faces you 
 see often, but the Chinese are everywhere. You sec them of 
 all cl,a.s.ses, from the half-naked coolies, the"' hewers of wood 
 and drawers of water' to the community, to the more gentle- 
 nianly class, with their white stockings, bhie trousen., white 
 short coat and embroidered shoes, not forgetting the fan' which 
 IS gracefully handled by its owner; and, wheirnot put' to its 
 legitnnate use, is either stuck in his co.'it at the back of his 
 neck, or held over his head to answer the purpose of Imtli hat 
 and umbrella, if he chances, which is rather unusual, to have 
 left the latter at home. Hats of any shape I have never see„ 
 worn I)y the better orders, but the coolie.s, who, of course 
 when carrying the chairs or any other burdens, cannot induhrc! 
 in umbrellas, have the most comic, but sensible articles ima'in 
 able. They are made, I suppose, as everything here i.s" of 
 bamboo, more resembling the seat of a cane-chair than any- 
 thing else I can think of, are of a circular shape, extendin-^ 
 some eight or ten inches every way from the head, quite flat'' 
 except just over the top of the head, where they rise to a point' 
 
S2 
 
 MISSION.^ TO THE 
 
 If you v'.'iiit to sec gay colours do not come to Hong-Kong. 
 The prevailing colour is blue, like the Englisli butcher's cos- 
 tume, and if you look over any part of the Chinese town, it is 
 most peculiar to sec the swarms of blue men, women, and 
 children. When washed this blue becomes of a lighter tint. 
 The only colour to vary this monotony is a dingy, snufiPy- 
 Icioking brown, which, after it has been once washed, becomes 
 excessively dirty. ]''ortunately for those who have an eye for 
 beauty, white is pretty extensively patronised. Besides the 
 Europeans and Chinese, there are three other classes of inhabi- 
 tants — the j\ralay police, very numerous, clad in a gray uni- 
 form, with blue facings, the Parsecs, with their tightly-but- 
 toned black coats, and high-crowned pasteboard hats, the last, 
 and least numerous, though most picturesque class, are the 
 Mohammedans, chiefly Hindostanee ; their oriental costume, 
 loose, bright-coloured silken trousers, long, light-flowing robes, 
 and dazzling scarlet or spotlessly white turbans, look exces- 
 sivelj- interesting ; while the cotintenances of the greater num- 
 ber bear that mark of gravity and dignity one has been accus- 
 tomed to associate with the idea of a Mussulman. The old 
 men, with their long white beards, have a most venerable ap- 
 pearance. 
 
 " One of the things that at first strikes you as being moat 
 indicative of a strange country is, not any very un-English 
 look about the streets, but the absence of any wheeled convey- 
 ances. The only 'beasts of burden' are the coolies; every- 
 thing, to whatever distance, is carried by hand ; heavy weights 
 being susj)ended on a pole, with a man at each end of it. 
 
 " There are a few light phaetons, suitable for driving up 
 and down hill, belonging to Europeans and Parsees ; but it is 
 only in one or two beaten tracks that you meet with them, 
 .and then only as an unwonted occurrence. But chmrs are 
 universal. These chairs are bamboo, covered, of course, to 
 keep you from the sun, and are usually painted green, though 
 some are blue. Most residents have chairs of their own, but 
 there are a number about everywhere for hire. They are com- 
 fortable enough, especially as you have the air and the view 
 
 WOMEN OF CHINA. 
 
 83 
 
 stirb"" °"'rr" ^f accustomed to. But it seen.s 
 th t ft ^'^y;-^""";-^''^ f"-- tl^ei"- o^vn convenience, forgetting 
 
 our fel ow-creatures, and heirs of a like eternity! Yet no one 
 see^s to .speak a word to them beyond the orders one mig 
 give to a horse to go or stay. It is painful not to be able to 
 speak a word of sympathy or kindly fcelin- 
 
 "The shops of Victoria, even those entirely Chinese, do not 
 ook very un-Enghsh, though in an evening the ' Chin;se 1 
 terns hung outside, and the ' jo.ss-sticks' burning to keep away 
 
 (which, by the way, is not the fact in Hong-Kong ") 
 
 .Such IS the api,carance of our missionaries' home, and it is 
 time now to teU you of some of their efforts there 
 
 About the year 1841, Mrs Dean (formerly Mi.ss Barker an 
 agent of our Society) wont to reside at Hong-Kon<r and both 
 she and her husband, the Rev. W. Dean, Lou-edTmo'^t 
 the Chinese population. But Mrs Dean died in 184.3 • and 
 after her death nothing seems to have been done 1,; our 
 Society, for the Chinese girls for many years, for we find a 
 letter from the Bishop of Victoria, i„ 1850, reouestin-- that 
 an agent might be sent there. He s.ays :— ' ^ ■ " 
 
 ''In tlio printed sheet (of correspondence) there is a letter 
 of Mlss Grant's respecting the elder pupils at Singapore, one 
 of whom (a nice CJiristian young woman) is now living under 
 niy roof as the wife of my young prolrgc and student for the 
 Christian ministry, Chun-di-ang. I hope she will be useful 
 to us in the cause of female education. She generally read.s 
 two or three hours daily with Mrs Smith, -who gives a plenMu- 
 account of her. When I see four ' .sisters of charity' walk! 
 ing abroad in our streets, seeking to dilTuse Romanism and 
 humbling themselves to the meanest agency in order to pro- 
 pagate a defective gospel, I cannot but express my desire that 
 an English lady might come hither, without any fixed plans 
 but the general de.sire to devote herself to the work of Christ 
 
 ^^^^^^fmmmmrmmmmmmmmmmmmmm 
 
vi&l Jli4^MMl 
 
 84 
 
 MISSIONS TO THE 
 
 here, profferincj her aid to merchants' and officers' families, 
 ■who sometimes, for want of better help, avail themselves of 
 the services of the ' sisters,' visiting the soldiers' wives, and 
 taking charge of the education of any orplians in danger of 
 being given over to the Romanists, and generally ready to 
 devote hei-self to the labour of female schools for the benefit 
 of the European and Chinese population of this colony. If 
 you are satisfied with a sketch so general, and are willing to 
 send an agent, we will do our best to find her a sjihere of use- 
 fulness, and to promote her influence and happiness. We 
 have no schemes here in China of ' sisters of charity ' or 
 ' sisters of mercy,' but should thank God for sending us any 
 lady or ladies who, supported by Christians in England, might 
 be willing to emulate the Romish ' sisterhood' in their com- 
 mendable zeal, but grounded on more pure and scriptural 
 principles. I shall be happy to hear from you, and may prob- 
 ably ere long write to you myself." 
 
 In answer to this appeal, two ladies — Jfiss Crisp, and after- 
 wards Bliss Kingston — were sent to Hong-Kong by our 
 Society. 
 
 There arc now (ISO.";)' several schools for Cliincso girls there. 
 One, the Diocesan N.itive Female Training School, was estab- 
 lished for the purpose of training native girls as teachers. 
 The necessity for this arose from the great desire which csisted 
 in Hong-Kong for education. From a district, Tai-ping-shan, 
 the native inhabitants forwarded a petition, entreating that a 
 married schoolmaster might be sent to reside amongst them, 
 whose wife might be able to teach the girls. But as there 
 was no Cliristian teacher, it was found necessary to secure the 
 services of a heathen schoolmaster and his wife, who were, 
 however, inquirers after the truth. About a year after their 
 arrival at Tai-ping-shan, they wrote to tell Mrs Smith of their 
 success. " There has not been a moment," they said, " during 
 the year which has now elapsed, since we took leave of you in 
 Hong-Kong, in which our hearts have not wished to stand on 
 your right and left hands to hear your instructions. We trust 
 
 < ■■■■Piianiiiiiivniip 
 
 WOMEN OF CHINA. 
 
 8.5 
 
 that you, madam, havd obtained from God much happiiicss 
 and comfort through your good deeds. Many thanks for your 
 kind compliments sent to us. We constantly wish to write to 
 you a few lines to inquire after your health, but we cannot do 
 > so on account of the great distance which separates us. Wc 
 have thirty-two giris in the" present year, and this is all owin- 
 to your benevolence in opening a school to instruct thein^ 
 But we know not when we .shall again see your pleasing coun- 
 tcnance, so that our longing after your presence may be allayed. 
 With our respectful compliments to Mrs Smith.— From your 
 humble and obedient servants, L.4ying-King-Shan and Loke- 
 Shee." 
 
 This letter is written' in the complimentary Eastern style ; 
 but it .shows how successful the teachers were; and where 
 there was such a desire for education, it was sad only to be 
 able to send "inquirers after the truth." 
 
 At first the Diocesan Training School was opened in a small 
 house, m which nine pupils were received, bufincreasing num- 
 bers obliged the managers to try to procure better accommo- 
 dation, and a large building was erected at the cost of above 
 8000 dollars, of which 1000 dollars were subscribed by the 
 Chinese in Hong-Kong. This institution was opened on the 
 Uth of .Tuly 1862, by the Bishop of Victoria, in the presence 
 of his Excellency the Acting Governor, .Airs Mercer, Mr.? 
 Smith, Miss Baxter, and other ladies connected with the work 
 of female education in the colony. 
 
 ^ The pu[)ils, who at present number thirty-one, are taught 
 Chinese and English reading, writing, i)lain needlework, geo- 
 graphy, and Bible history; above all, they are carefully'' in- 
 structed in the doctrines of Christianity. 
 
 Visitors to the school from time to time have given very 
 pleasant reports of it. A lady who saw it in 18G1 (before 
 the gills had moved into their new house) .says that all seemed 
 happy in their work and with their teacher. Their nccdle-" 
 work was far better than that of most schools at home. Those 
 who had been longest in the school could read English nicely, 
 and understood what they read. They could point out the 
 
8G 
 
 MISSIONS TO THE 
 
 continents and principal countries on the globe ; and thongli 
 singing was a difficnlty, they were making progress in that too. 
 
 The same lady tells us how the girls spent their day. 
 The children rose early, arranged their bedrooms, and pre- 
 pared their Chinese lessons before breakfast. Tlie first hoar 
 after breakfast w.as devoted to family prayer, Scripture lesson, 
 (^Mimpriss,) and repetition of hymns. This was followed by 
 English reading, with questioning, both on the meaning of 
 the words and on the subject of the lesson, writing, a little 
 simple arithmetic, or object lesson ; and the morning studies 
 were concluded with singing, geographj', or the elements of 
 grammar. Occasional!)'' studies were set aside that a day, or 
 portion of a day, might he given to cooking, washing, ironing, 
 or finishing needlework ; an hour in the middle of the day 
 was allowed for lunch ; needlework occupied part of the after- 
 noon ; half-past four was the dinner-hour ; and at eight they 
 went to bed. 
 
 Only a year after the institution had been opened two girls 
 (sisters) declared tlieir wish to be baptized. They felt mucli 
 the importance of the ordinance. The elder one was so anxious 
 tliat often in the lonely hours of the night she lay awake 
 thinking. Earnestly did she desire to be united to Christ's 
 people in name, for she knew she was one with them in heart. 
 " I believe that God's Holy Spirit has been given to me," she 
 said to her teacher. " I feel a light shining in my heart which 
 tells me what is right and what is wrong." 
 
 In .January 18G1 the sisters were baptized, and the follow- 
 ing year were confirmed by the bishop. " Lydia," as the 
 elder of tlic two was named, took an active jiart in the school, 
 and was most useful to the teacher. She often tried to influ- 
 ence her young companions for good, and once, when they 
 were going home for a holiday, she called them together, 
 warned them against idolatry, and told them that since they 
 had now learned to know better, what had before been {gno- 
 rancn would now be sin in them. Often, too, Lydia and 
 her sister Addie prayed in their own words with their school- 
 fellows. 
 
 i »i !■ mnmmmmnmtmtnwm 
 
 mmmmmm 
 
 WOMEN OF CHINA. 
 
 In 1801, we read of Lydia's marriage to Hwang-Kew-Tcli, 
 one of the catechists of the Rev. J. Wolf, missionary of the 
 Church Missionary Society at Foochow, nearly .500 miles 
 distant from Hong-Kong. The bride was neatly attired on 
 tlie occasion in a blue stuff embroidered dress, her hair simply 
 di-essed with a few flowers. This was very difierent, you see, 
 frosn the gay Singapore wedding di ess ; but I suppose that 
 as Hong-Kong is in one sense English ground, converts arc in 
 a great measure protected from persecution. Perhaps, too, 
 English " customs " are beginning to be imitated there. At 
 all events, as Lydia's father and mother are Christians, she 
 liad no fear of any objections from them. Her father (who 
 is a master of one of the government schools) seemed much 
 pleased at the marriage, and had everything nicely pi-eparcd ; 
 lie greeted his friends, and gave papers of cash (Chinese 
 money) to the little ones. The ceremony took place at the 
 cathedral, where the Eev. J. Stringer, (church missionary at 
 Hong-Kong,) and the Hev. J. Wolfe, performed the sen-ice, 
 partly in Chinese, as the bridegroom was not acquainted witli 
 English. Miss Baxter supported the bride, for the sniallnoss 
 of her feet made it painful for her to stand for so long a time. 
 Several members of Lydia's family, and four of her school- 
 fellows were present. " Immediately after the marriage the 
 bridal party proceeded to St Paul's College, where the Com- 
 mittee of the Diocesan Native School had a simple Chinese 
 entertainment provided for them in the bishop's dining-room." 
 I'eforo she left Hong-Hong, Lydia wrote a letter full ot 
 gratitude and Christian feeling to Mrs Smith, the Ijishop's 
 wife, (who was in England.) And if we follow Lydia to her 
 Jiomc at Foochow we shall find tliat she is the same Lydia, 
 anxious as ever to do good. " She was very happy," and, as 
 she wrote to Miss Eaton, " longing to learn the Foochow 
 dialect tliat she might tell others of the Saviour she loved." 
 After a short time she commenced a school, and this, the 
 first fruits of the Diocesan Training School, is now conducted 
 by her. When she was about to take it, .she wrote to Miss 
 Eaton to ask whether she ought to receive payment for teach- 
 
88 
 
 MISSIONS TO THE 
 
 ing. " I have been taught and caved for mj-pelf witlinut 
 money," she said, " and it seems to me that it would be more 
 nccejitable to God if I taught without being paid for it." 
 This in any one woukl have been a most generous thought, 
 but in one of her nation it was very remarkable ; for the 
 Chinese are naturally a money-loving people, and it gave a 
 still further pmof of the reality of Lydia's conversion. Miss 
 Eaton, however, advised her to accept payment, for she knew 
 that she could not well afford to give her services gratuitously, 
 and so .she told her that God makes our circximstances for us, 
 and He likes us to give according to them. 
 
 In 18G4, six of the pupils were baptized. Miss Eaton has 
 now thirty-one under her care, and more could be received if 
 the funds permitted. 
 
 Besides the Dioce.'^an Native Female Training School, there 
 are four girls' schools at Hong-Kong for difi'eront classes — 
 English, half-caste, and natives. These were at first under 
 the charge of Miss I'.axter, assisted by Miss De la Cour, (an 
 agent of our society ;) but the work increased so much that 
 she applied for more assistance to our committee, and Miss 
 Oxlad and Miss Waterworth^^ were sent out to help. " In- 
 deed, no difficulty' whatever is found in getting cliildren to 
 teach at Hong-Kong. There is work enough for terns of 
 workers. One of tlie most interesting circumstances that 
 has taken place lately in connexion with Miss Baxter's spe- 
 cial charge was the baptLsm of Alcu, the Chinese matron of 
 the orphan and ragged school. This woman was nurse to 
 our soldiers in the hospital at Canton, and was recommended 
 to her present post by Sir H. Parkes and Major Dowbiggin. 
 She was well disposed to Christianit}', but knew nothing 
 of its doctrines when she came, but she at once availed 
 herself of every opportunity of instruction, and before long 
 gave up idi>latr3'. She and her two children were baptized, 
 August 29, 18G2, by the Bishop of Victoria. 
 
 1 am sorry to be obliged to •close my account of the schools 
 at Hong-Kong by telling you of the death of Miss Baxter, a 
 * Miss Waterworth has been obliged to leave from ill health. 
 
 wmmmmmmmmmmmm 
 
 WOMEX OF CHINA. 
 
 89 
 
 lady who for five years has been actively engaged in mission- 
 ary work there. She was cut off by fever on the 30th of June 
 18(1.'). The following letter, written to some Sunday-scliolars 
 in England, who contributed towards the support of one child, 
 and tlie clothing of another, will tell much of her work. It 
 was written just a year before her death : — 
 
 " BoNHAM RoAD,*IToxclKoNn, June 11. ISfil. 
 
 " My dear young Friends, — The last week has been both 
 a solemn and trying one to me, and filled my mind with 
 thoughts of children more than ever. We have been called 
 to stand by the grave of two dear little ones in a week. Last 
 Monday morning the dear little baby who last year was burnt, 
 and has been such a .sufferer, was taken in convulsions, and 
 died in a few hours. The other child was a little girl between 
 four and five years, called Carry. In March she left me, (after 
 having been at school three or four months,) such a healthy, 
 lovino: little thing. Her father thought to send her home to 
 some relations in London, but the vessel not going so soon as 
 he expected, the little girl fell sick at her father's, for want of 
 care, and wlien I sent to say good-bye to her, she was brought 
 back to my house such a wretched-looking object we could not 
 recognise her to be our dear little Carry. With every care she 
 has not lasted a month with us. You will like to know if this 
 little girl knew and loved Jesu.s. Learn a lesson, even you 
 little ones, to seek Him. Little Carry never heard of Jesus 
 at home. When she was with mo in the winter she sjioke 
 English badly, having talked other languages at home. She 
 could only repeat, in a childlike way, part of ' Gentle Jesus,' 
 and little texts; could not pronounce 'Our Father' altogether. 
 The first two or three days she was called to learn, she had to 
 go into the corner three times before .she would try to repeat 
 the verse ; but always afterwards she would stand with the 
 little ones, and when they had done she would say, ' ]\Iamma, 
 Carry say,' and if there was no time at the usual hour, she 
 was sure to come uji, 'Carry no say 5 mamma, hear Cany.' 
 After seeing us say '. grace' two or three days, she always 
 
iMl 
 
 00 
 
 UnSSIONS TO THE 
 
 put her hnnds together/anrl called out, ' Mamma, say " fjacp.'" ' 
 If any child began to eat, she would tell them not, and call 
 louder for grace. Then she went home, and perhaps forgot 
 most of these things. "When she came back so ill, she had 
 not strength to think much. Her love fur me seemed still to 
 remain, and she was never happier than in my arms, or close 
 to me. Her affection was so strong that at first, when I told 
 her that Carry would go to Jesus, she was going to die, she 
 made a disapproving noise, and seemed not to like me to speak 
 so. A nurse said to her, ' Carry like to go to Jesus?' she 
 said, 'No, Carry want to .stay with mamma.' Her last words, 
 when her eyes were fixed, were, ' Jfanima, mamma, mamma,' 
 and she pressed Miss De la Cour's hand, who was watching 
 her, and held her little hand. She was quite sensible, and as 
 far as her childish mind understood, .she knew what we said. 
 The last week I talked about Jesus in as ea.sy a way as I could, 
 and .she listened, but said nothing. I believe my little pet ii? 
 safe with Jesus, though it would have been a greater pleasure 
 to me if God had taught her, by His Spirit, to feel more love 
 for Jesus than for her dearest earthly friend. God has some 
 lessons from these things to teach us all here, and you must 
 pray that we may learn them. This is the fifth little grave I 
 ha va had from among my little ones in six months. Is it not 
 God's voice ? 
 
 " You will like to know how different it is in this country, 
 when any one dies, to what it is in England. Here, directly 
 any one is dead, whether Sunday or week day, you must send 
 for a coffin, and have the funeral that day, at least before 
 fourteen or sixteen hours are over. Yesterday morning I had 
 my little Carry laid out in my room. She died a few minutes 
 before twelve on Saturday night, and when my Chinese girls, 
 and the Diocesan Female School girls came to service, they 
 came up to see her. Chinese are usually quite afraid of 
 going into a room where a dead body is. 
 
 " I have beg\in in this house to have a children's service on 
 Sunday mornings, and bur schools muster more than seventy 
 children. The teacher or Scripture reader prays and expounds 
 
 WOMEN OF CHINA. 
 
 91 
 
 a chnpter, and I give a little address in Chinese and English, 
 asldng questions. Yesterday tHe teacher read part of John xi., 
 and 1 cpicstioned them on it, and gave them a few things to 
 think of on death : — when it first came, and* why ! (llom. v. 12 ;) 
 why wo fear death, (1 Cor. xv. 55, .56 ;) Avhat we read of death 
 being called, (John xi. 11 ; Acts vii. GO ;) who by His example 
 teaches us not to fear death, and even thought it better than 
 life, (I'hil. i. 23 ; 2 Tim. iv. 0, 8 ;) who has conquered death, 
 and brought eternal life, (1 Cor. xv. 57.) 
 
 " In the afternoon yesterday we went down to the sea, and 
 in two large boats went to the ' Happy Valley,' having to walk 
 a little way to the cemetery. Five girls and eight boys of our 
 English pupils went and carried the colfin. Thinking of the 
 happiness of the departed came only into my mind in hearing 
 the burial service. The cemetery is a very pretty spot, full 
 of nice trees and little liiUs. 
 
 " My Chinese boarding-school has nineteen girls in it, and 
 five day scholars ; two of them will soon be baptized. The 
 teacher thinks of offering herself as a candidate for baptism 
 before the end of the year. In the Diocesan School there are 
 thirty girls ; seven are going to be baptized soon. The girl 
 who was married to a Fuh-chow cateohist is very happy, and 
 getting on very well. I heard from Pekin lately, and it seems a 
 place where people might find plenty to do. The women and 
 girls are veiy glad to come and hear.— I am your affectionate 
 tnend, 
 
 S. 11' SorniA Baxtf.u." 
 
 Hers was indeed an earnest, faithful spirit, and her loss 
 will, I am sure, be felt greatly in the mission schools. 
 
 LETTER IX. 
 
 HiTnEPTO I have only told you about schools for the Chinese. 
 I must now take you to China itself. 
 
 ii iiiiiii i uii.m i im iwHwwnw 
 
 i 
 
 mmmmm 
 
V'J MISSIOKS TO THE 
 
 The first missionary station of our Society in China was 
 not held permanently ; indecdj our agent only remained a few 
 mouths, liut as it was the frsf, I think I ought to mention it. 
 
 It was JIacao, a city situated on the south-east coast, a 
 Portuguese settlement in the sixteenth century, and remark- 
 able for having been long the residence of Camoens, the 
 celebrated Portuguese poet. 
 
 Mrs Giitzlaff (wife of the Rev. Dr Gntzlaff) wrote to our 
 Society in 1S3G and 1837, imploring help for her school, 
 which numbered from twenty to thirty girls, one of whom 
 was blind. "Pray send us teachers," writc.'3 Mrs Gutzlaff; 
 " I greatly need a helper. There are thousands of children 
 to be trained, and only one teacher." 
 
 This appeal was seconded by the children of the school. 
 
 Translation of a Chinese letter from the little girls in Mrs 
 Gutzlaff's school :— 
 
 " TO THE LADIES OF THE SOCIETY, ETC. 
 
 " De.\r kind Ladies, — Who have thought so much of us 
 poor little girls, as to send pretty work to have us taught. 
 Five little girls, in the name of many, many, thank you, 
 ladies. And please do send us some more help ; and which 
 of our kind friends will come and te.'ich the little Chinese 
 girl.s 1 Wo arc so many we want many teachers ; we are so 
 poor we cannot pay you ; but we are told of the Saviour, 
 Jesus, who can. Prayuig He may grant you heavenly happi- 
 ness, we remain, your obliged little girls, 
 
 " Aky, 
 
 " ACHOCK, 
 
 " Ative, 
 " AssoN, 
 " Mary, 
 " {BNnd ckihl'.i hand guided.) 
 " Afoo, the orphan boy, has written this for the little girls." 
 
 Our committee were enabled to grant this request ; and 
 
 WOMEN OF CniNA. 
 
 93 
 
 in August 1836 Miss Barker (whoso name I have already men- 
 tioned) went out to assist Mrs Gutzlafl', in the expectation 
 that Macao would be her home for many years. But shortly 
 after her arriv.al — March 1837 — she married the Rev. W. 
 Dean, American missionary, and removed to Siam, and finally 
 to Hong-Kong. At both places she laboured amongst the 
 Chinese population. In 18-13, however, she was removed 
 suddenly by death, in the midst of plans of usefulness. " Her 
 last labours," writes her husband, " were for the Chinese, her 
 last pr.ayers were for the he.athcn. She left her friends for a 
 home among them ; .she laboured for their salvation ; she died 
 in their empire ; her body rests beneath their soil, whilst her 
 hapjiy soul has gone homo to its heavenly reward." 
 
 Our Society was not able to send another agent to IMacao ; 
 but there is an interesting link between our first and second 
 Uations in China. A blind child, found by Mrs Gutzlaff in 
 the streets of Canton, was sent to be educated at the asylum 
 in London for teaching the blind, and after a stay at Amoy, 
 she went to Ningpo, where, as " Agnes Gutzlafl"," .she was long 
 usefully employed in teaching those of her countrywomen who 
 were similarly afflicted to herself. 
 
 I must next tell you about Miss Alderscy, who lived for 
 many years in China. 
 
 From an early age, ISIiss Aldersey longed to do good to 
 China. Surrounded by all the comforts and luxuries of life, 
 her heart was set on being a missionary, and .she tried in 
 every way she could to fit herself to endure roughness and 
 discomfort. She also commenced, when only nineteen years 
 old, the study of the Chinese language, in which she made 
 great progress. Having obtained her father's consent, she 
 made arrangements, about the year 1832, to accompany a 
 missionary party to the Straits of Mal.-vcca, that she might 
 labour among the colonics of Chinese emigrants, which were 
 scattered over the Malay Peninsula. But just as she w.as on 
 the point of setting out, she heard of the sudden death of 
 
94 
 
 MISSIONS TO THE 
 
 her sister, who left six chndrcn,' and !Miss Aldcrsey at once 
 returned to supply a motber's place to the little ones, and this 
 she did with much love and care. 
 
 But she did not give up the thought of China ; and she 
 kept up her interest in the work by becoming " a member of 
 the Committee of the Society for Promoting Female Educa- 
 tion in the East." 
 
 In 1837, she found .she w.as no longer required at home, 
 and therefore once more, made preparations for a journey ; 
 and on the 10th of August she sailed from England, in com- 
 pany with Dr and JIrs Medhurst. By their advice, she went 
 to Sourabaya, in Java ; but though her one object was tn do 
 good, the people of the place distrusted her, and she had no 
 sooner arrived than they commanded her to leave imme- 
 diately. 
 
 She applied, however, to the Dutch authorities, and I'eceived 
 full permission not only to remain, but to establish schools. 
 This w:is strange in a place where neither Dutch nor English 
 missionaries were allowed to live. How did it come about, 
 you ask? Just in this way — it was not thought worth while 
 to oppose her, as one lady, they said, ran neithn- do much 
 harm nor much anod! Being allowed to remain, she began at 
 once to learn !Malay, and after si.x months took a house far 
 away from any European, in the midst of the Chinese and 
 Javanese population. Here she commenced her mission, and 
 at the outset had no scholars, very few books, no help, no one 
 to 'sympathise with her. Often her life was in great danger, 
 for the people hated her religion ; they used several cliarms 
 and spells against her, which, as you know, were cpiite harm- 
 less in themselves, but they showed how much she was 
 di.'^liked. Not so harmless were the presents of poisoned 
 eatables, which she was often offered, but happily did not 
 accept. 
 
 God preserved her, and He put it into the heart of the 
 .Tavanese regent (the highest Javanese in Sourabaya) to be 
 kind to her. Miss Aldcrsey had been useful to the Eadan 
 Tamanggang, (as he was called,) by prescribing for him at a 
 
 Wgi MW i UM IPWWWWPiW— WWWIIWl 
 
 WOMEN OF CHINA. 
 
 93 
 
 time that he was very ill; and he showed his gratitude by 
 visiting and helping her in many ways. 
 
 Still she laboured on, and after a while opened an Indo- 
 Chinese school, in which she had thirty scholars, several of 
 whom became much interested in the subject of religion, ,ind 
 two were converted, and subsequently followed her to Cliina. 
 Her intention was to remain in Sourabaya until China should 
 be opened, but circumstances occurred which obliged her to 
 leave, after five years' residence amongst this inhospitable 
 people. Accompanied by Miss Leisk^ a young English girl 
 whom she had adopted, she went to Hong-Kong for a time, 
 and then to Chusan, where she was of great use to the people. 
 One* who visited that beautiful island .says : — 
 
 " Miss Aldcrsey is a ministering angel to the Chinese ; she 
 lives entirely amongst them, and twice a week .she receives 
 all the poor, afflicted, and diseased, and administers to them 
 comforts and medicines." 
 
 Taking with her a (Chinese orphan, n.amed Asan, she left 
 Chusan at the end of a year, and went in 184+ to Ningpo. 
 
 As wo shall linger some time at Ningpo, I should like to 
 tell you something about the place, which was Miss Aldersey's 
 home for many years. 
 
 Ningpo is situated on the confluence of two rivers, contains 
 a population of nearly a qu.arter of a million, and is five 
 miles in circumference. Its walls, which are wide enough for 
 a carriage drive, arc entirely of granite, and five gates lead 
 into the city, which is connected by a bridge of boats, two 
 hundred j'ards long, with the principal suburbs. Ningj)o is 
 celebrated for having produced some of the ablest scholars in 
 China ; and if you asked the reason why so many triumphal 
 arches spanned tlie streets, yc)u would be told that they were 
 erected in honour of the scholars who had distinguished them- 
 i; elves at examinations. Tliese arches are constructed of gra- 
 nite, aiid ornamented with beautiful carving ; in some instances 
 the pattern is as delicate and fine as possible ; in others it 
 stands out in bold relief. The shops in Ningpo are extremely 
 * Montgomery Martin, E.sri. 
 
96 
 
 MISSIONS TO THE 
 
 good, especially the book-shops. It is also noted for the ex- 
 cellence of its Tvood-carying and inlaying. The embroidery 
 in silk and satin, tno, is very beautiful. 
 
 But what would chiefly attract yror attention at Ningpo, 
 is a handsome pagnda, dedicated to the goddess Ma Tsupa, 
 and said to be 1100 years old. It is IGO feet in height, con- 
 sists of seven stories, and contains twenty-eight windows. 
 Aliove every window is a lantern, and when these are lighted 
 the effect is very brilliant. The verandas and roofs of this 
 building are supported by free-stone columns, carved into the 
 fonn of dragons and other unearthly monsters, whilst elaborate 
 representations in gaudy colouring and delicate tracery adorn 
 the waUs. Fishes standing on their heads, and dragons with 
 their mouths open, ornament the ridges of the roofs. 
 
 In the neighbourhood of Ningpo are great cotton planta- 
 tions. Tlie Chinese were early acquainted with this valuable 
 plant, but their prejudices prevented them from taking ad- 
 vantage of the discovery. Down to the third century of the 
 Cliristian era, no mention of the cotton plant occurs in Chinese 
 writings ; but in a.d. 502 it is recorded that the Emperor 
 Ou-Ti was clothed in a robe of cotton cloth. TUl the eleventh 
 century, however, the plant was only cultivated for the sake 
 of its beautiful flower ; at that time it was introduced for the 
 purpose of manufacture, and now cotton forms the principal 
 clothing of the people. Two kinds are known in China ; the 
 one coarse and colourless ; the other of a very fine quality, 
 produced chiefly in the province of Kiang-nan, the capital of 
 which is Nankin, from which the celebrated stuff called Nan- 
 keen is named. 
 
 The English trade very largely witli Ningpo, and exchange 
 woollen and hardware for cotton, teas, sUks, and lacquered 
 ■ware. 
 
 So much for the tovim and neighbourhood of Ningpo ; and 
 now you will ask what reception did Miss Aldersey meet 
 ■ with from the people, — was she more kindly treated than 
 at Java ? 
 
 At first her house was outside the city, and here she had to 
 
 WOMEN OF CHINA. 
 
 97 
 
 encounter a host of difficulties in the way of suspicions, and for 
 a long time could not persuade any parentsto send their 
 children to the .school of the " strangely wicked foreign lady." 
 " Why did she come among us?" they asked ; " perhaps .she 
 wants to steal our children." Time passed on, and it was 
 found that the foreign lady was " strangely excellent ; " ,so a 
 few parents did intrust their children to her care ; but often 
 old fears returned, and the mother or grandmother of some 
 of her little pupils would rush in a panic to Miss Aldersey's 
 house, and insi.st on their being restored to their heathen 
 homes. Even written agreements, which in China are held 
 sacred, were violated, and in some instances, girls, who had 
 been regularly bound to Jliss Aldersey, left never to return, 
 though they themselves wept bitterly at parting; in other 
 cases. Miss Aldersey succeeded, though with difficulty, in get- 
 ting back her little pupils. Some of the people, however, 
 understood and loved her very much ; and at the time,' 
 when the.se unjust .suspicions were held, the grandmother of 
 one of her pupils took rather a singular way of showing what 
 her opinion was :— She seized a gong, and calling together as 
 many as would listen, she said as loud as she could, over and 
 over again, " Mauli Komiang (Miss Mary) is the best of 
 women." 
 
 Miss Aldersey must have been greatly cheered in this her 
 time of loneliness, by the presence with her of the Javane.so 
 converts, Ati and Kit. A letter written by Ati, in English, 
 to the Committee of the Society, wiU interest you. It is dated 
 April 184G. 
 
 "NiKGPO. 
 
 " IlE.srECTED Ladies, — I hope you will excuse me in writincr 
 to you. We are so thankful, and praise God for His great 
 goodness and mercies to us, in that Ho has made known His 
 glorious gospel, and has put in the hearts of His good peo])le 
 to pity us ; and some of them have left their comforts and 
 beloved friends behind, to go so far to teach the ignorant and 
 perishing heathen. I am so glad when I hear of any mission- 
 
r^,*.^iiil^' 
 
 08 
 
 MieSIONS TO THE 
 
 any coming to teach our nation ; for as 3'ou know, there are 
 not half of them yet that know the true God and Jesus Christ 
 who died for sinners. - \ 
 
 " We are very much interested about C and H , 
 
 and I believe you are the same ; we knew tliem both before 
 they were converted, and when we had news from them, that 
 they had become the disciples of Jesus, it astonished me very 
 much ; it wag as news from heaven ; for we were so Icmely, be- 
 cause there was none of our sex who arc Christians which we 
 knoAv, besides us two, my companion and I ; therefore when I 
 heard about them, it was a great comfort to me to have other 
 fellow-travellers to heavenward. Though we are far from each 
 other, we have correspondence with them, and we can comfort 
 each other in letters ; as we were heathen formerly, we can 
 sympathise with them. We are very anxious about our 
 parents, for they arc still having no hope, and without God 
 in the world. I can only pray for my dear parents ; I cannot 
 teach them, for the)' are far from me ; but I hope that the 
 
 AJmighty God will hear my prayers for them. C and 
 
 H have left the school now ; they must feel very much 
 
 leaving it. I remember still the first time of my leaving 
 school. I was veiy sorrowful indeed, and often wept, 
 especially when I heard the noise of my school-fellows learning 
 their lessons, and the noise of singing. I then wept bitterly. 
 I invited one of my companions to sleep with me, on purpose 
 that she might teach me hymns, and to sing also. I was 
 anxious to be able to read. I entreated and begged my 
 parents to allow me to go again, but it was in vain. About 
 a. year after, my father was, on account of some business, 
 obliged to go to a certain village ; not long after his absence, 
 I entreated my motlier again and again to allow me to go. At 
 length she allowed me. Oh how glad I was ! no one could 
 tell my joy. Though at that time I was unactpiainted with 
 .the holy religion of Jesus, now I know that it was God who 
 made me so anxious, to prepare me to love Him, and to be 
 His ado]>ted child, through my blessed >Saviour. I hope you 
 will pardon the errors of this letter. Finally, pray for us. 
 
 1RH 
 
 WOMEN OP CHINA. 
 
 99 
 
 that we may grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord 
 and Saviour Jesus Christ.-I am, yours respectfully, 
 
 "Ruth Ati." 
 
 Ati and Kit gave Miss Aldersey valuable assistance, and 
 helped her to gam the confidence of the people ; and this was 
 no ea,sy matter. All through Miss Aldersey's mission she 
 met wi h some who looked on her with suspicion, and on her 
 removal mto the city a storm of evil reports arose, even worse 
 than that w,th which she was at first annoyed. The people ' 
 indeed Seemed to have a strange taste for untruth /there 
 wasnothmg too monstrous in the way of a lie for them to 
 bclipve. 
 
 Someof these reports were simply absurd, others were more 
 threatening m their influence. " All English children," said 
 the people, " have blue eyes, with which it is, of course im- 
 possd,le to see and the strange lady wants to receive' our 
 chddren, only that she may pick out tlieir eves, and .send them 
 as a valuable present to her friends at home." By some it 
 was believed that she possessed a kind of drug or medicine 
 which had the property of making persons turn Christians 
 
 At one time, a still more serious charge was brought against 
 Miss Aldersey; it wa.s said that she had massacred all her ser- 
 vants, and nearly all the children ! The mother of one of her 
 pupi s came to inquire for Jier child, who, she heard, had been 
 murdered, and when she saw her alive and well, she gravely 
 ••wked her whether she had not been killed and brought' to life 
 again ! This idea, namely, that ]\Iiss Aldersey wa.s a murderess 
 was very general, and one day a visitor called, who was in fear 
 and trembling all the time, lest she should be put to death 
 From the first moment that she entered Miss Aldersey's room' 
 she was evidently iU at ease, but she sat pretty quietly until 
 the hostess had occasion to put her hand into a hn- for the 
 key of the closet containing biscuits, of which she wished her 
 visitor to partake. But at once the friglitened woman started 
 up, fearing that the next thing .she should sec would be a 
 knife. Miss Aldersey playfully told her that she wa.s not 
 
 mmmmmmmmmm 
 
 RM 
 
 mm 
 
100 
 
 MISSIONS TO THE 
 
 going to slay her ; but she became very fidgety, and nothing 
 •would induce her to eat, lest she might be poisoned. 
 
 Notwithstanding these evU reports, Iiowever, Miss Aldersey's 
 school increased, so that she had the largo number of fifty 
 boarders, and in the year 184G, she applied for help to our 
 society, for so great were the means of usefulness opened be- 
 fore her, that she found she was no longer able, as she was in 
 Java, to defray the entire expenses out of her own means. 
 Her request was readily agreed to, a grant of money was 
 promised, and an agent (Miss Selmer) sent out to assist. 
 Miss Selmer's description of the scjiool shows that the very 
 teaching there must have been a trial, though never men- 
 tioned as such by Miss Aldersey. 
 
 " Imagine," ^vrites Miss Selmer, " thirty-five children scream- 
 ing at the very top of their voices, all repeating different 
 words. The discordance and the shrillness of these sounds 
 are beyond description, and no human beings but Chinese 
 could produce them. Dear Miss Aldersey does not perceive 
 the unpleasant disturbance, nor anything else of the kind ; 
 her whole soul, and all her thoughts, are entirely wrapped up 
 in the one great aim, that of making known to these poor 
 heathens the way of salvation." 
 
 Another and a much deeper difficulty Lay in the self-satis- 
 fied character of the people. It was h.ard, indeed, to persuade 
 them of the evil of the natural heart. They believed that 
 early in the morning the disposition becomes piirified, like 
 water which is allowed to settle — this, the holy time of the 
 soul was called "the breath of the tranquil morning;" but 
 during the day evil again prevailed, (they said,) and before 
 evening came, quite overpowered the good. They were very 
 indifferent, too, as to their future, and the lower classes took 
 it as a matter of course, that they should go to hell, or into 
 the body of some animal. " The mandarins and rich people," 
 said they, " may expect to go to heaven, because they can 
 afford to give plenty of money to the gods ; but as for us 
 there is no such hope — we poor people must, of course, go 
 to hell." 
 
 i:, 
 
 WOMEN OF CniNA. 
 
 101 
 
 I have, Iiowever, perhaps told you suflScient about Miss 
 Aldersey's hindrances ; let me now tell you of some of her 
 encouragements, and these were not a few. 
 
 Sometimes a " good report" came to cheer her. Her next 
 door neighbours said it would be impossible to have bettor 
 neighbours than the foreigners. " Indeed," said they, " not 
 a Chinese family could be found, were the .search to be made, 
 whose conduct could for a moment be com])ared to theirs' 
 • which is minutely and altogether correct." 
 
 On one occasion a Chinese lady even ventured to come on 
 a visit to Miss Aldersey's house. She was the wife of a soli- 
 citor attached to a mandarin's office; and having heard that 
 the "strange lady" was in the habit of talking on religious 
 subjects with women, and of helping them, she spok'e tO 
 Miss Aldersey, and told her that she had been an opium 
 smoker for six years, but that now she longed to give it up, 
 and begged for a remedy. She seemed quite in earnest, and 
 brouglit her pipe to Mi.ss Aldersey, who invited her to .stay 
 at her house whiLst she was in the course of giving up the 
 destructive practice. Accordingly she aime, and a more 
 troublesome guest can hardly be imagined. She h.ad .always 
 been in the h.vbit of rising about three or four o'clock in the 
 afternoon, .-ind taking hor second meal about that time ; she 
 then amused herself for a few hours, and went to bed, and in 
 the raiddl? of the night used to call up her .servant to prep.arc 
 a meal. ]\liss Aldersey, however, bore every inconvenience in 
 the hope that ]\rrs Wang {as her name was) might be led, not 
 only to give up the bad habit of opium smoking, but to 
 receive the gospel, and she certainly did seem disposed to 
 listen to reading. But the visit did good in another way, for 
 it was m.ade at a time when many niiscliievous reports were 
 abroad concerning the school, and it quelled in no small degree 
 the neiglibours' fears, when they saw Mrs Wang return safe 
 from so hazardous a visit. 
 
 And now let us visit the school, and see Avliat encourago- 
 mciits Miss Aldersey met with there. 
 
 Her pupils numbered from forty to fifty, for the most part 
 
SiW^'ir-.--*-' 
 
 103 
 
 MISSIONS TO THE 
 
 girls who were regularly bound to Miss Alderscy by written 
 agreement, but some were obtained in a different way. " A 
 cold rainy evening," writes Miss Selmer, " one of the women 
 heard a faint wailing outside the street door, and peeping out 
 to see whence it proceeded, found a babe deposited there ; it 
 was brought in, and Jliss Aldersey thus unexpectedly found 
 lierself the mother of a third adopted daughter (two having 
 liccn given to her long ago) l)e?idos milny that had been offered, 
 ■\vhicli she had declined. This poor little one, she was, in a . 
 measure, compelled to receive, as it would otherwise have died 
 by lying on the stone pavement on a winter's night. 
 
 The children were thus of all ages, from the little help- 
 less babe left to perish by its heartless mother, to Ati (the 
 Javanese,) who was old enough to assist Miss Aldersey in 
 the school. 
 
 After an examination held February 11, 18.50, Miss Alder- 
 sey tells us of tlie progress made by her pupils. " Four classes 
 read in Chinese, and three explained in the colloquial that 
 which they had read. Some of the younger children repeated 
 sentences which they are in the habit of learning on the Sab- 
 bath, the elder children citing texts confirming the truth of 
 the doctrines thus repeated. The English classes, now con- 
 ducted by Jliss Leisk and Ati, gave much pleasure to our 
 missionary friends, all of whom were present. Their Chinese 
 and English work, including weaving, embroidery, knitting, 
 etc., gave equal pleasure to our friends." 
 
 And did any of the children become Cliristians 1 you ask. 
 Yes, !Miss Aldersey could tell of many, and amongst these 
 some who had been the most unpromising in the school. 
 " You will never be able to manage that girl without beating 
 her," was often said with reference to one of her pupils, who, 
 even Miss Aldersey confessed, was extremely troublesome. 
 Ne Atjia was not only proud and disagreeable, but it was 
 actually said that she intended to take poison, and to induce 
 another girl to do the same. 
 
 She had had a life of sorrow, and it seemed to have soured 
 her temper, for it was acknowledged by aU that she was the 
 
 WOMEN OF CHINA. 
 
 lo;! 
 
 proudest, most untoward and quarrelsome girl in the school. 
 To make you understand her history, I must tell you about 
 her hn^hamVs fimndmotJm; a Mrs Chang, who was a vndov: 
 m Ningj)o. She had been a widow for many years, and was 
 a kind of heathen Fhariseo ; she had for nearly twenty years 
 abstained altogether from animal food, and had been very 
 diligent in the worship of the idols. Her love of m.mey 
 indeed was great, but tliis was a heart sin which the heathen 
 did not regard. " This woman on the death of her husband, 
 had one little girl whom she naturally enough made a sort of 
 idol, and as she grew up would not betroth her to any one 
 who would take her away, but arranged that the young man 
 manning her daughter should live in the house and '"be as 
 an adopted son ta her. This man was a quiet person, and 
 was ruled not only by the mother, but still more by his wife, 
 who having been indulged by her heathen mother's kind- 
 ness, had become a tyrant in the family. The terrors of early 
 betrothal with a husband's mother to use her as a slave having 
 been avoided in her case, slie seemed determined that the 
 little girl whom she had brought into the house at the age of 
 six, in order to become the future wife of her son, .should taste 
 of stripes and of bitterness greater in proportion as her own 
 life had been free." This little girl was Ne Atjia, and cruel 
 indeed was the treatment which she received. Her intended 
 husband's father died, and then her mother-in-law's temper 
 became worse than ever, and so shameful was her conduct 
 to poor Ne Atjia, that at last the neighbours interfered, and 
 she was sent home to her own mother, where she remained 
 until her marriage. As you may supjiose, her married life 
 was unhappy ; but it only lasted for .six weeks, for her husband 
 gamlded away all his property, and left his young wife, 
 his mother, and grandmother, to struggle as they might, in 
 poverty. 
 
 The grandmother, Mrs Chang, then brought Ne Atjia to 
 Miss Aldersey, who willingly received her, but soon found her, 
 as I have told you, most mischievous and troublesome. 
 
 After some time, however, a change was seen in this rebelli- 
 
'— — ■ ■■■l^ll 
 
 104 
 
 MISSIONS TO THE 
 
 Oils one. She became more easily led, and even gentle, and 
 Avhat was more, interested in tbe subject of religion. Then 
 came a still more favourable account. '• She is as helpful," 
 writes jMiss Aldcrscy, " as she used to be annoying in the 
 house. I have some hope that she is asking the way to hea- 
 ven, with her face thitherward. She was deeply serious on 
 ray speaking to her alone last Sabbath, and t(5ld Kit that she 
 ■wished she could get rid of all the evil wliich lodged in her 
 heart, that she delighted to hear of Jesus, and would like to 
 be baptized." 
 
 Such was the account of Ne Atjia in 1847, and many years 
 later, 18.53, Miss Aldersey tcUs us that she who was so long 
 a source of sorrow, was now, there was every reason to believe, 
 " renewed in the spirit of her mind." " Aigrcater triumph of 
 grace," Miss Aldersey .says, " she never witnessed." And yet 
 she rejoiced with trtmbling ; for though Ne Atjia was for the 
 present safe from trial, being employed as teacher in the 
 school, yet should she return home, an ordeal of no common 
 kind av.-aited her, her motlicr-in-law having always conducted 
 herself with fiend-like cruelty towards her. What, then, of 
 furious passion might she not expect to endure, if she dis- 
 obeyed any commands of an idolatrous nature 1 
 
 But Ne Atjia's heart did not fail, although she was opposed 
 by her own mother, who had hitherto been kind to her. " If 
 you ever get baptized," she said to her daughter, " I do not 
 wish you to come and see me, neither will I ever visit 
 you." 
 
 "Would this decision of your mother's stand in the way of 
 your baptism 1" asked Miss Aldersey. " It would not influ- 
 ence me in tlie least," was the rejily, " could I be sui-e that I 
 was indeed a true believer." 
 
 A''ery thankful Miss Aldersey was for this confession, and 
 also for a proof whifh Ne Atjia gave at this time of her up- 
 rightness. She returned home for a short visit, and whilst 
 ■there, was urged to partake of rice which had been offered to 
 ancestors, her mother remarking that !Miss Aldersey would 
 know ncfthing about it. '• That is true," she said, " but the 
 
 WOMEN OF CHINA. 
 
 105 
 
 true God would know it, and my conscience would not 
 let me do it." During this visit she was enabled to make 
 known the truths of the gospel, although laughed at on all 
 sides. 
 
 The time of Ne Atjia's baptism now drew near, and it was 
 thought that the mother would not, at least, prevent the cere- 
 mony. But when the day came, she managed to detain her 
 daughter at her own house. In vain poor Ne Atjia remon- 
 strated, the woman became painfully excited, using violent 
 language to her daughter, whom she had hitherto appeared to 
 love, but to whom " her tender mercies were now crudl." Her 
 cousins and other relations added to her trial, by endeavour- 
 ing to ridicule her out of her attachment to the foreign reli- 
 giou. The young people tried to force between her lips food 
 ofl'ered to idols, and the ignorant mother urged on her this 
 consideration, that if all the generations of the nations of the 
 eartli wore invited to heaven, it must be useless for herdaur'h- 
 ter to hope to find room, for that multitudes must be crowded 
 to doatli there ! Ne Atjia was firm through all, and told her 
 mother that though kept back from the ordinances of God's 
 house, she re.solve<l still to obey Him, and never more to serve 
 false gods. And at last, the cousins having done their utmost 
 to draw her into idolatrj', advised the mother to give up the 
 attempt. 
 
 But she continued her persecutions, and a year aftenv-ards, 
 (1854,) we read that No Atjia was secreted by her mother 
 in a distant village, whore she hoped to arrange a second 
 marriage for her with a heathen. She refused decidedly 
 to comply with this, and Miss Aldersey discovered her 
 place of conceabnent, and visited her. After some time 
 the mother declared that she had cast her off, and then Ne 
 Atjia at last was baptized. After a time she was removed 
 altogether from her heathen mother's influence, by her mar- 
 riage with a Christian Chinese teacher in the employment of 
 the Episcopal missionaries. 
 
 I am sorry that I cannot close this account of Ne Atjia by 
 telling of the conversion of her mother, or of the grandmother, 
 
 mm 
 
 mmrnm 
 
-J^ 
 
 106 
 
 MISSIONS TO THE 
 
 who first brought the little unruly girl to Wian AJdorsey's 
 school. 
 
 But ]Mrs Chang's case was a very sad one. 
 
 She allowed the religion of Je.sus to be true, but feared to 
 bring herself under its influence, and thought, as many did, 
 that if she declined to become His disciple, she would not be 
 subject to His laws, but that her future in another world 
 would be in accordance with her former notions, to which she 
 preferred to cleave. Jliss Alder.-scy argued with her on the 
 sulijcct, but in vain. At length she asked her, " Are you a 
 sinner a^'ainst the true God or not?" " Yes," she replied. 
 " Would He be just in punishing you ?" Again she answered, 
 "Yes." "Will you ask Him to pardon you?" No answer, 
 and Miss Aldersey repeated her question. Still no answer. 
 Then the question was put in another form, " Are you willing 
 that you and I .should kneel down, and ask God to pardon 
 yon ?" She replied, " Some other time, perhaps." Miss 
 Aldersey then felt it her duty to warn her .solemnly of her 
 danger, and said — 
 
 " Thus you have this day chosen your inheritance. It is 
 that you will have ynur portion with the dovil and his angels; 
 but the portion whicji the living God offers you, perhaps for 
 the last time, to-day, you turn your back upon." 
 
 In my next letter I shall tell you more about Miss Alder- 
 sey's pupUs. 
 
 LETTER X. 
 
 My last letter contained the account of Ne Atjia. Scarcely 
 less remarkable than her conversion was that of Tjao Pao, who 
 was long a source of sorrow to Miss Aldersey. 
 
 Tjao Pao was greatly opposed to the Christian religion, and 
 did her utmost to injure it, by ridiculing its ordinances, giving 
 much offence by her heathenish remarks. 
 
 an 
 
 WOMEN OF CHINA. 
 
 107 
 
 I cannot toll you what it was that led to her change of 
 mind, perhaps it was the influence of Snn Avong, a (Jhris- 
 tian pupil, who was of great use in the .school, whose histoiy 
 I will give you by and by. From whatever cause it arose, 
 whether direct or indirect, Tjao Pao's feelings became changed, 
 and she declared her wish to be baptized. The miadonaiies 
 came to examine her, and found, to their astonishment, that 
 the knowledge of divine truth possessed by this lately heathen 
 girl was groat, " the clearness of her views far exceeding what 
 was usual in converts in similar circumstances, and each exa- 
 miner felt the conversation to be a season of refreshing to his 
 own mind." 
 
 Tjao Pao's mother did not opp(3so the baptism, though she 
 hated the Christians, and would not, for many months, venture 
 to visit Miss Aldersey, lost she might fall under the influence 
 of tjie religious ivfection. At last she was induced to come, 
 and even to listen to conversation and reading on the subject 
 of religion. 
 
 The orphan Asan, who, you may remember, accompanied 
 Jli.ss Aldersey from Chusan, was also long a source of anxiety 
 to her teacher. 
 
 At one time Asan seemed to care for religion, but this 
 passed away, and she became careless, farther than ever from 
 the kingdom of God, her very countenance showing in its 
 gloom the absence of any peace within. "Although she had 
 a very superior mind, and could read Chinese and English 
 well, she .sometimes asked, with determined indiff'crence, 
 'What is the use of adding to our stock of knowledge?'" 
 The people about her increased her discontent, by pitying her 
 for being obliged to conform to EngUsh customs, such as allow- 
 ing her feet to grow to their natural size, kc. Ac. 
 
 Thus wrote Miss Aldersey, May IS^'iO, and in December 
 \^5\, very difl'erent was the news of Asan. " Knowing the 
 interest," writes Jliss A., " that you kimlly take in my school, 
 1 cannot forbear to write a few words, in order to enable yon 
 to share in my joy. A.san, who has so long rcsi.sted the influ- 
 ences of the Word and the Spirit of God, has at length, I 
 
m 
 
 108 
 
 MISSIONS TO THE 
 
 tnist, yielded her whole heart to the Divine Saviour ; and 
 yesterday, in the presence of a Chinese congregation, consist- 
 ing chiefly of mission schools, and the Chinese members of 
 mission families, made an open profession of attachment to 
 the cross of Christ, and received the ordinance of baptism." 
 
 Asan proved afterwards most useful. She was clever, and 
 had great powers of managing chUdren. She could control 
 the whole school, and conduct it in the occasional absence of 
 the teacher. 
 
 Sometimes Jliss Aldersej' received unexpected encourage- 
 ment. One of the girls, named Abija, had not shown any 
 wish to become a Christian, but it was in her heart, and was 
 discovered in this way : — 
 
 ■ " One day the mother of Abija called. The meeting was 
 very touching, for the girl having been betrothed, and required 
 to live at a distance from her own motlici', and attach herself 
 to her husband's family, she had not for eight years seen or 
 heard of her. 
 
 " They wept and embraced with much affection. 
 
 " After a while, the mother said that she was going to the 
 house of her daughter's husband, when Abija said, ' Tell my 
 Am,' (that is, the wife of the eldest brother of the husband, 
 who was tlio principal woman in the house after the mother- 
 in-law's death,) ' that I shall go home next month, according 
 to the written agreement with Miss Aldersey, and I shall 
 marry, according to your agreement, with the person who is 
 to be my husband ; but tell her also that I will not go through 
 any idolairoiix ceremony, for that 1 am a CJirutinn.'"' 
 
 A declaration of this kind recjuired no small degree of cour- 
 age, for a refusal to take part in idolatrous ceremonies at their 
 marriage often brought much persecution on the converts. 
 
 Atsi, one of the elder girls, had to endure this. 
 
 She hail been betrothed when very young, and, of course, 
 to a heathen, and now, when the time of her marriage drew 
 near, she was in great fear, for she could not conform to the 
 usual idolatrous customs, and yet she knew that if she refused, 
 she must expect the roughest treatment from her relations. 
 
 1 
 
 WOMEN OF CHINA. 
 
 100 
 
 And it was no ungrounded fear, a.s events proved. The 
 marriage took place, and she was firm in her refusal to wor- 
 ship her luLsband'a ancestors, whilst her relations and neigh- 
 bours were equally firm in their determination that she 
 should. 
 
 They struck her, and notwithstanding her resistance, threw 
 her on the ground. This, perhaps, they considered as worMp, 
 and so tliought that they had triumphed. The persecution 
 did not end here. Her own mother railed on her, and struck 
 her, and her husband, on her refusing to eat rice offered to 
 one of his decea.sed rclation.s, said that if she would not cat 
 that rice she should have none. They also took from her the 
 Chinese New Testament, which they burned, and in order to 
 keep her from the "foreign lady's" influence, her mother 
 brought her under her own roof, so that Miss Aldersey should 
 not be able to give her any Christian medicine ; for it was 
 , firmly believed that that was the way in which Atsi had been 
 led to renounce the religion of her forefathers. 
 
 Miss AJderscy, however, called to see the young bride, and 
 on her arrival, found a chair placed for her in the middle of 
 a crowd of people. Atsi was in tears, but no mother was 
 there to welcome the guest. So Miss Aldersey said cheer- 
 fully, " But where is Atsi's mother ?"' A surly, sullen, for- 
 bidding-looking woman was pointed out, when Miss Aldersey 
 remarked, " My good friend, I know it is Chinese custom to 
 ofl"er a visitor tea. I want you, moreover, to smile upon me. 
 I have treated your daughter well and kindly for five years ; 
 now, how is it that you cannot smile upon me?" 
 
 Whilst thus they talked, San Avong (the Christian pupil 
 whom I have mentioned) and Atsi were able to have a con- 
 versation together, and very cheering it must have been to 
 the unhappy bride to see her friends again. Miss Aldersey 
 took care to supply her with a small edition of the Chinese 
 New Testament, which she could conceal, and San Avong 
 gave her a few tracts ; and they left Atsi, trusting that she 
 would be enabled to be faithful. And so far she had observed 
 Sunday, taking care that no reproach should be cast on her 
 
no 
 
 .«»j I II mO . 
 
 MISSIONS TO THE 
 
 '^^•ffSK^-J Ut *'!' " " 
 
 for idleness ; for slie worked all the harder through the six 
 days. 
 
 We read of one of Atsi's relations who was stnick by her 
 sincorit}' and truthfulness in her religious scruples. This was 
 her uncle. He had at one time suspected Miss Aldcrsey of 
 murderous practices, and he watched her closely, expecting to 
 see some implements of destruction ; but now (strengthened, 
 no doubt, in his convictions by his niece's conduct) he declared 
 that the Christian religion was good, and its object praise- 
 worthy. 
 
 Atsi had subsequently many bitter trials, of which we in 
 this Christian land can, liave but little idea, and harassed by 
 mother and husband, we cannot wonder, though we must grieve 
 for it, that, in a moment of unbelief, and in order to get out 
 of her difficulties, she was once betrayed into untruth. 
 
 When " she came to herself," she deeply repented, and after- 
 wards gaining strength from above, was enabled to endure. 
 
 After some time this persecuted one was engaged by a Mr 
 and ]\rrs Cobbold to conduct a day-school wliich they had 
 established on their own premises, and here she was protected 
 from further ill-treatment. 
 
 I have mentioned more than once the name of San Avong. 
 She was one of whom Miss Aldersey always spoke with joy. 
 
 Her history was this : — 
 
 Not very long after Miss Aldersey's arrival at Ningpo, she 
 was visited one morning by a Chinese woman, who had been 
 brought by the landlady of the house. 
 
 This was the mother of San Avong, and she called to see 
 Miss Aldersey, with the intention of placing her four young 
 daugliters at the school ; but it so happened that the Scripture 
 lesson was going on at the time, and the order and silence 
 observed greatly annoyed the heathen woman, who had never 
 been accustomed to any such quietness during the worship at 
 the temples. 
 
 " Did you not observe," said she to her friend, as they left 
 the house, " how much afraid the poor childreu were of their 
 
 WOMEN OF CHINA. 
 
 Ill 
 
 eacher, a,K^ how demure and dismal they looked? Do not 
 think / wdl ever subject my children to such trammels t" 
 
 Miss AJdersey was sadly disappointed, but she waited in 
 taith ; and after a considerable time the parents retnrn<:d, and 
 snnimoned courage to bind their four little girls for the terms 
 severally of two, four, six, and eight years." 
 
 I cannot tell you the history of the three younger children 
 but San Avong, the eldest, who was nine years old when first 
 she went to Miss Aldersey, became indeed a " shimng light 
 in a dark land." * 
 
 She was naturally very clever, amiable, and gentle ; but this 
 was not all She was early brought by God's Holy Spirit to 
 the feet of Jesus. From the first, she seemed disposed to 
 learn the trnth. She loved her Bible, and took great pleasure 
 in finding out references; and such was her knowledge of 
 divine things, that even her teacher was astonished. And 
 San Avong not only understood the doctrines of the Bible • 
 she loved her Saviour, and showed tlio reality of her reli- 
 gion in her daily life. 
 
 Two years pas.sed quickly by, and then, strange though it 
 will appear to you, this little girl of eleven years of a-o was 
 obliged to leave school to be married ! And her futur'e hus- 
 band was a heathen ! A sad life seemed to be before poor 
 San Avong, and she must indeed have grieved to leave her 
 kind teacher, who tried to comfort her by reminding her of 
 Jesus. " San Avong," she said, " you ^ill not be alone : your 
 Saviour will be with you there." 
 
 As regards the marriage, Miss Aldersey succeeded in makino- 
 arrangements which would prevent the observance of idolatrous 
 ceremonies, and also obtained a promise that San Avong 
 should spend every Sunday with her, when they could to- 
 gether read God's Word. 
 
 But San Avong had many enemies amongst her husband's 
 relations, who determined that she s/io,dd bow before the 
 idols. She spent the first Sunday after her marriage with 
 Miss Aldersey, who sent her home in the evening with two 
 Christian sen'aiits. On her arrival at her house, she was 
 
 iiiil 
 
?' •P5SC !r! ft?w'^W!fiiB tflHl 
 
 112 
 
 MISSIONS TO THE 
 
 seized by three men, separated from Ler Christian com- 
 panions, and in spite of her efforts to resist, prostrated in 
 the ancestral halh " Alas !" cried she, " I have bowed down 
 as a heathen ; shall I be condemned with the wicked 1 shall I 
 go to hell?" 
 
 But she was comforted when told by the Christian servants, 
 who were now permitted to join her, that as it had been done 
 against her will, she had committed no crime ; and then calmly 
 resting her head on her hand, she closed her eyes, and prayed. 
 Afterwards she opened her Chinese New Testament, read aloud 
 Matt. X. 24-42, and explained to the assembled company of 
 her husband's friends and relations why it was that she had 
 acted thus in opposition to established custom. 
 
 The next difficulty arose from her refusal to eat meat 
 offered to idols ; and so great was the persecution, that Miss 
 Aldersey determined to try to shelter her. She therefore en- 
 gaged Si Yang (San Avong's husband) as school cook, and 
 he consented to allow his wife to reside with him, stipulating, 
 however, that she should not be taught the English language, 
 which she was most anxious to acquire. 
 
 And now San Avong was again established under her be- 
 loved teacher's roof, and we may well imagine the happy time 
 they spent together — a quiet resting-time graciously given. 
 
 For the next four years we read little of her, excepting that, 
 in 1849, she was received into the Christian Church by bap- 
 tism, and in her daily life walked as one on whom were the 
 vows of God. 
 
 IMiss Aldersey says she can only remember a single instance 
 of inconsistency in San Avong, who gave way one day to ill- 
 temper towards an unpopular schoolfellow ; " and tins was fol- 
 lowed by such true repentance, that it was believed that the 
 first and only failure in her Christian walk was the means, 
 under God," of making her very watchful, and thus to grow 
 in grace. 
 
 ]Jut her trials had not ceased. In the year 18.51 Si Yang 
 died, and his family ascribed this " bad luck" to the dismal 
 wailings, and tears of his young wife during the idolatrous 
 
 ■"'OMEN OF CniiVA. -. , „ 
 
 rs^E^Sij^jr-- --'-or't 
 
 proposed that she shou d be sS to , ,:rr '^'^V' •'^"'' '' ^- 
 Miss Aldersey proved herself ".f 7^-^'" '''''''• ''^"^ "°"- 
 forward, paid the monevvt , "'"' '" "''"'•" ^^^' <=--^">« 
 
 once more brought San A on "TT^ '" ''^'y ''""-^ -^"d 
 From fhiH- , ° ""'^^ *^'° slieltcr of her roof 
 
 n:i,S r^ f'lVXir^' "^^ '' -"^^ «- a":'. 
 prepared her ^ ^'' P''^^'^'^^ ^"'^'« ^^^ no doubt 
 
 langtjSwitrm 1 °"" '" ''' ^^^'^ °^ ^^^ ^''SHsh 
 
 all tin.os, she tried 0^ r , ° ^"' ''^'"'^ '"'""' ''"* ^t 
 often speal to ^t \ndZf "" '"''""' "^"^ ^""'^^ 
 
 iJunng Miss Aldersey's occasional absence Snn \. 
 
 aged thenf to ^ 'o, '" ^ Z'^^'" J" ^^',f °-'. «ho also encour- 
 Missionary Wor ifg P^rtv s" f ^'^''="7 -^-^lished a 
 -Merest in' i, and frali^Sa '^frti^.rof S ^ • ^^'^^^^ 
 
 party wiU int'e'resf^r ' " """"'^° ^*^ '^^ «'£ 
 
 from Chusan) GwJ.V? ^vong and Asan, (the orphan 
 
 mmm 
 
MISSIONS TO THE 
 
 voted to this handiwork, iind that having read of a signal 
 work of grace which was taking place in the Samoan Islands, 
 they desii'ed to give the money arising from the sale of the 
 embroidery to the translation of Bunyan's " Pilgrim's Pro- 
 gress" into tlie Samoan language. 
 
 You might suppose that San Avong's labours within the 
 school would fully occupy her, and certainly were wo only 
 to take her daily teaching there, hers would l>c no idle life. 
 
 But I have also to tell you of her labours without, and of 
 these only the Great Day can show the result. . She embraced 
 every opportunity, far and near, of speaking to her country- 
 women about the Lord Jesus Christ, and His love for perish- 
 ing sinners. Beginning at Ningpo, where at one time she 
 had a weekly meeting, the circle of her influence reached to 
 distant villages, whither she often accompanied Miss Alderscy 
 in her' little missionary tours. JIany happy journeys they 
 took together. Miss Aldersey beguiling the way by reading 
 aloud to her beloved pupil some useful book, such as Wins- 
 low's " Inner Life," or perhaps a volume of Missionary Tra- 
 vels. When they arrived at their destination, San Avong 
 would collect as many women as she could, and tell these 
 j)nor followers of Buddha that they had souls, that it was 
 jxissible to receive forgiveness of sins, and that happiness 
 hero and hereafter was theirs if only they believed in Jesus, 
 the Saviour of sinners. These truths, she said, were precious 
 to her, and she had once been an idolater. 
 
 Sometimes her words were treated as an idle tale, and she 
 herself was mocked and laughed at ; but though very gentle, 
 San Avong was very firm, and God gave her strength to bear 
 this treatment with such calm dignity, that those who ridi- 
 culed her were .shamed into silence, and went away. But by 
 many she was eagerly listened to as she told the story of 
 salvation, and they seemed "almost persuaded" to become 
 Christians. 
 
 Sometimes she visited one of the Buddhist nunneries, of 
 which I have told you. On one occasion sho went there ac- 
 companied by a lady of sixty-eight years of age (who had been 
 
 rnmmmm 
 
 AVOMEN OF CHINA. 
 
 going on. ■'' "^'^ 'i"^^ t-hcy were 
 
 one while eitin;. n, „ i ., * °"'' '"•'''^* together ; I, 
 
 religion 'Ser?,"; 'an 'o," T'''^ '^'^"^ "^ ^^ ''W 
 
 came to worship at the nunnery Sh^ameSoorr" 
 and invite us to her house I thoul - r a ! , "'' 
 
 this.' She Avas verv kin.I i "lought God has ordered 
 
 "San Avono." 
 71>ile speaking, Ua^d ^TSi t b liil" Si'f "" 
 
 s;gSr:rr-thSzr£;srr'""^- 
 
 who were an.ious to leam of t^t w Zc • I' ly,' HtT 
 San Avong wrote:-" On Thursday I visited a ho , so .£ 
 
 do?tr ne 7tr"r' ''" "^P"""^^^ ' ^''"^ "^ '-■- "^ "- " - 
 doctrine. I therefore summoned the neighbours. Many came 
 and gave theu- best attention, asking ■ Sow must we woXp 
 
IIG 
 
 MISSIONS TO TOE 
 
 Jesus r Thus was San Avong quite a missionary in the Bud- 
 dhist minner\' and its ncighViourhnnd. 
 
 Six years of her lif/j passed in tliis way, visiting and teach- 
 inw — years of happiness, I have no doubt, but yet not with- 
 out its trials. One of these arose from the fnct that she had, 
 quite imsolicited by Jliss Aldersey, unbandaged her feet. This 
 she did to show her superiority to Cliinese prejudice, but it 
 subjected her to annoying remarks. One day she was walk- 
 ing with iliss LeLsk in order to read and e.xp]ain a Chinese 
 book to a poor woman who was ill in bed ; the people in that 
 part of the city having never before seen cither the foreigner 
 or the young Chinese disciple, exclaimed against the large feet, 
 covered with gray -knit stockings. They did not know that 
 the foreign lady could understand them, and so were very free 
 in their remarks, saying, ' How disgraceful in the parents to 
 give up such a good-looking girl to foreigners, when it might 
 be seen that the end of her would bo that she would be killed 
 and eaten." But afterwards, when IMiss Aldersey spoke about 
 these annoyances, San Avong said, " That she had determined 
 in lier heart, that she would not be moved by the worst that 
 might be said of her or to her on such occasions." 
 
 Six years passed, and then came more changes. Miss Al- 
 dersey resigned her boarding-school to the American Board of 
 Missions in the year 18-57, when San Avong wrote her the 
 following affectionate farewell letter : — 
 
 "My very dear Miss Aldersey, — I beg you to receive my 
 little present ; it is only to show I remember your kindness to 
 me. I hope you will use it to show you like it. It is a Chi- 
 nese bag; I thought you might like to see such. 
 
 " May the Lord bless your old age, mid let you see a thou- 
 sand and a million sinners come to look to tlio Lamb of God, 
 which takcth away the sin of the world, while you are yet 
 alive. When I heard you were to leave us here, how sad I 
 felt ! For you had just been like my mother to me. Yea, 
 my own mother has not half been like you. I was just a 
 young, helpless widow, and a motherless child, cast upon the 
 
 WOMEN OF CHINA. 
 
 117 
 
 wide and selfish world; but I quickly remembered one text, 
 John xiv. 18, which you told me to remember when I was 
 eleven years old. At that time I was about to leave school. 
 You said to me, ' San Avong, you shall not be alone, your Sa- 
 viour will be with you there.' 
 
 " Bless the Lord, because He let me know He is my snlva- 
 tion; 'I will trust and not be afraid, for the Lord Jehovah is 
 my strength and my song. He also is become my salvation.' 
 Pray the Lord for me, my very dear Christian mother, that I 
 may be the Lord's useful, and faithful, wise, humble servant 
 in this bitter and sinful world. When we are no more in this 
 world, wo will be with our blessed Saviour, to rest in heaven, 
 to part no more. — Yours affectionately, 
 
 (Signed) " San Avong.'' 
 
 The American Presbyterian Board of Missions now take 
 charge of the establishment, and San Avong, for a while, con- 
 tinued to teach as before; but, as in case of Miss Aldersey 'g 
 death, San Avong was not safe from persecution, and might 
 even be compelled to marry a heathen, it was thought better 
 to bring her once more into Miss Aldersey's house. 
 
 Here San Avong spent the next year in usefulness. She 
 had tlie charge of an infant school estabhshed by Miss Aidcr- 
 .sey for the children of Chinese converts. Many of tlicse children 
 were extremely hard to manage, but San Avong soon brought 
 them into good training by her judicious treatment. And at 
 the examinations great was the astonishment of the mothers 
 when they saw their children's jirogress. One woman, espe- 
 cially, often asked permission to spoalc to San Avong; slie 
 Was so amazed at the change in her little boy whom slie 
 never could manage at home; and now slie listened with 
 delight whilst he and his companions answered questions, 
 showing tlieir knowledge of the Scripture prints, from which 
 they liad been taught, or led by the sweet voice of their 
 teacher, sang some hymns in their native tongue. 
 
 In 1858, San Avong married, and the marriage promised to 
 be most happy, for Yi-Loh-Ding was a Christian and a good, 
 
.,.„.-,.„. , r ..J, 
 
 >->M!i8< 
 
 118 
 
 MISSIONS TO Tn6 
 
 intelligent man. Miss Aldersey hoped that a long course of 
 usefulness was before her beloved pupil, and she parted from 
 her Tvith very different feelings to those which she had felt so 
 many years before, ^then the little girl of eleven years of age 
 had left her for a heathen home. 
 
 But it was not so, — no long course lay before San Avong — 
 her days were numbered. At first all was bright. She accom- 
 panied her husband, who was a teacher, in hia proacliing tours, 
 and would teach the women in one room, while he addressed 
 the men in another. But on one of tlicse expeditions she took 
 a severe cold, and was so ill that Miss Aldersey persuaded Mr 
 Yi (as he was called) to bring his wife to Ningpo for medical 
 ad\"ice. 
 
 Anxious to be useful to the last, San Avong, in all her 
 weakness, formed a little school, and this school, numbering 
 sixteen, was long in existence, a memorial of one who indeed 
 Worked " while it was day." 
 
 'When the warm weather came, She was removed from the 
 crowded and unhealthy atmosphere of the city to the side of 
 the river. She now became too ill to engage actively in her 
 beloved work, but she did " what she could," and spoke to 
 those who called to see her "of Jesus Ciuist and Him cra- 
 cified." 
 
 Several months passed, and there was no improvement ih 
 San Avong's health. In this time of weakness and suffering 
 she was harassed in many ways. Her heathen mother and 
 sister came, managed to dismiss the kind English doctor, and 
 to employ native doctors, who, "according to Chinese custom, 
 came in quick succession." This, humanly speaking, was to 
 cut off San Avong's last hope of recovery, and she quickly 
 declined. 
 
 During these last days Miss Aldersey often visited her. " I 
 well remember," she says, " being sent for by >San Avong about 
 this time ; it was towards evening, and on v\y approaching her 
 bedside, she informed me that she did not expect to live through 
 the night, and was, therefore, anxious to express her deep gra- 
 titude to me for the many years of kindness she had experi- 
 
 WOMKN OF CHINA. 
 
 119 
 
 enced while under my core. She further said, 'I wish you 
 also to know that I am happy ; Jesus is with me ; I have 
 no fear ; therefore, I am quite happy.' She also sent for 
 San-Ali-Foh, who had succeeded her as teacher of my school 
 for the children of converts. San-Ah-Foh could not refrain 
 from tears on finding she was about to lose her dear companion 
 and counsellor. ' Alas ! ' slie exclaimed, ' what shall I do 
 without you V San Avong replied, 'Do not have an anxious 
 thotiglit ; go to Jesus in every trouble and diflicidty, in every 
 joy and sorrow. He is with me now, close to me, and He will 
 be with you.' She said to her husband, 'I am crossing Jor- 
 dan .;??•«(;, you ha*e yet to do so.' She begged him to pray 
 for her ; but his spirits were too broken down to allow of his 
 doing this. She then called San-Ali-Foh, whom I had allowed 
 to remain with her dying friend, and desired her to retire into 
 another room and pray in secret for her. This, of course, she 
 readily did. 
 
 " In a subsequent visit, San Avong said to mo, ' How is it, 
 dear Miss Aldersey, that yesterday 1 had a sense of terror, .as 
 though S.atan were gaining the advantage over me ? Why is 
 this ? ' I replied, ' Doubtless it is because . he knows th.at 
 your final triumph is at hand ; and he remembers that you 
 have made it your business for ten years, through God's grace, 
 to opp(3se his kingdom, therefore he seeks to harass you in every 
 w.ay, before you reach the eternal abode of peace and happi- 
 ness.' ' Th.ank you much,' she replied. ' I hope I shall re- 
 collect that. I am so much obliged to you for this explana- 
 tion ; such a thought had not occurred to my mind.' The 
 sunshine of the Kedeemer's presence was again vouchsafed to 
 her; but these conflicts only served to bring vividly before 
 my mind that there are two unseen worlds, each di.'siring to 
 have the number of its mhabitants increased ; and .ah ! how 
 antagonistic are the princi])les, powers, and influences of each." 
 
 Two more tri.als were sent, and then the weary one entered 
 into rest. One of these tri.als arose from the conduct of her 
 mother, who, as I have told you, w,as a heathen. Twelve 
 years before, she had proposed herself as a member of a Chris- 
 
...,. — ,<..J^jl^iiMii 
 
 120 
 
 MISSIONS TO THE 
 
 WOMEN OP CHINA. 
 
 121 
 
 tian church, but licr fearful temper showed that she had 
 neither part iicr lot in the matter. Her pride, passion, and 
 idolatry were so great,- that each evil propensity seemed de- 
 termined to excel the otlicr. Now, in conjunction with her 
 daughter, she did all she could to annoy poor San Avong with 
 heathen notions. Besides which, she contrived to steal two 
 of her dresses. When this was discovered, San Avong re- 
 monstrated with her, but in vain, and the mother clamorously 
 abused the religion of the true God, which she said, taught 
 disrespect to parents, an instance of wliich was seen in the 
 matter of the dresses. But San Avong felt that it was an in- 
 justice to her husband to allow her property <to bo taken away, 
 and slie willed awa}', by word of mouth, such things as she 
 thought proper to those of her family who had attended her 
 during her illness, saying decidedly, that all the rest of her 
 property belonged to lier husband. 
 
 " I saw," Miss Aldersey says, " the invalid at the close of 
 this day of confusion and conflict ; she had been so completely 
 prostrated in body and mind, that she became wandering and 
 much distressed ; upon this the mother took occasion to re- 
 mark, ' The cause of your mental distress is your having for- 
 .sakcn the gods of your country.' " 
 
 Another trial, and the last with which poor San Avong was 
 a-ssaUed, arose from the superstition of the woman with whom 
 she lodged. She did not wish her lodger to die under her 
 roof, lest she should for ever after be haunted by her di.s- 
 embodied spirit, and therefore begged that San Avong might 
 leave, so within a few days of her death, she was removed in 
 a litter to a missionarj' school-house close at hand. There she 
 expired, and the last words which were audilde from her dying 
 lips, were those of prayer, but in tones so low and feeble, that 
 " Saviour, my Saviour," was all that could bo heard. 
 
 LETTER XI. 
 
 ALTnotJGH there were few in the school like San Avong, whose 
 story I told you in my last letter, yet Miss Aldersey had many 
 helpers in her work. 
 
 Several of the elder pupils became Christians, and showed 
 their interest in the mis,sion bj- themselves becoming mission- 
 aries to their countrywomen. At one time there were nine, 
 in addition to the two ladies who assisted Miss Aldersey in the 
 school, and the Christian Chinese embroideress, that is, twelve 
 ill all, who di\'ided themselves into six companies, and spent 
 an hour or two every week in different houses of the city, 
 (attended by a servant,) where they taught the first principles 
 of the gospel. This they did cither by reading a tract, or by 
 conversation, or by teaching, by dictation, a very simple cate- 
 chism, -which had been prepared for the slaves of the South 
 American States. They invited all who were thus gathered 
 round them, to attend the Sunday servnce held in Miss Alder- 
 sey's house, and to join a class for women, also held on Sunday. 
 
 I have already alluded to Miss jVldersey's missionary 
 tours. On one occasion she and her pupils visited a distant 
 village, named Nijoh Wang. Here they remained some days 
 in rather a strange lodging. " We have been permitted," 
 writes Miss Alder.scy, "to occupy the upper story of a large 
 bell tower, belonging to a monastery. I fancy that tlu! priests 
 considered ns as a sort of harharinn ntin.i, for it was a very 
 great favour to allow us the use of this tower and its enclo- 
 sures. We have also the use of other rooms and a large 
 temple, in which, before the faces of the idols, my teacher read 
 and explained portions of Scripture to about twenty respect- 
 able men." 
 
 Whilst the teacher did whitt. ho could amongst the men in 
 the neighbourhood, Miss Aldersey and her assistants spoke to 
 the women, of whom numbers came to the temple to worship. 
 " Each woman visiting the place was obliged to give rice to 
 the priests, and almost all bought bills on the bank of heaven j 
 

 122 
 
 MISSIONS TO THE 
 
 \VOJIEN OK OmNA. 
 
 123 
 
 that is, they gave a few pieces of cash for a piece of printed 
 paper, which being preserved till death, is burned, and they 
 think will be available in Hades." These idolaters heard now, 
 for- the first time in their lives, the gospel plan of salvation, 
 as it was told simply to them by Miss Aldersey, who mentions 
 that on one day about eighty women visited her in small com- 
 panies. 
 
 About the year 18.56, Miss Aldersey .added to her means of 
 usefulness, by forming a class for the blind, under the tuition 
 of " Agnes GutzkilT," (about whom I have already told you,) 
 and it was hoped that the pupils might, in after years, them- 
 selves become teachers of many schools. 
 
 Thus yon see how the mission at Ningjio prospered, 
 and how from the small beginning of the house outside the 
 city with just a few pupils, it increased to a school of fifty 
 girls, m.any of whom were theftiselves Christian missionaries. 
 And as years passed on, and several of those girls married, 
 each became in her own family a missinnary too, — some the 
 mves of teachers, formed schools, so many branches of the 
 great establishment at Ningpo. Miss Aldersey 's " success had 
 indeed surpassed even her own most sanguine expectations." 
 
 But time, as it p.a.s.scd, brought other clrmges. Miss Alder- 
 sey found it advisable to transfer the school to other hands, 
 and announced her intention and the reasons for it in the fol- 
 lowing letter to our Committee : — 
 
 " NiNOPO, February 25, 1857. 
 " My CtiRTSTiAN Fi'JENDS, — I have been accustorned during 
 the last ten years and upwards to report progress of a Native 
 Girl.s' Boarding School, which I commenced in this place, 
 amidst great discouragement, about thirteen years ago. Find- 
 ing after a while that I had gaiffcd the confidence of this sus- 
 picious people, and that many were disposed to intrust their 
 children to my care and instruction for a term of years, I felt 
 it my duty no longer to circumscribe my efforts to the limits 
 of my own income as I had done in Java. I therefore ap- 
 
 # 
 
 pealed to the kind liberality of my Christian friends in Eng- 
 land, and their geiienius aid has enabled me to board and 
 educate a school of fifty girls for m.any years past. 
 
 " God has been pleased to bless my endeavours with varied 
 success, as I have detailed to you from time to time. I now 
 present to you my warmest thanks for your imweariod sym- 
 pathy and confidence ; and I beg to explain, that feeling the 
 infirmities of age creeping upon me, I have long been looking 
 out for some lady who should take my place in the event of 
 my heavenly leather's removing mo lience, or when increasing 
 weakness should suggest withdrawal on my part from accus- 
 tomed labours .and responsibilities. In order that the school 
 might be maintained in efficiency after my death, I long ago 
 made .application to two English missionary societies who have 
 agents at Ningpo ; but failing of success in these quarters, the 
 directors of the American Presbyterian Missiiiuai-y Society, to 
 whom I then appealed, .and with whose church I have long 
 lived in Christian fellow.ship, consented to unite their school 
 of thirty girls to mine of fifty whenever I should be compelled 
 to retire. 
 
 " After much consider.ation, I h.ave felt that it would be 
 better for the future interests of the school that this transfer 
 should take place in my lifetime. It is now twenty years 
 since I left England. I am within a few months of sixty 
 years of .age; and feeling that so long a residence in this 
 E.astern climate has made the duration of my life exceedingly 
 uncertain, I have, with the ajtprob.ation of my fellow-labourers 
 here, at the commencement of the Chinese new ye.ar, made 
 over my school to the Society mentioned above. The school 
 will be carried on in the same house, under the superintend- 
 ence of Mrs Bausum, (formerly ]\Iis3 Poppy, an .agent of the 
 Society for Promoting Female Education in the East.) This 
 Lady, herself the widow of a missionary, has resided with me 
 for the last three months, and will, I have every reason to 
 believe, prove a valu.able matron to the institution. My two 
 valu.able assistant.s, the daughters of a deceased missionary, 
 arc connexions of Mrs Bausum, and will continue their e(ii- 
 
124 
 
 MISSIONS TO THE 
 
 cient labours in the school. . . Agnes Gutzlaff and her little 
 blind pupils will reside with me. 
 
 " My friends will roinember that I have been in the habit 
 of sending native evangelists into villages adjacent to Ningpo, 
 where foreigners would not be received. There is a district 
 called San Poh, some miles hence, which lias been visited at 
 intervals for some time past by an excellent young Christian 
 teacher in m}' school, whose wife was formerly my pupil, Asan. 
 
 " An unusual spirit of inquiry respecting the Christian 
 religion has been excited among this people, and already there 
 are some cases of hopeful conversion to God. Mr Zia, the 
 young man referred to, is anxious to reside entirely at San 
 Poh, and I trust that his wife Asan will eventually be able to 
 establish a school there. 
 
 " During the last few months two baptisms have taken 
 place from my house — the former that of a j'oung man, the 
 sou of my valued Christian friend and servant, the embroiderer; 
 the latter that of a pupil named San-a-Foli. I am thankful 
 to state that, with one cxccjition, all my pujiils who have 
 made a profession of religion have maintained their Christian 
 consistency. 
 
 " In conclusion, allow me to add that my remaining days, 
 ■whether few or many, will still be devoted to the great object 
 which led me to this country, namely, the promotion of the 
 Redeemer's kingdom, more especially among my own sex. I 
 trust that the step I have taken 'will commend itself to your 
 judgment and sympathy; and earnestly requesting a continued 
 interest in your prayers, I remain, my Christian friends, yours 
 very gratefully, . M. A. Aldersey." 
 
 Mrs P.ausum, with whose labours at P.ornco and Penang 
 you. are already familiar, commenced her mission life at Ningpo 
 at a time of much disturbance, for the strange Chinese rebel- 
 lion was raging. 
 
 This rebellion, which began in the year 1850, was indeed 
 often spoken of by Miss Aldersey, who tells us (November 
 
 WOJIEN OF CHINA. 
 
 12o 
 
 1853) that in expectation of the insurgents' approach, the city 
 gates had been closed, and the magistrate had traversed the 
 streets during the whole of one night, expecting that hia life 
 would bo taken. 
 
 But as years wont on, matters became even worse. 
 I should, however, tell you why I have called this a sirnnge, 
 rebellion, for in one sense it was no new thing, China having 
 never been (as I have mentioned) without its bands of pirates 
 and secret societies. 
 
 But what gave this rebellion great acceptance with the 
 people was, that it professed to be the fulfilment of a prophecy, 
 which said that in the year 1851 tlie Tartar dynasty should 
 be expelled, and that of Ming replaced on the throne, and the 
 insurgents did all they could to carry out this jtrophccy. 
 
 This Taiping rebellion (as it was called) differed from all 
 others in another and a stranger way — and this was, the ap- 
 ])earance of Christianity, which was mixed up in the move- 
 ment. Its leaders had met with the Christian books circulated 
 by the foreign missionaries, and embracing to some extent 
 the truths contained' in them, had given up their former 
 belief They entirely renounced idolatry, (to which so great 
 was their hatred, that hundreds of idols were sent floating 
 down the river Yang-tse-Kiang,) adopted many right views, 
 and compiled several books. " One of these, called the ' Book 
 of Precepts,' contained a number of prayers, and the Ten 
 Commandments, and many rules and remarks on the way of 
 serving God, acknowledging the sinfulness of man by nature, 
 and the hope of salvation through Chri.st. Another book was 
 the ' Ode to Youth,' which commented on the various duties 
 to God, to Jesus, to parents; also, the duties of sovereigns, 
 ministers, families, collectively and individuall)', ifec. . . The 
 third, and the principal book, called t)ie ' Trimetrieal Classic,' 
 •was evidently taken from the Bible, and contained the history 
 of the creatifm, the bondage in Egyjit, the miracles wrought 
 by INIoses, and the deliverance of the Israelites ; their support 
 in the wilderness, the declension of God's chosen race, and the 
 coming of Jesus Christ for the redemption of man. It then 
 
...i %M<k0^ 
 
 12G 
 
 MISSIONS TO THE 
 
 treated of God's regard for the Chinese in early ages, until 
 their kings became depraved." 
 
 The following extracts from the « Trimetrical- Classic" wiU 
 give you an idea of the book : — 
 
 " The great God 
 Made heaven and earth, 
 Both land and sea, 
 And all things therein. 
 In six days 
 He made tlie whole. 
 Man, the lord of all. 
 Was endowed with glory and honour, 
 Every seventh day's worship. 
 In acknowledgment of Heaven's favour, ' 
 Let .all under heaven 
 Keep their he.arts in reverence. 
 It is .'^aid that in former times 
 A foreign nation was commanded 
 To honour God — 
 The nation's name was Israel. 
 Their twelve tribes 
 Removed into Egypt, 
 Where God favoured them, 
 And their posterity increased." 
 
 After an account of the sufferings of the Israelites, the plagues, 
 and the deliverance by ]\Ioses, the " Classic" teaches about 
 the giving of the law, and then says : — 
 
 " The celestial law 
 Cannot be altered. 
 In after ages 
 
 It was sometimes disobeyed, 
 Through the devil's temptations, 
 When men fell into misery. 
 But the great God, 
 
 WOMEN OF CHINA. 127 
 
 Out of pity to mankind. 
 Sent His first-born Son 
 To come doAni into the world. 
 His name is Jesus, 
 The Lord and Sa\iour of men, 
 Wlio redeemed them from sin. 
 By the endurance of extreme misery. 
 He shed His precious blood 
 To save all mankind. 
 Three days after His death 
 He rose from the dead ; 
 And during forty days 
 He discoursed on heavenly things. 
 He commanded His disciples 
 J To communicate His gospel. 
 
 Those who believe will be saved, 
 And ascend up to Heaven ; 
 But those wlio do not believe, 
 WiU be the first to be condemned" 
 
 It was ,t:oon seen, however, that although the rebels had 
 cast off much that was wrong, they Lad adopted much that 
 was .altogether opposed to Christianity. Their leader, Tae- 
 ping Wang, (the Prince of Peace,) laid claim to divine honours, 
 and said that he was not only the " True Lord," or sovereign 
 of Chin.a, but the second son of God, and therefijre every one 
 in the world must obey and follow him. 
 
 iSuch a fanatic was greatly to be dreaded. It b(;camc a 
 B,acre(l duty to destroy .all who would not submit ; and at the 
 same time that the rebels said th.at they wor.shipjied the 
 heavenly Father, and trusted in the finished work of the 
 heavenly Brother, they laid waste the finest provinces of 
 China, and put to death, without mercy, all their enemies 
 that c.arao within their power. "In one place, only 100 
 escaped out of a po|)ulation of more than 20,000 ; the rest, 
 men, women, and children, were put to the sword." 
 
 Very anxiously our Society watched the progress of the 
 
128 
 
 MISSIONS TO THK 
 
 civil war, knowing the evils which might overtake the mis- 
 sion. JThe accounts received from time to time were very 
 unfavourable. " The coming of the insurgents to the neigh- 
 bourhood," writes one from Ningpo, " has been a sad blow 
 to our missionary prospects generally. We are in much per- 
 plexity about all our affairs. Our confidence is, ' The Lord 
 rcigneth.' May He overrule all to His glory." 
 
 Help in this time of trouble cnme from an unexpected 
 quarter, even from the rebels themselves. God not only 
 prevented them frcjm doing harm, but He put it into their 
 hearts to bo friendly to our missionaries, and to all foreigners. 
 " If any one commits an offence against a foreigner, he shall 
 lose his head," was the order which restrained the monster' 
 banditti from injuring our mission. Not les5 remarkable was 
 the fact, that the native Christian at Ningpo were also pre- 
 served ; not one was missing. Still more, aUhough mission- 
 ary operations for the time were greatly interrupted, yet, in 
 the end, the things that befell them proved rather for the 
 furtherance of the truth, " increased openings seemed made for 
 the messengers of peace," and many who, when all was quiet, 
 cared nothing about their souls, when affliction catne, sought 
 the Lord their Goii 
 
 " Many," writes Mrs Bausum, or rather Mrs Lord, as Mrs 
 Bausum, in 18G0, married the Rev. A. Lord, of the American 
 mission — " many who would never have heard the gospel if 
 the rebels had not come, are now interested listeners, and Mr 
 Lord has six applicants for baptism, who, but for the recent 
 troubles, would never have cared for these things. All our 
 other missionaries can testify/ of similar resvlls in their 
 experience.'''' 
 
 But it is time to give you a few details of the school at 
 Ningi)0. 
 
 In 1860 eleven new pupils were received, nearly all under 
 ten years of age. You would have pitied these children very 
 much. They had been sadly neglected, never comfortably 
 clothed or fed, and looked much such a picture of starvation 
 
 WOMEN OF CHINA. 
 
 I2n 
 
 and misery as wc are familiar with in our ragged schools at 
 homo. One poor child was brought to the, house, and the 
 message left that the teacher might do what si,e lilccd with 
 I'cr rhen three were afflicted-one with total and two 
 with partial blindness, while a fourth was a crinple But 
 they were not wanting in intelligence, and a few months after 
 tlieir admission, five out of the eleven had learned to read 
 Uunese as it is spoken in Ningpo; for in China there are no 
 fewer than eighteen distinct dialects, besides the court dialect 
 Ihey cfluld also read the Scriptures, and enter into the mean- 
 ing. Besides which the/ had learned a great deal about God 
 the Father, who made them, the Saviour, who laid down 
 h.s hfe for them, ami the Holy Ghost, who sanctified them • 
 and as they received these Christian doctrines into their minds' 
 the teacher hoped that these poor children would receive them' 
 into their hearts also. 
 
 Their time was very pleasantly spent-very differently to 
 their former days of wretchedness ; and we read that all seemed 
 desirous to please their kind teacher, and were grateful for 
 what she had done for them. 
 
 They learned to bo useful children, to cook their own rice 
 make their clothes, and clean tlicir rooms. All this must 
 have been quite new to the neglected ones ; yet they did it 
 cheerfully, the very youngest taking her part with a willin- 
 mind. ■=' 
 
 On the 7th of July 18G0, Mrs Lord iiad the happiness of 
 witnessing the baptism of her native helper, who was a widow 
 and had a daughter in the school. Soon aftcrwnrds came' ^ 
 the alarming news, of the advance (pf the rebels. The city of* 
 Hanchow had been taken, and fears were felt lest Ningi>o 
 might bo the next to be attacked. Trade was stopped 
 pirates infested the city, and many families fled to escape 
 from present evils, and avoid calamities which seemed 
 certain. 
 
 In the midst of these fightings without and fears within, 
 the little band of missionaries remained quiet, not knowing 
 the things that should befall them, but meanwhile dohig 
 
 I 
 
130 
 
 MISSIONS TO THE 
 
 whatever tlicir liaiul found to do. In tbn school, the girls, of 
 course, felt much alarm, but they tried to remain calm ; and 
 though the daily teaching may have been interrupted, perhaps 
 thej- never really learned so much. 
 
 " All JiuR, one of the school girls," writes Mrs Lord, " says 
 she has for some time thought of joining herself to God's 
 people, and now she is decided, and desires speedily to 
 realise that she is the Lord's. She feels her sins to be 
 very heavy, but she knows that Jesus, and only Jesus, can 
 take them away. Several others, I believe, feel the same, 
 though they have not expressed it* in words. These young 
 girls have become very thoughtful since the threatened 
 calamities." 
 
 After a time, Mrs Lord thought it would be wise to break 
 up the school, and to send the girls to a safe place at the 
 opjiosite side of the river. And not long afterwards, she felt 
 glad that she had done so, for the fears of the people were 
 realised — the rebels advanced on Ningpo, which they attacked 
 and took, December 18G1. 
 
 As I have told you, the rebels proved friendly to foreigners ; 
 but the missionaries judged it prudent to remove to a short 
 distance from the city, where, though safe themselves, they 
 deeply felt for the miseries undergone by the people around 
 them. 
 
 " The rebels," writes Mrs Lord, " have entered and sacked 
 the city to a house, and laid waste all the surrounding country. 
 No pen, much less mine, can describe the ten-thousandth part 
 (if the wretchedness to which our eyes and ears" are witness. 
 All trade is stopped, and vast mmibers look forward to nothing 
 but starvation and death, even should they escape the rebels' 
 knife. No man has any pity on his neighbour ; many are 
 robbed of aU they have while seeking a place of safety. The 
 people are distressed be3'ond description, flight is right. 
 Parties of rebels are seen driving along files of captives, on 
 whom they have laid burdens of plunder, — the poor captives 
 are tied together two and two, and compelled to run at full 
 speed." 
 
 % 
 
 WOMEN OF CTLNA. 
 
 13J 
 
 If Mrs Lord's funds had admitted of it, numbers of children 
 who were made de.stitute at this time w.)uld have been only 
 too glad to come under her roof, and she did indeed Ion" to 
 receive them. She could not always refuse. One day a poor 
 starving child was found near her door crying. She was about 
 five years old, she .said- her father was dead, and lier mntlier 
 gone far, far away. 
 
 After some months, the rebels were driven from Ningpo, 
 and once more JIrs Lord was enabled to carry on her rjrpliarl 
 school. The accounts of it up to the present time are ^-ery 
 encouraging, though some hindrances have been met witli. 
 Amongst tlie.se hindrances Mrs Lord mentions that of having 
 had unfaithful helpers in the school, ghe has now, however^ 
 a Christian woman, who is trustworthy and satisfactory! 
 Again, we read of the inconvenience they underwent owing 
 to the very small hou.se in which they were obliged to live. 
 But this hindrance has been also removed— they have built 
 a schoolhouse sufficiently large to accommodate fifty pupil.M. 
 "It will," writes Mrs Lord, August l.st, 18G4, ".soon bo 
 ready for occupation, after which I do not think it will be 
 long before we have it full, as numbers are waiting for ad- 
 mission." 
 
 As regards the encovragementf, there aro noiv, ISC'), 
 twenty-si.x jiupils. Four have been lately baptized, and exer- 
 cise, Mrs Lord ,snys, a very good influence on the school. 
 Of two little ones lately received iMrs Lord gives a sad de- 
 scription. They Jiad been slaves, and had run .away from 
 their cruel owners; one of them h.ad been so severely beaten . 
 that she was covered with frightful bruises; the other had 
 been threatened with simil.ar treatment, but raana"cd to 
 escape before it was inflicted. These poor children arc now 
 going on well. 
 
 A child admitted still more recently was the daughter of jt 
 dumb woman, who used to go beg'j^ing with the child, (the 
 father being dead,) until she became insane, so that she would 
 throw from her anything that was given her, and the poor 
 little girl was likely to be starved. The grandmother brought 
 
132 
 
 MISSIONS TO THE 
 
 her to Mrs Lord, and seemed overwliclmcd with gratitude 
 when she was admitted. The poor old woman was very in- 
 firm, and quite deaf. The little child is intelligent, and not 
 at all as if she had been a beggar. 
 
 Mrs Lord tells us that she receives numlicrs of applications 
 for admission ; but p]ic feels that she can only admit the most 
 destitute, though it is a great grief to her to soncLany away — 
 for all are equally destitute of spiritual blessings — and gladly 
 would she receive all, had she only the means. 
 
 Besides the Orphan Asylum at Niiigpn, Mrs Lord had at 
 one time two day schools under native mistresses, and a small 
 day-school at a place called Don Dong ; but they were dis- 
 persed by the entrance of the rebels. 
 
 Now Jlrs Lord longs to re-establish them. She says that 
 she feels it to be a great pity that, on account of the want of 
 money, the native teachers — of whom there are so many in 
 Ningpo — cannot bo employed. Were these schools resumed, 
 there would be no difficulty whatever in getting pupils. Often 
 Mrs Lord meets the little ones who used to attend the day- 
 schools, and they delight to see her enter their houses to 
 question them nn what they have learned, and their parents 
 seem pleased and proud as they listen to the answers. Many 
 children, too, greet her in the streets, and follow her from 
 house to house in little clusters. " Poor children," Mrs Lord 
 says, " some of them seem to long to be under more kindly 
 influence than they find at home." 
 
 But I must tell you a little about ISlrs Lord's work amongst 
 the women. This has been from the first most encoTiraging, 
 though it was interrupted at the time of the taking of Ningpo 
 by .the rebels. 
 
 " The people at the Diin Dong station," we read in a letter, 
 dated August 1860, "are very attentive to the truth, and I 
 am encouraged every time I go with these rude people, who 
 
 crowd into the house until it is full to overflowing I 
 
 think there are two or three really in in earnest. I can 
 only go one day in the week, and this is quite a high day in 
 
 I 
 
 ti 
 
 
 13 
 
 WOMEN OF CHINA. 
 
 133 
 
 the neighbourhood. This station is most interesting ; the 
 people are evidently increasing in the knowledge of the gos- 
 pel. I am much interested in a poor blind woman, who is 
 always there, from the time I enter till I leave, and often fol- 
 lows me upstairs, where I go to teach some young women to 
 read. I cannot help hoping that God is about to open the 
 eyes of her understanding." 
 
 Mrs Ijord resumed her missionary visits as soon as possible 
 after the relicla had left Ningpo ; and we may well imagine 
 the an.dety which she felt when she set out once more to 
 carry to these poor heathen women the word of life. So 
 much had occurred since last she had gone there, that many 
 changes might be expected, and in one respect it was a sorrow- 
 fid visit. Several of the women who used to listen with inte- 
 rest, and some who were learning to read, had left the neigh- 
 bourhood, and it was not known what had become of them. 
 
 But what was lost in this wa}- was made up in another. 
 Many who, on Mrs Lord's first visits, seemed unable to under- 
 stand the simplest truths, and would listen with a vacant 
 stare, or answer with an ignorant laugh, were now a contrast 
 to their former selves. They listened attentively, and entered 
 into what they were told. 
 
 If the rebellion dropc away some who were just beginning 
 to know the truth, it se)it others within its reacli, who might 
 never otherwise have come under its influence. Amongst 
 the.se were some refugees from Z-kyi, (a village about sixteeil 
 miles from Ningpo,) who took up their abode near Mrs Lord's 
 house. They received Mrs Lord gladly, seemed rejoiced to 
 hear the tidings of salvation, and welcomed her with the 
 assurance that they would learn as much as they could, and 
 when they returned home, would tell it to their neighbours at 
 Z-kyL 
 
 Mrs Lord still labours successfully amongst the women. 
 She visits in the neighbouring villages, where she meets with 
 ready listeners. 
 
 The following incident* will give you an idea of thi.'j 
 * T.ikcn from tlic Missln<i Link Maffazine. 
 
132 
 
 MISSIONS TO THE 
 
 her to Mrs Lord, and seemed overwhelmed with gratitude 
 when she was admitted. The poor old woman was very in- 
 firm, and quite deaf. The little child is intelligent, and not 
 at all as if she had been a beggar. 
 
 Mrs Lord tells us that she receives numbers of applications 
 for admission ; but she feels that she can only admit the most 
 destitute, though it is a great grief to her to scncLany away — 
 for all are equally destitute of spiritual blessings — and gladly 
 would she receive all, had she only the means. 
 
 Besides the Orphan Asylum at Ningpo, Mrs Lord had at 
 one time two day schools under native mistresses, and a small 
 day-school at a place called Don Dong ; but they were dis- 
 persed by the entrance of the rebels. 
 
 Now Mrs Lord longs to re-establish them. She says that 
 she feels it to be a great pity that, on account of the want of 
 money, the native teachers — of whom there are so many in 
 Ningpo— cannot bo employed. Were these schools resumed, 
 there would be no difficulty whatever in getting pupils. Often 
 Mrs Lord meets the little ones who used to attend the day- 
 schools, anil they delight to sec her enter their houses to 
 question them on what they have learned, and their parents 
 seem pleased and proud as they listen to the answers. Many 
 children, too, greet her in the streets, and follow her from 
 house to hou.se in little clusiters. " Poor children," Mrs Lord 
 says, " some of them seem to long to be under more kindly 
 influence than they find at home." 
 
 But I must tell you a little about Mrs Lord's work amongst 
 the women. This has been from the first most encouraging, 
 though it was inteiTupted at the time of the taking of Ningpo 
 by .the rebels. 
 
 " The people at the Dcin Diing station," we read in a letter, 
 dated August 18G0, "are very attentive to the truth, and I 
 am encouraged every time I go with those rude people, who 
 
 crowd into the house until it is full to ovorfldwing I 
 
 think there are two or three really in in earnest. I can 
 only go one day in the week, and this is quite a high day in 
 
 WOMEN OF cniNA. 
 
 133 
 
 the neighbourhood. This station is most interesting ; the 
 people are evidently increasing in the knowledge of the gos- 
 peL I am much interested in a poor blind woman, who is 
 always there, from the time I enter till I leave, and often fol- 
 lows me up-stairs, where I go to teach some young women to 
 read. I cannot help hoping that God is about to open the 
 eyes of her understanding." 
 
 Mrs Lord resumed her missionary visit.s as soon as possible 
 after the reljols had left Ningpo ; and we may well imagine 
 the an.^ety which she felt when she set out once more to 
 cany to these poor heathen women the word of life. So 
 much had occurred since last she had gone there, that many 
 changes might be expected, and in one respect it w.is a soitow- 
 ful visit. Several of the women who used to listen with inte- 
 rest, and some who were learning to read, had left the neigh- 
 bourhood, and it was not known what had become of them. 
 
 But what was lost in this way was made up in another. 
 Many who, on Mrs Lord's first visits, seemed unable to under- 
 stand the simplest truths, and would listen with a vacant 
 stare, or answer with an ignorant l.augh, were now a contrast 
 to their former selves. They listened attentively, and entered 
 into what they were told. 
 
 If the rebellion drove awny some who were just bi^ginning 
 to know the truth, it smit others within its reach, who might 
 never otherwi.se have come under its influence. Amongst 
 these were some refugees from Z-kyi, (a village about sixteen 
 miles from Ningpo,) who took up their abode near Mrs Lord's 
 house. They received Mrs Lord gladly, seemed rejoiced to 
 hear the tidings of salvation, and welcomed her with the 
 assurance that they would learn as much as they could, .and 
 when they returned home, would tell it to their neighbours at 
 Z-kyL 
 
 Mrs Lord still labours successfully amongst the women. 
 She visits in the neighbouring villages, where she meets with 
 ready listeners. 
 
 The following incident* will give you an idea of this 
 * T.ikcn from the Missln;/ Link Maijazhe. 
 
134 
 
 MISSIONS TO THE 
 
 part of her mission work. Mrs Lord ■writes, September 1, 
 1SG4 :— 
 
 " I met witli a ver}- interesting case last Wednesday week 
 in visiting a village called Wun-ko-wan. A respectable-look- 
 ing woman sat down amongst the hearers with an earnest face, 
 as if she meant to learn something. I found she had never 
 heard the gospel, so I began to talk to her, as I thought, in 
 the most simple waj'. After a few words, I said, ' Do you 
 imderst.aud ?' "With a sad look she replied, 'I cannot under- 
 stand.' 80 I opened The Book, aiid read some of the precious 
 texts about the love of God in sending llis Son. Tliei"! I said 
 to a Christian woman, 'Now explain this to the people.' But 
 what was my joy to hear them all cry out, ' Now we under- 
 stand, now we understand.' 
 
 " Especially my new hearer seemed to drink in every word ; 
 and it was ' I see, I see,' for about three quarters of an hour, 
 when I found my voice fail. So I begged my Christian 
 friend to make an apology for me to one of her neighbours, 
 wlio had called me in as I passed by, luid on whom I had pro- 
 mised to call in as I returned, for I found myself unable to speak 
 any more. My hopeful ' Lydia' heard me say this, and she 
 was the woman who had invited me in, though I did not know 
 it. But she, nothing discouraged at my sure throat," or at 
 what I had said, ran on and reached her house before me, and 
 insisted upon my alighting and entering her yard, to tell her 
 again of these good things. 
 
 " I could not resist her importunity, and she sent off her 
 young daughter to invite the neighbours to come and hear. 
 In the meantime she and her son's wife sat down to hear the 
 word of God. I could not now speak above a whisper, yet 
 they did not seem to lose a word of it. As one and another 
 of the neighbours came in, the daughter-in-law would call out, 
 ' Come and hear, you can understand.' As I came away, the 
 mother said, ' It is very good, but it is very much like our 
 doctrines.' I replied, ' Yes, there are some things like the 
 doctrines of Confucius ; but the substitution and the way 
 of salvation for sinners ' She stopped me, and said. 
 
 WOMEN OF CHINA. 
 
 135 
 
 with earnestness, ' Ah ! that we have not got.' I came 
 away, thinking how wonderful was the power of the simple 
 word." . • . , 
 
 In Ningpo itself Mrs Lord has two mcetmga, which are 
 well attended ; but her work increases daUy, and .she longs to 
 establish more meetings, and also a night school, for the 
 Christian women to learn to read for themselves the Word of 
 
 God. , , , xi 
 
 On Sundays she collects the women together between the 
 services, and is trying to form them into a class for Biblo 
 
 histoiT. , , nT- • t 
 
 In my next I wUl conclude the account of the Mi.ssion at 
 
 Niiigpo. 
 
 LETTER XII. 
 
 I H-AVF, one more school to tell you about, before we leave 
 
 Ninirpo. , , _ ., 
 
 This is a new work which was undertaken by our Commit- 
 tee in the year 1 8G0. 
 
 At Mrs Gough's request they agreed to support a vernacu- 
 lar day school, which, with a short interruption, has cmtinued 
 up to the present time, and is now under the superintendence 
 
 of Mrs ]\Ioule. . T ., • 1 >. 
 
 " This school," writes Mrs Moulo, 18C0, " w, I think, most 
 promising. There are twenty-four girls in it, whose attendance 
 is re-nilar, and who arc carefully tauglit by their valu.able 
 mistress Their knowledge of the gosjiel is very good ; they 
 rciieat large portions to me twice a week, some of the elder 
 girls two or three chapters at a time without a mistake, aiul 
 their answers are very intelligent." ' ,11 
 
 In 1.SG2 Mrs Moulc says, "The progress of my scliool 
 children during the year had been very satisfactory. Some 
 
136 
 
 MISSIONS TO THE 
 
 of the elder girls tad learned the four Gospels and the Acts, 
 and were able to answer questions on simple gospel truths. 
 All had learned a catechism, translated by Mr Oough, and 
 daily heard God's Word explained by tlicir good Christian 
 teacher. Besides which, they had improved veiy much in 
 writing and needlework." 
 
 You see that JIrs iloule writes in tlie past tense, for in 
 18G2 her school no longer existed. It was dispersed on the 
 entrance of the rebels, and JIrs Jloule could not find out what 
 had become of the children. Neither had she the comfort of 
 knowing that any of her pupils had become Christians — not 
 one had come forward openly to renounce Buddhism. But 
 she remembered tlie promise, " Jly word shall not return to 
 me void," .and believed th.at the seed sown would yet .spring 
 up, and bring forth fruit in some of them. 
 
 Jlrs Moule wished to be near the native Christians, so she 
 removed to a house in the neighbourhood of Ningpo, where 
 she took a room, and again opened a girls' day school. 
 
 To this school our Committee continues to forward an 
 annual grant. The latest accounts of it are, I am sorry to 
 say, discouraging. 
 
 " The children," JIrs !Moule says, " arc so much employed 
 in making tissue paper for idol-worship, that the school is 
 sadly thinned." 
 
 These are, however, trials to which every missionary is sub- 
 ject, and the next accounts will, I trust, be more favourable. 
 
 I h.ave often alluded to the difficulty which is found in 
 learning to read and write the Chinese rharcirtcrs, for alphabet 
 there is none ; and you will be glad to hear that the children 
 in our .schools at Ningpo have no longer to contend against 
 this difficulty. They have now the New Testament in their 
 own vernacular dialect, and in lloman letters. This has been 
 effi'cted by a missionary, and a great blessing his labours have 
 proved. Formerly it " took cightepn years to become an 
 accomplished scholar in reading and writing the Chinese char- 
 acters, but a quick boy or girl can learn to read in the Ro- 
 
 1 
 
 WOMEN OF CHINA. 
 
 \Ti 
 
 manised letters in three months." Here is a specimTO of these 
 old Chinese characters : — 
 
 Z M f^i- ^ yii'l' ^ 
 A ^ rfn f£ -©0 fl 
 ^ HI ^ % n^ %^. 
 
 You see how puzzling they look. I am sure that the little 
 girls at the Ningpo schools are very glad that they are no 
 longer obliged to try to read it. 
 
 Farther north than Ningpo, is the large and handsome city 
 of Shanghai, and here our Society has long had a missionaiy 
 station. 
 
 Some of the early efforts made to promote education there 
 will interest you. 
 
 Mrs Lockhart writes, October 10, 1844 : — "The European 
 community in Shanghai live much detached from each other ; 
 find we are more remote than any from the city — on the very 
 confines of the suburbs. Our neighbours are all very poor, 
 and some of thom have little shops. The women chiefly card 
 the cotton, of which there is so much in Shanghai. Many of 
 the women come, and very often bring a friend ^vith them 
 to us, and we have tried to speak to them about their non\s. 
 Some listen with their mouths open, not caring much to make 
 any endeavour to understand what we say, for as yet we h.-ivo 
 but an imi)erfect ac([uaintancc with the Shanghai dialect, which 
 is altogether different from any we have heard before. Some 
 listen, and try to understand ; but as .soon as one question in 
 asked, or sentence finished, they will turn round, and inquire 
 what makes our sldns so white, or why we dress in this or 
 that way, and a thousand other foolish questions. Some have 
 listened, and fearing that anything about the soul, a future 
 life, heaven and hell, were too mystical — perhaps thoy think 
 wrniig — subjects for women, they have blushed and taken the 
 first opportunity of leaviiig. I tried to get some of the neigh- 
 bours to come in, and read a while every day with a woman, 
 
;r.-e-,-,;ji>,sjiT.aa.i. -■-i^':-'^ 
 
 138 
 
 MISSIONS TO THE 
 
 our scrvarrt, who has been with us fonr montUs, with whom I 
 spend daily some time in teaching her to read ; but a few days 
 satisfied their curiosity, and that for the present is at an end. 
 A few little children have been in every dny for a month, but 
 not very regularly, as the children are allowed by the parents to 
 please themselves so very much, and ' I won't' is too often a 
 conclusive argument. There are just six or seven from the 
 neighbouring houses or huts. The people, houses, streets, 
 children, and habits all appear very dirty to a European. 
 
 "This is but the seed time, indeed ; the ground is scarcely 
 broken up ; the labourers must wait patiently for the fruits, 
 which wUI appear yet. Our first attempts last only for so 
 short a time, that before the account reaches you,' the people 
 have become wearied, and they are at an end ; therefore I do 
 not like to say much, lest the least colouring should be given, 
 and the end be disappointment." 
 
 Very different, indeed, are the accounts which now come 
 from Shangliai. Our Society supports two schools there, 
 taught by native teachers, under the superintendence of Mrs 
 Muirhead and Mrs Lridgman. These schools, which are called 
 respectively the " Ilyde Park and AVcstbourne," and the 
 " Islington" schools, have been greatly blessed. On a recent 
 visit to England Jlrs Bridgman could tell of nine of her for- 
 mer pupils who are now employed as teachers. 
 
 Six of the girls are supported by special contributions, and 
 a boicof work is sent out for .sale yearly, -the proceeds of which 
 are divided equally between the schools, and very welcome 
 this assistance is. " Your large box of work," writes Mrs 
 Bridgman, A{)ril 2, 18G1, "from Islington, Shillington, &c., 
 has arrived, and the sale was held at our residence. Many 
 pleasant thoughts arose in my mind as that box was opened, 
 and I saw the fruits of your industry. What a, beautiful 
 system the gospel is, and how many hearts and hands, moved 
 by love, can be employed to extend its hallowed influence ! 
 How those who have never seen each other in the flesh can 
 happily operate, like the different parts of a grand machine, 
 for the same great end ! To cue and all of these working 
 
 WOMEN OP CHINA, 
 
 130 
 
 parties for China, present, for Mrs Muirhead and myself, my 
 Christian salutations and thanks. I was an invalid at tho 
 time that the box arrived, having been confined to my room 
 several weeks. Mrs Muirhead, too, was not very well ; but 
 the box told us that from England came help ; and our friends 
 came .and iissisted in the arrangements, and then others, wish- 
 ing to aid in tho same cau.se, brought the d<illars, and took the 
 goods, and all these work together to send the bread of life to 
 the piirishing Chinese." 
 
 In Mrs Bridgman's school, (the Islington,) there are now 
 twenty, and in Mrs Muirhead's sixteen boarders. 
 
 I must not omit to mention that at Shanghai you would 
 meet with one with whose name you are familiar. This in 
 -Ruth Ati, the Javanese who followed Miss Aldersey to Ning- 
 po, and was so great a- comfort to her in the discouraging 
 commencement of her mission life there. Ati is now the wife 
 of a Chinese gentleman resident at Shanghai. She still likes 
 to help the mission work ; and during Mrs Bridgmiin's late 
 absence in England, she undertook to superintend the Isling- 
 ton School, which she did most kindly and efliciently. 
 
 Ati'a is not the only familiar name to be met with in the 
 accounts of the Shangh.ii Mission. You do not, I am sure, 
 forget "Agnes Qutzlaff," the blind native teacher, who had a 
 class for the blind in Miss Aldersey's establishment at Ningpo. 
 So long as Miss Aldersey remained in Ningpo Agnes lived 
 with her; but in the year 18G0 Miss A. found it necessary, 
 on account of declining health, to leave the scene of her 
 labours, and join her relatives in Australia. Before she left, 
 she transferred the blind teacher to the care of JIrs Eussell, 
 wife of tho Rev. W. Russell, Church Missionary Society's 
 agent at Ningpo. 
 
 For more than a year Agnes sui)crintcndpd a blind indus- 
 trial school in a house built by Miss Aldersey for the purpose. 
 She spent every day several hours teaching Christianity to 
 eleven poor blind persons, who, whilst she taught them, were 
 engaged in making straw rope and foot-mats. Besides this, 
 she conducted a singing-class for those members of Mr Rus- 
 
:. xs^i.x£i»m£i^a^a^^tsAiiii^iSlfl0^ 
 
 140 
 
 MISSIONS TO THE 
 
 sell's congregation wLo had a taste for it ; and she thus made 
 ^ herself very useful. 
 
 But on the capture of Ningpo, when the missionaries left 
 the city, matters seemed so insecure that it was thought ad- 
 visable to send Agnes to Shanghai, wlicrc the Rev. J. Hobson 
 undertook to sitperintend her and a blind industrial school to 
 be supported by the Shanghai jieople principal!}', though con- 
 tributions for the purpose would bo received from other quar- 
 ters. In the report of our Society, for 1864, we read that a 
 .special contribution for the support of Agnes GutzlaJf had 
 been forwarded to her. She is now supported by local con- 
 tributions, and is busily employed in her work of teaching the 
 blind. 
 
 I have now only one more mission to tell you about, and 
 this is at no less a place than Pekin. But the work hna been 
 only just commenced there, so that I have little to say about 
 it. IIowcviT, even a commencement at so important a city 
 is no small matter. 
 
 These first efforts at Pekin have been made by Mrs Collins, 
 the wife of the Rev. H. Collins, Church Missionary Society's 
 agent in that city. 
 
 Mrs Collins found the Tartar ladies who reside in Pekin 
 very friendly, and willing to make Jier acquaintance, so she 
 determined to try to be of use to them, by visiting and teach- 
 ing them in their own houses. 
 
 Other opportunities of usefulness opened to her, and she 
 a]iplied to our Society for help, which they readily granted. 
 The following letter from Mrs Collins will show you the en- 
 couragement she has already met with at Pekin : — 
 
 " Pekin, March, 1804. 
 "WUl you express to your Committee my thanks for their 
 kind and prompt response to my application for help. I 
 would now press urgently on your valuable Society the claims 
 of our heathen sisters in Pekin. I have just commenced a 
 boarding-school for sirls. I at first thought of taking su, but 
 
 WOMEN OF CHINA. 
 
 141 
 
 I have now sufficient prospect of support to enable me, with- 
 out impnidence, to begin with ten. I shall at once endeavour 
 to collect day scholars in the neighbourhood, from whom we 
 can afterwards select children, if friends will undertake their 
 su[iport. I liave had many applications since it was made 
 known that I would take little girls ; and I believe we might 
 without difficulty gaXhax Jifty or more. 
 ' " The women appear more accessible than in other places. 
 I have received several visits. Last Sunday seven women 
 requested to come to receive instruction on the vorship day, 
 as they call it. I have just received a visit from a young 
 Tartar woman only eighteen years of ago, asknig permission 
 to join the Sunday readings. Those who come to thwe meet- 
 ings have all come unsought. How many more might come 
 were they iuvited ! " 
 
 Mrs Collins then urgently entreated the Committee to take 
 up Pekin as one of their stations, but though most anxiou.9 
 to do so, they have been hitherto unable to send an agent 
 there, from want of means. 
 
 And now my account of the missions to the wc«ien of 
 China is closed. 
 
 We have followed the Society step by step, from its first 
 efforts in the distant i.sland of Java to the city of Singapore, 
 — thence getting nearer still to China — to Amriy and Hong- 
 Kong, till we have found its agents in Ningpo and Shanghai, 
 and at last, a mission offered in Pekin itself. 
 
 But though much has been done, and the Committee (so far 
 as it was in their power) have faithfully taken advantage of 
 every opjiortunity to extend their work, yet much more re- 
 mains to be done. 
 
 The country, long so jealously closed, is now opened to 
 missionary exertion ; and there is a relnarkable desire on the 
 part of the jiatives to receive instniction. Is it not sad to 
 find that our Society is kept back, by want of means, from 
 sending teachers to them. 
 
--->.>j^fe-^*;.:-'j;j 
 
 112 
 
 MISSIONS TO THE 
 
 Before I close, perhaps I ought to give you a general siim- 
 mnry of the work. 
 
 Not incliulmg Singapore, which is beyond the limitg of 
 China, our Society can only count fifteen schools in corre- 
 spondence with them in all that vast empire ; these schools 
 are attended by upwards of 2-30 children, fourteen of whom 
 arc supported bj' special contributions. 
 
 Two European agents and twenty-two native teachers are 
 employed ; there are three vernacular schools under native 
 mistresses ; the remaining schools arc chiefly under the super- 
 intendence of missionaries' wives and other ladies, to whom 
 our Society forwards annual grants of money. 
 
 In Singapore there are two European agents, ssveral native 
 teachers, a ragged school, attended by from 8 to 20 children, 
 and a boarding-school, in which arc 40 children, i of whom 
 arc supported by special contributions. 
 
 The Society's Eeport for 1SC4 tells us that in that year 
 £248 in money, and £454 worth of work were forwarded to 
 China; and to Singapore about £148 in money and £227 
 in work. 
 
 I think I need add nothing to this statement, excepting to 
 ask yon to help the Society to establish more ini.ssions for the 
 women of China. And this help can l>e given in so many 
 ■ways, that I am sure I shall be able to mention at least one, 
 in which you will say that you can join. 
 
 It may be that some to whom I write, however, recjuire no 
 suggestion, for they lojig to do good themselves to these poor 
 heathen sisters of our.s, and to be like Miss Aldersey — minis- 
 tering angels to the Chinese. If there be any such, I can only 
 say, that as the way was opened to her, so it will be to yon, — 
 perhaps years hence indeed ; but wait in faith, and the oppor- 
 tunity will surely come. 
 
 r>ut to others who require a suggestion, I would say to the 
 rich, give of your means ; you may not yourself be able to go 
 out as a missionary, but at least help to pay a substitute in 
 this war against heathenism. An agent's salary amounts to 
 about £^0 or £80 a year ; a native teacher's to £12 ; and a 
 
 WOMEN OF CHINA. 
 
 143 
 
 child can be .'?Df pcrted nt any of tje stations in Clina f t £'"< 
 a year. 
 
 Many, however, to whom I write cnnnot afford to give; they 
 have time, they say, but not much money. Well, our Society 
 is peculiarly suited to you, for if you have time, you can surely- 
 collect ; you can take a card, and induce your friends to give 
 to the Mission. Ask them to help to send an agent to I'ckin. 
 Or you can try to establish more working parties, to which 
 each one bringing her contribution, will help to fill the large 
 box, which one day will be of such valuable assistance, per- 
 haps to Mrs Muirhead or Mrs Bridgman. And to read aloud 
 at these working parties, you might ask your friends to sub- 
 scrilie for a little periodical, entitled The Femnle lifi.titionnri/ 
 Int'Ifii/cncn: This is not an expensive publicntion, only ouo 
 penny a month ; but it docs good to the Society in two ways; 
 it gives many interesting details about the W ission schools, 
 and thus rouses many to exertion for them ; and it also brings 
 money, for any profits arising from its sale are given to the 
 Society's funds. 
 
 Is there any other way to help the Society, )'ou ask 1 Yes, 
 there is one higher than any, ""without which all others must 
 fail;" and it is one open to aH, as it h.as been said, "If all 
 other ways are shut out, they who feel an interest in this 
 work, have still the blessed access to the Throne open, and 
 ma)', like E]>aphrns of old, 'labour fervently in prayer,' for 
 their unhappy sisters in heathen lands." * 
 
 * Female Missionary InteHiijcncfr for 18C2. 
 
 ND COMPANY, PRlNTEItS, EI'lNBUIlOlr. 
 
mm 
 
 SOCIETY FOR PROMOTING FEMALE EDUCATION 
 IN THE EAST. 
 
 THE MlVRCHIONESS OP cnOLMONDELBT. 
 f'itt-fjrraibtnts. 
 THE MARCniONESS OF TWEEDDALE. 
 THE LADY LOUISA FINCH. 
 THE LADY IIEIIHIHANA DAILLIE. 
 Till'; rOT'NIKSS (IF GAINSUOROUGH. 
 THE LADY CflARLOTTE GORDON. 
 THE liliiHT HON. THE DOWAOBU LADY NAPIER. 
 THE HON, MRS JOCELYN PERCY. 
 THE HON. MRS I!. W. NOEL. 
 THE HON. JIRS TROTTER. 
 THE HON. MRS A. KINNAIRD. 
 THK IioWACER LADY BUXTON. 
 LAIiY PETO. 
 LADY I! I! Y A NT. 
 MISS WHATELY. 
 MRS DEALTRT. 
 
 MRS SMITH, (late of Hong Kong.) 
 MISS LEYCESTER. 
 MISS HOPE, 
 MRS SUTER. 
 MRS THUMPER. 
 
 Coimnitlte. 
 
 MISS ALEXANDER, 
 MISS BAXTER, 
 t MRS N. BRIDGES, 
 MRS GEN. CAMPBELL. 
 MRS CLARK. 
 •MRS CONQUEST. 
 tMISS CUMITT. 
 •MRS ELLIS, 
 t MRS GILMORE. 
 MRS HALDANE 
 MISS S. HALDANE. 
 MISS K. HOPE. 
 
 MISS .TONES. 
 
 MRS .TETTER, 
 
 MRS MCA I, MONT, 
 
 MRS MAl'.JOWAN, 
 
 MRS .1 FULLI'.R MAITLAND. 
 
 MISS MKIEHAN. 
 
 MRS NASH, 
 
 Mils I'ATERSON. 
 
 MRS A S. RIDLEY. 
 
 MRS STRATTAN. 
 
 t MRS .lolIN WARDLAW. 
 
 t MRS WEATHERLEY. 
 
 SIR WALTER R, FARQUHAR, Burt. 
 
 MESSRS HERRIES, FARQUHAR, & CO,, Ifi James's Street, Westminster, S,W, 
 
 Sub-SrMsiirjr,^ / 
 MISS ADAHr. 
 
 Iion.-^tcrtlnrus. 
 • f MISS ELLEN RUTT. . MISS HALDANE. 
 
 MISS WEBB, 267 Vauxhall, Bridge Road, London, S W, 
 
 €:<sb .SErrttiiru. 
 MISS TAIT. 
 
 Finance Committee. 
 
 t Sub-CoramUtee for Candidates 
 
DATE DUE 
 
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