Sketches from Formosa.

MORE ABOUT THE CANADIAN MISSION 153
places to the Canadian Mission. A few hours' sail in one
of the river boats brings one to the greater number of the
out-stations, the scenery in every direction is really grand,
the climate colder than at Taiwan-fu, and extreme
poverty and ignorance among the people less frequently
to be met with than in other parts of the Island.
With all this, however, it is necessary to get introduced
to God's main instrument in accomplishing the results
above referred to. Mr. Mackay is a little man, firm and
active, of few words, unflinching courage, and one whose
sound common sense is
devotion to the Master.
equalled only by his earnest
He began by labouring to know
the language well himself ; and came soon to think that,
so far as he dared to give it direction, his work had better
for a time be confined to the Chinese part of the population.
During the first year of his stay at Tamsui, he
began an educational and evangelistic training movement
among the young men who came about him, and this has
been greatly blessed throughout that northern part of the
Island. Moreover, the chapels there are well grouped
together, our brother going on the plan of very gradual
extension, with occasional long evangelistic tours into
the territory which is still unoccupied. On such journeys,
his work has been greatly helped by practising as a dentist
in the towns and villages through which he passed.
From the chewing of betel-nut and other similar habits
the Chinese suffer much from decaying teeth, so that
Mr. Mackay is thus able, on a short, passing visit, to do
a maximum of good to the bodies of the people, with a
minimum amount of entanglement in extraneous matters.
I noticed, too, that great attention is paid to the praise
part of worship in the Tamsui churches. The singing
among the brethren is distinct, hearty, and frequent ;
while our brother himself generally begins any open-air
service by singing one of our appropriate Chinese hymns.