Sketches from Formosa.

180 SKETCHES FROM FORMOSA
among the thirteen villages of Fisher Island. The opportunities
presented there were both numerous and most
Never can the sight of those crowds, listening
inviting.
with rapt attention for the first time to the words of
eternal life, be effaced from my memory. Some of our
meetings were held under the clear moonlight, but were
none the less impressive on that account. Indeed, past
experience convinces me that the time of full moon during
summer is one of the choicest for village-preaching in
China ; provided always, of course, that the matter be
gone about in a right way. An important condition is
that the people require to know beforehand of our being
in the neighbourhood, and of our desire to meet a large
company of them that evening in some temple or meeting-
place outside. The irrepressible and ubiquitous boyelement
should also be taken into account, as I have more
than once lost favourable opportunities through bands
of mischievous urchins calling in the aid of every village
cur to the Pandemonium of noise which drove me from
the place. It is better to treat with them at once ; a
little management being all that is needed for gaining
them over as friends, or even converting them into most
willing and useful little allies.
At the close of a week's hard and pleasant work in
this way, I thought it best to return to Ma-keng. The
opening in every direction seemed so unmistakable that
I wished to rent or lease some house that might serve
as a local headquarters for further developments ; my
intention also being to continue our journey to the
islands of the southern, or Rover Group. We accordingly
again hired an open boat, and after fully six hours of
tossing and tacking, were able to land at the mouth of
Ma-keng Harbour. Many were our prayers that God
would raise up some friendly native who would help us.
Of course, we were entire strangers and had no one we