Sketches from Formosa.

PIONEERING ON THE PESCADORES l8l
could call upon. As our small impedimenta lay on the
street, Tiong came back after making enquiry to say
that the people were afraid to show us hospitality, in
case the yamen-runners came to apprehend them for
doing so. An elderly man then invited me into his
shop and said the people of Ma-keng had all heard of
our work, and were favourably disposed towards us,
but fear of the Mandarins kept them under restraint ;
and, all the more, in view of the recent bombardment
of Ma-keng by the French. At last, a man came for-
ward and said he would accept the responsibility, and
try to find us a lodging-place, and in an hour after we
were in our own hired house or stable, as some people
might have called it, for it was dark, very damp, and
very filthy receiving all who came to us, and preaching
daily to the crowds which assembled outside.
It was while thus engaged I began to suffer from the
coarse Chinese fare and unsuitable sleeping accommo-
and here
dation we had been compelled to put up with ;
I now lay, suffering intense agony and with no one at
hand who could understand or minister to my wants.
Even yet, I hardly know how they succeeded in getting
me put on board a small- Government steamer that
was crossing to the mainland. Tiong remained to carry
on the work, and I left empty-handed and alone.
My sickness lasted for about ten days, but as soon
as possible I returned to Formosa, and walked down
the long journey from Tamsui to Toa-sia, where most
kind and brotherly messages were awaiting me from
my colleagues in Taiwan-fu. Their letters stated that
the Pescadores visit had awakened so much interest
among our brethren in the South that they were already
offering funds to begin a permanent mission of their
own to those islands. The Toa-sia church had a crowded
missionary meeting on the evening of our arrival, at