Sketches from Formosa.

OUT AGAIN BY THE HIGHWAYS AND HEDGES 213
that we came down again to the market-place, had a
little refreshment at one of the rice-stalls there, and
afterwards took up our stand outside of a large unoccupied
building, the wide awning of which served as a grateful
shade from the fierce heat of the mid-day sun. It was
especially at this spot I was made to feel that our visit
to Sin-kang had not been altogether in vain. Not that
there was anything striking in the way of people confessing
their sins, or receiving the doctrine as something they
had long been in search of. No !
the Chinese mind is
most terribly carnal, and slow, slow to move in the
direction of things that are spiritual. I just mean that
at this second halting-place we were enabled to speak
with more liberty than before ; our audience also being
a little more intelligent and appreciative-looking than
we had at the other end of the town. Our sale of books,
too, was brisker so much so, indeed, that the demand
soon exceeded the supply we had brought with us.
It was well on in the afternoon before we started on the
return journey to Taiwan-fu, which was reached just a
all of us feeling that now, with more
little before dark ;
missionaries and students in the city than heretofore,
Sin-kang might well come in for an occasional preaching
visit without any weakening of our hands in the more
regular work of the Mission.