Sketches from Formosa.

CHURCH PRAISE IN FORMOSA 245
Accordingly, the Presbytery appointed a committee,
with myself as Convener, to use diligence in preparing
the proposed Hymn Book, in order that its use might
be sanctioned at one of our meetings six months hence.
The result was that when we did assemble in October
1900, the printing of the new book (Seng si koa) at our
Mission Press was so far advanced that the Presbytery
unanimously recommended its adoption by every
congregation within the bounds. Of course, the tunes
to which some of the hymns should be sung will be
unfamiliar, but only for a time. As regards our more
backward aboriginal brethren at the Hill stations (the
Pi-po-hwan and Sek-hwan, as they are called), who are
very fond of singing, their own native airs, as heretofore,
will be made to serve a Christian purpose. In passing,
I may remark that some of those native tunes have much
plaintive sweetness about them, while others lead off
with a dash of triumph and hopefulness which is truly
inspiring. They were used during their pre-Christian
days while sitting round the camp-fire, at celebrations
of marriage, or while out on some hunting expedition
or other. I have often suggested to our lady mis-
sionaries that one of their number should undertake to
make out a written collection of those native tunes.
By way of affording a glimpse of the process of hymnmaking
in China, my version of " Rock of Ages " in the
new book is given below, not in Chinese characters,
but having the words spelled out in Roman letters,
with an italicised literal translation in English between
the lines :
BAN-SE-POA, thoe goa phah khui
MYRIAD-AGES-ROCK, for me struck open
Tsun goa bih, chiah bian lian-lui
Suffer me hide, thus escape involvement
Tsu si liar, peng chhak heng-hah
Lord die having, soldier pierced side