Sketches from Formosa.

THE SEK-HWAN ABORIGINES 4!
scholar himself, others assisted him in deciphering the
more difficult Chinese characters, and in translating
several little Gospel leaflets, which were read and re-read,
and talked over by all sorts of people. Khai-san had also
to explain about praising God, and tell what was meant
by people meeting together for worship without any sacred
object being placed before them. A new thing was now
seen in Po-li-sia. One here, and another there, gave up
the practice of idolatry ; some of our simple Church hymns
came to be familiar, and in one village an attempt was
made to hold weekly Christian services. Thus, the movement
had fairly commenced, and through the influence
of this earnest simple-minded man at least thirty adults
were now waiting to have expounded unto them the will
of God more perfectly.
It was a considerable time before rumours of all this
reached the city, and not till July 1871, that two native
preachers were sent from Taiwan-fu to make full investigation.
In due time they reported that a movement,
that
favourable to Christianity, had really taken place ;
the people were kind, attentive, and thankful for their
and that even already some appeared to have
presence ;
received the Gospel, not in word only, but also in power
and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance.
Mr. Ritchie and Dr. Maxwell visited this northern
region of Formosa in September 1871, going
first to
Toa-sia ; where it was found that, both in depth and
extent, the work of grace exceeded their fondest hopes.
Nine persons were baptized there, and arrangements made
for building the present neat and commodious little
chapel at Lai-sia ; but, owing to continued heavy rain, it
was found that the journey could not be continued on to
Po-li-sia.
In the following March Mr. Ritchie, Dr. Dickson, and
Mr. Mackay of the Canada Presbyterian Mission at