Sketches from Formosa.

FAR AFIELD NORTHWARD 55
besides themselves in Formosa were striving to be God's
witnesses for the truth.
We were early astir the following morning, and after
a hearty farewell to Mr. Mackay our own little company
set forward for the remaining part of the .
j ourney Towards
mid-day we halted for slight refreshment at Ba-nih, a
busy market town with a Hakka population. Those
settlers from the Canton Province are an intelligent,
prosperous, and pushing race, and are found scattered
all over the western side of the Island. Their spoken
language differs very considerably from that used by the
other Chinese peoples of Formosa, and their women do
not conform to the stupid practice of binding the feet a
seemingly unimportant matter, but one which exerts
a most deteriorating effect on the physical and social
condition of those who follow it.
About five o'clock in the afternoon, and while we were
toiling across the spur of a high mountain, our eyes were
gladdened with the first sight of Lai-sia. Away in the
distance we could see the stockaded village which contains
our chapel, and which better still contains not a few
earnest
Ghost.
souls which have become temples of the Holy
We knew the welcome that awaited us, and
walked no longer with toilsome lagging steps. So soon
as our approach became known small parties came out
to meet us, and very soon we were filled with joy at the
kindness and warmth of our reception.
It was with gratitude I learned that church matters
in Lai-sia were continuing to prosper. On their own
suggestion
the converts had erected a house to be used
by the visiting missionary. There are three rooms in it,
and it is situated just within the village gate. The
native preacher has also been diligent, as nearly every
child from twelve years of age and upwards was able to
read and write. Sixteen candidates for baptism were