Sketches from Formosa.

INCIDENTS IN KA-GI CITY 77
people in Ka-gi. One instance came under my notice
while I was visiting our little Christian community
there. The region all round was then being scourged by
a severe outbreak of plague, and it was painful to see
how many of the attempts made to bring relief were
really worse than useless. The people
were thus forced
to think that some unusual step must be taken ; and,
accordingly, arrangements were made to bring a holy
man over from the Mainland (a Buddhist, in fact), who
undertook to ascend a ladder of knives with bare feet
and thus gain an amount of merit that would save the
people from destruction. Early that morning when the
exhibition was to take place I was out among the crowds
which had gathered [from far and near, and at one point
attempted to preach, but had to desist on a number of
roughs commencing to jostle about, one active young
fellow using some sort of a flail which bashed the sun-hat
I was wearing well down over my nose.
There was not much delay before two very long ladders
were brought out and set up in Inner-ward Square, the
lower ends being placed about twenty feet apart, and the
two upper ends fastened with ropes round a little plat-
form of wood. The steps were indeed formed by long
knives, having the conspicuously blunt edges placed
uppermost but in a somewhat slanting position. The
Priest in gorgeous robes then slowly advanced, put off
his outer garments, and began his ascent with great
deliberation. He paused from time to time, and gave
rather overdone signs of undergoing a tremendous
strain, but seemed soothed on witnessing the exertions
of those beneath him, who kept pounding on the drums,
gongs, and cymbals they had in readiness. When the
summit was reached, he rained down handfuls of little
pieces of red paper, having charms written in Chinese
characters. There was a mighty scramble to pick these