Part 2 (1/2)
”The text for today is 1 Pet. ii. 21. 'Christ suffered for us, leaving us an example, that we should follow his steps.'
”Why should the Christian tremble at the prospect of suffering, or be impatient under its existence? 'The servant is not greater than his Lord.'
The 'King of Glory' suffered, and shall a sinful man complain? Besides, the Christian should be willing to suffer for the welfare of others. If he can benefit his fellow-men by running the risk of losing his own life, shall he hesitate to run that risk?”
”May 11. Since Sunday noon have made little progress.”
On examining the record of the voyage which Mr. Talmage kept faithfully every day, we find that the s.h.i.+p had made only twenty seven knots in two days.
”June 18. For the last month we have not made rapid progress. We have experienced much detention from head-winds and calms. About a week ago we were put on an allowance of water, one gallon a day to each one on board.
This includes all that is used for cooking, drinking and was.h.i.+ng.”
”Have had quite a severe storm this afternoon and evening. The waves have been very high, and the wind--severe almost as a hurricane. This evening about 8 o'clock, after a very severe blow and heavy dash of rain, 'fire b.a.l.l.s,' as the sailors termed them, were seen upon the tops of the masts, and also on the ends of the spars, which cross the masts. They presented a very beautiful appearance.
”Brother Collins and myself have this week commenced the study of Pitman's System of Phonography.” That Mr. Talmage became proficient in the use of it is evident from the fact that much of his journal was written in shorthand.
”On the Sabbath Brother Collins and myself spend two hours in the forecastle instructing the sailors. Many of them seem perfectly willing, some of them anxious to receive instruction.”
”July 17. Sat.u.r.day evening. Today pa.s.sed to the eastward of Christmas Island (an island in the Indian Ocean). It is a small island about ten miles square. This is the first land seen since we left Boston. Of course, we gazed with much interest.”
”July 22. About nine o'clock Tuesday evening we anch.o.r.ed off Angier. This is a village off the island of Java, bordering on the Straits of Sunda.
Remained at Angier until Wednesday afternoon. Capt. Patterson laid in a good supply of pigs, geese, ducks, chickens, yams, turtles, water, two goats, and fruits of various kinds in abundance.”
”Aug. 6. Friday. Wednesday evening arrived at Macao. This morning set sail for Whampoa, twelve miles below Canton.”
After a few days at Canton and Hongkong, Mr. and Mrs. Doty and Mr. Talmage embarked for Amoy on the schooner Caroline.
”Aug 21. The Caroline is a small vessel of about one hundred and fifty tons burthen. She was built, I suppose, for the opium trade. Our pa.s.sage from Hongkong was not very pleasant. Our quarters were close and our captain was far from being an agreeable companion. He drank freely and was very profane.”
”We left Brother Collins and Brother White and wife at Hongkong. We had been so long in company with these brethren, that it was trying to part with them. On Thursday, the day before yesterday, we arrived safely at Amoy. The brethren gave us a very hearty welcome. The missionary company at this place consists of Brother Pohlman, of the A.B.C.F.M.; Mr. Alexander Stronach and wife, and Brown, of the Presbyterian Board. Mr. John Stronach also belongs to this station. He is at present at Shanghai.”
III. THE CITY OF THE ”ELEGANT GATE”[*]
[Footnote *: the meaning of the two Chinese characters composing the name Amoy.]
In a letter to the Sabbath-school of the Central Reformed Church, Brooklyn, Mr. Talmage thus describes the southern emporium of the province of f.u.kien:
”Amoy is situated on an island of the same name. The city proper or citadel is about one mile in circ.u.mference. Its form is nearly that of a rhomboid or diamond. It is surrounded by a wall about twenty feet in height, and eight or ten feet in thickness, built of large blocks of coa.r.s.e granite. It has four gates. The outer city, or city outside of the walls, is much more extensive. Its circ.u.mference, I suppose, is about six miles.
”The streets are not so wide as the sidewalks in Brooklyn. Some of them are so narrow that, when two persons, walking in opposite directions, meet each other, it is necessary for the one to stop, in order that the other may pa.s.s on. The most of the streets are paved with coa.r.s.e granite blocks, yet on account of the narrowness of the streets, and the want of cleanliness by the great ma.s.s of the inhabitants, the streets are usually very filthy.
”This part of Amoy island is rugged and mountainous, and interspersed with large granite rocks. Some of them are of immense size. It is in such a place that the city has been built. Many of these rocks are left in their natural position, and overhang the houses which have been built among them.
The ground has not been leveled as in Brooklyn, consequently the greater part of the streets are uneven. Some of them are conducted over the hills by stone steps. Near our residences, one of the public streets ascends a hill by a flight of thirty-six steps. On account of this unevenness of the streets as well as their narrowness a carriage cannot pa.s.s through the city of Amoy. Instead of carriages the more wealthy inhabitants use sedan chairs, which are usually borne by two bearers. The higher officers of government, called 'Mandarins,' have four bearers to carry them. The greater part of the inhabitants always travel on foot. The place of carts is supplied by men called 'coolies,' whose employment is to carry burdens.
The houses, except along the wharves and a few p.a.w.n-shops farther up in the city, are one story.
”There are no churches here, but there are far more temples for the wors.h.i.+p of false G.o.ds, and the souls of deceased ancestors, than there are churches in Brooklyn.
”Besides these, almost every family has its shrine and idols and ancestral tablets, which last are wors.h.i.+pped with more devotion than the idols. In consequence of their religion the people are degraded and immoral.