e of the God of War, and afterwards in
an empty space left by a fire, which had completely destroyed many
houses. In the afternoon we preached again to a large and attentive
audience on the same site; and in the evening adjourned to a tea-shop,
where we had a good opportunity of speaking until it got noised abroad
that we were there, when, too many people coming in, we were obliged to
leave. Our native assistants, Tsien and Kuei-hua, were able, however, to
remain. Returning to our boats, we spoke to a number of people standing
on a bridge, and felt we had abundant reason to be thankful and
encouraged by the result of our first day's labour.

_January 10th._

First sent Tsien and Kuei-hua to distribute some sheet tracts. After
their return we went with them, and in a space cleared by fire we
separated, and addressed two audiences. On our return to the boats for
lunch, we found people waiting, as usual, and desiring books. Some were
distributed to those who were able to read them; and then asking them
kindly to excuse us while we took our midday meal, I went into my boat
and shut the door.

Hardly was there time to pour out a cup of tea when a battering began,
and the roof was at once broken in. I went out at the back, and found
four or five men taking the large lumps of frozen earth turned up in a
field close by--weighing, I should suppose, from seven to fourteen
pounds each--and throwing them at the boat. Remonstrance was of no
avail, and it was not long ere a considerable part of the upper
structure of the boat was broken to pieces, and a quantity of earth
covered the things inside. Finally, Tsien got a boat that was passing to
land him at a short distance, and by a few tracts drew away the
attention of the men, thus ending the assault.

We now learned that of those who had done the mischief only two were
natives of the place, the others being salt smugglers, and that the
cause was our not having satisfied their unreasonable demand for books.
Most providentially no one was injured; and as soon as quiet was
somewhat restored, we all met in Mr. Burns's boat and joined in
thanksgiving that we had been preserved from personal harm, praying also
for the perpetrators of the mischief, and that it might be over-ruled
for good to us and to those with us. We then took our lunch and went on
shore, and but a few steps from the boats addressed a large multitude
that soon asse