the feeling at times of utter isolation and helplessness, were well
and wisely chosen, and tenderly and lovingly meted out. What
circumstances could have rendered the Word of GOD more sweet, the
presence of GOD more real, the help of GOD more precious? They were
times, indeed, of emptying and humbling, but were experiences that made
not ashamed, and that strengthened purpose to go forward as GOD might
direct, with His _proved_ promise, "I will not fail thee, nor forsake
thee." One can see, even now, that as for GOD, His way is perfect, and
yet can rejoice that the missionary path of to-day is comparatively a
smooth and an easy one.

Journeying inland was contrary to treaty arrangements, and attended with
much difficulty, especially for some time after the battle of Muddy
Flat, in which an Anglo-American contingent of about three hundred
marines and seamen, with a volunteer corps of less than a hundred
residents, attacked the Imperial camp, and drove away from thirty to
fifty thousand Chinese soldiers, the range of our shot and shell making
the native artillery useless. Still, in the autumn of 1854 a journey of
perhaps a week's duration was safely accomplished with Dr. Edkins, who
of course did the speaking and preaching, while I was able to help in
the distribution of books.

[Illustration]

CHAPTER X

FIRST EVANGELISTIC EFFORTS

A JOURNEY taken in the spring of 1855 with the Rev. J. S. Burden of the
Church Missionary Society (now the Bishop of Victoria, Hong-kong) was
attended with some serious dangers.

In the great mouth of the river Yang-tse, distant some thirty miles to
the north of Shanghai, lies the group of islands of which Ts'ung-ming
and Hai-men are the largest and most important; and farther up the
river, where the estuary narrows away from the sea, is situated the
influential city of T'ung-chau, close to Lang-shan, or the Wolf
Mountains, famous as a resort for pilgrim devotees. We spent some time
in evangelising on those islands, and then proceeded to Lang-shan, where
we preached and gave books to thousands of the devotees who were
attending an idolatrous festival. From thence we went on to T'ung-chau,
and of our painful experiences there the following journal will tell:--

_Thursday, April 26th, 1855._

After breakfast we commended ourselves to the care of our Heavenly
FATHER, and sought His Blessing before proceeding to this great city.
The day was