s; but
he said they did very well while there, for they were able to preach
to the other prisoners. At one of the interrogatories, one of his
companions, the more zealous of the two, on being asked why he had
brought a foreigner to the place, answered that it was because he was
a Christian, and that their books said, 'It is better to die with the
wise than to live with fools.' This sentiment was not considered
complimentary by the mandarins, who immediately ordered him to be
beaten, upon which he got ten blows on each side of his face with an
instrument like the sole of a shoe. Mr. B. told this story, but added
that he believed the beating had been determined on before, for his
other companion, who was the more worldly of the two, and who had
probably found his way to the heart of the gaoler, was told that he
too would be beaten that day, but that the blows would be laid on by a
friendly hand, and that if he kept his cheek loose, he would not feel
them much.

[Sidenote: Amoy.]

_March 8th._--We are entering Foochow; a most beautiful day; the sea
smooth as glass. We left Amoy last night. I went to church in the
forenoon at the Consulate. An American missionary preached. There are
several missionaries at Amoy. They have, as they say, about 300
converts. The foreigners and natives get on very well there. The town
is a poor enough place, and the island seems rocky and barren. How it
can sustain the great population which inhabits the villages that
cover it is a mystery.

_March 14th._--A vessel from Shanghae brought me this morning a letter
from Oliphant, which shows that he has got well through the business
which I entrusted to him.[3] He went with my letter for the Prime
Minister of the Emperor to a city named Soochow, which is not open to
foreigners, and which is moreover the seat of beauty and fashion in
the empire, and he seems to have been well received. This is a good
sign. An edict has moreover been issued by the Emperor degrading Yeh,
and moderate in its tone as regards foreigners. All this looks as if
there would be at Pekin a disposition to settle matters. God grant
that it may be so, that I may get home, and not be required to do
farther violence to these poor people.

[Sidenote: Foochow.]

The scenery of Foochow and its neighbourhood struck him as singularly
beautiful. Ev