he routine of work which would have proved so
irksome but for the love and peace with which the Saviour filled his
soul.

'Mai Li Ying Tz[)u] is a very wicked place. There were no less than
fourteen large tents set up for gambling, and, in addition, some
thirty or forty mat-tents for gambling. I was there three days. The
first day people were shy. The second day they were not much
afraid. The third day I had quite a lot of patients. We sold a good
few books, preached a good deal, and doctored a number of patients.
From there we went to Bo-or-Chih, starting in the dark and
travelling seventeen English miles before breakfast. After we had
travelled ten miles we came to a little town just as people were
opening their doors. A seller of _chieh jao_, that sticky stuff,
had just set out his wheelbarrow with his pudding. We each bought a
great piece, wrapped it in a _chien ping_ (a thin scone), and
travelled on, eating it. That was our breakfast. Arrived at
Bo-or-Chih, we set up our table at once, and, after preaching for a
short time, patients came round us in crowds, and kept us busy till
late in the afternoon.

'The inn in which I am staying now is owned by two men, brothers,
both of whom are opium smokers. The inn has a good trade, but it is
all no use: it all goes to opium, and no good comes of it. There
are two barbers connected with the place, and they both drink and
gamble, so that they are in rags and poverty, though they have a
fairly good business. It is so painful to see men degraded thus
when, but for drink and gambling, they might be well off.

'_April 28, 1887._--For the last week I have been very busy at a
great temple gathering, which lasted six days. Such crowds of
people came, though it was only a country district. It was the
great religious event of the year for the neighbourhood, and how do
you think they do? They hire a theatrical company to come and act
six days in a great mat stage, put up for the occasion in front of
the temple. Theatrical exhibitions are the religion of China. These
shows are supposed to be in honour of the idols in the temple. The
people think the gods will thus be pleased, and give them good
seasons, health, etc.

'What a crowd of women came to worship at the temple on the great
day of the festival! Till no