fruit and eggs. At Yung-yang we arrived after dark on a very wet day, yet the shao-ie (official's son) and several friends called on us, and after a chat presented us with two bottles of Guinness's stout, one tin of Swiss milk, one tin of Crosse and Blackwell's marmalade, and four packages of Chinese sweetmeats.

Though detained at K'io-shan for nearly five days in a wretched place, the T'ai-t'ai (magistrate's wife) showed us every kindness. Before the ladies got out of the carts she sent tea and pears to allay their thirst. This was followed by cakes, rice, water melon, bread, dough-strips, and Chinese sweetmeats, etc. At Ying-shan the magistrate also sent nice food, though very busy moving that day. Among the various underlings at the Yamên, our escorts and the crowds of onlookers, God also raised up friends for us, ofttimes just at the moment when we needed them most. "Man's extremity is God's opportunity."

Faithful Native Christians

Little has been said of the brave stand taken by the native Christians as a whole, and of the way many of them stood by us in our difficulties, even when they knew that it might cost them their lives. We had the assurance that in the persecutions that have befallen the Church during the past two months, there were many who witnessed a good confession. Having been faithful unto death," they are now awaiting the award of their martyr's crown. I cannot refrain from mentioning the four men who stood by us so nobly in the varied and trying experiences of our journey: Messrs. Koh-wangteh, of Si-chau; Liu-pao-lin, of Hung-tung; Sang and Li-uen-huan, of P'ing-yang. To these men our party owes a great debt of gratitude. The native representatives of the London Mission at Ying-shan, Yünmeng, and Shiao-kan, and of the Wesleyan Mission at Teh-an Fu, were also very kind to us. At Teh-an especially did we appreciate the medicines, the fresh milk, and tomatoes supplied us. At Shiaokan, Mr. Li very kindly put the hospital at our disposal, but being comfortably settled among the huge and ugly idols of the temple of the city god, we felt too tired to move.

Concerning the Route Taken

Those who have followed our course on the map may be surprised at our taking such a roundabout route. This was not from choice; circumstances compelled us to come the way we did. At P'ing-yang we had intended to get through carts to Fan-ch'eng, Hu-peh vid Ho-nan-fu and Nan-yang-fu, and then go down the Han river by boat. This fell through, however, because the carts could not be hired, and afterwards we were exceedingly glad that God had thus mercifully prevented us from making so serious a mistake. Though we had to change carts at every stage and wait until the wen-shu had been recopied, thus having more trouble and delay, we soon saw clearly

that it was much safer.

On Tuesday, August 28, after having been on the road forty-five days, our hearts were filled with joy and thanksgiving as we sighted Han-kow, our haven of rest. This series of trials and difficulties had come to an end, and many prayers and hopes had found their fulfilment.

DIVISION III.-NORTH CENTRAL SHAN-SI

T'ai-yüan-fu, the prefectural capital of Shan-si and residence of Yü-hsien the Governor, is the centre of the missionary work of the English Baptist Missionary Society, the American Board, the Shou-yang or North China Mission, and the British and Foreign Bible Society's headquarters for the province.

Few if any of those labouring in this district have escaped. Though six persons fled on horseback from Hinchau to the neighbouring mountains, they have since been killed. In consequence of the little one's ill-health, Mrs. Millar Wilson and child left P'ing-yang on June 1 for T'ai-yüan. Miss Stevens and Miss Clarke joined them on June 4, and together they proceeded to the capital. On June 19 Dr. Millar Wilson, who had been very poorly, started from P'ing-yang to join his wife, and entered T'ai-yüan on June 26. The very next day the rioting began, when Dr. Edwards' hospital and home were destroyed and Miss Coombs was murdered. All then took refuge in the premises of Mr. Farthing of the Baptist Missionary Society. At the same time the city gates were closed, that neither foreigners nor native Christians might escape.

For what took place after this we are mainly dependent upon native evidence. From these sources we grieve to learn that upon July 9 all foreigners in T'ai-yüan-fu were murdered in the Yamên by the direct order of the Governor, Yü-hsien-the supposed degraded governor of Shan-tong. Including Protestant and Roman Catholic missionaries, probably no fewer than fifty Europeans and

To face page 126.

A DISUSED SHAN-SI TEMPLE BELL NEAR T'AI-YUAN-FU.

Americans lost their lives on that occasion. The report says that many native Christians were also killed about the same time.

Mr. and Mrs. Lundgren and Miss Eldred of the China Inland Mission with four members of the American Board were murdered while being escorted by soldiers from the city of Fen-Chau on August 15.

We regret that the limits of this book will not allow more than a passing tribute to the memory of the members of the other Societies represented in and around T'ai-yüan-fu. The most cordial relationships existed between all the members of these Societies and the China Inland Mission, and in their death they were not divided. As Societies we have together been baptized into Christ's death, and together the martyred throng ascribe glory and honour unto Him for whom they lived and died.

Since the above was written, three letters from Mrs. Atwater of the American Board of Fen-Chau have reached the coast. As these letters constitute the only evidence, other than native, confirming the above sad intelligence, we print one of these letters-the longest-here. It is written on August 3. They were put to death on August 15 (see p. 136). The letter is pathetically beautiful, and too sacred for comment.

Letter from Mrs. ATWATER

FENCHOUFU, August 3, 1900.

My Dear, Dear Ones-I have tried to gather courage to write to you once more. How am I to write all the horrible details of these

days? I would rather spare you. The dear ones at Shouyang, seven in all, including our lovely girls, were taken prisoners and brought to Taiyuan in irons, and there by the Governor's orders beheaded, together with the Taiyuan friends, thirty-three souls. The following day the Roman Catholic priests and nuns from Taiyuan were also beheaded, ten souls yesterday. Three weeks after these had perished, our Mission at Taku was attacked, and our six friends there, and several brave Christians who stood by them, were beheaded. We are now waiting our call home. We have tried to get away to the