The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1870-04-06

men WOuld nave naQ tne D0ldneSS, unQer Sucn
| circumstances, to turn over his land to for
eigner; but the landholder in this case was
an opium smoker, hard pressed for money,
and willing to run considerable risk in or
der to get the large sum which he knew a
foreigner would be willing to give for the
land. AS far as we know, however, he has
thus far escaped unharmed. The only ap.
prehension we feel now is in regard to the
effect the erection of our houses may have
on the people. 1t is not easy for person
at home to appreciate some of the difficult
ties missionary has to meet here, on &C.
count of the difficulty of realsing the amaz-
Ing superstitiousness of this people. If they
once take up the notion that anything, such
as a building, or steamboat, or chimney, is
injurious to the "feng g.shuy," as they call it,
it becomes too serious matter to be disre-
garded. The "feng-shuy term con-
stantly in the mouths of people, both for.
eigners and natives, all over China-is the
name given by the Chinese to the various
subt.e infues -es skicl, they imagine affect
the welfare Of Individuals aud families
The words mean "wind and water" and
seem to be applied primarily to the infu-
ences around the ancestral graves. If the
wind and water about grave be favorable,
the bones will be long in decomposing, the
spirit of the ancestor will be peaceful, and
his blessing will be given to the family. If
anything disturb these influences, the wrath
of the ancestor is provoked, and instead of
blessing he sends curse. Anything un-
usual, of course, affects these influences, ac-
cording to the imagination of the people,
As an evidence of the strong hold this su-
perstition has on all classes, | might men.
ton an instance that occurred in Shanghai
not long since. The foreign community in
that city were very desirious Of having
telegraph erected to connect the city with a
point on the coast, from which they could
get early intelligence of the arrival of yes.
sells from sea. In order to affect this, the
foreign consuls united in a request to the
chief official for permission to construct the
telegraph. The official replied in writing,
refusing the request, and for his reason
gravely stated that telegraph which some
persons had erected in another locality had
caused the death of number of people liv-
ing in the neghborhood! Such was the
effect oS the telegraph poles on the "feng-
shuy." We had an instance of the same
superstition among ourselves few days
since. Mr.. Converse, on his arrival, in put
ting up kitchen-stove, ran out his stove
pipe so that it was seen by the neighbors.
The whole neighborhood was put in fer
ment. The stove-pipe was going to bring
all the good influences over to our side, while
the bad influences descended on them. The
proprietor of the house we rent waited on
Mr.. Inslee, to expostulate about the pipe;
but meanwhile the neighbors across the way
made provision for their own safety. They
purchased very ferce-looking little tiger,
made of wood and mud, and mounted him
on the edge of the roof confronting Mr..
Converse's pipe. This allayed the excite.
ment. The tiger was believed to be match
for the stove-pipe, and the "feng. shuy'
would be guarded from disturbance. By
day and by night he displays his fangs
against the roof of Mr.. Converses kitchen,
and all is safe. These instances will readily
show why We feel that great caution is needed
in putting up the mission buildings. 1t is
our study to avoid as far as possible every
thing that may alarm the people, while at
the same time we provide suitable buildings.
1t is, of course, very difficult to say what
may or may not offend their prejudces, and
our trust can only be in Him who controls
all the workings of mems minds according
to his gracious will. We hope to have the
school-buildings and residences finished be-
fore the hot weather of next summer.
All the members of the mission here are
well, as were also the brethren in Gu tsiu at
the time we last heard from them. They
would no doubt join me in Christian greet
ings to you, if they knew was writing. 1
beg you, and through you our Christian
brethren at home, to pray for US.
I send you with this little tract, in the
Mandarin, which [ prepared last spring when
1 was studying that dialect, and had pub
lished We were in need of something of
the kind at the time, which led me to ven-
ture on the publication, though l did so with
much diffdence. The tract though has
proved to be good Chinese and acceptable to
the people. One Of the English missiona.
res here, after showing it to his native help
ers, asked leave to print some copies for his
own use; and the brethren at Gu.tsiu wrote
me that they had not put anything in the
hands of the people there which seemed to
be read with more satisfaction. So | feel
glad that made bold to print.
WHICH WAS OF THE MOST PRoFIT?-A rich
nobleman, on showing friend his large COL
lection of precious stones and gems that had