The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1871-12-20
From the Missionary.
The City of Huchow.

The mission in China have had under considera.
ton for some time past the question of changing
the station at Gu tsiu to Huchow. The following
is an account of visit to the latter city by Rev.
Messrs Stuart and Houston:
Huchow lies about forty-Gve miles northwest Of
Hangchow and in order to reach it. it was neces
sary for us to turn out of our course at Cha-hng,
large city which we expected to pass in the night;
and before lying down, we agreed with our boat
men, for slight consideration, to change their
course there and travel route they never had
travelled over
We reached Huchoy in the night, and Thursday
morning our boatmenN asked us whether we would
remain in the boat and enter the city by the canal
gate, Or go in on foot by the large south gate just
! below us. We decided on the latter course but
before going into the city, we went to the top of
large stone bridge just opposite the gate, whence
we got a good view CT the city. Here quite a
number of people gathered around us. and we sold
several books among them. Their dialect was hard
to understand but when we learned that they we're
from the country we were not surprised for their
speech is always more uncouth than that of city
people,
With good supply of books we entered the
city. We first had to pass under about twenty
carved stone monuments erected at short distances
over the street in honor of distinguished men,
The houses and shops along the street for some
distance we're few and small, but we soon reached
a point where the houses were large and business
seemed to be brisk; and then we passed along
what appeared to be their principal market street
The stores contained all kinds of provisions-fresb
meat, hardware furniture, ETC., and the stands at
the street corners were loaded with fruit, vegeta
bles fish, and fowls.
About the middle of the street we had to pass
high arched bridge thrown over one of the ca
nals and the elevation gave US such view as to
convince US we were in no mean city But We had
no time to stop and talk to the crowd which gath
cred around US, as our FIRST object was to obtain as
far as possible correct information of the size and
importance Of the city. So we kept on our way
by the same street until we reached the outskirts,
where the houses were few. and the ruins were
many and the grass was growing In the street.
We occasionally stopped to say few words to the
people, and found them friendly and able to un
derstand us.
Towards one of the north gates there was large
pagoda in a good state of preservation, and we
hoped to climb to its top and get full view of the
city, but we were told that the stairway had been
destroyed by the rebels. There were other evil
dences Of their visit to the city, In its ruined houses
and deserted streets
We next went to the north gate, and, passing
through it, found a thrifty village which indicated
that an important trade was carried on in that di-
rection.
w men we TCtuTUcu lUIue CITY, we WGuG Uu lOp vi
the wall and walked around to the east gate. This
was about mile, aud gave US good view Of the
country. We supposed that the wall was about
five miles in circumference. There were two canals
in the city crowded with boats, while they seemed
to lead off in all directions outside the walls We
could see the sails Of the boats off in the distance.
The city is situated in large, fertile plain, in the
midst of the silk district.
We were told that the street leading from the
cast gate was the great street of the city, and
we next walked up it. After passing the thinly
settled part of the street, we came to part where
the stores seemed to be as handsome as those in
Hangchow Handsome black signs with gilded
letters hung at the doors, and rich goods-such as
silk, cloth, fans, chinaware, etc.-were displayed
within. Everything indicated wealth and pros
perity
We now began to sell our books, which we had
withheld up to this time that we might get a cor
rect idea of the city. The people listened with
apparent attention while we tried to make known
the story Of the Cross, and many Of them bought
our books Sometimes large crowds gathered
around u.s. but we were everywhere treated with
civility, and hope that our abors not in vain.
But the day was very warm and towards noon
we began to feel sensations in the head which
warned US that it was time to seek rest and shelter
from the sun. So we returned to our boat aud set
out for Haugchow.
Our route at first led through beautiful little
lake of clear water, and then continued through
broad canal on each side of which were many
groves of the finest mulberry trees we had seen in
China. The whole country seemed to be rich and
prosperous, and the scenery was often very beauti-
ful. We passed through several small villages,
and about dusk passed one Of about ten thousand
inhabitants. After dark we were hailed from the
shore by men claiming to be custom officers,
but our boatmen said that they were robbers try;
ing to decoy them to shore. They boldly refused
to submit and we were not molested. We per-
formed the rest Of our journey without accident or
incident, and reached Hangehow Friday at noon.
We were deeply impressed with the Importance
of Huchow as a missionary station, and could not
but lament that so many cities and villages IN that
region were without the light Of the gospel, and
we have no one to send among them. But though
we would SO rejoice to see station opened at HUI
chow, We do not feel that it would be right to give
up the station at Gu-tsiu, because we are there
holding forth the light in dark place, and it is