The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1885-07-31

south some thirty or forty miles, visiting
several walled cities, and return by dif-
ferent route, taking in on our way back
some hot springs, which lie southeast from
Tungchow. This morning we started out
together in our chairs and after q short
visit in Tai Chowfoo, city noted for It's
curious carvings in soapstone, which are
made exclusively here, we pursued our
way southwark taking In on our trip sew
| eral large marble quarries from which the
Chinese get out good deal OF very nice
stone, which they, however, have no means
of polishing being confined in their efforts
ot ornamentation to the carving OF gro
tesquc figures, dragon heads, etc. To-day
as we have journeyed along through the
villages we have been objects Of great in
tcrest to the natives who always flock about
us whenever we set our chairs down in
village street TO rest our men, and are very
much interested in everything about us,
especially our foreign clothes and shoes.
This, of course, gives good opportun-
ity of saying few words to them and Mr..
Pruitt has several times to-day preached TO
the crowd who came about us. They,
however, are extremely ignorant and have
little idea what we foreigners are talking
about when we tell them of this Gospel we
came to preach. They are always inter-
ested when they find out that one of us is
a doctor and crowd will gather in very
few minutes If happen to look at some
little boys sore finger or lame leg. |, how
eyer, brought no medicine with me as |
came away for little rest from my daily
Dispensary practice at home, so | have
nothing to give them.
JUNE 10Th
We have been going so constantly the
last few days and getting settled in our
inns so late in the evening that have had
no chance to write any since last Friday
and it is now Wednesday and we are stop.
ping for our last night, 30 miles from
home, hoping to reach there in time for
supper tomorrow night. Our Sunday we
spent at Ping Du, 1l3 miles from Tung-
chow, resting quietly, talking to the people
who came to our inn, and toward evening
going out for little preaching on the
street, the people being very attentive and
willing to listen.
Monday we travelled all day through
pretty, but not very fertile country, with
| lovely hills in sight all the time and Tues
| day we were among the hills and in the
sandy river bottoms most OF the day.
reaching the city where the hot springs are
| situated between nine and ten this morning.
We went Immediately and had bath,
| finding the water, which is sulphurous,
and very salty, most delightful for bathing
when sufficiently cooled it being hot
enough to boil eggs as it issues from the
spring. We saw number of people cook
ing their vegetables in the stream as it
| flowed away. After our bath we hurried
on without taking time to go inside the city
walls, the springs being in a suburb, the
city itself having reputation of being a
very shabby, poor sort of place. During
the afternoon we Travelled over and among
some of the most beautiful hills l have
ever seen, rocky and rugged, their bare,
ness relieved somewhat, however, by a
growth of stunted pine. We have no for.
ests here and we miss them very much in
deed, most of the hills being very bleak
| and bare.
| JUNE 11Tu.
Here we are again at the place where
began my letter ten days ago, only a few
miles from hope. We have had a ho
days travel to-day of twenty odd miles
with several still left over a very rough
road before reaching Tungchow.
And now | must close my letter which
has been written very disjointedly at ode
times sometimes in my chair, sometimes
by the roadside and at others in dark Chi
nese inns. But possibly your readers ma,
be interested in knowing something of how
we get about and what we see in the bacl
interior parts Of this peculiar country; a
all events hope you will not be bored b
my letter which has become longer tina
had intended il to be.
Very truly yours,
JAMES B. NEAL.