The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1889-07-19
LETTERS FROM DIR. AND MRS.
The following interesting letters from DR..
James B. Neal and wife, who are in China,
were received by friends here recently
PDzRRo, 2t5 MILES N. w. OF CnEFoo,

were received by friends here recently
PIDzRKo 2t5 MmEs N. w. OF CnEFoo,
Tuesday Morning March 10, 1882
AS have a quiet hour this morning,
want to resume my regular weekly home
letters by telling you OF my trip out here,
having arrived at my journeys end only
yesterday afternoon.
AS you doubtless know, left Chefoo two
weeks ago yesterday morning, in company
with o Mr. Stoke, recently arrived mem
Der of the China Inland Mission, in order
to bring out 1900 taels of silver for use in
famine relief. We each had cart, with
about half the silver in each aud kept close
together all the time, being accompanied
by four soldiers armed with muskets and
under the command of small Officer. We
usually started as soon after daylight as
possible, and avoided travelling late into
the night as precaution for safety. | al
ways kept the silver in the room with me
at night and slept with loaded revolver at
my head, the soldiers not being far away.
1t was very interesting to Lille and me to
notice the system of changing horses which
prevails here In going from Chefoo to
Wei Hen, by the great road, you pass
through parts of six counties or Hen, and
each of these IIien had to furnish change
of horses to our escort. In speaking of the
Hien heretofore | have usually referred to
them as corresponding to our townships,
but the more | think Of it the more | feel
they should more properly be called coun-
ties, for the principal town in each Hien is
a large walled city corresponding in some
degree to our county scat, being the resi-
den"e of the principal magistrate of the
whole district, which is much larger in area
than our small townships, and much more
important. The village, perhaps, might be
said tN correspond to our township as it
has no organization of its own. We really
have nothing to correspond to a 'fu" or
prefecture, unless congressional district
might be said to do so.
Well, to return to the horses, each time
we came to Hien the officer in charge OF
our escort had to send to the yamen and
await change OF horses, and in case we
were to spend night inside the walls,
special guard was sent to watch over our
safety Sometimes, too, the magistrate sent
a couple of runners to swell orr escort up
to the next stage, though not always, some
times sending only a hosler to take back
the horses, This arrangement was not
special one for this occasion only, but is
constantly in force for the transmission of
messages between the various yamens.
Once on the great road we did not pass
near the Hien city but only across one cor
ner of the county, but we found horse
stable established on the road and changed
horses as usual, no one officer sending his
horses across the territory of another.
When we left the great western road at
Wei Hien and struck>olf toward this famine
region, we always had to go to Hien city
to change horses, even though it took us
out of our way as it did once or twice. We
had very comfortable journey out, finding
it pretty cold tor couple of days but after
that quite bearable. We reached Wei len
Saturday evening, expecting to spend sun
day, but on receipt of letters from Mr..
Laughlin, urging the speedy sending of
money for the starving people, Mr.. Stoke
and | got out our carts again and travelled
10 miles on Sunday afternoon, leaving Lille
| to follow in company with Mr.. Frank Chal-
fant on Wednesday. After tedious trip
of three days we reached this station on
Wednesday afternoon and delivered hall
our silver to Mr.. Laughlin for the use Of
the Presbyterian distributors, and also l50C
taels for use of the English Baphsts " he
| adjoin us on the west. The next morning
we divided our escort, Mr.. Laughlin anC
Mr., SIooke taking two soldiers with then
to carry "A lot of silver to a city some twent!
miles away, and l having two soldiers ant
the officer to go with me to Cningchowfoo
two days journey distant. Thursday morn
ing | started off in a single cart and reach
ed Chingchowfoo Friday evening abou
dark without mishap, where delivered tn
remaining 5000 taels to the English Bap
list Mission. Here | dismissed my escor
and after a night spent at Mr.. Forsyth
started back at daylight Saturday morning
hoping to be able to reach here, where
had agreed to meet Lille, some time du,
ing Saturday night. But alas for my plea,
ure, got up in the morning to find it drii
cling and miserably raw and cold. uov
ever started, hoping we might be ablc I
pull through the l40 Ii before midnigh
Outside the city walls we found the win
blowing gale from the northeast whiC
made it very disagreeable travelling. AftC
struggling along until o'clock it began I
snow, and the wind increased TO almost
, hurricane so that | thought it too bad
ask the carter, who had to sit outside,
drive any further, so ordered him to tul
/ into the first inn he came to unfortunate
that proved to be a little bit of countI
! place, with great cracks in the doors of Il
room | occupied, and in general mo
, chcerless and desolate. Never were II
( Sabbath keeping principles put to so hai
a test as when | turned intO that wretchc
place, 90 Ii from where Lille was to spcr
Y Sunday 1t was so cold | stayed in bt
= Sunday morning until nearly II O'clock
A keep warm and also to get rested, as hi
+ been up long before daylight every NOR
i ing except Sunday for two weeks. Bfo
c | got through my breakfast aud dovoti)
s visitors began to come in and | had
t chance to do little talking in a rcligio
n way. This, with a walk and my eating Al
c reading, managed TO use up the day viii
was very raw cold one and by half pa
i seven was again in bed.
n Monday morning got up to find it sp
| ting snow and the farther we went t
l. worse it became until it proved one of t
q hardest storms of the season. My cart
i however, persevered and by half past t,
Al in the afternoon landed here to find Lii
n all alone, Mr., and Mrs Laughlin bei
}, away at station 20 Ii distant. They {
h not get back uatl Tuesday morning 80
D. had nice quiet time together and ha,
r chance to take a much needed bath
40 day, Wednesday, Lille and got t,
- place called Shanghai Taoko, % Ii fir,
d here, to assis. DIR. Hunter in his rel
C | work and Lille TO work amono tho yvon,