The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1890-08-22
LATTER FROM Dp. JAMES N.
NEAL

Tsoo NHWANd, OhlhA, MAY 90, iooV'
MY DEAR MOTHER:
Here we are at this Interior station OF
the American Board about 80 miles from
Che nan foo, waiting for Mr.. Murrsy's
wheel-barrow, which he promised 10 have
here for us by this morning at latest, but
which up to this hour, O'Clock, has failed
to appear. We are very much disappoint-
ed at the delay, as we are more than anxi :
Gus TO get to our destination before II get g
any hotter. We got away from Tientsin
a week ago last Thursday by native boat,
like the one wrote father from, going up
TO lung Cho, and with my trunk, one sea
trunk, bags, lunch baskets, a small table,
a stool and rocking chair, 1t is so close and
crowded as to be rather confning on a
rainy day, and woefully hot when the sun
shines. We were delayed at Tientsin near
| ly a day after we were ready to leave ow-
ing to mistake In my passport which had
to be corrected, and after we got started
we had such stray head winds and q day
Of rain, that we had most tedious, tire
some trip, not reaching this place for dis
embarkation until BON OF last Saturday
We had accompanying us another boat
| carrying some Of our household goods. By
the time we had gotten most of our goods
packed on wheelbarrows, and the rest stor-
ed away to await future o-ders 1t was half
past six In the evening, but notwiths Ia nd
ing the lsteness of the hour we determined
IN fol 20 I n
Ii is of mile as we were both so sick
Of our boat, and of the fuss and worry con-
pected with moving our things that we
were anxious to get away from foreigners
| and spend quiet, comfortable Sunday
We had very plucky mule and good
natured carter, and moonlight until Md
night, but the man lost his way 80 often it
was one O'Clock in the morning when we
reached here very tired indeed but glad to
get to bed in a foreign home, away from
such close contact with the Chinese. Mrs.
Murray had invited us TO stay with her,
and even at that unreasonable hour gave
us warm welcome. She Is one Of our
missionaries ip Che nan foo, but staying
hCiC hCCpluA houoV hoi Ihis
and Mrs. Smith who are at Shanghai at
tending missionary conference. BY morn
ing we were somewhat rested and prepar-
ed to enjoy very pleasant, quiet Sabbath {,
in marked contrast to our two last Sum-
days, which were both spent on native
boats. know Of nothing more dreary y
than Sunday on a house boat anchored
to a canal bank, or in a Chinese Inn, so
that yesterday was all the more refreshing
in comparison with our previous exper en- =
ces. While at Pang Chwang we were
entertained at lunch and dinner by DR. 4.
and Mrs. Mcclure. Mrs. Mcclure was form
erly Mrs. Baird Of Canton, and DR.. Nc =
Clure Scotchmsn of about my own age,
who belongs to the Canadian Presbyterian n
Mission. They are both very pleasant. Z.
His mission is having very tedious,
wesrisome time trying to secure foot
hold In Korean, and the prospects are far
from bright for the future, as the people,
or rather the officials, are very uch op-
posed to them and anxious to prevent
their getting in at all. Horcsn is said to
be one of the most hostile provinces in
China, to foreigners. This station Of Pang
Chwang is unique among mission stations,
being located in village Of probably less
than thousand inhabitants Qnstead Of in
a city, as is usually the case) ri ,ht In the
midst Of this great plain of China. We
did not see the sign Of a hill in all our trip
.: oh al
the way here, and here nothing but u fiat
surface everywhere is to be seen. All the
work Of this station lies around within
easy reach, the farthest being only 80 miles
away, a moderate days journey; their
membership amounts to four ,undred. All
their foreign buildings are together in one
compound. there being three foreign one
story dwelling houses, a church, and dis.
pensary aud hospital; the medical work
being very large, the people coming long
distances for treatment. There are regu =
| larly two doctors stationed here, beside
several other missionaries, among them
two sisters, the Misses Wychoff, VIII O
| came out nearly three years ago. We
| shall not now get to Che nan foo before
Thursday, and if the barrow is delayed
or we have rain, not until later. We ART
getting very tired of traveliu J, our expert
ence in coming up stream in house boa
being most wearisome. The heat during
the first three days from Tientsin was mos
excessive but was moderated by rain OF
Monday, our progress was so slow WI
seemed TO be fairly crawling, the wine
being favorable only one day. We have
been gone now forty Que days from Tuni
Chow and only thirteen have been entirei.
free from travel, 2S we have travelled eithe
more or less, except two Sundays.