The Holt County sentinel. (Oregon, Mo.) 1883-1980, 1895-05-31
LAND OF CONFUCIUS.
Miss Fanny Meyer Writes About the
Land of the Almond-Eyed.
CHAPTER IN,

Land of the Almond-Eyed.
CHAPTER ~
fANGTsE RIVER, China, Mch ~, 1892.
! scarcely know what | wrote. nor
wnat did not write in MY las, l-ti.., 50
u repeat l know you will pai,vn IT,
l did not mail you letter al The place
! promised to, as We reached there
sooner than We expected. You ought
to have seen the way We sailed along for
several days last week. We broke the
record IN time and Ii, pronounced lee,
and 1t takes about three OF them to
make mlie) We made 800 II ia two
days. This distance 10 the same time
has never been made before by any
party that has gone up the river The
average distance made by these house
boats is 80 or 81 Ii per day. 1t was
very strong up wind which took US
along at such a rate. 1t was very nice
for the crackers, as they could rest as
long as the wind and sails were taking
us along. Since it is all over and there
were no accidents it Is very nice to be
this much farther on our way, but we
would much prefer spending a few more
days on the journey than to be taken
along by such a strong wind, for had
anything happened, it would have been
very dangerous.
l did feel SO sorry for dear Mrs.
Lewis and Miss Ford; it made them SO
very nervous and :hey were SO frigh.en-
ed; yes, l was nervous and frightened
too sometimes, but was really sur
prised at myself that was as calm as
l was through 1t all. Helen was the
bravest one Oh our boat and even she
was frightened one night when our boat
came nearly getting loose from shore
and IN few more minutes would have
been out in the river and going down
stream; We were all in bed and Just |
about asleep when We heard a great |
commotion outside; the men jumped |
up and worked very nard until they had |
US safely anchored again. We generally |
anchor where they can tie or fasten to |
large ROCKS. but this night 1t happened |
to be sandy bank and the wind blowing
quite gale, 1t is no wonder the stakes |
were lOOsened. Helen was where she
could look out OF the window and See
proceedings and SO she was more fright
ened than We.
There has not been much wind this
week. SO We have gone along very
smoothly with the crackers. We had a
nice long walk yesterday morning and
some of them were out for walk this
afternoon. We have been out of the
gOrges for nearly a week. Ne are still
IN mountainous country and will be all
the way, but they are not nearly SO
high as IN the gorges. 1t seemed as
soon as We were out OF the gorges and {
higher mountain ranges, spring was
right upon us; everything is green with
vegetation and the cherry, peach and [
| other fruit trees in bloom, and yester {
day | saw some wheat nearly headed.
The poppy fields, Of which there are {
great many, are beginning TO blossom; I
it will be most beautiful sight when &
the fields are covered with these bios. i
SONS, but,the beauty ia taken away when {
We stop to think and know for what c
purpose they are raised. o, the curse, | I
the terrible curse that opium ia to I
China! The captain Tor laban as he is q
called) OF this loaf, is such an opium 6
smoker that he spends most of his time o
in his room in the back part of the boat, v
smoking this vile drug. He is the CAP b
tain in name, but his wife, who is an I
exception for Chinese woman, is the t
captain 10 reality; she evidently under g
stands managing boat and has great Ii
executive ability; fit greatly amuse a
us at first to hear her giving orders; I
she has been very kind aud thoughtful e
OF US. Helen calls her General Sheri- v
DAN 1t is true, che does a great deal q
towards managing the boat, but the
as they know the river and understand
just how the sail and other parts OF the 4
boat are to be managed. f.
We call the pilot our "sunshine;" he a
has the sunniest face of any Chinaman c
have ever seen. When We have cause II
Tor think We have) for alarm, it is almost a
enough to calm our fear just to look out Il
at his smiling face; he is always SO cain II
and smiling through it all. z,
Thursday a. m. 1t is beautiful day q
We are glad for the warm sunshine, as d
We have had some quite cool and cloudy Of
days. l wish there was some way to o,
give you an idea OF the beautiful and Il
varied scenery We are having all along
the way. but it beggars description; you in
just can't imagine how beautiful 1t is to T
see these low mountain ranges, all green M
with vegetation and the blooming fruit d;
trees with their link and white bios ii
SONS scattered here and there, on some fo
OF these mountains; it seems that every "
shade OF green imaginable is presented
yellow mustard flowers interspersed q
among the different shades of green, it
only adds to the scene; now try to pic. G.
ture this scene il you can and then look &c
over and right beyond this range to a
much higher range, the peaks OF which
are covered with snow. Just such scenes
We had all day one day last week. As
| stood out on the front part Of the boat a as
towards evening the scene that pre- pre
sented itself, am sure shall never for III
get, and the feeling that came over me ga
as l stood there and tried to drink in or .,
he beauty of it all. Yes, l longed to y! ~
Do poet and artist both, that I might ~
put it IN words as we'll as on canvass, | pa
thought Of you and wished for you to 10
zee it. M
du
The yellow patches spoke OF are not tn
ust the same as our mustard. They fal
aise it for making oil for their cooking u,t
md for burning 10 lamps Their peas de
hat are in bloom now are the colors Of at
he sweet peas at home. / saw the pa
ueerest looking beans in bloom; OF VII
curse | didn't know what they were. as pli
hey don't resemble our beans in the vii
east, and said o, what are these? Rev. me
-ewis was right back OF me and replied, vii
you don't know beans." l tell him that
shall certainly have to get even with
i'm for getting off such pun on me.
soc nave uieutiOueu WI. Lewis ana PR
aven't told you how he came to be M,
nth us; he and his two children Nellie, f.
ged ID, add Raymond, 9, came down m,
rom Chung King last week to meet c;a
nd go US with US the rest OF the way; his
is wife, Mrs, Lewis. has been with US IN
ii the time; she met us at Shanghai. ill,
he has been away from home since r.
Dec. LIST. / am SO glad they came, as am
lrs. L. was getting go anxious to see anI
hem. They left Chung King last
thursday and met US Saturday 3 p. m the
will take us over a week to make this TOO
anne distance up the river. Mr.. Lewis Yea
J the Supt, Of our West China Mission. In,
le and Mrs. j. are both overworked wh
nd ought to go home for a rest, but yar
hey feel as it they cannot give up the noe
Ork. There is something wonderful the
bout this missionary work. for with all in
10 many discouragements. each worker our
,ems to be SO attached to his or her nor
Ia :.