New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-01-30
A MISSIONARY BACK FROM KIAO-CHlU.
HE WAS THE FIRST EUROPEAN THERE-LIvEB
AND DRESSED LIKE CHINAMAN
From The Chicago Inter Ocean.

AND DRESSED LIKE CFiTNAMAN
From The Chicago Inter Ocean.
The Rev Carl Vingren is the first European
who ever lived in Kiao-Chau. He went there
as a missionary shaved his head. wore queue
dressed like a Chinaman. and lived with ths
Chinese seeking 10 convert them 10 Chilstahily
At present Mr.. Nngren is helping the pastor
Of the First Swedish Baptist Church. In Elm
ST. to conduct a revival meeting. He is young
man with handsome head Of hair, when pears
no traces Of the head-shayins ne mas gohe
through-unless it's unusual luxurlance may "a
due 10 ii. 81.
The country about Kao- Chau is undoubtedly
rich in minerals" he said. though very niue
IS known about them. Ii Hung Chang opened
a gold mine about eighty miles from the Day
some time ago. and two Americans VINO were
there said il was extraordinarily rich, but ii
Hung was obliged to close up the mine aSaln
on account Of the superstition Of the natives
and their ancestor worship. They believe thai
the spirits Of their forefathers nave charse
OF all valuables in the ground, and are airaiu
that mining Will anger them ana Drlhs CALAMITY
For that reason none Of the extensive coal
deposits are worked and as there IS no wood IN
China proper-eXcept a little in the western
pari-they chiefly use for fuel the stalk OF a
plan, resembling sugar cane the grain OF which
they eat c..
back Even the educated ones consider it the
best kind OF religion II is a part OF Confucian-
ism Taoism and Buddhism. 1t is similar TO the
ancestor worship OF the Romans out goes sOou
deal further: they not only feel veneration for
departed spirits, but a terrible fear OF Offending
them. -,
"When asked educated Cinnamon If they did
not think the railroad from Tien-Tsin INTO
Nanchuria (where the Russians are coming IN
a good thing they would answer, on. yes but
when l became better acquainted with them,
they would admit that they were AFRAID the
railroads running over the graves or the ieao
would disturb them and bring misfortune.
You remember about that railroad which was
built in Shanghai twenty years ago Dy lD'e,s,i,
ers After il was done the Chinese asked to
buy H. and the builders sold II, thinking they
were becoming civilized and were learning me
advantages OF railroads But as soon as the
Chinese got possession II the road they tore up
the tracks and threw the whole thing INTO the
sea to appease the wrath Of the dead
The fort which the Germans have seized Is
forty miles from the town Of KiaO-Chau. The
bav I'D by the city is shallow, 50 that merchan-
disc has 10 be brought to the city on lighters,
but just opposite the fort is deep MET when
is "A splendid harbor Altogether they nave
chosen a magnificent place, ana there IS no
doubt that they will keep hold OF IT, II IS
the best position from Shanghai 10 I1en-Isln.
THE climate Is clear and exhilaratlng. not not
and opuressive as in Shanghai The land is
beautifully cultivated-like a garden; you never
sec a weed in the field. and the population is
dense. When travelling through the country be-
tween I.ai- Yank and kiao- Chau you are always
within sight of from twenty-five TO thirty towns
Of from two thousand TO twenty thousand lnhan-
itants. and this from the plain not from mn.
In other words. you are continually IN slsh' OF d
hundred thousand people.
"The country people are fine specimens. strong
physically and with possibilities ~ intellectual
strength The men can generally read ara
write some # the commOner characters OF their
language The women. Of course. have no edu-
cation. . ,
The three religions Of China are Buddhism,
Taoisw and Confuciansm. Buddhists ana
Taoists worship idols. Confucius revived and
fixed ancestor worship The people make an
cesfor tables. on which they write the names
Of the spirits they wish To keep in the tables.
and then. before them. they burn incense ana
a kind II paper money which is supposed 10 be
th,. money Of the spirit world. They also burn
clothes and beautiful paper houses, on some
II which they spend A years work. FORMER
| 'nited States Consul at Shanghai who had been
a missionary many years. estimated that the
value II the offerings burned o. ancestors
amounted 10 S2uptHbopn yearly.
Il was In kiao-Chau in lN2 ana lN93 ana
opened the first mission station. dressed Just
like them and lived regularly with them. nope
some day 10 20 back 10 China. but my health
broke down completely though | was unusually
strong when | went there. \ European cannot
eat their food and keep his health. My digestion
was ruined. this has not only been my eAperi-
ence but that II all who have tried H. Then,
having the head shaved Is very disagreeaple,
and I'm winter makes one catch cold easily. l
had a queue eighteen inches long When came
q" ay.