MAN PROPOSES, GOD DISPOSES
IT is interesting to notice the various events which united, in the
providence of GOD, in preventing my return to Swatow, and ultimately led
to my settling in Ningpo, and making that the centre for the development
of future labours.
Upon reaching Shanghai, great was my dismay to find that the premises in
which my medicines and instruments had been stored were burnt down, and
that all the medicines and many of the instruments were entirely
destroyed. To me this appeared a great calamity, and I fear I was more
disposed with faithless Jacob to say, "All these things are against me,"
than to recognise that "All things work together for good." I had not
then learned to think of GOD as the One Great Circumstance "in Whom we
live, and move, and have our being"; and of _all_ lesser, external
circumstances, as necessarily the kindest, wisest, best, because either
ordered or permitted by Him. Hence my disappointment and trial were very
great.
Medicines were expensive in Shanghai, and my means were limited. I
therefore set out on an inland journey to Ningpo, hoping to obtain a
supply from Dr. William Parker, a member of the same mission as myself.
I took with me my few remaining possessions, the principal being my
watch, a few surgical instruments, a concertina, books for the study of
Chinese, which in those days were very expensive; but left behind in
Shanghai a portion of my money.
The country through which I had to pass was suffering much from drought;
it was the height of summer; and the water in the Grand Canal was very
low, having been largely drawn upon for the neighbouring rice fields, as
well as evaporated by the intense heat. I had determined to make the
journey as much of a mission tour as possible, and set out well supplied
with Christian tracts and books. After fourteen days spent in travelling
slowly through the populous country, preaching and distributing books,
etc., we reached a large town called Shih-mun-wan, and here, finding
that my supply of literature was exhausted, I determined not to linger
over the rest of the journey, but to reach Ningpo as speedily as
possible, _viâ_ the city of Hai-ning.
_August 4th, 1856._
There was no water beyond Shih-mun-wan, so I paid off my boat, hired
coolies to carry my things as far as to Chang-gan, and ere sunrise we
were on the way. I walked on alone, leaving my servant to follow with
the men, who made frequent stoppages to rest; and on reaching a city
through which we had to pass, I waited for them in a tea-shop just
outside the North Gate. The coolies came on very slowly, and seemed
tired when they arrived. I soon found that they were both opium-smokers,
so that, although they had only carried a load that one strong man would
think nothing of taking three times the distance, they really seemed
wearied.
After some rice and tea and an hour's rest--including, I doubt not, a
smoke of the opium pipe--they were a little refreshed, and I proposed
moving on, that we might get to Chang-gan before the sun became too
powerful. My servant, however, had a friend in the city, and he desired
to spend the day there, and to go on next morning. But to this I
objected, wishing to reach Hai-ning that night if possible. . . . We
therefore set off, entered the North Gate, and had passed through about
a third of the city, when the coolies stopped to rest, and said they
should be unable to carry the burden on to Chang-gan. Finally, they
agreed to take it to the South Gate, where they were to be paid in
proportion to the distance they had carried it; and the servant
undertook to call other coolies and come along with them.
I walked on before as in the first instance, and the distance being only
about four miles, soon reached Chang-gan, and waited their arrival,
meanwhile engaging coolies for the rest of the journey to Hai-ning.
Having waited a long time, I began to wonder at the delay; and at length
it became too late to finish the journey to Hai-ning that night. I felt
somewhat annoyed; and but that my feet were blistered, and the afternoon
very hot, I should have gone back to meet them and urge them on. At last
I concluded that my servant must have gone to his friend's, and would
not appear until evening. But evening came, and still there was no sign
of them.
Feeling very uneasy, I began diligently to inquire whether they had been
seen. At last a man responded, "Are you a guest from Shih-mun-wan?" I
answered in the affirmative. "Are you going to Hai-ning?" "That is my
destination." "Then your things have gone on before you; for I was
sitting in a tea-shop when a coolie came in, took a cup of tea, and set
off for Hai-ning in a great hurry, saying that the bamboo box and bed he
carried, which were just such as you describe yours to have been, were
from Shih-mun-wan, and he had to take them to Hai-ning to-night, where
he was to be paid at the rate of ten cash a pound." From this I
concluded that my goods were on before me; but it was impossible to
follow them at once, for I was too tired to walk, and it was already
dark.
Under these circumstances all I could do was to seek a lodging for the
night; and no easy task I found it. After raising my heart to GOD to ask
His aid, I walked through to the farther end of the town, where I
thought the tidings of a foreigner's being in the place might not have
spread, and looked out for an inn. I soon came to one, and went in,
hoping that I might pass unquestioned, as it was already dark. Asking
the bill of fare, I was told that cold rice--which proved to be more
than "rather burnt"--and snakes, fried in lamp-oil, were all that could
be had. Not wishing any question to be raised as to my nationality, I
was compelled to order some, and tried to make a meal, but with little
success.
While thus engaged I said to the landlord, "I suppose I can arrange to
spend the night here?"
To which he replied in the affirmative; but bringing out his book, he
added--
"In these unsettled times we are required by the authorities to keep a
record of our lodgers: may I ask your respected family name?"
"My unworthy family name is Tai," I responded.
"And your honourable second name?"
"My humble name is Ia-koh" (James).
"What an extraordinary name! I never heard it before. How do you write
it?"
I told him, and added, "It is a common name in the district from which I
come."
"And may I ask whence you come and whither you are going?"
"I am journeying from Shanghai to Ningpo, by way of Hang-chau."
"What may be your honourable profession?"
"I heal the sick."
"Oh! you are a physician," the landlord remarked; and to my intense
relief closed the book. His wife, however, took up the conversation.
"You are a physician, are you?" said she; "I am glad of that, for I have
a daughter afflicted with leprosy. If you will cure her, you shall have
your supper and bed for nothing."
I was curious enough to inquire what my supper and bed were to cost, if
paid for; and to my amusement found they were worth less than
three-halfpence of our money!
Being unable to benefit the girl, I declined to prescribe for her,
saying that leprosy was a very intractable disease, and that I had no
medicines with me.
The mother, however, brought pen and paper, urging, "You can at least
write a prescription, which will do no harm, if it does no good."
But this also I declined to do, and requested to be shown my bed. I was
conducted to a very miserable room on the ground-floor, where, on some
boards raised upon two stools, I passed the night, without bed or
pillow, save my umbrella and shoe, and without any mosquito netting. Ten
or eleven other lodgers were sleeping in the same room, so I could not
take anything off, for fear of its being stolen; but I was, I found, by
no means too warm as midnight came on.
_August 5th._
As may be supposed, I arose but little rested or refreshed, and felt
very far from well. I had to wait a long time ere breakfast was
obtainable, and then there was another delay before I could get change
for the only dollar I had with me, in consequence of its being chipped
in one or two places. More than three hundred cash also were deducted
from its price on this account, which was a serious loss to me in my
trying position.
I then sought throughout the town for tidings of my servant and coolies,
as I thought it possible that they might have arrived later, or have
come on in the morning. The town is large, long, and straggling, being
nearly two miles from one end to the other, so this occupied some time.
I gained no information, however; and, footsore and weary, set out for
Hai-ning in the full heat of the day. The journey--about eight
miles--took me a long time; but a halfway village afforded a
resting-place and a cup of tea, both of which I gladly availed myself
of. When about to leave again, a heavy shower of rain came on, and the
delay thus occasioned enabled me to speak a little to the people about
the truths of the Gospel.
The afternoon was far spent before I approached the northern suburb of
Hai-ning, where I commenced inquiries, but could hear no tidings of my
servant or things. I was told that outside the East Gate I should be
more likely to hear of them, as it was there the sea-junks called. I
therefore proceeded thither, and sought for them outside the Little East
Gate, but in vain. Very weary, I sat down in a tea-shop to rest; and
while there a number of persons from one of the mandarin's offices came
in, and made inquiries as to who I was, where I had come from, etc. On
learning the object of my search, one of the men in the tea-shop said,
"A bamboo box and a bed, such as you describe, were carried past here
about half an hour ago. The bearer seemed to be going towards either the
Great East Gate or the South Gate; you had better go to the hongs there
and inquire." I asked him to accompany me in the search, and promised to
reward him for his trouble, but he would not. Another man offered to go
with me, so we set off together, and both inside and outside the two
gates made diligent inquiries, but all in vain. I then engaged a man to
make a thorough search, promising him a liberal reward if he should be
successful. In the meantime I had some dinner, and addressed a large
concourse of people who had gathered together.
When he returned, having met with no success, I said to him, "I am now
quite exhausted: will you help me to find quarters for the night, and
then I will pay you for your trouble?" He was willing to befriend me,
and we set off in search of lodgings. At the first place or two the
people would not receive me; for though on our first going in they
seemed willing to do so, the presence of a man who followed us, and who,
I found, was engaged in one of the Government offices, seemed to alarm
them, and I was refused. We now went to a third place, and being no
longer followed by the mandarin's messenger, we were promised quarters;
some tea was brought, and I paid the man who had accompanied me for his
trouble.
Soon after he was gone some official people came in; they soon went
away, but the result of their visit was that I was told I could not be
entertained there that night. A young man present blamed them for their
heartless behaviour, and said, "Never mind, come with me; and if we
cannot get better lodgings for you, you shall sleep at our house." I
went with him, but we found the people of his house unwilling to receive
me. Weary and footsore, so that I could scarcely stand, I had again to
seek quarters, and at length got promise of them; but a little crowd
collecting about the door, they desired me to go to a tea-shop and wait
there till the people had retired, or they would be unable to
accommodate me. There was no help for it, so I went, accompanied still
by the young man, and waited till past midnight. Then we left for the
promised resting-place; but my conductor would not find it, and he led
me about to another part of the city; and finally, between one and two
o'clock, he left me to pass the rest of the night as best I could.
I was opposite a temple, but it was closed; so I lay down on the stone
steps in front of it, and putting my money under my head for a pillow,
should soon have been asleep in spite of the cold had I not perceived a
person coming stealthily towards me. As he approached I saw he was one
of the beggars so common in China, and had no doubt his intention was to
rob me of my money. I did not stir, but watched his movements, and
looked to my FATHER not to leave me in this hour of trial. The man came
up, looked at me for some time to assure himself that I was asleep (it
was so dark that he could not see my eyes fixed on him), and then began
to feel about me gently. I said to him in the quietest tone, but so as
to convince him that I was not, nor had been, sleeping, "What do you
want?" He made no answer, but went away.
I was very thankful to see him go, and when he was out of sight put as
much of my cash as would not go into my pocket safely up my sleeve, and
made my pillow of a stone projection of the wall. It was not long ere I
began to doze, but I was aroused by the all but noiseless footsteps of
two persons approaching; for my nervous system was rendered so sensitive
by exhaustion that the slightest noise startled me. Again I sought
protection from Him who alone was my stay, and lay still as before, till
one of them came up and began to feel under my head for the cash. I
spoke again, and they sat down at my feet. I asked them what they were
doing; they replied that they, like me, were going to pass the night
there. I then requested them to take the opposite side, as there was
plenty of room, and leave this side to me; but they would not move from
my feet, so I raised myself up and set my back against the wall.
They said, "You had better lie down and sleep; if you do not, you will
be unable to walk to-morrow. Do not be afraid; we shall not leave you,
and will see that no one hurts you."
"Listen to me," I replied. "I do not want your protection; I need it
not; I am not a Chinese; I do not worship your senseless, helpless
idols. I worship GOD; He is my FATHER; I trust in Him. I know well what
you are, and what your intentions are, and shall keep my eye on you, and
shall not sleep."
On this, one of them went away, but soon returned with a third
companion. I felt very uneasy, but looked to GOD for help. Once or twice
one of them got up to see if I was asleep. I only said, "Do not be
mistaken; I am not sleeping." Occasionally my head dropped, and this was
a signal for one of them to rise; but I at once roused myself and made
some remark. As the night slowly passed on, I felt very weary; and to
keep myself awake, as well as to cheer my mind, I sang several hymns,
repeated aloud some portions of Scripture, and engaged in prayer in
English, to the great annoyance of my companions, who seemed as if they
would have given anything to get me to desist. After that they troubled
me no more; and shortly before dawn of day they left me, and I got a
little sleep.
_August 6th._
I was awakened by the young man who had so misled me on the previous
evening. He was very rude, and insisted on my getting up and paying him
for his trouble, and even went so far as to try to accomplish by force
what he wanted. This roused me; and in an unguarded moment, with very
improper feeling, I seized his arm with such a grasp as he little
expected I was capable of, and dared him to lay a finger upon me again
or to annoy me further. This quite changed his manner; he let me quietly
remain till the guns announced the opening of the gates of the city, and
then he begged me to give him some money to buy opium with. It is
needless to say this was refused. I gave him the price of two candles,
that he said he had burnt while with me last night and no more. I
learned he was connected with one of the mandarin's offices.
As soon as possible, I bought some rice gruel and tea for breakfast, and
then once more made a personal search after my things. Some hours thus
spent proving unavailing, I set out on the return journey, and after a
long, weary, and painful walk reached Chang-gan about noon. Here also my
inquiries failed to give me any trace of the missing goods; so I had a
meal cooked in a tea-shop, got a thorough wash and bathed my inflamed
feet, and after dinner rested and slept till four in the afternoon.
Much refreshed, I then set on to return to the city, at the South Gate
of which I had parted with my servant and coolies two days before. On
the way I was led to reflect on the goodness of GOD, and recollected
that I had not made it a matter of prayer that I might be provided with
lodgings last night. I felt condemned, too, that I should have been so
anxious for my few things, while the many precious souls around me had
caused so little emotion. I came as a sinner and pleaded the blood of
JESUS, realising that I was accepted in Him--pardoned, cleansed,
sanctified--and oh the love of JESUS, how great I felt it to be! I knew
something more than I had ever previously known of what it was to be
despised and rejected, and to have nowhere to lay one's head; and I felt
more than ever I had done before the greatness of that love which
induced Him to leave His home in glory and suffer thus for me; nay, to
lay down His very life upon the Cross. I thought of Him as "despised and
rejected of men, a Man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief"; I thought
of Him at Jacob's well, weary, hungry, and thirsty, yet finding it His
meat and drink to do His Father's will; and contrasted this with my
littleness of love. I looked to Him for pardon for the past, and for
grace and strength to do His will in the future, to tread more closely
in His footsteps, and be more than ever wholly His. I prayed for myself,
for friends in England, and for my brethren in the work. Sweet tears of
mingled joy and sorrow flowed freely, the road was almost forgotten, and
before I was aware of it I had reached my destination. Outside the South
Gate I took a cup of tea, asked about my lost luggage, and spoke of the
love of JESUS. Then I entered the city, and after many vain inquiries
left it by the North Gate.
I felt so much refreshed both in mind and body by the communion I had on
my walk to the city that I thought myself able to finish the remaining
six miles back to Shih-mun-wan that evening. First I went into another
tea-shop to buy some native cakes, and was making a meal of them when
who should come in but one of the identical coolies who had carried my
things the first stage. From him I learned that after I left them they
had taken my luggage to the South Gate; there my servant went away,
saying on his return that I had gone on, that he did not intend to start
at once, but would spend the day with his friend, and then rejoin me;
they carried the things to this friend's house, and left them there. I
got him to go with me to the house, and there learned that the man had
spent the day and night with them, and next morning had called other
coolies, and set off for Hang-chau. This was all I could gather; so,
unable to do anything but proceed on my return journey to Shanghai with
all expedition, I left the city again. It was now too late to go on to
Shih-mun-wan. I looked to my FATHER as able to supply all my need, and
received another token of His ceaseless love and care, being invited to
sleep on a hong-boat, now dry in the bed of the river. The night was
again very cold and the mosquitoes troublesome. Still, I got a little
rest, and at sunrise was up and continued my journey.
_August 7th._
I felt very ill at first, and had a sore throat, but reflected on the
wonderful goodness of GOD in enabling me to bear the heat by day and the
cold by night so long. I felt also that quite a load was now taken off
my mind. I had committed myself and my affairs to the LORD, and knew
that if it was for my good and for His glory my things would be
restored; if not, all would be for the best. I hoped that the most
trying part of my journey was now drawing to a close, and this helped
me, weary and footsore, on the way. When I got to Shih-mun-wan and had
breakfasted, I found I had still eight hundred and ten cash in hand; and
I knew that the hong-boat fare to Kia-hing Fu was one hundred and twenty
cash, and thence to Shanghai three hundred and sixty, leaving me just
three hundred and thirty cash--or twelve pence and a fraction--for three
or four days provisions. I went at once to the boat office, but to my
dismay found that from the dry state of the river goods had not come
down, so that no boat would leave to-day and perhaps none to-morrow. I
inquired if there were no letter-boats for Kia-hing Fu, and was told
that they had already left. The only remaining resource was to ascertain
if any private boats were going in which I could get a passage. My
search, however, was in vain; and I could get no boat to undertake to go
all the way to Shanghai, or my difficulty would have been at an end.
Just at this juncture I saw before me, at a turn in the canal, a
letter-boat going in the direction of Kia-hing Fu This, I concluded,
must be one of the Kia-hing boats that had been unexpectedly detained,
and I set off after it as fast as hope and the necessities of the case
would carry me. For the time being weariness and sore feet were alike
forgotten. After a chase of about a mile I overtook it.
"Are you going to Kia-hing Fu?" I called out.
"No," was the only answer.
"Are you going in that direction?"
"No."
"Will you give me a passage as far as you do go that way?"
Still "No," and nothing more.
Completely dispirited and exhausted, I sank down on the grass and
fainted away.
As consciousness returned some voices reached my ear, and I found they
were talking about me. One said, "He speaks pure Shanghai dialect," and
from their own speech I knew them to be Shanghai people. Raising myself,
I saw that they were on a large hong-boat on the other side of the
canal, and after a few words they sent their small boat to fetch me, and
I went on board the junk. They were very kind, and gave me some tea; and
when I was refreshed and able to partake of it, some food also. I then
took my shoes and stockings off to ease my feet, and the boatman kindly
provided me with hot water to bathe them. When they heard my story, and
saw the blisters on my feet, they evidently pitied me, and hailed every
boat that passed to see if it was going my way. Not finding one, by and
by, after a few hours' sleep, I went ashore with the captain, intending
to preach in the temple of Kwan-ti.
Before leaving the junk I told the captain and those on board that I was
now unable to help myself; that I had not strength to walk to Kia-hing
Fu, and having been disappointed in getting a passage to-day, I should
no longer have sufficient means to take me there by letter-boat, which
was an expensive mode of travelling; that I knew not how the GOD whom I
served would help me, but that I had no doubt He would do so; and that
my business now was to serve Him where I was. I also told them that the
help which I knew would come ought to be an evidence to them of the
truth of the religion which I and the other missionaries at Shanghai
preached.
On our way to the town, while engaged in conversation with the captain,
we saw a letter-boat coming up. The captain drew my attention to it; but
I reminded him that I had no longer the means of paying my passage by
it. He hailed it, nevertheless, and found that it was going to a place
about nine English miles from Shanghai, whence one of the boatmen would
carry the mails overland to the city. He then said, "This gentleman is a
foreigner from Shanghai, who has been robbed, and has no longer the
means of returning. If you will take him with you as far as you go, and
then engage a sedan chair to carry him the rest of the way, he will pay
you in Shanghai. You see my boat is lying aground yonder for want of
water, and cannot get away. Now, I will stand surety; and if this
gentleman does not pay when you get to Shanghai, I will do so on your
return." This unsolicited kindness on the part of a Chinaman, a perfect
stranger, will appear the more remarkable to any one acquainted with the
character of the Chinese, who are generally most reluctant to risk their
money. Those on the letter-boat agreeing to the terms, I was taken on
board as a passenger. Oh, how thankful I felt for this providential
interposition, and to be once more on my way to Shanghai!
Letter-boats such as the one on which I was now travelling are of a
long narrow build, and very limited as to their inside accommodation.
One has to lie down all the time they are in motion, as a slight
movement would easily upset them. This was no irksome condition to me,
however; on the contrary, I was only too glad to be quiet. They are the
quickest boats I have seen in China. Each one is worked by two men, who
relieve one another continuously night and day. They row with their
feet, and paddle with their hands; or if the wind is quite favourable,
row with their feet, and with one hand manage a small sail, while
steering with the other.
After a pleasant and speedy journey, I reached Shanghai in safety on
August 9th, through the help of Him who has said, "I will never leave
thee, nor forsake thee;" "Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of
the world."
[Illustration]
[Illustration]