It is said that the Shihpav is not to be published any more, It is to be feared that the effort to supply a native paper at Tient has resulted in financial failure. The Chinese have not yet learned to appreciate such a publication, Some of the missionaries acted as agents, but it was found. almost impossible to induce the Chinese to subscribe. One gentleman to whom a sample copy was offered said, with a wave of his hand, We do not want this news. It is of no importance to us whether we ever hear anything about foreign countries or not; we are concerned only in Chinese affairs." No doubt he expressed the sentiment of the majority of his eountrymen, They desire nothing more than to Kept in blissful ignorance of the affairs of the outside world.
Intelligeuce of the riots in the Yangtze valley reached the natives by telegraph and the matter was much talked about anything had happened. There some time before the foreigners knew that bability of any serious trouble ar province, as the people here are their gentleness. Still, even here, the presence of a large number of foreigners is exciting more than ordinary suspicion, Within the last few months, some fifteen or twenty Swedes have entered the province as associate members of the C.1.M. It is said that after a few months epent in studying the language this company is to be sent over into Shensi.
The season thus far has be ally dry one with us. Month has passed away without any rain falling. As @ consequence, the opium and the wheat crops were ye r in many places. Market prices have been ndvarcina for some time, but there is no danger of very general suffering. A few artesian wells would confer an immense blessing on this province, which is capable of being made the garden of China.
But, of course, the idea of making such an improvement never enters the heads of the residents, It is believed that a short distance from here there is an abundance of coal which could be obtained with little or ind yet there are thousands of n the neighbourhood who have nothing but stubble for fuel. So much for Chinese enterprise. One sighs and asks one's self if the Chinese must forever go on living "'at this poor dying rate?" conference was held at T'aiyuanfu, which Two years go & provincial missionary was attended by upwards of thirty missionaries. It is proposed to hold another some time during the coming fall. It is expected that papers will be read and topics of common interest discussed; but the development of the social and fraternal elements will be the main objects sought by the promoters of the gathering. There are three Protestant missions in the province; namely, the English Baptist Mission, the American Board's Mission, and the C. I. M.
30th July.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.