I have just returned from a trip up the rand Canal as far as the' district of Enhsien, over 400 i south of Tientsin, Leaving Tientsin, there is little but water on the west side of the canal for a distance of 8 or 10 miles. Then e tongue of land gradually widens till some 20 miles away only dry land is seen, though farther westward much of the country is still flooded. This may be said, however, that much less territory to the south of Tientsin has been flooded than for a number of years past Along the entire distance of travel, the autumn crops, now being gathered, are giving fair returns. and the people appear correspondingly contented and happy.
A GREAT HIGHWAY, This end of the Grand Canal is only. the continuation of the Wei river from Linch'ingchou to Tientsin. It is'2 narrow stream, but with sufficient depth tallow very large-sized boats, heavily Inden, to aroond a great distance—boats which atsightappear out of all proportion to thesiza of the stream, 'The amount of traffic of which this is the channel must be immense if judged by the number of boats, large and generally heavily Jaden, which are met on this lower section ofthe stream. Many' of these larger boats are said to carry 1,500 piculs. This is the the ris atthe best and when lied of for supplying the requirements of a -lnrge extent of country which can be reached in no other way so well. What is not rushed in before navigation is closed, must take its chance by the more expensive cart transportation, or the winter demand will not be fully mets AN INTERESTING OCCASION, The object of my visit to Enhsien was to attend the ordination of two native preachers of the P'ngchuang station of the American Board Mission, to the Gospel ministry. Five churches were represented in the Council which examined, approved, and lod to sot apart these men. The candidates requitted themselves well, as twas to be expected from the faithful service they have rendered in the past. The ordination services were held on Sunday morn-26th of September, and were exceed-interesting. Without going into the details of the service, it may be said that of the 681 church members connected with this station, 291 were present, of whom 90 were women; that some of them came 170 to attend; and that 12 chou and hsien districts were represented by those present. Besides these, a large number of applicants or "probationers," and others more or loss interested in the Gospel completed an audience of over 5C0 by estimate—almost: filling a chapel 40 by 65. The afternoon was given to
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.