When Peitaiho was first talked of five or six years ago, there was some informal conference between the lay folk and the missionaries. It was suggested that they should pnt their dwellings en masse s0 as to get the benefit of mutual protection. There was, however, a mild and reasonable difference of opinion as to the most suitable site, so the herdsman of Lot parted from those of faithful Abraham.
Let me add here that the natives are of an extremely quiet placable disposition, and are of the unsophisticated bucolic type—though every year sees them sharper and more alive to the pleasures of fleecing the foreigner. At the present moment the foreign population is almost exclusively women and children, yot no anxioty ix felt in leaving them up there practically without male protection. There have been a few cases of petty theft, but these are as likely to be done by ser: vants from Tientsin as by the natives. The most serious loss yet experienced was that of a "cov": Vucca wandered off into the Kaoliang and was never again seen. Apart from land purchase the foreign invasion has been a great source of profit to the natives: their services are required as caretakers, chair-bearers, messengers, house coolies, &e., &e, to say nothing of the high prices they now get fur fish, fowls, and vegetables. Some anxiety has been expressed as to the proximity of a small camp about two miles from Stewart's End, Dut up to date the soldiers have been as harmless as the rustics, probbly because they are rustics: on festival days both come to gaze on the odd-looking Westerners.
The parting of the communities turned out altogether for the good of both. Had the entire body of foreigners settled at one plice there would have been bad sanitation and other evils of overcrowding, to say nothing of an excessive demand on a limited water supply. The water, by the by, is obtained chiefly from springs; at present the supply is just equal to the demand, but is close on the limit: some foreigners are now sinking deep wells, and if they take care to exclude surface drainazo they will thus get a boundless supply.
this great water question that Pei-taiyo has the great advantage over Chefoo.
The comparative merits of the three greater and two lesser Settlements is an endless source of dialectic strife in Tientsin. Bach group of lairds fiercely upholds the infinite superiority of its own place, and scoffs at the claims of its neigh-hours. They argue till exhausted; again illustrating the bias caused by the joy of possession, To the unbiassed the facts are as follows:—Stewart's End or West Shore is a mile nearer the Station and has a greater diversity of pretty scenery near it. It is also nearer the Lotus hills and valleys. The beach is exclusively sandy and consequently a little tame; the bathing is possible in all conditions of tide but not of weather. The River Tai falls into the sea close by and when in spate, after heavy rain, brings down sand, dirt, and vegetable refuse which dis colours the sea all round and robs swimming of much of its sentiment; on rare occasions it even makes the water offensive. During the last three years in July-and August the bathing here has been also greatly handicapped by stinging Meduse or jelly-1 Tt, however, yet remains to be proved if this is permanent nuisance. The houses are better than at Rocky Point and the compounds bigger and there are none of the restrictions on personal liberly caused by the desire not to offend evangelical prejudice in certain matters.
Rocky Point or Mid Shore is five miles (against four) from the Station; has not such good scenery in the immediate neighbourhood, and is overcrowded. The houses tov distinctly depress the average man. On the other hand it is more central for excursions and walks: its beach is diverslied with rocks and little bays, has cleaner and better bathing, and so far has had less of the jelly-ish nuisance. 'The guid fowk however dinna like to hear whistling' en the Sawbath-day.
East Shore is seven miles from the Station, has glorious land and seascapes, is very bleak at all other times of the year bat summer, and has on the whole poor bathing fa sone has, except in one Pises, to go out a furlong in onder Lo get eptine at the waist; the exceptional spot is not suitable for ladies and children (Lo be continued.)
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.