CONTENTS. 



CHAPTER I. 



Arrival at Shanghae — Kindness of Mr. Beale — An earthquake — 

 Chinese superstitions — Hairs said to come out of the ground — 

 An examination and the result — Eeports of a sunken village — 

 Preparations to visit it — Contradictory statements — The truth 

 at last ! — The Chinese rebellion — Its rise and progress — Taking 

 of Nanking — Alarm at Shanghae — Means taken for protec- 

 tion — Taoutai's request for foreign aid — Sir George Bonham 

 proceeds to Nanking — Arrogance of the insurgents — War- 

 vessels of America and France visit them — The religion of the 

 insurgents fanaticism — An extraordinary official statement — 

 Future prospects as regards Christianity Page 1 



CHAPTER II. 



Objects in visiting China — My boat and boatmen — A groundless 

 alarm — Chinese pilgrims — Chair-bearers — Road to Ayuka's 

 temple — Crowds by the way — Shyness of ladies — Description 

 of scenery — Wild flowers — Tea-farms — Approaches to temple 

 — Ancient tree — Hawkers and their stalls — Scene in temple — 

 Visit to high priest — Shay-le or precious relic — Its history and 

 traditions — A picnic — Character of the people for sobriety — 

 An evening stroll — The temple at night — Huge idols — Queen 

 of Heaven and child — Superstitions of Chinese women . . 22 



CHAPTER III. 



Tea-gatherers and their wages — Food of Chinese labourers com- 

 pared with the food of the same class in England — Old city of 

 Tse-kee — Streets and shops — Market — Mode of skinning frogs 



