k
that was not forgotten, although ultimately he was obliged to retire to
Hong-kong. For more than forty years this earnest-hearted servant of GOD
has continued in "labours more abundant"; and quite recently he has left
Hong-kong, with his devoted wife, to return again inland, and spend the
strength of his remaining years amongst the people he has so long and
truly loved.

Captain Bowers, the Christian friend who had been used of GOD in
bringing the needs of Swatow before Mr. Burns and myself, was overjoyed
when he heard of our decision to devote ourselves to the evangelisation
of that busy, important, and populous mart. Being about to sail himself
on his return journey, he gladly offered us free passages on board the
_Geelong_, in which we left Shanghai early in the month of March 1856.

A favourable journey of six days brought us to Double Island, where we
found ourselves landed in the midst of a small but very ungodly
community of foreigners, engaged in the opium trade and other commercial
enterprises. Unwilling to be in any way identified with these
fellow-countrymen, we were most desirous of obtaining quarters at once
within the native city, situated on a promontory of the mainland, five
miles farther up, at the mouth of the Han river. Great difficulty was
experienced in this attempt to obtain a footing amongst the people.
Indeed, it seemed as though we should fail altogether, and we were
helplessly cast upon the LORD in prayer. Our GOD soon undertook for us.
Meeting one day with a Cantonese merchant, a relative of the highest
official in the town, Mr. Burns addressed him in the Cantonese dialect;
this gentleman was so pleased at being spoken to by a foreigner in his
own tongue that he became our friend, and secured us a lodging. We had
only one little room, however, and not easily shall I forget the long
hot summer months in that oven-like place, where towards the eaves one
could touch the heated tiles with one's hand. More room or better
accommodation it was impossible to obtain.

We varied our stay by visits to the surrounding country; but the
difficulties and dangers that encountered us here were so great and
constant, that our former work in the North began to appear safe and
easy in comparison. The hatred and contempt of the Cantonese was very
painful, "foreign devil," "foreign dog," or "foreign pig" being the
commonest appellations; but all this led us into deeper fellowship than
I had ever known before w