e my people to a higher state of development,
and to unite both this and all other nations within the 'Four seas'
under one common brotherhood.

I wish you all manner of happiness and prosperity. With my highest
regards,

I remain,
Yours truly,
LI HUNG CHANG."

In all, and through all these various trying vicissitudes he remained
true to his innate religious convictions, and looked upon it all as the
filling in of a plan, which was divine. His hours for prayer were
maintained with as great a regularity as were those of another eastern
official servant, Daniel, who "three times a day kneeled on his knees and
prayed and gave thanks to God." Gordon, when at prayer, placed outside
his tent a white handkerchief, this was the sign the Governor was at his
devotions, and no servant or messenger must disturb him. He kept closely
in touch with God, so to speak. His outer life might be ruffled by
storms and tempests, but within he had the perfect peace.

While Gordon was hoping to get away from the trying climate and yet more
trying circumstances around him, a message (not unexpected) reached him,
giving him instructions to proceed to Abyssinia, and see if he could
settle the dispute or misunderstanding that had arisen between Johannis
the King and the Khedive. He proceeded on that very risky mission as he
states in his letters; the journey was "indescribable in its solitary
grandeur. These interminable deserts, and arid mountain passes fill the
heart with far different thoughts than civilized lands do." With few
attendants, he writes:--"We are still slowly crawling over the world's
crust. Reaching the dominions of the King of Abyssinia, we camped near
Ras Alonla, and the priests used to gather at 3 a.m. in knots of two and
three and chant for an hour in a wild melodious manner the Psalms of
David. Awakened at this unearthly hour no one could help being
impressed. Some of them had children who chanted." Again he writes:--"We
have just passed a famous convent. The great high priest, who only comes
out to meet the King, and who is supposed to be the King's right hand in
religious questions, came out to meet us. I had some splendid silk
brocade, which I gave him. He held a gold cross in his hand, and spoke
of the love of Christ. He seemed to be a deeply religious man."

Father Soho says of Abyssinia:--

"No country in the world is so full of churches, monasteries, and
ecclesiastics,