Tuesday morning, 9:30, on board the SS Hai-Mun in Swatou harbour.
Arrived here about 6 o’clock. I spent a very pleasant finishing day yesterday at Amoy. Mr. Thompson accompanied me over from Kuloongsu to Amoy city, which we explored again so that I might get my first impressions confirmed, & indeed the experience was such that I should not have cared to repeat it. We returned to the manse,[1] boat of course, had tiffin, & at 3 o’clock left for the Hai-mun, laying midharbour. She arrived early morning & left at 4 afternoon. I left a 10 dollar note with Mr. Thompson to do as he liked with it. He & Mr. Beattie accompanied me on board. The Capt. (Hodgins) & Chief Eng. (Mr. Roberts) both know [3:36] Mr. Thompson very well. Soon after this, we steamed off & bid farewell as they boated away home.
I’ve enjoyed my visit & feel proud to have been amongst the missionaries & at Amoy. I took a snap of Mr. Thompson, Mr. Beattie, & his teacher, & the missionary dog, Tim, on the steps of the manse before we set off for Amoy & it will be good as the light was perfection. I took several snaps during our walks in Amoy & I have just 3 or 4 films unexposed to take ashore this forenoon to use in Swatou. We sail at 4 this afternoon: it is a lovely morning here & hot. During the night I was fairly worried by mosquitos in my cabin & am all spotted on forehead & hands. I’ve not had any bites since leaving Hong Kong but the heat is increasing daily now, so I expect to become a victim when there. I hope Easter Monday was a fine day & that all of you had some pleasure. I saw a Mandarin & his retinue yesterday. He was in a chair carried by retainers & marching through the narrow, dirty alley way streets amidst filth & stink, & barbaric music as heralds preceding him, & a man on ponyback following him. I snapped the latter but poor light. Sun does not get down into these narrow allies. You can’t see the sky for out shot roofs, & every here & there was refuse & filth dropping from the roofs onto the path – abominable. Then a funeral came by us. Such a procession, & the wailers after the canopy. I failed with my Kodak[2] here & took coffin & their wailers both on one film, & I regretted it very much, tho’ neither would have been good. Now I will get away ashore & see the Maclagans.
Mr. Macgregor will be at home now. If he visits presbyterys, possibly W. H’pool might be a chosen town. Still, Mr. Wales having been there so recently, & from Amoy too, it is not likely you will have him.
[3:37]
[1] Christian minister’s house: a house provided for a church minister by some Christian denominations, especially in the Presbyterian Church.
[2] Inserted on facing page: “Photo paper. Kodak film”.