Page:Ling-Nam; or, Interior views of southern China, including explorations in the hitherto untraversed island of Hainan (IA cu31924023225307).pdf/84

 80 Ling-Nam.

the end, they are easily recognised. When exposed for sale each individual orange will be stamped with the name of the firm, the best qualities bringing from ten to fifteen cents a pound, Papaya trees are abundant, their luscious yellow fruit melons hanging in tempting clusters under the large tropical leaves.

The finest qualities of grass-linen are produced in this district. The flax is sent from interior provinces, and distributed through the country. The women weave it on handlooms, and bring it out for sale at the market town. Grass-linen markets are always held in the early morning from daylight until seven or eight o'clock, for what reason I could never learn. It is bought up by agents of Canton houses, bleached on the meadows to the east of San-ui city, where the clean water from the springs that flow out from under the hills gives it a peculiarly glossy whiteness.

In San-ui the Wesleyans and Presbyterians have had missions for many years, with varying degrees of success, The history of the latter's acquisition of their present. pro- perty is interesting. Compelled for years to occupy a dark, uncomfortable honse, efforts were made continually to secure more desirable accommodations. A small temple stood a few doors to the east. It was the property of a village a few miles distant, but was little used. Some one suggested the possibility of securing it for a chapel, when the elders came and said they would not rent it to the Christians for fifteen thousand dollars a year. Nothing further was then said, but within a year from that time these same elders eame and offered it to the Christian preacher for twenty dollars a year on a lease of twenty