There is plenty of ground belonging to the mission, but, as usual, funds for building are not forthcoming. It seems a pity that the home churches should keep on sending out workers without the requisite equipment to carry on their work. At home one frequently hears of the luxury in which missionaries live, but in my fairly considerable experience of mission houses, I have _never_ met a single one where this is the case, and rarely (except in the case of American missions) have I been where the work has not been seriously hindered for the lack of funds. Most missionaries are driven by the necessities of their work to eke out by contributions from their own meagre salaries the insufficient funds provided from home. Many are consequently unable to afford to have newspapers and other literature sent out regularly, and the thoughtless kindness of their supporters does not supply them with anything beyond religious periodicals and books. The postage of papers and books is only the same as at home, and parcels weighing not more than 11 lb. can now be sent to China by post for the small sum of 2s. 11d., so there is no reason why the missionary’s life should not be occasionally brightened by a judicious present from the home country. The one drawback to the position of the mission premises at Ashiho is that they are so near the wall beside the East gate, outside which is the public execution ground, and the gruesome procession to it passes alongside the mission houses. Shortly before our visit there had been executions twice in one week—the first time two men, and the second time four men were killed by strangulation. [Illustration: MOHAMMEDAN MOSQUE]