gave an average of 13 labourers to each of the seven provinces. In March, 1884, however, the number was 355[1] (272 men and 83 women), nearly 51 missionaries to each province. This may seem at first sight a good and fairly adequate supply; but let us now look at them more particularly.
THE SEVEN PROVINCES.
KWANG-TUNG; area 90,230 square miles, population 1712 millions.
We will commence our review with Kwang-tung, of which Canton is the capital. Protestant missions commenced here as we have seen in 1808; and were prosecuted more vigorously after China was opened by treaty in 1842. It has now eleven mission stations, including Canton, the British colony of Hong-kong, and Swatow. In these stations there were 55 missionaries labouring in 1884, together with 18 single ladies, making a total of 73: out of the 73 there are 57 residing in the three cities above named. The city of Canton, in which 25 of them reside, is very large, being equal in population to Liverpool, Manchester, and Brighton together; and we need scarcely say their number is all too small to work it efficiently. But if Canton is not too well supplied, what then of the other 1612 millions scattered over the province? Its extent
DIAGRAM OF RELATIVE AREAS.
Kwang-tung has 55 Missionaries.
Great Britain, 35,000 Ministers,
Scotland alone, 3845 Ministers.
kwang-tung.
ngland.
scotland.
will be all the better realised by the aid of the above diagrams, which shew the relative areas of Kwang-tung, England, and Scotland. And for comparison we give at the side the numbers of male missionaries in Kwang-tung, and the number of ordained ministers in Great Britain, and in Scotland alone. Suppose all the 55 male missionaries to be distributed so as each to be the centre of influence to 100,000 Chinese, they would only suffice to proclaim Christ over one-third of the length and breadth of this one province of 1712 millions;
- ↑ This number excludes two, whose head-quarters are in Hu-peh, but who work in Ho-nan and Hu-nan respectively.
