grace of God he made that solemn inquiry with such simplicity and sincerity, that it soon led to an entire conviction of the truth of our religion, and that to a decided profession of faith at all hazards; and these hazards, in such a place as Pechuia, were neither few nor small-far greater than at Amoy, where the presence of a large body of converts, and a considerable English community, and a British flag, might seem to hold out a prospect of both protection and support in time of need, though such protection and temporal aid have never been relied on by even our Amoy converts, still less encouraged.

“One of the first sacrifices to which Si-boo was called was a great one.  His trade of idol-carver must be given up, and with that his only means of support; and that means both respectable and lucrative to a skillful hand like his.  But to his credit he did not hesitate.  He at once threw it up and cast himself on the providence of God, and neither asked nor received any assistance from the missionary, but at once set himself to turn his skill as a carver in a new and legitimate direction.  He became a carver of beads for bracelets and other ornaments, and was soon able to support himself and assist his mother in this way.  One advantage of this new trade was, that it was portable.  With a few small knives, and a handful of olive-stones, he could prosecute his work wherever he liked to take his seat, and he frequently took advantage of this to prosecute his Master’s work, while he was diligent in his own.  Sometimes he would take his seat on the ‘Gospel Boat’ when away on some evangelistic enterprise; and while we were slowly rowing up some river or creek, or scudding away before a favorable wind to some distant port, Si-boo would be busy at work on his beads; but as soon as we reached our destination, the beads and tools were thrust into his pouch, and with his Bible and a few tracts in his hand, he was off to read or talk to the people, and leave his silent messengers behind him.”

During the same year (1854), Mr. Doty wrote a letter to Mr. Burns while in Scotland, in regard to the awakening at Chioh-be, a large town of 30,000 inhabitants, eight miles northwest of Peh-chui-ia.  An extract reads as follows: 

“But what shall I tell you of the Lord’s visitation of mercy at Chioh-be?  Again, truly, are we as those that dream.  The general features of the work are very similar to what you witnessed at Pechui-ia.  The instrumentality has been native brethren almost entirely.  Attention was first awakened in one or two by I-ju and Tick-jam, who went to Chioh-be together.

“This was two or three months ago.  This was followed up by repeated visits of other brethren from Pechui-ia and Amoy.  Shortly the desire to hear the Word was so intense, that there would be scarcely any stop day or night; the brethren in turns going, and breaking down from much speaking in the course of three or four days, and coming back to us almost voiceless.”