Page 59 - Three Score Years & Ten
P. 59
“THREE SCORE YEARS AND TEN” MISSIONARY WORK IN CHINA
Amy Moore
officials. Arthur and Percy stayed the night and next morning at daybreak, made their way to "The
Door", famous all over China as the exit into the unknown.
XINJIANG PROVINCE
All those going "out of the mouth" had to first enter the Customs House where their names were
registered and they paid one hundred cash each. The "door" was then opened to them and
everybody passed through. On the other side was a huge pile of stones, every one of which had
been thrown against the wall by a traveller coming through the gate to "try his luck". Arthur said,
"They first choose a good stone and then throw it at a certain part of the wall. The sound it makes as
it falls to the ground determines the man's luck. We watched them do it and heard the sound as it fell,
a sharp metallic sound regulated by the distance it falls from the wall, and the substance upon which it
falls. Many a longing look was cast back at the wall as the travellers pursued their way. They all
hope to return but very few ever do see their old home again. Inside the gate they are "at home", but
once outside they have broken away from all they hold dear to them. Their return depends on the
fortune they make. If it is large enough they go back, but if not they live and die in Xinjiang.
On the walls of many of the inns across the desert we came across the following lines:
Having gone out through the Gate
My eyes are never dry from tears.
I look ahead and see only the yellow Gobi,
I look behind and the evil Gate is closed.
Though my body be far away from home, my heart is there,
For at home is my wife, a beautiful flower.
She loves me and I love her.
Without money in hand it is difficult to come home.
Once through the Gate all that many of them face is bitterness, hardship and sorrow, and, without
money, they cannot go back for fear of `losing face'".
Arthur and his party had only gone some thirty five li (12 miles) when the carter told them that the axle
of the back cart had broken just where the hub of the wheel fits on. Arthur could see at a glance that
they would not get far without a new one. They managed to go another five li to a small place where
there was only one occupied house. Percy Mather and Mr. Meng stayed there with the cart and
mules, while Arthur pressed on to another bigger Moslem village where he hoped to be able to either
buy a new axle or get help for the others to be brought on. Easier said than done as there was not a
piece of timber in the place, nor a carpenter. They were able however, to hire a farm cart to go out
and bring the others from where they were still waiting by the side of the road. It began to look as if
the only thing they could do was to go back to the "door" or even to Suzhou to get another axle, but in
the end the innkeeper sold them the one off his own cart which could be made to fit theirs.
They pressed on to Anxi, stopping long enough at many of the small villages and towns they passed
to sell Christian literature and to preach to the large crowds who seemed keen to hear. In one small
village of only fifty resident families, Arthur reported "more than ordinary interest", and Mr. Meng had
59
Amy Moore
officials. Arthur and Percy stayed the night and next morning at daybreak, made their way to "The
Door", famous all over China as the exit into the unknown.
XINJIANG PROVINCE
All those going "out of the mouth" had to first enter the Customs House where their names were
registered and they paid one hundred cash each. The "door" was then opened to them and
everybody passed through. On the other side was a huge pile of stones, every one of which had
been thrown against the wall by a traveller coming through the gate to "try his luck". Arthur said,
"They first choose a good stone and then throw it at a certain part of the wall. The sound it makes as
it falls to the ground determines the man's luck. We watched them do it and heard the sound as it fell,
a sharp metallic sound regulated by the distance it falls from the wall, and the substance upon which it
falls. Many a longing look was cast back at the wall as the travellers pursued their way. They all
hope to return but very few ever do see their old home again. Inside the gate they are "at home", but
once outside they have broken away from all they hold dear to them. Their return depends on the
fortune they make. If it is large enough they go back, but if not they live and die in Xinjiang.
On the walls of many of the inns across the desert we came across the following lines:
Having gone out through the Gate
My eyes are never dry from tears.
I look ahead and see only the yellow Gobi,
I look behind and the evil Gate is closed.
Though my body be far away from home, my heart is there,
For at home is my wife, a beautiful flower.
She loves me and I love her.
Without money in hand it is difficult to come home.
Once through the Gate all that many of them face is bitterness, hardship and sorrow, and, without
money, they cannot go back for fear of `losing face'".
Arthur and his party had only gone some thirty five li (12 miles) when the carter told them that the axle
of the back cart had broken just where the hub of the wheel fits on. Arthur could see at a glance that
they would not get far without a new one. They managed to go another five li to a small place where
there was only one occupied house. Percy Mather and Mr. Meng stayed there with the cart and
mules, while Arthur pressed on to another bigger Moslem village where he hoped to be able to either
buy a new axle or get help for the others to be brought on. Easier said than done as there was not a
piece of timber in the place, nor a carpenter. They were able however, to hire a farm cart to go out
and bring the others from where they were still waiting by the side of the road. It began to look as if
the only thing they could do was to go back to the "door" or even to Suzhou to get another axle, but in
the end the innkeeper sold them the one off his own cart which could be made to fit theirs.
They pressed on to Anxi, stopping long enough at many of the small villages and towns they passed
to sell Christian literature and to preach to the large crowds who seemed keen to hear. In one small
village of only fifty resident families, Arthur reported "more than ordinary interest", and Mr. Meng had
59
