MR. LEWIS JONES, of the London Missionary Society, writes a most interesting article in the Chronicle of the Society concerning these aboriginal tribes of Western China. He says:—
“They are distinguishable from the Chinese and from one another mainly by their dress: but in the case of the men this distinction is fast fading, as they are gradually adopting the Chinese style, and even shaving the head and braiding the queue. The women, however, are more conservative, and retain their picturesque costume. This consists of a headdress made of a pretty fringed kerchief ingeniously arranged. The skirt is heavy and closely kilted, somewhat resembling the Highlanders’ kilt, but considerably longer, reaching below the knee, and made of plain, coarse homespun. Above this they wear a loose jacket of medium length, also of a coarse material, but almost completely covered with embroidery. It takes a Miao girl the whole of her spare time throughout all her girlhood to embroider this jacket ready for her wedding day. The legs and feet are generally bare, but on long journeys straw sandals are worn, and in the cold weather a rude sort of puttee.
“Their religion is fetish worship and demonolatry. They have no idols and no temples, but ancestral worship is practiced in some degree. Probably this is a result of their contact with the Chinese.
“Very little has yet been done towards the evangelization of these dark and needy tribes. Workers among the Chinese have already too great a task before them to attempt to go beyond it, much as they long to do so. But some of the aborigines who understand Chinese have heard the Gospel in the cities and markets of Kwei-chow and Yunnan, and the first-fruits from among them have been baptized.
“The first convert from the Miao-tsz, a bright, earnest fellow, named T’an, came several years ago to Chung King in company with one of our missionaries. The writer met him there, and was much pleased with his intelligence and evident ability. It was our great ambition at one time to go to work among these peoples, and so this interview was of great interest. At Mr. T’an’s earnest appeal a missionary was afterwards appointed to work among them. This was Mr. Webb, a friend and former colleague of mine. In a little while, however, his wife’s health broke down and he himself was far from well, so they had to return home. Mr. Fleming was appointed as Mr. Webb’s successor, but before many months had elapsed he and Mr. T’an, who had gone with him as teacher and evangelist, were both murdered on the borders of the Miao country.
“This foul tragedy, however, was not the work of the Miao-tsz, but of the Chinese. It was instigated by an official, probably owing to the before-mentioned jealousy and suspicion.
“Mr. Fleming was the first martyr from the ranks of the China Inland Mission, and Mr. T’an the first of his race to win the crown.
“Their deaths were not in vain, for after this the way was thrown open for work among these highlanders of Western China, and just before the outbreak of 1900, some itinerations among their villages revealed the fact THAT THEY WERE EAGERLY WAITING FOR THE GOSPEL, AND SOME TWO HUNDRED OR MORE WERE ANXIOUS TO ENROL THEIR NAMES AS INQUIRERS.
“Mr. S. R. Clarke, of the China Inland Mission, has for several years been crowding into his busy life the study of the Miao language, and has compiled a grammar and vocabulary. He has remarkable linguistic ability, as is shown by the fact that he is one of the committee for the revision of the Chinese Bible. For the present this revision work necessitates his presence in Shanghai, but it is to be hoped this will soon be completed, and that he may be set free to return to the west, and become the leader and pioneer in the work among the hill tribes of Kwei-chow.
“Continual prayer has been offered for men and money, so that the work of evangelizing these interesting peoples may be pushed forward. What the C.I.M. have, as yet, been unable to attempt in any adequate measure, it may be reserved for the L.M.S. to carry out, for it seems probable that part of the great Arthington bequest will be available for starting work among these aboriginal tribes.”