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IT was while James Legge was
at College that the call to the East finally became clear. He was accepted
by the Directors of the London Missionary Society, subject to the medical
report as to his fitness for a hot climate. The doctor's verdict was
unfavourable, and was to the effect that there was a tendency to
consumption, and that, if sent to Macao, he would probably die within six
months. Nevertheless, unmoved in his purpose, he sought out and consulted
another doctor, by whom he was examined and pronounced perfectly sound. This
doctor was afterwards widely known as the famous Sir William Jenner.
Forty years later, when Dr
Legge was Professor of Chinese at Oxford, he was asked to write a paper for
the Shanghai Conference of 1877 on Confucianism and its relation to
Christianity—a very memorable occasion, and at which, among other things, it
was determined to prepare, and issue The Conference Commentary on Holy
Scripture, a work still proceeding, but of which important parts have been
issued. In the outset of the paper, Dr Legge thus recalled the time of which
we are writing: 'Looking back on nearly forty years of life, I am thankful
that so long ago I was led to become a missionary to the Chinese. My
experience may justify me in saying, that he who desires to be a missionary,
desires a good work; and he who pursues it humbly and. wisely, with the
consecration of all his powers, will have increasing satisfaction in
reflecting on his course, and as he approaches the end of this earthly life,
will bless God who called him from his country and his kindred and his
father's house to go into the mission field.'
James Legge had set his heart
upon going out as a missionary to the Chinese. But at that time China was
not open to Europeans. It was not till 1842 that the island of Hong Kong was
ceded to the British, and after the peace of Nanking in 1843, the five
treaty ports were opened to English vessels. China being, therefore, a
sealed book to Europeans, the sphere of labour first of all allotted to him
was that of Malacca; and in July 1839 he sailed from England with his young
wife, Mary Isabella, daughter of the Rev. Dr John Morison of Brompton, who
was for many years editor of The Evangelical Magazine. He had wooed and won
her only a few months before, and they set out on their long voyage full of
heart and hope.
One forenoon, after rounding
the Cape, a shark, conspicuous by its back fin rising above the water, came
and played about the ship. The sailors captured it by means of a lump of
pork on a hook. The doctor claimed the body to dissect and examine. Some
time after he produced the heart, still throbbing so vigorously that when
set on a table it jerked a hand or any small object placed on it.
In November they landed at
Java in a strangely beautiful tropical world, and were courteously welcomed
by the Resident at Anjer, who entertained them for some days in his
bungalow, where pet monkeys and birds, among them a large grackle, lived in
the dining-room. One morning the Rajah of Serang, with a large following,
arrived to hold a consultation with the Resident The tenants of the district
were afterwards admitted, none daring to stand upright nor to approach the
Rajah except on their knees. From Anjer, Mr and Mrs Legge were carried by
bearers on mountain-chairs to Serang, whence by a somewhat precarious coach
ride they proceeded to Batavia. Their team consisted of four small but
spirited ponies: every now and then ponies and vehicle floundered and sank
into soft and spongy ground. The two policemen who escorted them hurried to
neighbouring fields, beat up all labourers within call and compelled them to
come and extricate the carriage. No sooner did the ponies feel firm ground
again under their feet but they dashed forward, helter skelter, as before.
From Batavia, Mr and Mrs
Legge sailed (the only passengers) in a small vessel to Singapore: the wind
failed, the drinking water completely gave out, and the situation became
serious. Fortunately a squall arose one day, and the sailors spread out a
large sail and caught the precious rain. 'Ladies first,' they cried, and no
one drank until a glass of water had been handed to Mrs Legge.
As the voyage continued they
were able to land occasionally and explore the coast of Sumatra. Crossing
the beach one morning, James Legge stepped upon what he thought was one of
at least a dozen rotting tree-trunks. The thing moved beneath him and made
for the water: he was horror-struck to find the tree-trunks were a group of
crocodiles. Another day they rowed inland up a stream. The jungle came
thickly to the water's edge, crocodiles dropped off the banks with a splash,
the heat grew so intense that the men stripped off coat and shirt, and
clouds of mosquitoes settled on their backs and shoulders. Next day the
captain said to Mr Legge, *You were made to live in the East I am swollen up
and quite ill from mosquito bites, but you have not a sign of inflammation."
This immunity from mosquito poison continued all the time he was in the
East.
Arrived at Singapore, they
changed steamers again and then went on in a small Chinese vessel to
Malacca, which they reached on January 10,1840—their journey altogether
having thus taken them five months. |
