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CHAP. IV.
Mode Of Instruction Adopted By Father Ricci Zeal Of The Portuguese For The Missions.—Father Ricci Sets Out For Pekin.—Influence Of Eunuchs In The Government.—Journey From Nankin To Pekin.—The Eunuch Ma-Tang.—The Missionaries Taken Prisoners At A Sea-Port.—Arrival Of Ricci At Pekin.—The Court Of Rites.—Rivalry Between The Mandarins And Eunuchs.—Palace Of The Ambassadors.—Homage To The Son Of Heaven.—Various Petitions To The Emperor.—Relations Between The Missionaries And Magistrates.—Conversion Of A Member Of The Academy Of Han-Lin.—Great Success Of The Clocks At Court.—Missions Of The Provinces.—Fraternal Feeling Among The Christians Of China.—Chinese Superstitions.—Procession In Honour Of The Idol Of The Eyes.—The Missionaries Mimicked By The Mountebanks.—Success Of The Christian Preaching.—Profession Of Faith Of A Christian.—Native Clergy.—Academy Of Han-Lin.—Conversion In The Imperial Family.—Insurrection Of The Chinese Of Macao.—Father Cataneo Accused Of Seeking To Get Himself Proclaimed Emperor.—Formidable Armament At Canton Martyrdom Of A Chinese Seminarist.—Peace Is Restored.
The admiration of the Chinese for the knowledge and virtues of the missionaries was not always a barren feeling, leading to no result. Many people began to understand that these men, who had come to them through a thousand dangers from the ends of the earth, must have had some other object than that of parading their mathematical and scientific acquirements.
In the midst of these masses of sceptics and materialists there were to be found some privileged souls,
