And as for ancient history, I think a good share of that could be bonfired. Kings, Emperors, Popes, Doges, Consuls, Priests, Shahs, Pharoahs, and all their quarrels and squabblings, with the times and seasons of the same—what a fine blaze they would make, and it is the only fine thing they could make, as I count it.

However, their first priority in the earliest years was language learning with the local Chinese population with whom they could practice Mandarin and Fukien.

2ⁿᵈ ed., 11 ᵗʰ imp., 1907

Shansi. In Chiang County there is over 120,000 mow of irrigated land.