What religion had the aborigines? she then wanted to know.
Mr. Graham answered this question by telling her that he believed they had no priesthood at all.
"What a pity it is," Sybil said, "that a number of missionaries could not be sent out there. I do so like the Pepohoans!"
"How long is it now since the Dutch were driven away?" Leonard asked. "And how long were they in Formosa?"
"About 1634 the Dutch took possession of the island, and built several forts, but a Chinese pirate drove them out in 1662, and made himself king of the western part. In 1683 his descendants submitted to the authority of the Chinese Emperor, to whom they are now tributary. The Chinese colonists, however, often rebel."
"People have not known very long, have they, that the island of Formosa is important?"
"No; only since about 1852."
"About how many inhabitants has Thaï-ouan, the capital?" Leonard asked.
"I should think about 70,000, but it is now decreasing in population."
"How much you know, father," Sybil said. "I wish I knew all you did!"