On the road again
Long periods traveling were a special characteristic of Mackay's missionary work in Taiwan. Wu Wen-hsiung, a Presbyterian minister in Kuantu, points out that Mackay spent months or even years at a time away from home. Few missionaries were as enamored of travel as he. Mackay criss-crossed Taiwan from Miaoli north, and eastward to Ilan and Hualien. His journeys brought him into contact with Han Chinese speakers of both Hokkien and Hakka, as well as aborigines of both the plains and mountains.
"There are many modes of traveling, the chief of which is traveling on foot. It is often dangerous and always wearisome. The paths are so rough-now over mountains, now across hot, blowing sands, now through jungle-and the mountain torrents, especially during the rainy season, are so numerous and difficult to cross."
The trips that Mackay took brought him even to Kueishan Island (which he called Steep Island), to which many Taiwanese haven't even gone today.
"Passage for myself and several of the students on board a junk loaded with planks was engaged from Tamsui. We set out, but the winds were contrary, and after two days of tossing and seasickness we rounded the northern point of Formosa and ran into Kim-pau-li, on the northeast. Here we got water and food, for our supply was well-nigh exhausted. Setting sail again, we were driven far out of our course, first eastward and then to the north. For five days and nights we were carried hither and thither by the merciless waves. On the fifth day, scarcely knowing where we were, having been driven back over our track, we sighted land. What was our delight when we found that we were on the lee side of Steep Island, and right grateful were we for the welcome of the islanders."
The Sino-French War was a dark period for Mackay's work as a missionary.
"In the summer of 1884 several French war-ships appeared, and very soon the news spread throughout North Formosa that the French were coming. The people were both alarmed and enraged. Their animosity was aroused against all foreigners and those associated with them. The missionary was at once suspected. A cloud hung over our entire mission work."
A mob destroyed the Talungtung Church, and they even went so far as to make a tombstone for Mackay, on which they wrote: "Mackay, the black-bearded foreigner, is buried here. His work is finished."
In October a British warship anchored itself in Tanshui harbor to protect the foreigners there. The ship's captain invited Mackay to come aboard with his wife and valuables. Mackay responded, "My valuables were in and around the college: The men who were my children in the Lord. They were my valuables! While they were on shore I would not go on board. If they were to suffer we would suffer together."
Later, Mackay received an order from the British to depart Tanshui for Hong Kong. He left his dependents in Hong Kong and then tried to return to Tanshui. But because Tanshui was closed, he was repeatedly denied entry. When he finally succeeded in coming on shore, he was welcomed by the Christian devotees, many of whom shed tears of joy.
On a trip from Tanshui to Ilan, George Mackay passed through Santiaolin. He established a total of 60 Presbyterian churches in Taiwan, including 34 in Ilan alone.