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"WeTHK BIBLE SOCIETIES. 365Chinese colporteurs, Bible-women and Chinese pastors,preachers and evangelists and church-members takepart. All the Scriptures thus distributed are sold,though the prices are usually one-third or even one-fourthof cost. The colportage sales in 1909 were 1,390,156,an increase of 157,647 on the preceding year. Thenumber of paid colporteurs was 410 working full timeand 139 giving only a portion of their time. Reckonedon the basis of one colporteur for each twelve monthsfull work the number of colporteurs would be 396.About eight-tenths of the colporteurs are under missionary supervision, and do their work as members of themission staff.(b} Depot Sales. A Bible depot has become anestablished institution in all the principal mission centres,but with the rapid spread of new literature, Chinesebook-sellers may in time consider it worth while to addthe Scriptures to their stock of \foreign" literature.At the present time only one Chinese book-seller, so faras is known, has the courage or the wisdom to put ourbright-covered and cheap Gospels on his counter.The depot sales vary little in number from year toyear, but it is worth noting that whilst in the threeyears prior to 1900 the average sales were 3,400 Bibles,14,700 Testaments, and 58,000 Portions, in the last threeyears the average has risen to 14,500 Bibles, 31,000Testaments, and 76,700 Portions. In 1909 the saleswere 15,494 Bibles, 38,808 Testaments, and 86,980Portions.(c} Free Gifts. The books given away were 793Bibles, i, 606 Testaments, and 14,064 Portions. Thevariety of needs which these gifts have met appeals tothe imagination. The full list is too long to publish,but a few illustrative cases may be cited.In response to the following appeal from a memberof the English Baptist Mission in Shantung 400 Gospelswere at once sent : would be glad to have a grant