〈信函譜、大員宗教會書〉簡介（續）

An Introduction to Brievenboek, Kerkboek van Formosa（23 Januari 1642~4 Maart 1660）（Part 2）

In the previous edition, I introduced Brievenboek, Kerkboek van Formosa and included the first five letters. In this edition of the journal I intend to provide a small discussion of these letters and consequently add some new elements to reading the text. This again will be exemplified with a few letters. As was clear from the previous edition, the first session, dated 6 October 1643 did not present the reader with an introduction. On the contrary, the reader is put right into the middle of what is going on. The Church Council convenes； the Chair and the Clerk are present, together with the other members elected in the council. At this very moment, the narrative starts, and the first session already but not surprisingly presents the reader with some of the major ingredients. The opening session reports the findings of the visit to the northern villages in Formosa. The purpose of the visit pertains to the progress made by the inhabitants in religious instruction, which also included learning to read, spell, and write. These findings have been put in a letter together with other information that is being sent to the homeland. Prior to sending the letter, it is being read aloud for approval. The recording of the sessions is done in a meticulous way: we are informed with the names of who was appointed for the visit, who wrote and read the letter aloud, and approximately when and with what name and type of vessel the correspondence departs for either Batavia or the homeland. In some of the letters that follow, we see a continuation of the visits to the villages（Fol. 55）.