The Call of the East: A Romance of Far Formosa

In Short

Set during the Franco-Chinese War of 1884–85, The Call of the East captures the volatile intersection of Western ambition and Eastern tradition in the treaty port of Tamsui, Formosa (Taiwan). The narrative follows Donald Sinclair, a noble-minded Canadian physician, as he navigates maritime typhoons, battlefield trauma, and complex social rivalries. Alongside real historical figures like missionary Dr. George Leslie MacKay, fictional expatriates face the realities of war. Enduring through its vivid portrayal of an underrepresented historical theater, the novel balances romantic friction between Sinclair and the spirited Jessie MacAllister with an empathetic observation of cross-cultural humanity.

The Story

The narrative opens aboard the steamship Hailoong as it battles a perilous typhoon off the coast of Formosa. Donald Sinclair, a towering Canadian physician, demonstrates remarkable physical poise and quick action when he rescues injured Chinese deckhands from sweeping billows. Watching him is Jessie MacAllister, a sharp-witted young woman travelling with her mother, whose initial teasing laughter masks her growing intrigue.

Upon landing in the treaty port of Tamsui, Sinclair steps directly into a community on the precipice of war. The French fleet, under Admiral Lespes, begins bombarding the local Chinese fortifications at Keelung and Tamsui. Amidst the chaos, Sinclair allies himself with Dr. George Leslie MacKay, a devoted missionary known to native converts as the "Life-Healer." Together with Sergeant John Gorman, an irrepressible Irish veteran, Sinclair establishes medical posts to dress the horrific wounds inflicted by modern shellfire and mitrailleuses on Chinese soldiers and civilians alike.

As military tensions escalate into land combat, romantic and social rivalries simmer among the European expatriate community. Jessie's mother, eager for aristocratic prestige, encourages the courtships of Mr. De Vaux and especially the cynical Carteret, who aspires to advance his customs career through marriage. Carteret continually disparages the local Chinese and harbors deep jealousy toward Sinclair's physical prowess and integrity. Meanwhile, Jessie's affection gradually shifts away from titled pretenders toward Sinclair after witnessing his selflessness and bravery.

During the French land assaults on the bamboo entrenchments near Loan-Loan, Sinclair works tirelessly under fire. Amidst the casualties, he discovers and nurses Allister, the long-lost soldier son of Mr. MacAllister, leading to an emotional Gaelic reunion between father and son. Carteret's cowardly conduct during naval bombardments and land skirmishes eventually strips him of his charm, even after he unexpectedly inherits the Lewesthorpe title upon the deaths of his relatives.

As the Franco-Chinese War draws to a close, Jessie stands firm against her mother's aristocratic ambitions, choosing Sinclair instead. Their love culminates in a joyous wedding. On their marriage day, as Sergeant Gorman brings the first injured patient to their newly established hospital, Sinclair removes his wedding coat, dons his surgical apron, and steps immediately into his life's work alongside his bride.

How It Unfolds

The voyage begins Sinclair meets the spirited Jessie MacAllister aboard a battered steamship while braving a fierce sea storm. He demonstrates his bravery by rescuing a native crewman knocked senseless by a massive wave.

The storm of war breaks French naval forces commence heavy bombardment of the Chinese coastal forts, shaking the port of Tamsui. Expatriates gather in drawing rooms and consul offices, attempting to maintain social rituals while shells explode nearby.

The Life-Healer's ministry Sinclair joins Dr. MacKay to treat scores of wounded Chinese regulars and local converts suffering from shell trauma. His hands-on medical skill wins the immediate trust and gratitude of the injured locals.

Rivalries in the drawing room The opportunistic Carteret uses his singing voice and aristocratic prospects to win over Jessie's status-conscious mother. Meanwhile, Sinclair silently pledges to win Jessie's heart despite his humble origins.

Persecution and courage Local Chinese Christians endure severe persecution and mob violence as war heightens anti-foreign sentiment. Old converts like Lim Tsu display profound dignity when confronted by angry crowds.

The bloody slope of Loan-Loan French infantry charge the fortified bamboo lines in dense mountain fog. Operating an ambulance station behind the front lines, Sinclair tends to fallen soldiers and rescues Mr. MacAllister's wounded son.

A permanent calling Jessie defies her mother's lingering hopes for a titled match and accepts Sinclair's proposal. Following their wedding, the couple immediately begins their shared medical vocation in Formosa.

The People

• Donald Sinclair: A big-statured Canadian physician driven by a desire to serve. He wants to apply his skill where it is most needed, facing maritime peril and battlefield trauma while winning Jessie's devotion through genuine nobility.
• Jessie MacAllister: A spirited, observational young woman who initially hides her attraction behind teasing banter. She seeks a life of true purpose and resists her mother's push toward a status-driven marriage.
• Dr. George Leslie MacKay: A real-life historical Presbyterian missionary known as the "Life-Healer." He stands unyielding in his devotion to his native converts, refusing to abandon his flock even under direct naval shelling.
• Carteret: A cynical customs official and tenor singer who seeks a wealthy, accomplished wife to advance his station. Driven by aristocratic arrogance, his cowed behavior during military danger exposes his inner superficiality.
• Sergeant John Gorman: A cheerful, storytelling Irish veteran with a perpetual smile framed by old battle scars. He offers steady military assistance and humor to Sinclair and the hospital corps.
• Mrs. MacAllister: Jessie's ambitious mother who admires titles and traditional rank. She champions Carteret's suit until his lack of character becomes impossible to ignore.

In Its Own Voice

"'Who hath measured the waters in the hollow of His hand?'"

Dr. MacKay speaks these calm words of faith while standing drenched on the pitching deck of the Hailoong during a blinding typhoon.

"I-seng lai! I-seng lai!"

Thin, wounded Chinese soldiers turn on their bare boards in the makeshift hospital, whispering this welcoming greeting as Sinclair enters to dress their injuries.

"It means that there is a hand shaping our destinies, giving us a work to do, showing us a path to tread."

Sinclair reflects on his journey and marriage to Jessie while looking out from the upper verandah of their new building.

What It's Really About

Beneath its adventure and romance, The Call of the East explores the moral divides created when Western powers push into East Asia. The novel contrasts superficial Western superiority with genuine humanitarian service. Characters like Carteret treat the native population with casual contempt and view the Orient merely as a background for self-aggrandizement. In opposition, figures like Sinclair and Dr. MacKay demonstrate that true Christian and human values require humility, respect, and active sacrifice. The narrative argues that personal integrity and selfless labor bridge cultural divides, while status-seeking and imperial arrogance lead only to moral degradation.

Why Read It Today

The Call of the East offers modern readers an engaging window into a lesser-known chapter of nineteenth-century colonial history—the Franco-Chinese War in Taiwan. Readers who enjoy classic Victorian-style adventure stories, historical romances, and narratives of medical humanitarianism will find much to admire.

The book's atmosphere is rich with details of steamship voyages, treaty-port diplomacy, and tactical battlefield scenes. However, readers should be prepared for period-typical features, including heavy rendered Irish dialect from Sergeant Gorman and late-nineteenth-century Western attitudes toward Eastern cultures. Where the novel excels is in its grounded depiction of physical courage and cross-cultural empathy. Rather than presenting a simple romantic melodrama, Fraser delivers a warm, earnest portrait of individuals finding love, vocation, and moral clarity amid the fog of war.