was in my favor, I arrived in about on religious subjects, though with two hours. The place is about a great imperfection. When quesmile from the river, and the access tions regarding our religion, which to it is by a good canal. How far they begin to perceive is different this canal extends into the country, from theirs, and from Romanism, I have yet no means of ascertaining. are proposed, I cannot help attemptThe population is estimated at 18 ing to resolve them, though, perhaps, or 20,000, mostly Peguans, (or sometimes at the risk of misrepre senting the truth through inadequacy of language. Mawns, as the Siamese call them.) There are two Siamese Wats of great magnificence; the others are Peguans. The situation is much more pleasant than Bankok, but the habitations are not so crowded. Most of the men can speak Burman sufficiently for the transaction of ordinary business, but not more than about a hundred of the whole can read it. Very few women understand it at all. Both men and women speak Siamese also, but the number who can read it is small. From a great many inquiries and from Sankoke, another settlement experiments which I made, I apprehend about two thirds of the men can read Peguan. Most of them, as well as the Burmans, seem to have the same feelings about their native land, as the Jews, and regard their residence here as a kind of cruel exile. They appear frank and hospitable. When I get Peguan tracts from Maulmein, I shall doubtless visit them again. This place shall not be lost sight of as a missionary station. While there, the inquiry was made, which is common in Siam, whether the Americans and others do not make silver dollars of lead and pewter, and whether I did not under stand the art? and they seem not to be satisfied with any disavowal of such knowledge. 27. Burmans and Peguans continue to receive more and more attention and instruction from us. To-day, 28 Peguans were in our verandah at once, whom, though they were drawn in by their curiosity to see our "little white-headed white child," I could not allow to depart, without hearing an outline of evangelical truth. While I was gone to Packlâte, the other day, several Peguan priests called at our house, above this, which, with the circumjacent villages, is said to be as populous as Packlâte. To them, at some future day, I must try to make known the gospel of God. Before closing this communication, I must advert to a topic of mournful interest to ourselves. It has pleased our wise heavenly Father to remove from us our beloved son. At his birth, he seemed strong and healthy, but soon began to decline. He gradually pined away, and peacefully expired on the morning of the 14th inst., aged 3 months and 11 days. On the same day, his remains were deposited by the side of Mrs. Gutzlaff. Natural affection grieves, but faith views the bud transplanted to bloom in a fairer world. May the glorious hope that he has gone to heaven, fix our thoughts and affections more firmly there! The Siamese often wish to know if I have any map or delineation of hell, saying they have many correct ones. They want to know what kind of instruments are used in the infiction of punishments there; whether they have burning rods, red hot pincers, flaming saws, &c. It is exceedingly difficult to communicate to them any ideas of spirituality. For "conscience," I cannot ascertain that they have even the I begin to converse a little | REV. L. BOLLES. name. Our last American dates were Oct. 1832. We have received nothing since June. Though Mrs. J. is still feeble, we are in usual health and cheerfulness, and feel, we trust, a constantly increasing attachment to, and interest in our work. With sincere regards, yours, JNO. TAYLOR JONES. sidering their repeated request, as well as their irreproachable conduct so far as I can ascertain, though unaascertain so well as I could wish their ble, through inadequate language, to spiritual state, it seemed that I could not consistently with Scriptural examples, again decline the administration of the rite. The next Sabbath morning, is appointed for the ceremony. I shall do it with much trembling, lest they should hereafter prove to be a reproach, and not an ornament to the cause. Oh, for heavenly direction! Perverted Consciences. This morning my teacher related to me a Tradition common among the Burmans and Taliengs, regard29. The Boodhists all consider ing the origin of the Karens. In themselves as forbidden by their reorder to understand it, it is necessary ligion to kill any animal. Some are to premise, that in their accounts of very conscientious on this point, but the origin of the human race Brahmas the generality disregard it. To-day descended from the superior regions, my teacher happened to remark that and, when they began to eat the he knew where fowls were abundant. fruits of the earth, they lost the power I asked him, if he would take my of ascending, which they had previously possessed, and their gigantic forms gradually diminished to the human stature. They were originally seven in number, four brothers, and three sisters. Three of the former married the three latter; and the other, in a fit of anger with his brethren on account of it, fled to the jungle, where he spent 20 years. When he returned, his brothers had numerous grown sons and daughters. He found the latter weaving; went round among them, inquiring which of them would weave him a patso (a kind of waist cloth worn by all Burman men.) After various rebuffs, one consented. He bore her off to the jungle, and from their union in the jungle, sprung the Karens a jungle people, while from his brethren proceeded the Pequans, Burmans, Siamese, and other civilized people. Application for Baptism. Nov. 24. To-day two of the Chinese worshippers, who have at tended worship constantly for about a year, again petitioned etitioned for baptism. After examining them as well as practicable through Bun-tae, and con boat, and go and buy some for me. He replied, Llooa bap, "I am afraid of the crime," i. e. of buying fowls. knowing they were to be killed. Yet the same man, not six days before, wanted to sell me two of his children. Thus they "strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel." Siamese Preparation for War. Dec. 1. The two Chinamen, for some reasons, which I could not fully understand, requested that their baptism might be deferred, and it was deferred accordingly. During a great part of the day, war boats, of almost every variety of construction and size, were continually passing down the river. The smallest contained about 20 men. Some probably 120. It is said that those who have gone to-day and will go this evening, and tomorrow morning, amount to 50,000 men. These are destined for an attack on Cochin China. They are divided into two squadrons, one under the command of the Pra-klang, to go by water, and the other, under Pra Mee-tap, (the Siamese Generalissimo,) to proceed as as they can in boats, up a small river, and thence by land. Two squadrons have pre far ceded them in a similar way, and two are to follow. When shall the nations learn war no more? The First Communion. This afternoon for the first time in Siam, we celebrated the sufferings of our glorious Lord-that event which is the foundation of all our hopes of substantial benefit to the millions of immortal beings around us. The exercise was connected with a variety of contending emotions. We have been accustomed to unite with others, who we hoped were travelling with us to our heavenly home. We were now solitary! Will the time ever come when we shall unite with converted Siamese and Chinese, &c. in singing a Saviour's love around the elements of his "broken body and shed blood?" The First Baptism. stances are humble but respectable. His fluency and earnestness command attention, though his voice is not boisterous. He speaks Siamese, but not well, which remark applies to all Chinamen who were not born in the country, as they cannot pronouncer or d.-Peng is about 50 years of age, of a consumptive habit; was also with the others considerably instructed by Mr. Abeel, and for more than a year has regularly attended worship with Bun-tae. Seng Seah is about forty years of age, industrious, and has read most of the New Testament, and many other Christian books; otherwise the same remarks will apply to him as to Chek Peng. Though we rejoice over them, yet it is not without many fears. Our observation has taught us that perseverance and stability of Christian character, among professed converts from heathenism, is a very different thing from what it is in a Christian country, where religious institutions have been long us." Dec. 11. I have already mentioned, that a son of the Pra-klang has offered to build us a house and let us live on his premises. Dec. 8. This morning, after causing Bun-tae to read and explain in Chinese the concluding portions of Matt. and Mark, containing our Saviour's commission to his disciples, established. If they hold out, and and the first part of the 6th Chap. of adorn their profession, let us bless Romans, I proceeded with the can- God for his grace. If they decline didates to the river in front of our from the paths of wisdom, let us not house, where, under the shade of a be discouraged, "as though some tamarind tree, I invoked the God of strange thing had happened unto heaven, while they were kneeling around me. Then, in the presence of the boats passing on the river and a small company of spectators on shore, before the God of all nations, I baptized them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. We then returned to the house, and closed the morning exercises by has now gone with his father to the prayers. There were three baptized, war without doing any thing to the Chek* Bun-tae, Chek Peng, and Chek house. As my expectations were Seng-Seah. Respecting the former not raised very high in regard to our I have already given the Board some prospects of procuring a residence information. He was instructed and so easily, I am not very seriously hopetully converted by the instru- disappointed. Previous to his dementality of Mr. Gutzlaff. He re-parture, however, I obtained perceived further instruction from Mr. mission to purchase a place near Abeel, and secured his confidence. where I now live, if I should think He has been the regular conductor it advisable. But as it is remote of Chinese worship ever since Mr. Abeel left this country. His circum * This is a Chinese title used much like Mr. with the Eng. Of late he has been incessantly employed in making preparations for the war with Cochin-China, and from the body of the Siamese population, and I desired to procure one where I should be in the midst of them, I have to-day applied to the brother of the Pra-klang, whom he Stories of a Burmese Priest. has left as his agent, for permission | made," thus put on a level with such to purchase a building spot else- a being! where. He replied that he was not empowered to grant such permission, and that perhaps it might be obtained on his brother's return. Whether that will ever be, or when, is uncertain. We shall therefore be under the necessity of taking the place near us, or pay a heavy rent for months to come. Humanly speaking, our prospects of usefulness depend much on a favorable location. The Second Communion. Dec. 17. Just as I had fairly got engaged in my study with my Siamese teacher, this morning, a Burman priest called. He was exceedingly talkative, and completely engrossed my time for several hours. He seemed very anxious to tell me all the marvellous stories of their religion; whether with the expectation of making a convert, or of getting me into good humor, with a hope that I would make him some present, I cannot tell. Most probably the latter, as he was profuse in his stories of the blessings which have attended making offerings to the priest. One story was of Gaudama, who pulled out one of his eyes and gave it to a blind priest, and, as a reward, on his departure, another of extraordinary qualities immediately appeared in its place. Another of a poor youth, having some bread in a basket, a few crumbs of which he dropped in a priest's Dec. 15. Though but two weeks had elapsed since we celebrated the Lord's supper, yet, deeming it important to teach those who were recently baptized immediate obedience so far as practicable, I concluded to administer it to them to-day. Buntae read the account of its institution in Chinese, and I endeavored to explain its objects as well as our mutual slight knowledge of Siamese would allow. Praying and singing in Eng., I used Siamese in administering the elements. It was a solemn, and, I hope, not a profitless event. rice-pot and they immediately swellHow much I was grieved that Ied to marvellous dimensions: obcould not expatiate on such a theme serving this, he added a few more and give them all needed encourage- crumbs, which swelled in a like manment and monition, no human lan-ner, and the loaf remaining in the guage can express! Here, then, is basket expanded to such an extent a little Baptist church, whose lan-that all the attending priests could guage I know not, and cannot learn, not draw it off. Another man had without throwing away every thing numerous poor servants, who soliI have done for three years past. Shall they languish and die for want of a teacher; or will some warmhearted and holy-hearted brother come and try, by God's blessing, to make the weak strong, and a small one a thousand? Had a long discussion with a Burman priest. He was pleasant, and not so stupid as most of the priests are; but endeavored to avoid giving Christianity that serious attention it demands, by maintaining that that and Boodhism were all the same cited his permission to go and make presents to the priests, which he gave. As his reward for this generous deed, when he left the present state, he ascended to the Nat country, attended by 500 Rahandahs and there was allowed to enjoy himself with 500 daughters of the Nats for wives. I record these things, not for their peculiarity, but as a pretty fair specimen of the arguments employed, or motives presented to the people to gull them of their good things. I in substance; that a great many asked him why he would not read Gods had appeared in succession; and examine our books, as I read Gaudama was one, Jesus another. and examined theirs. He replied, How painful to hear Him "by he could not understand them. The whom all things were made that are fact is, they are too lazy to consider, and the matter of our books is so any spirit? If I deny having any, different from what they are accus- they are incredulous, and exclaim, tomed to, that they cannot understand "What! a Farang not got any spirthem without consideration. On his departure he offered to come again, and instruct me if I would give him a lot of good things to eat, which as I declined, I shall probably not be again molested by him. To-day 600 more soldiers were dispatched to join the expedition by land against Cochin-China. its?" as much as to say, "credat Judæus?" and then begin to tell me how such and such a foreigner treated them. Obstacles to the Spread of Christianity. Dec. 25. Having lately made some inquiries about a place for permanent location, my inquiries led me to some reflections on the obsta cles which oppose the efforts to spread Christianity here. Some of the most important proceed from the influence which has been exerted by those who are called Christians. I. Foreign traders, knowing the cupidity of the people, and thinking that they could more easily execute their own purposes by great appearances of liberality, have been accustomed to pay large prices for trifling articles, and make numerous presents. By these means they flatter the people to purchase foreign com modities at enormous prices, and sell by the wholesale at a very reduced rate. As these traders stay but a short time, this answers their ends. But the people have hence got the impression that all foreigners must give exorbitant prices for all the small articles they want, i. e. double what the natives themselves III. As very few foreigners have ever been attended here by their wives, it has been a usual practice to take some native woman to supply her place. Such are the Siamese views, that such a woman regards herself as wife ipso facto, and, so far from being attended with disgrace on her part, she proclaims herself, even after her gentleman's departure, as his wife; and her title is univers universally recognized; i. e. till she is taken by somebody else. These women are generally purchased by paying the pa rents 50 or 60 ticals. One of the first questions asked a foreigner, therefore, is, "Me meer ru? Have you got a wife?" If he replies in the affirmative, the business does not rest there, "Ouik! take another!" When I have been out where I was not known, such inquiries and suggestions have been frequently made to me. While on this subject, I cannot forbear recording a fact that occurred last night. give, and make presents wherever It occasioned a quarrel, and I was they go, whether they gain the above advantages or not; and they consequently stigmatize one who does not meet their wishes in these respects as niggardly, and shun his society. II. Most traders use ardent spirits freely, and freely dispense them to the natives, Consequently, there are few questions which I have been asked so often, as whether I have * The person previously mentioned as having offered to build us a house has gone to the war, and the result of his offer is a matter of great uncertainty. A woman lives in our compound, who was formerly purchased of her mother, by a foreigner, but left free on his departure from the country. Her mother was last night detected in attempting to sell her again, obliged to interfere. I found the old woman screaming out that she had a right to do what she pleased with her daughter; and the daughter, with equal efforts of lungs, that she did not belong to her mother-that she had sold her once, and got her price that she was now the proper ty of her purchaser, not of her mother; at which the old woman was so angry, she immediately began beating her with both fists, and I was obliged to expel her forcibly from the house. This is by no means an unusual example of the |