glory. May he make his own inspired word, now complete in the Burman tongue, the grand instrument of filling all Burmah with songs of praises to our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ! Amen."

The Board need not express the feelings which must fill every heart, in view of the glorious fact, that the whole Bible is now translated into the language of Burinah. The word of God is now accessible by her numerous population, in their own tongue. Praise be to God, that he has preserved the life of Mr. Judson to finish this work, and that he has honored this Board as an instrument in furnishing, to the millions of Burmah, this precious gift. Mr. Kincaid says, in a letter to Mr. Judson, dated Ava, April 12, 1833,-"We were much gratified to learn, that the whole Bible is now in the Burman language. Auspicious day! what a flood of glory is to roll down to future ages, through the instrumentality of this blessed book. The thought overwhelms me. I think of that day, when Burmah, proud and haughty as she now is, will rise up, and, amidst the rush of empires, strive to be the first in crowning the Saviour Lord of all.' I dare not, I cannot feel discouraged. The translation of the word of God has cut asunder the chains of mental bondage, under which all Burmah has groaned, from time immemorial. Now, it is our duty to take that word, and preach deliverance to the captives. Let the world langh: we do not aim at imposibilities. All heaven is on our side. My word shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.""

Printing. The printing office has been kept in active operation under the care of brethren Bennett and Hancock, assisted by several native workmen. The Old Testament is in press, and will be published as fast as possible. A portion of it, as printed, has been received at the missionary rooms. It is expected to make three volumes, of about the size of the Burman Testament, which occupies 624 pages octavo. The first edition will consist of 2000 copies. Some of the books, however, will be issued separately as tracts. Five thousand copies of the Psalms have thus been prepared for circulation. Besides the Old Testament, there was in press at the last date, a book of 250 pages, called the "Life of Christ," being a reprint of one of the publications of the London Religious Tract Society. An edition of 5000 copies was to be printed. The printing of Tracts has proceeded as usual. The whole amount of printing done, (including scriptures and tracts) during the year 1833, was 5,272,000 pages; and it was expected, that at least 3,500,000 pages would be printed during the year 1834.

Preaching.-Preaching has been continued in the Burman language by Mr. Judson, and in English, by Mr. Simons, Mr. Brown, and others.

Baptisms.—The Lord has blessed his word, and several persons have been converted. During the year 1833, forty-four were baptized at Maulmein, consisting of ten Burmans, sixteen Karens, and eighteen foreigners, mostly English soldiers. Two of these individuals professed to have been brought to see the necessity of a change of heart, by reading the Memoir of Mrs. Judson.

Churches.--The native church at Maulmein consists of eighty members. The English church, under the care of Mr. Simons, received an accession of twenty members, during the year 1833, but the whole number is not stated. Mr. Simons speaks very favorably of the deportment of the members, and of their zeal for the spread of the gospel. A Missionary Society had been formed and the members resolved to raise fourteen rupees per month (about 84 dollars per annum) to support a native preacher at Ava. The monthly concert was held, and a collection was regularly made for missionary purposes. Mr. Simons says, under date of March 18, 1834,"A part of the regiment left this place for Madras, a fortnight ago, when we had to part with some of the members of the church,-three men

and one woman, and one inquirer. They had a prayer meeting at the chapel, on the morning of the members leaving, and prayer was made on their behalf. Being commended to God, they parted after singing together

Blest be the tie that binds
Our hearts in Christian love."

"At Madras, there are churches of every denomination except the Baptist. As persons have gone from this station there, and others in time may go, there might be a church established there of our order."

Schools.-The school under the charge of Mrs. Hancock, on the 1st of January, 1834, consisted of two women, twenty-two boys, and fifteen girlsseventeen of whom are boarded at the expense of the mission. These are taught reading and writing principally. About 18 can read in plain reading, though some rather slowly. Five more are nearly through the spelling-book. Those who can read, commit a portion of the catechism, or having committed that perfectly to memory, take a portion of the tract— "View of the Christian Religion.”—There is a flourishing Sabbath school connected with the English church, and a Bible class, under the care of Mr. Simons, consisting of eight or ten persons. An English school is kept at the house of Mr. Simons, under the care of Mrs. Simons, consisting of eight or ten persons. There have been from twenty-five to thirty regular attendants. Mr. and Mrs. Bennett have undertaken the charge of a school established by the English government. Mr. Bennett says, under date of May 12th, 1834, "A meeting of the brethren was held a few evenings since, and they unanimously voted to approve of my entering the school supported by government. A dwelling for nyself, two school-houses, two boarding houses, with suitable out-houses, are to be erected immediately and we shall probably commence in July next. The commissioner expects 150 scholars. The school is to be open to all, country born Burmese, Chinese, &c. The most promising of the boys are to be taught English as well as Burmese, both of whic's languages are to be taught; and the commissioner designs to board all who can be accommodated. Government will furnish books, &c. Thus the mission has the prospect of a fine school, with very little if any expense. The school is under the direction of the commissioner and the mission wholly. While in Rangoon I prepared a spelling-book in English and Burmese, which will soon be in press, to be used in the school. William Blundell, the commissioner, has sent to Tavoy by the government vessel, to bring up the scholars, lately under the charge of Mrs. Boardman, for this school. There is a school of fifty scholars here, under the charge of the chaplain, which is to be broken up, and we commence our school with them." This providential opening seems to present an opportunity to Mr. and Mrs. Bennett of increasing their usefulness, while Mr. Bennett will be able to give occasional aid in conducting the printing operations.

Miscellaneous Labors.-The missionaries have been steadily pursuing the study of the language, and have occasionally taken short excursions, to promote the spiritual welfare of the immortal beings around them.

MISSION TO THE KARENS.

TAVOY.

Missionaries, Rev. JONATHAN WADE, Mrs. DEBORAH WADE, Rev. FRANCIS MASON, Mrs. HELEN M. MASON, Miss ANN P. GARDNER, school teacher. Native assistants, Moung Sha-too, Moung Kyo, Moung Seek-kee. Mr. and Mrs. Mason have been much afflicted by sickness, and by the death of one of their children. Yet their labors have been zealous and successful. Mr. Mason has preached to the English congregation, and in

*

the zayat, there has been preaching by the native assistants. Mr. Mason had the pleasure of baptizing, during the year, 1833, twenty-four individuals, of whom three were Europeans, one a Burman, one a Tavoyer, and nineteen Karens, making the whole number connected with the church, at the close of the year, one hundred and ninety-four, two of whom are Burman, two Tavoyers, two Indo-Chinese, one a European, and one hundred and eighty-seven Karens. The spirit manifested by the members of the church, is such as the Gospel requires. Mr. Mason, in a letter dated Oct. 9, 1833, says, "It has given me much pleasure, to find the Lord raising me up brethren where I least expected them, who give unequivocal tokens of their love, and desire to further, to the full extent in their power, the extension of Christianity among the heathen. One member of the congregation has gratuitously given his own superintendence, and the labor of his men, to making a plough for the Karens, and has taken charge of two Karen boys, who are learning to work in iron, under his direction. A member of my church yesterday presented me with thirty rupees,t accompanied by the following note:

'Thirty rupees, to be appropriated to the church of God, in any way that may appear most advantageous; from one who wishes to promote the cause of Christianity.'

Under the date of Jan. 11, 1834, Mr. Mason says,-" A pleasing circumstance has occurred in the formation of a missionary society in the congregation. This society embraces natives as well as Europeans; and, at the last meeting, it was resolved to support two native preachers the ensuing year, commencing with December, 1833."

In October and November, 1833, Mr. Mason made short excursions among the Tavoy villages, where he found several persons who appeared to be serious inquirers, and one man who was anxious to be baptized. He also visited, in November, several Karen villages. The following paragraphs are extracts from his journal :

"Young-byouk-gala.-Nov. 15. On our arrival here, this morning, we found a number of people desirous to hear the Gospel; a comfortable zayat built for my reception, and the villagers, gathering around me with presents of rice, fowls, eggs, papyas, plantains, sweet potatoes, and sugar cane, told me I was among friends. After a short interval, I concluded to have regular worship, and addressed the people from 2 Cor. viii. 9. Ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet, for your sakes, he became poor, that ye, through his poverty might be rich.' I found two men at worship, who have abandoned drinking and Nat-worship, since I was here last. After worship again in the evening, a woman came forward who lives in the neighboring village, renouncing Nat-worship, and requesting to be baptized."

In January, 1834, Mr. Mason set out on a journey to Mergui. He visited several Karen villages. He says, in his journal,

"Ma-ta-myee.-Jan. 17. Seventeen or eighteen houses have been erected in this new village, the present season, embracing, among their inmates, nearly a hundred members of the church. Among the people at worship, to-night, were two persons from a neighboring village, who, for the first time, expressed a hope in Christ, and requested admission to the ordinances. They give good evidence of having passed from death unto life, receiving confirmation also from the fact, that they are from the neighborhood of opposers to religion.

A building for public worship.

†A rupee is about fifty cents.

The Nats are supposed by the Burmans to be inferior but mischievous demons.

"18th. A Siamese Karen was at worship, to-night, one of a large party of Siamese now in the province. I saw him here, two years ago, and several of the Christians have visited him in his own village, where he is head man. He says there are many Karens in Siam, who are believers in Christianity, and that they are anxiously hoping to see the teacher come ainong them. Twenty persons in his neighborhood have abandoned offering to Nats, through the preaching of a prophet, that has lately arisen among them."

In a letter dated June 3, 1834, Mr. Mason mentions the sickness of himself and family, and the death of his little son. He adds, "We have a school of forty at Ma-ta-myee, and a boarding school of eight or ten Karens. In this department, we experience a great difficulty for the want of books. I have a tract going through the press, which is wanted at the present moment; but the proof sheets have to come down to me for correction, and there is little hope of its being out before the close of the rains. All the schools, Burman and Karen, are under the superintendence of Mrs. Mason. Moung Shway-Moung has removed to Maulmein, but I have the young man to assist me in that department whom I baptized last year, and a most valuable assistant he is. We have considerable company; but every thing has been so irregular here, that when people begin to think, the Gospel has been abandoned; and then, the work is begun over again, as it certainly must be, to be again abandoned when the rains close. We have no decided inquirers, except one or two women, who attend on Mrs. Mason's instruction. I am going to try what can be done, in having a regular meeting for the Burmans, once a week, in the English chapel, situated in another part of the town. This evening is to be the first attempt. As usual, I preach in English once on the Sabbath. We have one candidate for baptism, among the few that attend. Two deaths have occurred in the church since last January, but no other changes."

Mrs. Boardman, after her marriage, moved to Maulmein, and her school was of course suspended; but it will doubtless be resumed by Mrs. Wade and Miss Gardner. It is hoped that Mr. and Mrs. Wade are now at Tavoy, laboring with their usual fidelity for the salvation of the heathen. The attention of the missionaries at this station will hereafter be directed

mainly to the Kareus. Mr. Wade has already reduced the Karen language to writing; he has composed a spelling-book and a tract in this language, which have been printed at Maulmein. The Scriptures will be translated and printed as soon as possible. The Karens are a very interesting people, and the Gospel has had among them a more rapid spread than among any other heathen nation, since the days of the Apostles. There seems to be among them, an astonishing preparation to receive the truth, and there is a bright prospect, that these despised, oppressed people, will be the first nation in modern Asia, to acknowledge the Saviour as their Lord. Mr. Mason has discovered among them traditions and fragments of poetry, which have led him to suppose that the Karens are descendants from the ancient Jews. The facts yet discovered are scarcely sufficient to justify a decided opinion on the subject; but these traditions certainly make it probable, that the ancestors of the Karens were men on whom some rays of the revelation from heaven must have shone.

RANGOON.

Missionaries, Rev. ABNER WEBB, Mrs. CATHARINE W. WEBB. Native pastor Ko Thah-a. Native assistants, Ko Shan, Ko Thah-byoo, Moung En, Moung Zoo-thee. Karen preachers, Taunah, Pahlah.

The last Report of the Board stated, that Mr. and Mrs. Bennett were then the only American laborers at Rangoon; that the spirit of persecution had been awakened, and that the school had been closed. These untoward events greatly retarded the progress of truth. Mr. Bennett and the native assistants continued nevertheless to distribute tracts, and to converse with all to whom they could gain access. But while little impression has been made on the Burmans, the Karens in the neighborhood of Rangoon have manifested a lively interest in the Gospel, and a strong desire to be instructed. Ko Thah-byoo and other native teachers have visited them in their villages, and they have resorted to Rangoon in great numbers, to visit the Missionaries. Mr. Bennett, in a letter to Mr. Judson, dated Rangoon, October 28, 1833, says, "The Karens are thronging us from Dalla, Leing, Man-bee, Kya-dan, and many other places, I have not heard named. Men, women, and children, are all anxiously inquiring about the religion of Jesus. One, San-kai, has formally requested baptism of me, and the church, and several others have requested it of Ko Thah-a, and Ko Thah-byoo. They are all anxious for schools, and offer to build zayats for preaching, or schools, if some one will come and teach them. There are very many who already keep the Lord's day, read our tracts, and endeavor to instruct one another the best they can. They daily read the tracts, and all get together in their families, and sing, and pray to the God who rules in heaven. The heads of families not only do this themselves, but they teach their children. They declare they have left off drinking spirits, and as far as they understand, endeavor to practise according to the requirements of the Scriptures. What shall we do? Thah-byoo is only one among a thousand. He cannot preach the Gospel, and teach these people to read in their own language the precious truths of God's word, at the same time. We want one man, to go to Bassein; another to go up to Prome, and along the river; another to Man-bee, and vicinity, towards old Pegu. All these to preach the Gospel; and we certainly need as many more for school-masters. Can you send us any assistance? If so, do; for Christ and his cause require it."*

Ko

In another letter, dated November 11th, Mr. Bennett says, "Four of the Karens were yesterday baptized, and are the first fruits of the plentiful Karen harvest, which these ripening fields present to our view. We want help, we want faith, we want patience, and perseverance; we want, (to say all in a word,) the same mind, which was found in our dear Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Pray for us, and for the Karens, who are looking up to us, for the bread of life, their eyes brightening as they hear of Jesus, and the way to heaven. There were thirty present at worship yesterday morning, when the four Karens were examined, and received. Afterwards, Ko Thah-a accompanied them to the King's tanks, and baptized them. About 4 o'clock, P. M. the disciples assembled together, and the Lord's supper was commemorated-twenty-two communicants.

"On the 27th of September, Mr. and Mrs. Cutter arrived at Rangoon, on their way to Ava, with a printing-press. Mr. Cutter says, in a letter,

* In other parts of the Report, it will be seen, that Messrs. Howard and Vinton, have since been sent from this country to labor among the Karens; and that Messrs. Wade and Mason will be devoted to their interests.

A tank is a cistern, or an artificial pool of water.