He goes with a torch-the morning star, will tell him no. If he ask if I worship Christ, I will say no. If he ask if I worship the pagodas and the images of Gaudama, I will say yes." But will you tell a lie? “Ŏ yes; if I do not, he will whip me, or put me in prison, or make me pay a great deal of money." I tried as well as I could to explain to him that Christ's disciples must be will Mother's daughter is proud of her beauty; comes; On the beautiful horse, with a small back, And long with strong desire, for the tree The red tree fruit, the red tree hangs drooping o'er the lake, If seeds of the tree of life still exist, And long with strong desire, for the tree After the feast is over, the bone is buried. On the grave are placed the axe, knife, and other articles of the deceased; and if he possesses money, money is also thrown on the grave. The person who takes this away will be childless, it is said, and all his family; which so effectually deters them from taking the article that sacrilege is said to be unknown. (To be continued.) RANGOON. JOURNAL OF MR. WEBB. (Continued from p. 299.) absolute truth on all occasions. I sake, and urged the importance of tried to show him how different Burmah would be, if all were disciples of Christ, if all would invariably speak the truth, and all love one tion of such principles: they seemed another. He expressed his admiranew to him. On the 14th he called again, wished still to be baptized, but thought he must equivocate and tell falsehoods to avoid persecution. I of course refused to baptize him and said, I can give neither baptisin nor the Lord's supper to any who will not promise to keep God's commands and boldly to declare themselves the disciples of Christ whenever asked. Brahminical Intercessions. Yesterday four Brahmins called, and to-day five, dressed in white, with their Brahminical thread over the shoulder, and a white sea-shell in the hand of each containing a little water and a few sprigs of tender leaves,- on an errand somewhat novel in a heathen land; it was to pray for me. As they stood before me, I said And what do you want? Raising their shells before their faces clasped in both hands, all simulBurman duplicity. taneously commenced their prayApril 13. A man called to-day ers. I would not have objected, had for the second time to ask for bap- their ejaculations arisen from the tism. In many particulars he ap-benevolence of that love "which peared very well, and answered as well as could be expected for a man almost totally ignorant of revelation; but one answer was calculated to produce a chill in the heart of an enlightened Christian. I asked, Are you not afraid to be baptized? "No." But suppose a ruler call you, will you not be afraid? "If a ruler ask if I am a disciple of Christ, I seeketh not her own," though I had little to hope in answer to prayers either offered to a heathen god, or without a recognition of a Saviour's atoning blood. I interrupted by asking again, And what do you want? A little money' was the reply. Finding I placed no value on their prayers and was not disposed to give them money, they went away angry. This is the benevolence of a pagan priest. 14. A pleasant shower of rain for half an hour, the first that has fallen since the first of November, six months. renewed his application for baptism, said if he could not receive it in Rangoon, he would go to Maulmein. I asked Are you not afraid to be bap tized in Rangoon. "No." But if the rulers call you, you will? "Yes, 19. Began to rain at 4, P. M., and I shall be afraid if they call me." continued most of the night. This And if they ask you if you believe is no little mitigation of the intense in Christ, and worship the Eternal heat of the two past weeks. At God, you will tell them no. "No, 12 o'clock on Sunday, 20th, the ther-I will not tell a lie now. I was formometer stood at 809, 10 to 14 de- merly very bad, told lies, and stole; grees lower than usual, in the cham- but when one becomes a disciple he ber. Perfectly comfortable weather will be good. If they wish to kill to-day. Mrs. W. and myself are me, let them kill. I shall go to very much enervated by the heat, but the strength which these two cool days have afforded, can scarcely be conceived by one who has never felt the enervating effects of a tropical climate. Shameless effrontery. heaven. If they wish to whip, let Conversation of Ko-Shoon with his Company all the afternoon. Was troubled with 3 young men, who came to get tracts, I fear, to destroy; at least, there is reason to believe, for no good purpose. They came two or three times, and behaved badly, and the last time stole several tracts, besides telling me half a dozen lies. Lying is about as common as May 1. Ko Shoon and Ko Yentruth here. Scarcely a morning ga-lay arrived from Ava, with Major walk passes when children do not Burney the British Ambassador. tell me lies, and in the presence of Ko Shoon seems an uncommonly their parents: even when I have de-interesting Burman. One anecdote tected them, I have never known a of him will serve as a specimen. parent reprove the wickedness, but "The Burmans at Ava," he says, always laugh at the cunning of the "greatly fear the British Ambassador, deception. Thus they are brought from the influence he has in the Burup liars, and practise lying all their man court. It is pretty generally. lives. Men, women and children, believed, from the similarity of relig after I have given them a book, have ion, dress and appearance, that the often immediately come denying it, missionaries are some how allied to get another. People in America with the English; they therefore fear talk of the heathen being saved, the effect of offending the missionabecause "they are sincere worship-ries. The Burmans sometimes ask pers of their gods." But, verily, theme, Are the English and Americans first principles of sincerity are want- the same? O no, very different, ing in their hearts. The man men- very different indeed? The Engtioned on the 13th is an instance inlish made war with the Americans, proof. He came again to-day, spent but they could not conquer them, most of the afternoon in reading and now they are friends.' 'Do some of our tracts, and conversing they know every thing, like the with those who came in, and appear- English? Have they any "fire ed very different this time from the ships ?" (steamboats, a subject of former. After all were gone, hegreat admiration to the Burmans, a small one having been to Ava at the close of the Burmese war, to convey the English Ambassador.) 'O yes. The Americans first built fireships. When they wish to cross a river, they give the owner of a fireship a little piece of silver, and they are across at once. Or if a man wishes to go a great distance very quick, as from Rangoon to Ava, (five hundred miles,) he gives the owner a few rupees, and in two days and two nights he is there.' (This ordinarily occupies the Burmans from one to two months.) Tay-thee-the, Amay-re-ca-loo,' (very knowing, the Americans,) they reply." 4. Sabbath. Ko Shoon leaves this evening for Maulmein. I regret that he should go on the Lord's day, but when his passage was engaged the captain said he was not going till Monday. He had been absent from his family about a year, and there being no other vessel in the river it was uncertain when he could again find a passage. But it is the last case of the kind, I think, in which I shall give my consent. God's Sabbath should be kept as a day of holy rest to the Lord. Climate of Rangoon. 28. The rains commenced on the 11th in torrents, accompanied with strong winds. During the first week it rained violently almost without cessation. Since it is a little abated, though it has never failed to rain in the afternoon and generally more or less during every night. The average annual fall in England is 36 inches. Already (17 days,) it has fallen here 25 inches, and Major Burney, the English resident here, tells me that he has known it fall in Tavoy 200 inches in six months. mould, the paste and glue dissolve, and the books are unbound. Bugs, worms, centipedes, and scorpions are abundant. Our daily wearing apparel is mouldy. The year may very properly be divided into 3 parts. 1st. The Rainy season, from the fore part of May, continuing 5 or 6 months, and consisting of clouds, sunshine and showers. Thermometer from 75° to 90, including night and day. On the whole, a delightful season. 2d. The Cool season, of about 3 months, while the sun is in its most southern latitude, thermometer ranging night and day from 559 to 75. A part of this season, for pleasantness could not be improved. 3d. The Hot season, while the sun is gaining his northern latitude, about 3 months, till it is suddenly closed by the dash of rains which this year commenced as I have said above, May 11. Thermometer, including night and day, 80° to 96. Health of the Mission. July 17. Mrs. Webb's health has been gradually declining ever since we came to Rangoon, principally or wholly from the influence of the constant heat, which, while at the Landale house, caused the mercury to stand 80 to 96°, including night and day. That house was high, but in the upper room which was far the most comfortable, there was nothing between our heads and a tile roof, which was as hot as might be supposed with a vertical sun without a drop of rain or even dew, and not a cloud to intercept its intensity. In this house, during the rains thus far, the thermometer has stood in the heat of the day from 80 to £0. On the 11th, when the rains com- Here, as in the other house, there is menced, the thermometer standing nothing but the roof above our heads, at 96, hanging in the middle of a and the roof so low that at the eaves room in the upper story of a brick we cannot stand straight. Underhouse, fell to 80% during the after-stand me, I am not complaining of noon. Every thing about the house our houses. They are all better than has become very damp. Our paper, I ever anticipated before I left unless secured in flannel, is soon unfit for use, and ever after. Our books, unless secured from the air, America. We are contented and happy.-Mrs. W's health was so much depressed that we both judged it prudent that she should try the influence of the sea air. In this opinion we are joined by Major and Mrs. Burney, the English resident and his lady. She has accordingly just set sail for Maulmein. 25. My dear wife has to-day returned, somewhat improved in health and very cheerful and happy. better return, and improve the favorable opportunity of distributing the Word of Life to the thousands who have no missionary among them. I obtained two native assistants, and br. Brown concluded also to accompany me, as two could do much more than one by taking both sides of the river, i. e. by having a small Ko Shway Bay, my Burman as- canoe with us, so that one could sistant, seems wearing down with his take the town or village on the side hard labors. He sits on the veran- of the river at which the boat might dah from 8 in the morning till 5 in be, and the other cross over to the the afternoon, and is almost without opposite side. He also anticipates intermission surrounded by dispu- considerable improvement in the lantants. It is so evidently wearing guage and knowledge of the manupon his health, that I have directed ners and customs of the people, from him to commence later and close his varied intercourse with them. earlier, and increase his exercise. We have procured a suitable boat, Ko Sanlone, br. Kincaid's assistant, and intend to start to-morrow mornhas just arrived on a visit to his fam-ing for Ava. ily, and will assist while he remains. He says he thinks it probable, the rulers will give him trouble, but he is resolved to go forward and suffer the consequences. God will direct.' (To be continued.) EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM MR. CUTTER TO DR. BOLLES. Rangoon, Nov. 16, 1834. When I wrote my last (Oct. 6,) I expected to leave this for Ava in the course of 10 or 15 days; but not being able to procure any assistants, and being assured by Col. Burney, (who went up last year at this season,) and by the natives, that I could stop at scarcely any villages this side of Prome, (on account of the river rising very high at that season,) and that I should reach Ava nearly as soon by waiting a month, I concluded to remain. After having engaged Mrs. Cutter's passage to Maulmein, I came to the conclusion to go round with her, -and if the brethren should think best to run the risk of sending up for the Press, I would immediately enter upon my duties in the printing office there; but if not, I would endeavor to get one or two assistants to preach to the people, and help me give tracts. The brethren seemed to think I had Siam. EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM MR. Bankok, Dec. 31, 1834. My dear Sir, The greatest part of our efforts have been to acquire the language, administer medicines, and hold discussions with those whom God in his providence has put in our way. I have distributed à considerable quantity of Chinese, Malay, Burman and Peguan books. I have reason to believe that of those distributed, the Peguan tracts have been more generally read and understood than any other.-And my regret is ex treme that they cannot be more fully supplied, and with a greater variety. Our little Chinese church continues steadfast, and the average at tendance on their Sabbath worship has generally been from 15 to 20. Last Sabbath I was privileged to baptize another Chinese in the river Mee-nam, surrounded by nearly a hundred people, Chinese, Burmans, Siamese, Peguans, &c. His name is Lyseng. He first came to me for medicine more than a year ago. In continuing his visits for medical aid, he one day came on the Sabbath, and being found by Bun-ty was invited to their worship, of which he which I expect to repair in a few days. In a postscript, dated Singapore, Feb. 2, 1835, he adds, I arrived here 30 ult. and found the Cashmere had arrived about ten days before, with our friends, in perfect safety. To-day I have begun which is Mr. Judson's Catechism. printing a Siamese tract, the basis of I print with trembling, lest my labor should be in vain. Endian Stations. - VALLEY TOWNS. EVAN JONES TO DR. BOLLES. Your favor of Jan. 2d has just come to hand. It is nearly three months since the mail has passed this way: to the very serious inconvenience of the country. It has now commenced passing again, and is to be continued. has ever since been a regular attend- EXTRACTS OF A LETTER FROM MR. ant. He has given us some hope for several months, and as long as three months ago petitioned for baptism-Valley Towns, C. N. March 15, 1835. but as he had formerly been much Rev. and dear brother, addicted to gambling and other scandalous practices, I deemed it best to defer his admission till the present. Some days I have occasion to state the great truths of our holy religion to many-again, I scarcely see one. To Chau Tah Noi, the son of the late king, I have had frequent opportunities of recommending the religion of Christ, and generally in the presence of many of his attendants. With his brother also, now a priest greatly venerated by the people, I have had two protracted interviews, in which the principles of our faith and of western science were the main topics. I rejoice in the prospect of the help of br. Sturgis. I trust he will come in the fulness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ, and accompanied with the prayers of the people of God. We have work enough, and the field is widening. I received a letter from him a few days ago. He expects to be here the beginning of May. On Saturday and Sabbath last, we had quite a large and interesting meeting at Galaneeye. Two full Cherokee females, sisters, (from a place at which we have had occasional preaching, about 20 miles distant,) gave us hopeful evidence of a change of heart, and were baptized in the name of the adorable That but little success has attended our attempts to establish schools, is a source of grief. The collection, however, of five scholars as permanent boarders, offers some encouragement. The tract which I have formerly mentioned has undergone many revisions, and I hope it is now pretty intelligible and correct.-Trinity. Another is partially written, but has been deferred for the present that I might give unremitted attention to the translation and revision of Matthew, the first fair copy of which is now nearly completed. It will need some months further labor bestowed upon it, but I hope to have it published ere my return from Singapore, to A few weeks before, a young female, whose father and mother are members of the church, professed her faith in Jesus Christ, and was baptized at Ganaheda, about 20 miles from this station. There are a number of hopeful inquirers, who appear quite serious, of whom I hope soon to have to report good news. |