To-day, br. Brown had the pleas- at Tavoy. Only about 100 had been ure of baptizing a young man by baptized in all. I used then to feel, the name of Moung Thun-aung, a truly, "the work is great, and the native of this place. He gave good laborers few." At that time, but evidence of being a Christian, when few tracts were given, and but few we went up, as well as his father, willingly received. Darkness rested and they requested we would stop upon the land, and thick darkness when we returned, in order that covered the people. This last rethey might receive baptism. The mark is still true; but the streaks of old man seems to be a real warm-light which break through the gloom hearted Christian; but, having a have been multiplied, the heralds of good deal of intercourse with Gov- the cross have been more than quadernment, he is timid. He evidently wanted very much to receive the holy ordinance, but finally frankly confessed he was afraid. The young man, however, said he must be baptized; it was the command of Christ, and he must obey it. Feeling perfectly satisfied that he was a proper subject, br. B. baptized him in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, and having received a copy of the New Testament, he went on his way rejoicing. MAULMEIN. EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM MR. BENNETT TO H. LINCOLN, ESQ., DATED MAULMEIN, MARCH 1, 1835. Dear Brother, rupled, the converts to righteousness have been increased to more than 600, and more than 300,000 tracts have gone forth, to tell their tale of salvation through Jesus Christ, and the spirit of inquiry has so far spread, that the powers of hell cannot eradicate it. Now, instead of two places, where the torch of the Gospel is held up, to light the poor wanderers in the path to heaven, there are eight; Siam, two at Tavoy Maulmein, Chummerah, Rangoon, Ava, and Arracan; and instead of five souls laboring for the spread o truth, there are 33. its little messengers, and had to Then the press just began to issue struggle hard to supply the demand for tracts, which was soon created on their free distribution. Only one press, and a handful of types were' then to be had: now four presses, and a good supply of type, by which means, more can be done in one Then the New Testament was translated; now it is printed and in circulation. Then the Old Testament was not half translated; now it is completed, and one third printed and in circulation. Then the Karens had but just begun to hear of the Gospel; now hundreds have been converted and baptized. Then they had no schools, nor written language; now they have both, and are soon to have the New Testament to read in their own tongue, in which they were born. Your welcome letter of "June 30 1834," by the new brethren, was most gratefully received, and I do not know how I can better answer it, than to give you a few of the re-month, than then could in twelve. flections, which passed through my mind, on the return of br. and sister Wade, and the accession of the new brethren and sisters. My mind naturally reverted to the time when I arrived, when this place was comparatively a jungle, the population not half what it is at present, and only three persons were laboring for the salvation of souls here. At Tavoy were two more. These five were all of our denomination, who were at that time making known the power of the cross, in all Burmah and Siam. At that time, there was Yet these are only a few of the a small native church in Rangoon, many things I could mention, which a small one at this place, (and about have passed in retrospect before me, a dozen soldiers had been baptized,) and really gladdened my heart. and a native church just constituted ( Who does not see, when contrasting the present with the past, that a' but little, as I was entirely unsettled. glorious day is dawning? ARRACAN. A small part of the time I pursued the language with a teacher, but most of the knowledge of the language which I acquired there, was the natives. I visited a few of the by translating and conversing with neighboring villages with br. Bennett, conversing with the people, distributing tracts, &c. I preached several times to an interesting as Our readers have already been apprized (See Mag. for June, p. 248,) that measures were in progress for the introduction of the Gospel into the province of Arracan. Messrs. Comstock and Simons, having been appointed to this service, vis-sembly of soldiers and others in the ited Kyouk Phyco and Akyab, the places selected for the commencement of their operations, in the early part of this year. The following extracts of letters to the Corresponding Secretary, recently forwarded by them, contain the latest intelligence that has been received respecting the Mission. EXTRACTS OF A LETTER FROM MR. COMSTOCK. Bay of Bengal, East coast, Rev. and dear Sir, English chapel. The little church which has been raised up through the instrumentality of the missionaries, have become much interested in Arin many respects appears well. I ticular location assigned me, Kyouk racan, and am pleased with the parPhyoo and the adjoining region. My means of information however, have not been very ample, and perhaps actual observation may change my feelings in some respects. Feb. 26. We are indeed proceeding at at a very slow rate, being now about ten miles above where I commenced writing. Last Sabbath while the vessel was at anchor, I visited a small village on the shore, and commenced my labors in Arracan. I read the catechism to two small congregations, tried to tell my hearers something about Christ and left with them a few tracts. All that I read and said to them was new: they had not before heard of Christ. They will soon return to the village, a few miles in the interior, to which they belong, and carry to its two hundred inhabitants, tidings of the new religion. The Lord can make the little knowledge they now possess, the means of their salvation. After waiting at Maulmein two months for a passage to Arracan, I was at length so happy as to embark the 9th inst. on board a small schooner, (35 tons burthen,) for Kyouk Phyoo. I was obliged to charter a vessel expressly for the purpose, as there appeared no probability of procuring a passage before the rains in any vessel bound to the Arracan coast. It was deemed highly important by myself, and all the brethren at Maulmein, that I should enter my field of labor as soon as I could, certainly before next fall. To do so, I must go about this time. A passage by way of Calcutta might perhaps have been procured, but it would March 4. The Lord has been kind have been an uncertain and long to us, far beyond our fears, and has one, and the expense would probably brought us safely through rocks and have been about as much as it now shoals to the place of our destination. is. I have on board eight large boxes We anchored this evening in Kyouk of tracts and a few Testaments, &c., Phyoo harbor and just off the village. in all nearly a million and a half of The master attendant of the port has pages. Wind and current are deci- been aboard, and kindly invited us to dedly unfavorable to our progress and his house till we can make other we proceed very slowly. It is indeed arrangements for ourselves. We possible that the vessel will not be expect to go ashore in the morning, able to make Kyouk Phyoo. While and shall by no means be sorry to at Maulmein I was able to accomplish | find a place which we may call home, at least for a season. The friends at | are, considered unhealthy to EuropeMaulmein were indeed very kind; but ans on account of the noxious vapors still we were glad to leave them, to that rise from the low ground, where go where we were more needed, and much rice is cultivated. The popuwhere we might settle for a time. lation is more numerous than in any How long I shall remain at Kyouk other town, and the whole district Phyoo I cannot now say, but un- larger than any other in the province. doubtedly I shall not leave till after The small-pox has been raging the rains. I want to look at some throughout the Arracan province for important places in this vicinity and some months, and has carried a great then make arrangements for a per- many natives off. They are dying manent location. My principal busi- daily with it. ness while here will be the study of the language. 7. We reached Kyouk Phyoo the evening of the 4th, in safety, and were very hospitably received by Mr. Adams, the master attendant of the port. We remain with him till I can fit up a house built for a school, which is now vacant, and can be made tolerably comfortable without much expense. I like the appearance of things here very well. EXTRACTS OF A LETTER FROM MR. Akyab, March 28, 1835. Rev. and dear Sir, The only missionary here is the Rev. J. C. Fink, of the Serampore Society. The number of his church in Akyab is about 17, and in all in the country from 40 to 50. I shall leave this for Kyouk Phyoo this morning in a Government gunboat, and from thence to my family at Maulmein. As soon as I return, I shall forward to you my journal and some particulars of the Hill tribe, which I was permitted by a friend to take from manuscript. My last from Maulmein was to in- LETTER OF REV. W. G. CROCKER TO DR. BOLLES. Brig Susan Elizabeth, off Monrovia, Aug. 15, 1835. Rev. and dear Sir, After a short and pleasant passage of 32 days, we dropped anchor at Cape Mesurado on the 12th inst. at 10, A. M. We have had pleasant weather during the voyage. With the exception of sea-sickness which has continued more or less during the voyage, our health has been good. form you of my leaving that place for Arracan in the vessel chartered by Mr. Comstock. On the 4th inst., after a tedious passage of 23 days, we safely arrived at Kyouk Phyoo. This is a military station, and has about two thousand natives. Having an opportunity to visit Ramree, I went in company with Mr. Comstock and we returned immediately. Ramree is the largest town on the island of Ramree, and is supposed to contain about 7000 inhabitants. After staying at Kyouk Phyoo a few days, In looking back, we see abundant for an opportunity to go to Akyab, occasion to adore the goodness of I took my passage in the dawk, an God to us. Good weather, very open boat, on the 17th, at 6, P. M. agreeable company, and the kindness and on the 20th at 6, A. M. I arrived of an obliging captain, officers and at this place. I have been detained crew have greatly contributed to our here longer than I expected, waiting comfort, and call for grateful acfor a boat; in the mean while I have knowledgments to our Heavenly endeavored to see as much as possi- Father.-We have also found that ble of the town, and to obtain infor- He whose presence fills the hearts mation respecting it and the sur- of his people with joy on land, is the rounding country. The town and "confidence of those who are far off country have been, and I believe still on the sea." Morning and evening we have had prayers on deck or in and his wife, being sick at the time, the cabin, and on the Sabbath we have had a sermon on the deck. These have been precious seasons, and I trust they will furnish occasions of grateful recollection through eternity. It would be gratifying to be able to record some instances of conversion to God among the seamen. But, though the word of God has been listened to with an apparent degree of interest, and though private conversation on the subject of religion has met with respectful attention, yet we know not that a radical change has been wrought in the heart of any one on the voyage. Claims of Seamen. Never have I been so impressed with a view of the claims which this class of the community have upon the sympathies and prayers of the Christian public. Spending most of their time away from their friends, away from many of the most important means of grace, they are exposed to a variety of temptations to which they would not be exposed at home, while they are free from restraints which are thrown around the path of the young who reside on shore. They are an exceedingly useful class of the community, and I hope the now incipient efforts of Christians in their behalf will be greatly increased, and so much blessed, that their conduct, instead of increasing, will remove some of the most powerful obstacles to the success of missionary operations in heathen lands. War between the Natives and Colonists. On our arrival, we heard of a war between the natives and the colonists at Bassa Cove. On the night of the tenth of June last, the natives under King Joe Harris came upon the colonists at Port Cresson, at Bassa Cove, and destroyed twenty-one individuals, four of whom, two males and two females, were members of the little Baptist church there. The natives took the children by the hair of the head, and hewed them in pieces. The Agent, Mr. Hankinson very narrowly escaped with their lives. The rest, about 50 or 60, fled to Edina, at Grand Bassa, and were afterwards brought in a vessel to Monrovia. There are many reports respecting the cause of the attack; but I do not feel prepared to state particulars till further informed. It is a serious affair; and it will require much wisdom on the part of the Government here to manage it properly. Dr. Skinner intends to go to Bassa Cove at the beginning of the next week, to make an investigation of the affair, and we hope peace will be restored. When the news reached Monrovia, 150 men were sent to Bassa Cove with arms and ammunition. These attacked the natives, drove them back, and burned one of their villages. One of the 150 was killed. Prospects of the Mission. Brother Mylne and myself have conversed with br. Hilary Teage respecting his entering the service of the Board. But being now employed as Secretary of the Colony, it is thought by Dr. Skinner and himself, that present exigencies require that he should remain where he is for a time. He thinks he shall be pleased to enter into the service of the Board as soon as he can consistently leave his present situation. He says the facilities for introducing the Gospel among the natives, are greatly lessened by the wars which exist from the Galinas down to the Kroo country. These wars are fomented and continued undoubtedly by the Slave trade. Oh Africa, my heart is pained when I think of thy wrongs! For several days two Spanish slavers have been lying at anchor in sight.* One of them lies between us and the shore, at a short distance from our vessel. The captain says he intends to take one hundred slaves. His vessel is about 60 or 80 tons. As it respects our future operations, it is impossible * Since I commenced this letter, anoth er Spanish slaver has come to an anchor here. hurst, Mr. Finley, and Mr. Hankinson and wife, all intend, I am told, to return to America in a few days. This will leave only one white person at Monrovia besides those of us who have just arrived in the Susan Elizabeth. Still I feel contented and willing to labor here for the cause of the Redeemer. The schooner Harmony has just arrived from Baltimore, with 27 emigrants-43 days passage. She is bound to Cape Palmas. to form any definite plan till we have his vessel, Brother Mylne and his been on shore for a time. I trust we wife, Dr. Skinner's daughter and have come hither at the direction of myself, have concluded to make it our Heavenly Father, and that he will our home, till arrangements could be open to us a field of usefulness. Our made for our going to Millsburg. eye was on Bassa Cove, as probably We expect to get away on Monday. the most suitable place to commence Our brig lies about three miles from our operations, as it was connected the town, in going to which we with a very large tribe of natives. have to cross a bar at the mouth of But this prospect is for the present the Mesurado river. Brother Mylne cut off. "As the eyes of a handmaid and myself have been to Monrovia to her mistress," so may our eyes be twice, to see about the landing of our directed to the Lord, to catch the goods. first intimation of his will concerning As the brig Louisiana, Williams, us. The graves of 21 of our mis- is about to sail for Norfolk, I embrace sionary brethren and sisters in yon- this opportunity of sending by her. der grave yard at Monrovia, remind The brig Ruth, (Taylor,) is at anchor us of the importance of having our here, and will sail in a few days for loins girded about, and our lamps America. The ship Indiana, which trimmed and burning. We earnest-sailed from Savannah with emigrants ly request the prayers of our Chris- twelve days before we did, has not tian friends in America. We hope arrived.* Mr. Pinney, Mr. Whitethey will not forget poor, benighted, trodden down Africa. May their petitions continually ascend to the God of the oppressed, the Friend of the friendless, that he would raise the degraded sons of Africa from their present abject state, to the dignity of the sons of God. One of the Kroomen employed in unloading the vessel came to me yesterday, with an English Testament, (which he called a pray-book,) to sell. I told him he must learn to read. He said "Me no learn for read. No good for Kroomen learn for read. Not my country fash. My god say no learn for read." I told him his god was wicked to tell him so. He says, "S'pose Kroomen learn for read, he no go Kroo country 'gin. We die one time. Dey tink him be witch, dey give him saucy wood," [poison wood, with which they try witches by making them swallow it]. This, from what I can ascertain from other sources, is the truth. From motives of envy or superstition, they will not allow any of their own tribe to learn to read. This is I believe peculiar to this tribe. The natives in the interior are desirous of instruction. * Have since learned that the Indiana Captain Lawlin, whose conduct arrived at Bassa Cove last Thursday. The towards us during the voyage merits emigrants are still on board the vessel. our highest encomiums, having kind-Whether they will land at Edina, or come ly offered us the accommodation of to Monrovia, is not yet determined. Remember us in your prayers, that God may give us grace to be faithful in his cause. Aug. 17. Yesterday we attended public worship on shore. The two Baptist congregations met at the meeting-house of the Second Baptist church. Brother Mylne and myself preached to them. There is an effort making to unite these two churches into one. This seems desirable. As br. Mylne, his wife and myself were returning to the Brig, after meeting yesterday afternoon, the boat came near being sunk on the bar. A wave broke over the boat, and partly filled it. But a merciful |