shoes. This, though not comfortable, | priests, one of them an aged man, and did very well for a pillow. The cold not unintelligent; besides, there were was so severe before morning, that I several boys learning to read. To the was obliged to walk. My Burman old man I gave two tracts, to the boys boys who slept beside me, did not wake a Catechism each. The aged priest till daylight; they had the art of rolling informed me that he had been in that themselves up in a cloth similar to be- monastery for twenty years, and had ing tied up in a bag, thus excluding the been to Ava three times. After readexternal air; and, breathing over and ing and conversing more than an hour, over the air confined in the covering, I went to two other monasteries, the they kept up a temperature which only ones inhabited; gave tracts, read, enabled them to sleep comfortable. explained, and conversed til near We had an early breakfast, and when evening; then taking my stand under leaving, I had many pressing invitations an open building in which there was to come to this village again, and preach an idol of vast size, in a sitting posture, to them the law of God. I had forgot- a number of inhabitants came, and to ten to say, that yesterday, while read- them I read and gave tracts. ing and conversing in one of the monasteries, an elderly priest brought forward the Catechism, copied on palm leaf. I inquired when and where he obtained the book? He said, about ten years ago he got it from a teacher, who came up the river on a fire-ship. | The Burmans call a steam-boat, a fire- | ship, and I suppose he must have got the tract from Mr. Judson, at the time he came to Ava with Mr. Crawford.

As the heat of the day was past, I left Tabea, and walked four miles to a village of four hundred houses.

It was dusk when I entered a large and very handsome monastery. Every thing within and outside bore the marks of neatness and taste. Having introduced myself to the abbot, or head priest, who is certainly one of the finest looking Burmans I have ever seen, while my dinner was being prepared, I had an invitation to look over the grounds attached to the monastery.

We set off over an extensive plain, having only a foot-path which wound along through rice fields, and some-The moon shed her soft light amidst times hardly to be defined. The reapers, male and female, were in the fields, though the females appeared mostly to be employed in putting the grain into bundles, and in bringing water to drink. Every half mile, or a little more, there was a well, but no building of any kind to be seen. The sickle, though formed similar to ours, is very rude, such as we might imagine would be the first effort towards constructing an instrument of the kind. There are no fences, but little ridges of earth mark the divisions of ground, and these divisions are of all shapes, and many of them very small. One is surprised, however, to see so few right angles. The trapezium, it would seem, suits the eye of a Burman farmer better than any other form.

It was twelve o'clock when we reached the ancient city of Tabea, now in ruins; but in the days of Alompra it was surrounded by strong brick walls, and was nearly as large as Ummerapoora. There are now not more than three hundred houses, yet the walls, the spacious monasteries, the pagodas, and idols falling into ruins, give one an impressive idea of the ravages of time. Being very tired, and much oppressed with the now vertical sun, we entered a monastery, where I found seven

the foliage of the palm and tamarind trees, just enough to define the outlines of every prominent object. Near the centre of the grounds I found a beautiful tank of clear water, which like a polished mirror reflected from its bosom the lofty palm, and wide-spreading tamarind, that stood on its margin. Ä few yards from the tank are two brick buildings, open on one side. I went in, and, though favored with but little of the moon's light, I discovered myself surrounded by white polished gods, some large as life, but most of them about twenty inches high. There is but one single pagoda and quite small, though its spire rises above the loftiest palm. After walking over every part of these grounds with some serious reflections on the long reign of idolatry, and not a little indignation at the abuse of every object, animate and inanimate, which has been made by the human race, I was called to my dinner, which the boys had spread on a mat in the verandah of the monastery. The abbot ordered me a lamp, and sat down by me, asking a profusion of questions about the religion and customs of my country, so that it took near an hour to get through with my dinner.

A long conversation then took place, in which I gave him and his people as

full an account of the Christian religion | have occasionally seen a single gourd creeping over the roof of the house. Rice, peas, beans, and tobacco, are the principal things cultivated in the fields. There is no one thing, perhaps, by which a traveller can judge more accurately of the cultivation and taste of a people, than the arrangements around the house. One of the first steps in civilization is to form a garden, and every successive step in knowledge and refinement will impress on the garden some new beauty. There may be considerable knowledge without refinement and taste, but there cannot be refinement and taste without a gar| den.

as an hour and a half would allow. I gave him a copy of the Psalms and two tracts, and a tract to each of his people. He would not allow me to sleep in the open verandah, but gave me a good room, and mats for myself and boys. I told him I expected to leave early in the morning, and therefore would take my leave of him, with the hope that he would read those sacred books with all that care which so serious a subject demanded. He replied, "I will read them, and you must consider me your friend whenever you come this way." 11. Day had only dawned when I was called from without. On opening the door, an elderly man began to make apologies for calling me so early; he said a son and grand-child were very ill, and he wished me to see them before I left the village. I followed him to his house, where I found a comfortable fire, and soon fifteen or twenty of his neighbors gathered round. | To each one I gave a tract, then read and explained some time. The invalids were brought in; one, about thirty years old, was in the last stages of consumption; the other, three years old, was nearly dead with the bowel complaint. I told the old man there was no help for his son, but if he came to Ava on my return, I would give him some medicine that would be useful to his grand-child. Out of ten families living in a knot in this corner of the village, seventeen children have died within the past year, and mostly of the bowel complaint. I attribute this mortality among Burman children to the custom which generally prevails, of giving them every kind of unripe fruit. After visiting other parts of the village, and conversing with a number of people, I walked five miles to Poungga, a large place said to contain four hundred and fifty houses, and in an old zayat breakfasted about eleven o'clock. Soon a company of priests and people came around me, and most of them gave very good attention while I read and explained. I went into other parts of the town, and as my custom is, read and explained till near evening. There is a marked difference between this agricultural people and the citizens of Ava in their manners, dress, and language. Their manners are rude, their dress slouching, and their language full of vulgarisms. I am surprised to find the people entirely ignorant of gardening, not even a green spot around the house, though I

12. Visited four small villages; gave away one hundred and thirty tracts; got together several small groups of people, to whom I read, and explained the first and second Psalms of David. About three o'clock I caine in sight of the glittering spires of Ava. Proud, idolatrous city! How many days and nights I have toiled within your walls, preaching the gospel, and yet only thirteen of your children have sworn allegiance to the King of kings! Your king, your princes, your noblemen, and many of your busy thousands, have heard of God, and have seen His Law. Will they hear in vain? will they see and not profit? O God! thou knowest.

13. Reached home last evening, and found all well. The number who call at the house now is much the same as formerly, on an average twenty-five or thirty in a day. We have one hopeful inquirer, or rather one who appears to be taught of God, and is now asking for baptism.

Many, very many appear well for a time; the light dazzles them, they close their eyes, and henceforth are immoveable.

14. Lord's-day, after worship, about twenty priests and others called, asked for books, and listened a long time.

22. During the past five or six days have made several excursions in different parts of the city; went into several zayats, monasteries, and other places of resort; gave away some tracts, and had much conversation.

A Shan prince, his two sons, and about thirty of his officers and followers, made us a visit. He is prince of Lá gya, a city fifteen days' march from Ava-is a fine looking, intelligent man. We gave him a map of the world, in Burman, the New Testament, and a few tracts; to each of his sons a bound copy of the Digest and two tracts, and

GARDNER, DATED TAVOY, DEC. 24, 1835. Doke's wife was about to ask for bap

monthly examination of the scholars, | &c., and defended their own religion; when I reward the teachers, according to the progress of the pupils.

Arracan.

EXTRACTS FROM THE JOURNAL OF MR.

COMSTOCK.

In the letter accompanying the following extracts, dated Kyouk Phyoo, April 2, 1836, Mr. Comstock says,

The journal I first sent was so full, that I need say nothing about the instructions which are given at the house, to those who call, from this and other villages. My studies during the rainy season made me more fully acquainted with Boodhism, and gave me a greater command of the language; and my intercourse with the natives enables me more readily to understand their views and feelings; so that I feel much more at home in conversing with the heathen, than when I was confined to tracts, and the few phrases I could employ at my last date.

October 9, 1835. To-day have had the privilege of telling of the dying love of Christ, to some forty or fifty heathen. Most of them belonged to a large Burman boat, with a crew of eighty men, from a city of about five or six thousand inhabitants, two or three days distant from Rangoon. Only one or two had heard the name of Christ. I supplied them with a good assortment of tracts; and now, O Lord! crown the effort to do them good with thy blessing. 10. Fifty or more hearers to-day. Nearly all from Burmah. Beside the boat mentioned yesterday, another is in the harbor with a crew of forty men. The crews of the two boats are from three cities in Burmah, containing something like fifty thousand inhabitants. They have paid good attention to the main truths of the Christian religion, appear to understand them, and acknowledged their excellency. O that the instructions given to them may be the means of making many wise

unto life eternal.

Visits to neighboring Islands-Novel Objection to Christianity.

30. Spent the day at an island three or four miles distant, where are two small villages. The people assembled to hear "the law of Christ," and paid good attention to what was said. At first, they objected to an eternal God,

but, after listening a short time, sat in silence, except occasionally, when some one would say, "this is true,' ""these are good words," &c. Although they heard with attention, several were unwilling to take books. The Arracanese are very suspicious, and not appreciating the real motive of my giving away books, they fear there is some evil design in it: some also say that being become acquainted with the Christian disciples of Gaudama, they dare not religion. I heard to-day a new objection to the religion of Christ, that the disciples treated their wives with respect and affection, regarding them as companions, rather than servants. Several women were standing at a little distance, and, raising my voice, I acknowledged that Christians loved their wives, and treated them kindly; and is not this better, I asked, than to pull them about by the hair, flog them, &c., as the worshippers of Gaudama do? To this the men made no reply, but still seemed to regard their objection as a very serious one. O when shall these benighted people enjoy the blessings of the gospel? A few days since, had several hearers from Bassein, Sc., belonging to Burman boats bound

to Calcutta.

Nov. 2. Have been across the bay, to carry "the good tidings" to the inhabitants of a small island, who have been for centuries sitting in darkness. Near the landing-place were forty or more houses; but the men were nearly all absent, and I could get but few hearers. Following a narrow and rough path over the hills, &c., about four miles, I reached another village of about the same size as the first. Sitting in an open shed near the house of the head man of the village, I was soon surrounded by a large and attentive assembly of men, women, and children. After explaining at some length the Christian religion, and giving tracts to those who could read, I returned to the former village; and, as many of the men had returned, gathered two or three small assemblies, and gave away several tracts. To nearly all of those I saw to-day, the name of Christ was new. May they believe it to be the only one given under heaven, among men, whereby a sinner can be saved. Returning home, was overtaken by a severe storm, which nearly capsized my little native boat; but the Lord preserved us, and I reached home, only wet and cold.

3. Rose early this morning, but | him. But, said I, do you worship Arèlittle refreshed by the feverish sleep metáyah? (the God who is to succeed of the past night. I did not think it Gaudama.) Yes, he replied. And have necessary, however, to abandon my you seen him? I asked. He answered, anticipated visit to some neighboring No. Have you an image of him? No. villages. I reached them about nine, Well then, I said, you can worship the and taking a seat under the shade of a true God, as well as Arèmetáyah. He tree, soon had a large assembly seated seemed to feel the force of this; but, on the ground listening to "the words alas! he will still think he cannot of the eternal God." Some seemed worship the Most High, unless the much interested in the new religion, Holy Spirit enlighten him. To answer and a good many took tracts. During the objections of the heathen is not the day I visited six or eight hamlets, difficult, but to affect the heart, is beand had about ten congregations. A yond the power of man. To-day have few men, very wise in their own conceit, been to a village about five miles cavilled and denied, but most paid distant. I found few that could read, good attention. One of these cavillers (most of the men were in the fields said, "God did not create the world, but reaping paddy,) and hardly one that it originated from a former one which seemed to feel any interest in their was burnt up." Where did the first own or any other religion. I gathered, world come from? I asked. He tried however, three or four congregations, every way to evade an answer, and at different hamlets, and tried to tell finally said, amid the laugh of his hea- them truth enough to save their souls, then neighbors, that he did not know. if believed. A few men and several I travelled several miles under a hot women thus heard their first intellisun, and began to feel toward night a gence of the God who made them, and good deal weary and unwell. May the Savior who died to redeem them. the Lord raise in strength what was I also left a small supply of tracts. sown in weakness. The Lord can make feeble means instrumental of great good.

Dec. 2. My village preaching was stopped by a fever, which confined me to my house, and a considerable part of the time to my bed, for about eighteen days. Recently I have been kept at home to make arrangements for the erection of a school-house. Study, and such efforts to do good to the heathen, &c. as I have had opportunity to make, have occupied my time. Last evening I was interested to hear, that some men who live at a distant village, and who have visited me once or twice, declare that they have found the true betagat, and that the worship of idols is folly, while that of the eternal God is alone proper. May the Holy Spirit further enlighten them, till they know the whole truth as it is in Christ. Today having occasion to send a boat to the island mentioned Oct. 30th, I accompanied it, and although the men were very busy, harvesting their rice, found some attentive listeners, and gave away a few tracts.

10. Last evening walked to a village near by, to distribute tracts, &c. Had an interesting conversation with one or two men in the presence of several women who appeared to be interested listeners. One man, after several objections, raised one which I have often met. He said that he could not worship the eternal God, because he had never seen him, and had no image of

13. Sabbath. Walking out, toward evening, to find some to whom I might talk of the eternal God, and his wellbeloved Son, I ascertained that there were several Arracanese in the place, belonging to boats from Chittagong. I found several of them near the shore, and, seating myself by them on a stump, I was soon surrounded by thirty or forty men, entirely ignorant of all that pertains to their everlasting peace. They listened with respectful attention, and those that could read, took tracts. I trust good will result from these occasional labors among the boat people. At English service this evening, thirteen were present; and paid good attention to remarks from the parable of the rich man and Lazarus. For some weeks past, from thirteen to eighteen have been present. Jagoo-Cheduba-Eagerness for TractsMeasures of Distance.

31. Left home at day-light in a small native boat, to visit some of the islands and villages at the southern extremity of this district. Stopped near a small island, to wait for change of tide, and walked about two miles into the interior, where the head man of the village and eight or ten others listened for the first time to tidings of an eternal God and of Jesus the Savior. To