Arracan. In a previous communication* you | heathen, and felt the claims of their will have learned that while ascend- Lord resting upon them; then would ing the Hoogly, opposite Kedgeree, the gospel be published, soon—yes very we embarked in another vessel for soon, among all the nations of the Madras. On the 8th inst. we anchor-earth, and the glory of the Lord be reed in the roads, and on the 9th Mr. vealed to all flesh. Van Someren gave us a hearty welcome to India, and to his own hospitable home. We were not a little disappointed on being informed that br. Day and family had removed from hence to Nellore, a few days previous to our arrival. Br. Day has fixed upon Nellore as a permanent location. I am informed also that it is intended by some of the London missionaries, to make it one of their stations. With the exception of a few English residents, the population which is said to be dense, is Teloogoo. From the best information I can obtain, I believe there is not a more favorable position in all the Teloogoo country. 66 EXTRACTS FROM A LETTER OF MR. The extracts given below from a letter just received, form a continuous narrative with those on page 216 of last vol. These, together with the published letters of Mr. Kincaid, present a full and connected account of the labors in behalf of Burmah Proper, during the past year. State of things at Rangoon-Impossibility of missionary labors there. My last communication was dated at Maulmain in Dec. last, at which time, as therein stated, it was my intention to return to Rangoon with my family, with the hope of doing something among the Karens there in a quiet way, without bringing down upon them the vengeance of a jealous government. But very soon after, the British Resident having in the mean time retired from the country altogether, I became more fully convinced than ever of the impossibility of doing Yesterday Mrs. V. and myself had the delightful privilege of uniting with our Baptist brethren and sisters in this city, in worshipping, as we trust, the King of Zion. May our gracious Lord bless this little band, and cause them to live and flourish in his sight. They rejoiced much at our coming, but when informed that our work would be chiefly among the Teloogoo people, their spirits seemed much depressed. "O, sir," said a brother to me, we are a little, feeble and des-any thing directly for the Karens, unpised band, without an under-shepherd to break to us the bread of life, since br. Day has left us. He did what he could while here, and gave us encour agement that another would be sent to take his place. Will not the Board send us a man soon?" An humble, self-denying, faithful man would, I doubt not, with the blessing of God, accomplish much good here, should he devote himself exclusively to this little interest. involving them in suffering more seder the present government, without rious than they have ever yet experienced. Missionaries, however, and all other foreigners can remain there with perfect safety to their persons and property; and indeed always could, except in case of war, and then all foreigners are imprisoned and maltreated alike, without reference to character or profession. Very soon after the removal of the Resident, I received a letter from a British merchant still there, This is truly a dry and parched stating, that all intercourse between land, spiritually and literally. I can- foreigners and the inhabitants of the not express to you the emotions of country was strictly prohibited, under my heart, as I see, daily, vast multi- all possible circumstances. Such betudes of infatuated men, women, and ing the case, a missionary might as children, in the broad road to death. well be in Boston,-as not an individMy spirit almost sinks within me, atual would dare to call at his house; the thought, that several years must be for, should any one have the boldness spent in acquiring the language of to do so, the consequences can hardly these poor creatures before I can be conjectured. preach the word of life to them; and then what can I do in a few short years, for the millions of Teloogoos? Would that all the disciples of Christ in America fully realized the condition of the See Mr. V.'s letter, page 231, last vol. Condition of affairs altered for the worse -Two plans proposed for future labor-The choice. Since the present king ascended the throne, I have visited Rangoon several Sandoway is a small Burman town fifty miles south of Ramree, situated inland, up a small river, about fourteen miles from the sea shore, as the river runs, and five in a direct course. The climate is reputed healthy, and from its locality, I should judge, would sustain its reputation. There are in the town and immediate vicinity, about 4000 inhabitants. times, have travelled among the Karen | that place; Mr. Kincaid proceeded to Akyab, villages and baptized a large number and Mr. Abbott to Sandoway, where he arrivof converts. At Pantanau and Bassein ed with his family, on the 17th of March. large congregations assembled at difDescription of Sandoway, its facilities ferent times to hear the gospel, and no for labor among the Karens-Unnotice was taken of it by the Burmese healthiness of Arracan. authorities. But at that time, the present government was not firmly established, there were no indications of a rebellious spirit, and in fact the officers of government did not know what I was doing. But such a course could not be pursued now with impunity. Notwithstanding, I hesitated for some time, between two courses which presented themselves. The one was to go into the country, itinerate and preach, and labor among the people, and leave the consequences. If oppression, or persecution, and death followed in my train, be it so,-submit all to the Lord. I did not forget, however, at the same time, that there is but one step between a "zeal according to knowledge," and the most palpable presumption. The other course was to endeavor to effect the same object in another way; by sending native assistants with letters of encouragement and love, men who could travel among their countrymen, and preach the gospel, without being suspected of being foreign political emissaries; men who, understanding the rudiments of Christianity, and whose hearts being set on the work, should be capable of instructing and guiding, and building up the converts in the faith of the gospel. I have chosen this latter course, as affording the greater promise of usefulness, with the least of unnecessary hazard and difficulty. Departure for Arracan, and arrival at Kyouk Phyoo-Ramree-Sandoway. Having adopted this plan, it only remained for me to select a location the most eligible for its accomplishment. To think of reaching the Karens in the Burman empire from the Tenasserim provinces, is out of the question. Arracan from its extensive frontiers adjoining Burmah, seemed to be the only place where I could hope to enjoy the facilities I desired. I therefore left Maulmain on the 11th Feb., in the steamer Ganges," in company with br. Kincaid, and arrived at Kyouk Phyoo on the 17th. 66 This part of the narrative coincides with that contained in another letter. For the sake of brevity it is omitted here. After having visited Ramree together, they separated at From all I can gather on the spot, the facilities for laboring among the Karens in the British provinces, are about the same here as in Tavoythere being as many or more Karens in these provinces, than in Tavoy and Mergui. There is this weighty consideration to be taken into the account however; that dreadful "Arracan fever," which renders it hazardous to travel in the jungles at all. I have been admonished by several gentlemen acquainted with the climate, that I must not think of travelling in the Arracan jungle, with the impunity that one might do it in Tenasserim. Karen village. There is a Karen village five or six miles from this town, where Ko Thah Byoo has been preaching since my first arrival here; but the people are surprisingly stupid and indifferent. Two youths sent as a Deputation to Burmah Proper. I have also sent two young men to Bassein with letters to the disciples, there and at Rangoon. They will go from this place to Goa, a small town on the sea shore, five days to the south of this. Three days from the sea, and one day across the mountains which divide the English and Burman territories, will bring them into the Burman empire, in the vicinity of Christian villages. And if I am not mistaken, they will somewhere in those wilds find a small Christian village on this side the boundary. They are to endeavor to persuade several of the young men who formerly commenced studying with me in Rangoon, and were scattered at the persecution there, to come over and study with me during the rains in these provinces. Although the passes are strictly guarded by Burman officers, to prevent emigra tion into these provinces, still I hope a few, at least, of those young men will be enabled to escape their vigilance, and make their way into this land of civil and religious liberty, where they may enjoy the benefits of Christian instruction, without the fear of having to pay for their advantages with the price of imprisonment and chains. If, however, the two young men whom I have sent over, should be suspected themselves, and even apprehended and imprisoned, it would be nothing new to them, as they were two of the four who were sent to the pagoda as slaves, more than a year ago at Rangoon. I shall feel a good deal of anxiety about them till their return, which I do not expect for a month to come. feeling could suggest, and that her situation was rendered as comfortable as it could be, under her heavy affliction. During her stay at Macao, Mrs. R. was subjected to peculiar trial,-while her baggage was passing through the Custom House, and she was confined with nursing her sick child, day and night, her money, amounting to about $70, was stolen,—and the officers could not, or would not give her any account of it. When her situation became known to the English and American residents;-with a truly generous liberality, for which they deserve great credit, they not only made up her loss, but provided means for defraying the whole expenses of her voyage home. A'SA'M.-Mr. Barker, in a letter dated May There are only two English gentle-25, gives an account of his voyage from Calmen residing in Sandoway, T. Morton, cutta to Jaipur. The former place he left on Esq., "Senior Assistant Commission- the 2d of March, and arrived safely at the place er of the Arracan provinces, in of his destination, on the 14th of May. The charge of the Sandoway "district," journey was long, and not wholly free from and a military officer commanding a peril, but they were mercifully preserved, and company of native troops. Mr. Morton arrived at Jaipur in good health. Mr. B. is has rendered me essential aid, and expected to labor among the Nagas, in the seems desirous to do all in his power neighborhood of Jaipur, but will have a tempoto assist us. rary residence with the family of Mr. Brown at the latter place. Miss Bronson, who was with Mr. Barker's family, accompanied her brother to the Naga hills. Mr. A. here expresses his sense of obligation, and that of the other missionaries in Arracan, to the government officers (Eng.) at their respective stations. These gentlemen have not only WEST AFRICA.-Death of Mrs. Crocker.— shown much personal kindness to the missiona-Since the above was in type, the painful intelries, and in many ways rendered them essential service—but have manifested every disposition to further their object of doing good to the people of this benighted region. Brief Notices. Crocker, at Made Bli, Liberia, on the 28th of ligence has reached us of the death of Mrs. last August. Her health had been seriously affected by a severe cold taken on her passage from this country the preceding year. The other missionaries were in their usual health at the last dates, Oct. 16 and 17. Further particulars will be given in our next number. RETURN OF MRS. REED.-The ship Globe, Capt. Christopher, which arrived at N. York from Canton on the 28th of Nov., brought as passenger Mrs. Reed, widow of the Rev. Alan- STATE OF THE FOREIGN MISSION son Reed, late of the Siam Mission. Mrs. R.'s return to this country was occasioned by the severe and protracted illness of her only child. More than a year since, she removed from Bangkok to Singapore, in the hope that a chauge of climate would benefit her son's health; but finding no improvement, she decided on returning to America, and went to Macao, for the purpose of more readily obtaining a passage. She embarked in the Globe, about the last of May, and, we are pained to say, in the early part of the voyage, her child died. It is gratifying to know, however, that during her child's distressing illness, and afterwards, Mrs. R. received from Capt. Christopher and his officers, every attention, which kind, and even fraternal TREASURY. The attention of our friends and contributors is earnestly solicited to the wants of the Foreign Mission Treasury. At an earlier period in the current financial year, it was hoped that the necessity would not recur of resorting to this mode of appeal. All who have been wont to contribute to the support of our missions, had been distinctly apprized of their necessities, and having liberally extended their aid in the late painful emergency, it was supposed that reliance might be placed on their continued generous cooperation without further intervention of the Board except by its ordinary agencies. Within a few months, however, this cherished the exceeding fewness of the laborers, their widely sundered positions, precluding, with slight exceptions, intimate cooperation and the refreshment of social intercourse, their premature exhaustion from unceasing toil and exposure, and the "deferring of hope" as year after year passes away, and no helper is sent, unless to supply the places that death makes empty; these facts, and such as these, seem to call for more ample contributions than will barely suffice to sustain the missions as they are. But we now solicit what will merely suf expectation has been frustrated by an alarming | multiplication and distribution to any desirable decrease of contributions. Instead of $8000 extent; above all, and in contrast with these per month-the average amount required for diversified modes and opportunities of impartthe vigorous prosecution of our work-the lasting the salvation of Christ to the dying nations, month's receipts were less than $1600, and the ratio of the current receipts is still decreasing. The total receipts since the 19th of April, the beginning of the financial year, are less than $37,000, or nearly the same as in the corresponding portion of the previous year, and exhibit a proportionate deficiency. The missions are again sinking into the embarrassments which compelled the reduction of our operations a year ago; the demands on the churches for immediate relief are equally pressing; and unless that relief be given with equal promptitude, the disastrous results which were painfully fore-fice to save them from further reduction. boded then, will now be realized. A burdensome debt will be incurred of several thousand dollars, or the process of reduction and dismemberment must have been resumed. In view of these considerations, and to avoid an alternative so much to be deplored, the Board renew their urgent appeal for aid. Their operations, it should be noted, are even now conducted on an injuriously lessened scale. At home and abroad, in the appointment of missionaries, and in making provision for their labors when located, the least is attempted compatible with the maintenance of the stations. The inroads made upon the reign of pagan darkness are few and feeble; and our beloved missionary brethren, pioneers of the way, have deep cause to grieve, and in several instances have expressed their grief, that their efforts are not sustained. The representations indeed, that come from the several missions in quick succession and often with the most subduing earnestness, would furnish abundant argument not merely for sus taining their operations on the present reduced system, but for their immediate and wide extension. The multiplied and out-spreading regions where the gospel may be preached with. out molestation by the missionary, and the numberless avenues for the transit of light and truth by tracts and native preachers into districts and kingdoms beyond; the hundreds and even thousands of conversions from the worship of dumb idols to the service of the living God, which attest the power of the gospel, and the faithfulness of those who have published it; the general desire and increasing facilities for the establishment of schools, in which heathen youth are not only instructed in the rudiments of useful science but trained in "the nurture and admonition of the Lord," and Christian parents and native teachers and preachers are taught His way more perfectly; the demand for books, and the means provided for their It is a favorable circumstance that the crisis of the late pecuniary embarrassments in the community at large is overpast, and as no time nor mode is more suitable for the recognition of the goodness of the Lord than by immediate and liberal offerings which shall make His name known in all the earth, so none could be more safe for all who are still permitted to be stewards of his bounty. We commend the above statement to the dispassionate but prayerful consideration of all our brethren. We commend it especially to the conscientious reflections of the pastors of the churches. Do the appointed teachers and guides of Christ's disciples instruct the people of their charge in regard to this department of Christian duty-the communication of the gos pel to the heathen-as they "that must give account ?" Does not a fearful responsibility rest on them, to see that the churches "over whom the Holy Ghost has made them overseers," fail not of their due measure of interest and effort in the missionary cause? And can any pastor of a church, or officer of an association, feel his conscience discharged, till the question is distinctly presented to every individual member, and distinctly answered, "How MUCH—in the dispensation of the gospel among the heathen-OWEST THOU THY LORD ?" Missionary Rooms, Dec. 15, 1840. |