instruct them in his holy word. They appeared to be much interested; said they should be glad to have books, and understand those things of which we told them. After returning to our boat, several of the men came down and wished us to accept of a fowl which they brought.

of their houses,-the neat and orderly manner in which they were placed, that is, in two rows, so as to have a broad street running through the centre, we passed on, and finally went out at the gate on the opposite end of the village, and found ourselves standing on the bank of a noisy little brook-an object of great interest to The next day, in the morning, we us, as it was the first of the kind we came to the mouth of the river Moe, a had seen in Arracan. We saw abun- fine stream which comes in from the dance of pigs, goats and fowls, and north-east, and is from fifty to sixty began to wonder where the inhabitants yards broad. Up this river about six could be, as we saw none and did not miles, we came to the village where hear a human voice. We suspected, | the Mountain Chief resides. This vilwhat in the end turned out to be true, lage is situated in a large bend in the that the men were in their fields at a river, on a fine elevation, 100 feet above distance, while the females aud chil- the present level of the water, and dren, ascertaining that extraordinary commands a beautiful prospect in this looking strangers were at the landing, wild and picturesque country. Three had fled in a panic to the jungles. We other villages are in sight, and the were sorry to alarm them, but still did fourth is not a mile distaut. There is not feel willing to go away till we apparently but little level ground, it becould see them, and give them every ing a perfect contrast to all we had seen assurance that we were friends. While for seventy miles above Akyab. Here examining two or three peculiar trees are lofty hills and deep vallies, and all which grew on the margin of the thrown together in the utmost confubrook, a female with a child slung on sion. The hills as well as vallies are her back, rose up out of the grass but covered with tall forest trees, intera few feet from us. She appeared to spersed with bamboos, various kinds be paralyzed with fear, and the poor of creepers, and occasionally with a little urchin on her back was afraid to coarse grass that grows from ten to look up. We could not help reflect- twelve feet high. ing on the wrong and outrage which have induced such a feeling of dread at the appearance of strangers-more terrifying than the midnight growl of the most ferocious beasts of prey. We stepped back and spoke soothingly to the poor woman, asssured her, again and again, that she had nothing to fear; and she evidently believed us, for in a little time she went into the village. Probably on the first alarm one or more had been despatched to give intelligence to the men, for they soon began to come in, and then the females came from their hiding places, each one with a child slung on her back, and many of them with three or four or half a dozen older children following them. The men came and sat down around us, while the females and children remained at a distance, or went up into their houses. Some of the men could understand Burman, and speak it tolerably well. We soon perceived, however, that they could not sound the final consonant, or the th, to which they always gave the sound of s. We explained to them our design in coming into their countrythat it was in obedience to the command of God, to visit all nations and

Reception-Palace of the chief-Domestic arrangement.

From the anxiety which the chief had manifested to have us visit him and his people, we had every_reason to expect a kind reception. For the last eight or ten months it had been his constantly expressed wish to have us establish schools among them, and teach them the knowledge of God, but still we had not anticipated so much attention, or rather, so much forethought in reference to our comfort. To our surprize we found a new and well-constructed zayat about fifty feet above the present level of the river, 16 feet by 21, and the ground cleared away so as to make a pleasant walk, and a verandah on one side. But what surprized us most, was, two very neat bamboo bedsteads, surrounded with curtains. The chief must have seen a bedstead in our house at Akyab, and so got the idea that this was our manner of sleeping. He returned only four or five days before we left, and during two of these days, there was a very severe storm of wind and rain, which made us wonder how he could possibly have

put up such a building. On inquiring | pleased with all around her. She was of him, he said the whole, from the the only one of the females who apfoundation to the roof, including bed-peared to have any knowledge of the steads and all, were made in two days. When he saw we had a small foldingtable and two chairs, he felt greatly relieved, for he had felt very sad, he said, to think he could construct no such articles for us. I mention these facts to shew the kind-heartedness of the chief and his people, and their anxiety to make us comfortable. Our zayat was about fifty yards from the stockade which surrounded the village, and in a delightful situation. After getting every thing arranged in our new home and ready to begin work, we went up into the village and were taken directly to the house of the Mountain Chief (as he is called.) It is certainly no mean specimen of a palace, for though constructed on the same general plan with all the houses of this peculiar people, yet its dimensions and neatuess of construction would point it out as the residence of a great man. Like all the houses, the floor is between five and six feet from the ground. After passing across a very large open verandah, we entered, immediately in front, the great hall of audience. It is certainly a fine room, and from the north end we have a most delightful view of the country in all the wildness of its native grandeur. We spent some time in conversation, but most of the time in getting words and sentences expressed in their own language. I left the company at length, and went to take a view of the domestic arrangements. On the left of the great verandah is a very large apartment, and on the right is one of smaller dimensions; these belong to the females and children. His wives-nine in numberwere all busily at work, except one. Some were cleaning cotton, some spinning, some weaving and some were cooking; and each one had a child slung on her back, whatever the work might be in which she was engaged. All appeared to be cheerful. It was easy to perceive that the female who was not at work, was a person of no ordinary rank among this people. There was a gracefulness and dignity in her manners which could not fail to

impress the most casual observer that

she was one of "nature's noble women." Her countenance is intelligent, and her features would indicate a mild and amiable temper. Her face was covered with smiles, so that she appeared to be pleased with herself and

Burman language, and hers I imagine is very limited, for though she betrayed in her countenance no signs of iguorance, yet she was able to reply to me only in a few half-formed sentences. We were struck with the order and neatness of the apartments. There were no articles lying about the floor, as is always the case in Burman houses, whatever may be their rank. True, there was no furniture for mere show, and little which we regard as necessary to comfort in civilized life; still they have many articles for the manufacture of cloth, for cooking, for holding water, and for eating, and though they be of the most primitive kind, they all had their appropriate place. The internal arrangements of the apartments and the furniture, no less than the neat and comfortable manner in which the houses are constructed, as well as the orderly arrangement of the whole village, certainly struck us as indicating, in a more than ordinary degree, an innate sense of neatness and regularity. The posts which support the roof are formed by binding together ten or twelve bamboos, so that at first they might be taken for fluted columns. The roofs of the houses are made of long coarse grass. The walls are double; the outer extending from the ground to the roof, and the inner from the floor to the roof. The outer wall is formed by placing perfectly straight bamboos, and all of the same size, horizontally one on top of the other, till they reach the top; these are kept together by upright posts at suitable distances. This wall gives the house a very substantial and pretty appearance. The inner wall is made of split bamboos woven into mats. The stairs for going up into their houses are of the same material, and are broad and well formed, while the people of Arracan have only a large pole, with notches cut in it. In fact, every thing pertaining to the houses and villages of the Kemmees indicates an attention to comfort which we have seen among no other class of people in these countries.

Manners and habits of the people-Their

language, religion, population, &c.

Their clothing is scanty and peculiar. Besides a small turban on the head, the only garment ordinarily worn by the men is a belt about four inches

mees would believe when they came to hear and understand this doctrine. From morning till night we spent nearly all our time in collecting words and sentences so as to learn the structure of the language, but still embraced every opportunity to learn the extent of their country and the probable number of the inhabitants. All we could learn, however, on this last subject was, that for several days

wide, fastened round the hips and between the legs; one end of the belt hanging down before, and one behind. The females have two garments-the upper, a short jacket about ten or twelve inches long, without sleeves and open under one arm; the lower garment is fastened round the hips and reaches half way to the knees. It is remarkable that a people who consult neatness and comfort to so great a degree in the construction of their villa-journey (200 miles or more,) up the ges and houses, should have adopted so scanty a covering for their persons. It cannot be for want of material, for they grow a fine, beautiful species of cotton on their hills, and in exchange for cotton procure salt and dried fish from the coast.

great river, and on all the tributary streams, the inhabitants are Kemmees. The Ko-la-dan, and all its tributaries, are thickly studded with their villages, which vary from ten to fifty families in each. They are certainly a numerous people, and, without doubt, I The Kemmees have no horses, and think, one of the great branches of the though they have a few buffaloes and Karen family. The Khyiens inhabit red cattle, these are not used in tilling all the bill country and the great the ground or as beasts of burden. ranges of the Yuma mountains to the Of course the plough is unknown south, as the Keimees do at the among them-they clear the ground north. After getting about eighty with a dah, (axe), in form much like miles north of Ava, I found all the hill that used by Burmans, but ground only country for more than 300 miles, that on one side. With a rude kind of is, to the Hu Kong valley, inhabited by hoe, they plant rice, cotton seed, and Ka Khyiens, a people in all respects several esculents, principally of the like the Karens; so that we have Kagourd kind, and tobacco. With the rens, Ka Khyiens, Khyiens and Kemexception of small patches of level mees, four branches of the same great ground along the margin of the river family, formerly the sole occupants and its tributaries, all their cultivation of this vast country, but who have been is on the tops and sides of precipitous gradually driven by the Burmans from mountains. Truly they must endure the valley of the Irawadi and from the much toil and hardship to procure the sea-coast. On the fourth day after our necessaries of life. They are, evident- arrival at the village of the chief, the ly, a hard-working people. If they path of duty appeared to be plain. should receive the Christian religion, We accordingly intimated to him, and and schools become common, they some of his people, that we should will be prepared to adopt more im- study the language, adopt an alphabet, proved methods of agriculture, and and as soon as possible give them will cultivate gardens. I should think hooks in which they could learn the the sweet potato and Indian corn might knowledge of God. As might have do well among these hills. However, been expected, they were greatly pleathe eternal well-being of this people sed. In a short time word was brought is the first and great concern. For to us that the chief was going into the some wise purpose God has preserved neighboring villages to call together the them from idolatry, and kept alive principal men, and would immediately Among them the tradition, that in an- commence building us a large house. cient times the Supreme Being gave We were obliged to hold him back, to their fathers a Good Book, which or the house would have been begun through their carelessness was destroy- that very day. We told him we must ed by a dog, but which in time will be return home and make arrangements restored, when they will become a for this work, for it was not a small wise and happy people. We preached thing to study their language and get the gospel every evening in the most ready to give them books; however, plain and simple manner, and they they might expect Mr. Stilson and his listened attentively; but few could un- family in about twenty days, and that derstand Burman well enough to re- I should, probably, be up again in a ceive much instruction. Those who month after that. We selected a place could understand, said they believed for building, and told the chief he what we taught, and that all the Kem-might collect the materials at his lei

sure, that on Mr. Stilson's arrival a house could be put up in a few days. He told Ko Bike that our decision gave him more joy than if he had received thousands of gold and silver, for, said he, "The gold and silver would soon be expended, and neither my childreu nor my people would be any the better for it; but if we have the knowledge of God, I shall die in peace."

them to human agency. This belief in evil demons leads them to offer, on certain occasions, propitiatory sacrifices. They have no religious services, though they believe in a Supreme Being,-in the immortality of the soul, and in future rewards and punishments. Murder, adultery, stealing, and falsehood, are regarded as great crimes, and there is much reason to suppose that these are not their national vices. They are, proverbially, a people of one word.

It is very possible that many might get the impression, from the preceding remarks, that the Kemmées are a harmless, unwarlike people, but such is not the case. Broken up, as they are, into clans under different chiefs, who are supreme among their own people, serious difficulties are rarely, if ever, adjusted in an amicable manner. Feuds are frequent, and often end most disastrously. When one clan nourishes revenge or hatred against another, from whatever cause, an opportunity is sought to fall upon their enemies at a time when least ex

tile intentions is never made. The triumphant party kill as many men as they can, and all the females and children they can seize are carried away for slaves. Those clans located within the limits of Arracan, are, of course, subject to British rule, and they appear to appreciate the advantages of living in a state of security under the protection of law. Depending for their subsistence almost entirely on the cultivation of the soil, war is not the natural element of the Kemmees; it is rather a circumstance growing out of their peculiar condition.

This indicates a degree of intelligence and earnestness which we did not expect to find, and which goes far to encourage us that it is the Lord's work. This village, which we have resolved to make the head-quarters of the Kemmee mission, possesses all the advantages we could desire,-its location is beautiful and healthy, it is not too far in the interior, and still is far enough to be the centre of a number of villages, embracing, at least, about 3000 inhabitants. It is two degrees north of Akyab, and, therefore, distant on a straight line, 138 miles. There are a few curves in the river, so that the distance, by water, is 150 miles. Mr. Stilson took the latitude of the vil-pected. An open declaration of hoslage, and made it 22° 3′ north, which would make it twelve or thirteen miles north of Ava. No foreigner has ever been up the river beyond the boundaries of Arracan, and Burmans are afraid to penetrate; so that the extent of the Kemmee country north, can only be conjectured from the statements of the Kemmees themselves. They speak of two powerful bodies of people far to the north, called Lungkbe, and Tsein-du, who differ somewhat from them in language. I would remark here, that Kemmee is the generic name of this people, though they have a great number of local names. This extraordinary variety of names for one and the same people, originates partly from location and partly from clanship; in some cases, the name of a stream gives a name to the people; and, in other cases, the name of a chief to whose authority they submit. Our intercourse with the Kemmees has been too limited to say much in reference to their national manners and customs,-their vices and their virtues. Polygamy, I should think, does not prevail to any great extent. They have learnt how to make an intoxicating drink from rice, which is used on extraordinary occasions. They regard evil spirits as the principal cause of disease, as also of all other calamities, when they cannot trace!

The introduction of books, and the establishment of schools, will lay the foundation of their civilization and happiness, because the first lessons they learn, will be the knowledge of God. This knowledge will spread over the whole length and breadth of the land, and convert this wilderness into a fruitful field. Mr. Stilson possesses, in an eminent degree, those peculiar qualifications for detecting sounds in all their variety and hardly distinguishable shades of difference, so important in adopting an alphabet. He will adopt the Roman character, which will greatly facilitate all future operations, and render the expense of books much less than if he should adopt an Indian alphabet.

EXTRACTS FROM THE JOURNAL OF MR. ledging Christ as the only head, and