fore him. ship each of his own wife, who bows her-el, and here the people assembled in the evening to the number of about sixty. Br. Cross addressed them from the words, "Fear not, little flock," &c., and was followed by teacher Kola-pau and others. self in a suitable posture for this object beThe bookho then turns himself to the lighted tapers, which from their number give off a most brilliant light, and the whole congregation stare in the same 30. Lord's day. At the morning direction, while he utters with inconceiv- prayer meeting 180 assembled, and several prayers were offered. At the able rapidity a sort of prayer, in which he usual hour of service 248 were present, embraces all the relationships of life, with and were addresed from the words, the supplication that their long expected "One thing thou lackest." At the conference at 2 P. M., teacher Ko-lagod will make his appearance. At the pau gave an account of one of the disclose of this he breaks out singing, and all ciples (who was present), that we had the male part of the congregation follow found up among the Shyan Karens, him; and the women take up the same whom Satan had bound with bead orwhen finished by the men. This is their naments around the neck and which the teachers had taken off, &c., desirworship. But the women keep up a ing the church to pray much for the plaintive or dirge-like wail, ard generally erring brother, that he might be saved. with wholly extempore sentiments, during He has lately married an uncouverted the night. These women are most beauti-girl, and lives remote from any of the disciples. ful singers, owing to their continual practice no doubt. At one time you hear a single voice, as if it were at a great distance or an unfamiliar voice from the spirit world; till it strikes again the bolder notes of ordinary singing and receives the addition of dozens more, equally sweet and musical." 31. In the afternoon called the school children together for a short examination. The school here the last rains had nearly forty scholars. and twelve boys. All except three or There were now present nineteen girls four could read, some very well, others rather indifferently. They were nearly all small, but some questions in scripture history and arithmetic were answered. 28. Near daybreak the bookho and his aids had their feet washed again, Feb. 4. Three or four meetings repeating the ceremonies of the eve- have been held every day during the ning before. They were again ex- week, preaching, prayer, examination horted by our party to throw away of candidates for baptism, hearing contheir fooleries and consider the truth. fessions, covenant meetings preparatoThe bookho, I understood, in his morn-ry to communion, &c. Twelve candining prayer desired the people might dates were examined and received, and profit by the instructions of the teach- some advised to wait another year. ers (meaning us), and introduced some 5. Lord's day. One of the memthings he had heard the evening before.bers of the church, an old woman who This bookho is a fine looking young lived down on the Tenasserim, died man, apparently from twenty-five to last night, and several went down this twenty-eight, and is shrewd and cun- morning to attend the funeral. Notning. His disciples are almost or quite withstanding, there were more than all Siamese Karens, who came over 260 present at morning worship, and into this region some six or eight years were exhorted from Luke 13:7. In since. He himself is the son of a the afternoon the Lord's Supper was head man of a village on the south commemorated, the two native pastors, branch of the Tenasserim, some days Ko-la-pau and Sau Quala, officiating. journey from Mata. He is the man There were 253 communicants presmentioned Jan. 23d in this journal. ent, which was a good proportion of the church, considering that many of them live so distant and so scattered. Tah-kha-tah-Religious services at Mata. The Pgho bookho-Karens on the Tenas serim. After breakfast we came down to a Christian village called Tab-kha-tab, stopping on the way to visit some fanilies of the unconverted. The people Was very much gratified to-day to of this village had just converted an have the old bookho from the Pgho old house into a very comfortable chap-village, so often mentioned in my jour nals of former years, come of his own accord and request to have his name enrolled among the inquirers, and to be baptized next year. There are, perhaps, few men in all this region who possess so much influence as this man. He was for many years the head of a sect, and had many followers. Should he prove to be really taught of the Spirit and be filled with zeal for the conversion of others, he may do much good. I may mention that he is the same man in whose house, some six years since, I found some of our tracts and a part of the Acts, which books were printed in Rangoon many years before. In the evening Sau Quala preached a very stirring discourse. He expects to leave to-morrow or next day for Pyeekhya via the Tenasserim and Mergui. There are many Karens living on the Tenasserim, some of whom have come over recently from Siam, and who are in almost inaccessible locations, unless by way of the river from this place. He expects to be six weeks or two months in reaching Mergui. May the Lord give him favor in the sight of the people. He is accompanied by two of the assistants and others, and altogether they form quite a respectable party. generations of the people. If he be not now living, may he soon be born. 8. Arrived home just after sunset. Thus has closed this annual visit to the largest church in this province. A branch of it remains to be visited on the Lau-lu stream, west of the mountains. Visit to Lung-lung-Church at Khat brook. 10. Left Tavoy in company with br. Cross and teacher Ko-la-pau for a visit to the Karens on the Lau-lu waters. Our path for the first eight or nine miles is on the way to Mata, when we cross the Pouch-tein stream and make an eastward course. The stream where we cross is on tide waters without a bridge, and we experienced some difficulty in getting over. One of the first of our party nearly disappeared in the soft mud of the opposite bank, but fortunately a boat came along, and in this we passed over, it being dragged up the steep banks; and then on the shoulders of our coolies we were safely over, though we did not escape our share of the mud. The road from this point is new to me, never having travelled it before. It is a pretty rough Karen path on the Lau-lu stream and over some spurs of hills. We reached the Zayat before sunset, and some few of the disciples came in to welcome us; but the mass are out cutting fields. Not very good reports are given of some, who have been guilty of drinking ardent spirit, though only once, and some of them for medicine. Kola-pau addressed the people in the eve At evening worship there were present a head man and several of his people from a village a day's journey to the northward, who came over from Siam some few years since, but upon whom the gospel has, as yet, made no sensible impression. May they be affected by its saving influences, have schools in their village, and learn toning. A man was present who has Jive for another world. Return to Tavoy. 7. The elephants not arriving as we had expected, after a season of prayer with the people we prepared to take our departure for Tavoy as soon as coolies for the purpose could be procured. The road over the mountaius seems to be unlike other roads; when frequently travelled they appear better, this seemed this time to be rather more rough and rugged than formerly, though frequently passed within the last ten years; so frequently indeed that many of the rocks have become familiar acquaintances. The man who shall make, or cause to be made, a good road over these mountains will get and deserve a name and fame, that will descend to the latest been excluded some years. Had some conversation with him, but regret to say he gave no signs of repentance or reform. There seem to be quite a number of refractory disciples living up here, in almost inaccessible localities, and I fear they have taken up their abode here, partly to be out of the way of the teachers and assistants. 11. Concluded to visit another locality on the Khat brook, where there are several disciples, and where they have just erected a new zayat. We found it at the distance of between two and three hours over a very bad path. The zayat is situated in a pretty garden, surrounded by betel, cocoanut, dorian and jack trees,-the place spoken of so favorably by br. Mason in his journal a few years since. In the midst of a grove, on an eminence, live an old man and his wife, disciples of long standing and good people,--and | Burmese assistants. 13. Lord's day. Yesterday had several meetings, examined candidates for baptism; one only being received, and the others advised to wait. To-day the candidate was baptized in a little bason at the foot of a pretty cascade in the Khat brook, and about thirty disciples sat down to the Lord's Supper. Three of the members who were present, confessed they had drank ardent spirit once, and one of them said it was as a medicine. They were suspended from communion. Two of them appeared penitent and sorry for the folly of which they had been guilty. When will the time arrive, when even a single missionary will be devoted to the Burmese of Tavoy and the numerous villages round about? Here is an inviting field; who will enter it? Cowper has said, "There is no flesh in man's obdurate heart, it does not feel for mau." Is it true? Table of churches-Annual contributions. The following is a table of the churches: Bap. Ex. Res. Pres. No. Mata, 56 38 2 412 506 Totals, 15 3 2 The collections for the Tavoy Missionary Society were from Co.'s Rs. 10,14, 59,15, 4 Yaville, 14. Prepared to leave for home. Ko-la-pau goes from here to Mata, to his charge, and we return to the city. Before leaving, however, the names of ten of the disciples living up on the Laulu stream were handed me, who have been guilty of drinking ardent spirit distilled from rice. As the distillation is illegal, I hope government will put a stop to it. The disciples, as far as I heard, had not manufactured, but drank, the most of them only once. It requires much prudence and discretion to manage such cases. In America it would be considered a minor offence, but here it is a serious one; it is a returning to old practices, and shows a hankering after the superstitions of their ancestors. May the Lord send his Spirit among them, reform the wandering, convert the really un-uot inconsiderable. converted, if such there should be among them, and lead them all in the way of truth and righteousness. There are many living in this region who have never yet been subdued by divine grace. The assistant here is a very good man and more than ordinarily pious, but he has not the zeal of a Paul or an Apollos. Claims of Tavoy. Thus I suppose my jungle labors are over for this season. There is so much work to be done in town, in building a new chapel, repairs of buildings, printing, &c., that the way does not seem clear that I can be absent more, and accomplish the necessary work before the rains, and yet there are several thousand Karens unvisited in this province. Besides, the Burmese are entirely neglected, except what little labors are performed by the 99, 7,10 If the Baptists in America were only to give for the cause of missions, in proportion to their wealth, as the Karens have given this year, the treasurer's receipts would annually exceed $200,000. And besides the collections, new chapels have been, or are to be built in all the places except Mata, and there the zayat is to be nearly rebuilt in repairs,-the expense of all which is Letter of Mr. Cross. In a letter of March 6, Mr. Cross writes:— The small-pox is reported by the natives to be spreading in town. The people take every measure to conceal from the European physicians the facts of the sickness amongst them, on account of their prejudices against European treatment. For this reason the vigilance of the civil authorities will be in a measure eluded. Yesterday and day before, I received visits from the Pgho chief whom I have mentioned in my journal as having preached at a bone feast in his village. He says he worships God, and that he has been up the river on which he lives, to preach. There is ARRACAN. Journal of Mr. Ingalls. another leading chief, a Sgau, in that | destruction of their temple and city, direction, who a good while ago con- etc.; also to sketch their principal sented to have a school taught in his characters-the characters and the revillage; but when a man was sent to liable accounts given of all the apostles him, he had not made the preparations and principal disciples, so far as which he had promised, and was not they have a general bearing on the at home at the time; and the man sent spread of the gospel and the organito him came away. This year, while zation of the church. This I hope to we were at Mata, he brought a pres- do in a concise and readable manner. ent. We had fallen in with him on our way to Mata, and exhorted him. It is greatly to be hoped that through the influence of the Pgho man he will be brought in. He is now leaning to his son, who is the young bookho whom we have described above, and so far he finds an excuse for himself. Yesterday I called the Pgho inan, with a brother of his with him, into my house to exhort him. They seemed to be greatly touched, and it was easy to see that a little more emotion might have caused the tears to flow which started in their eyes while listening to the mercy of Jesus in providing for their salvation. I have great hopes that God will soon make a wide opening in these villages. I greatly fear for our schools in the rains, as it will be quite impossible to induce the Karens to come in, if we have the small-pox among us. In case I cannot obtain students, I shall endeavor to station the advanced students as teachers in their villages. They will be able to teach one another to a considerable extent. In this case, I think I shall apply myself to the study of the Burman as much as possible. In February Mr. Ingalls visited the Kemmees at their villages up the Koladon river, as narrated in the following journal. Valley of the Koladon-Idol of Pegu. Feb. 17. Left for the village of Chetza, far up the Koladon. A good breeze wafted us rapidly and pleasantly away from my station, now left in charge of natives. All who have ascended this magnificent stream, have admired the beautiful prospect spread out on every hand. The valley of the Koladon is not surpassed in richness by any vale in the east; it may compare with the Nile. Rice and paddy, the product of these plains, are shipped at Akyab, in some five or six hundred vessels annually, to Madras, the Mauritius, Pinang, Singapore, China, England and Germany. The American, in his thirst for gold or trade, has found this mart. Five large and beautiful ships have visited this port the present season, and others are expected. On either hand of me lie these rich plains, studded with villages filled with a rural population, whose hard earnings are bestowed upon idols. Months of labor should be devoted to them by the preacher of righteousness, and must be, ere they are rescued from death and hell. I have been improving every moment I could get, in blocking out some thoughts on the history of the church, and am somewhat encouraged at the progress have been able to make. My object is to give a consecutive narration of events, but not full, particularly on parts where the New Testament is sufficient; and only to show things to be connected which are truly 19. This morning found our boat so, avoiding all that is merely hypo- anchored by the side of one of these thetical as much as possible. I shall romantic villages. On landing, I was endeavor to give all that can be said, joined by a Mussulman, and walked reckoned by our standard histories, to up to an idol exposed to the sun and be reliable, without swelling it with storm with no shelter. It was hewed reasonings or remarks. Whether I from a dark stone, and is as large as make any thing which will be accept- life. On either side are round altars able or not, I have left for the end to hewed from the same material. "This show, contenting myself with the idea idol," said an old man, was consethat I will not neglect my other duties, crated by a princess of Pegu, who was preaching the gospel, etc., for this. I brought from that city a captive by a shall endeavor to be quite clear on the warlike king of Arracan. No one now first period, the condition of the ventures to erect a shed over it, from the Jews, their doctrines, sects, and, finally, fact that the last four or five who have their downfall and dispersion, with the so done, have suddenly died in a short 66 time." "So great is its power," added | he, "that no criminal when confronted with it dares to lie." This idol is not only the god of the village, but highly venerated by the people of the land. Under the shade of the mango, the people collected and listened for an hour to the gospel of Christ. Many for the first time heard of eternal life beyond the grave. This truth was left with them, and they will never bow the knee to idols with the confidence they did before this truth was presented. Chetza's village-Historical notices of the 20. Kemmees. a Religious and civil condition-Population. The Kemmees have never polluted themselves with idols. They have the tradition that there is a God, who in ancient times gave them a parchmentbook, which was devoured by a dog. Being ignorant of the divine will, they have lived age after age without offering prayer or praise, waiting for "books which their fathers told them good people would bring again to them." They live in villages of ten, twenty, and thirty houses. Each village has a mountain chief, who is much respected. Their criminal code is quite lenient; sixty rupees is all the avenger of blood demands for the crime of murder; but if the fine is not paid, the deceased and burnt to death with a man is seized by the relatives of the stag or elk. For theft fines are imthief has to refund the money and pay posed; if 100 rupees be stolen, the sixty rupees; if ten rupees, five rupees fine is imposed. If the thief refuses to pay, he or his children may be reduced to slavery. Adultery is punished by a fine of thirty rupees. Fornication, as a crime, does not exist, and the state of morals in such a country may be conjectured. Marthe bride receive a rich present. The riage is recognized, and the parents of contract is not, however, considered binding if the parties wish to separate. Here, then, is a field where Christianity has a glorious work to perform. Some 10,000 Kemmees live within This day has been spent at Chetza's village with the Keminees. Forty or fifty were present. All lis tened, none disputed, "all was good." A great work is yet to be done for this people, and ought to be commenced in earnest. They are among the most destitute and dependent of our race. Books they have none; their language must be reduced to writing. School teachers and assistants must be raised up from among them, and the gospel preached in all their villages. Το bring one of nature's apostate sons to the light of the gospel and instil into his mind right principles, is not small work; here is a whole people. For ages they have lived on the Koladon and its tributary streams, unknown to the rest of the world except their oppressors, until the gospel penetrated their retired jungles. Formerly the Shandoos were their rulers. This a short distance of Chetza's village acpeople live some seventeen days' jour-cording to the report of the natives. ney north of the Kemmees, and are They are waiting with no little intersaid to be a numerous and fierce peo- est to see whether a Kemmee can ple, independent, bidding defiance to learn to read. I have two young men the king of Burmab as well as to the who can read and write, and are now Hon. East India Company. They keep studying arithmetic. I was delighted all the lesser tribes in constant alarm. to see the effect produced when these They form predatory bands of 300 or boys read a part of the catechism. 400 men, armed with the bow and 21. Left the village. Several boys spear or the more deadly musket. The devoted village is surrounded and they We dined this evening near a Musaccompany us to town to attend school. wait in silence till just before dawn, sulman village of forty houses, emthen rush upon their pray. Their ob- bosomed in gardens of the evergreen ject is captives, whom they sell and plantain and shaded by the mango, plunder. The poor captives are sold now in blossom. I know not how into hopeless bondage. Many Kem-long the Mussulman has pitched his mee villages have been destroyed, tent in Arracan, but I question whether though under British protection; sev- the Prophet of Mecca has more ignoeral during the past two years. The rant or bigoted followers than some of Kemmees fared hard under the rule of this blood-thirsty people, and never tasted liberty till the English took possession of Arracan, them. Arracan city.-Relics of idolatry. 22. This morning we left the Koladon and shaped our course for the old |