EXTRACTS FROM THE JOURNAL OF MR. he was not alone in it-an excuse of 1 SIMONS AT RANGOON. (Continued from p. 32.) Moung Shwe Thing—A Bible sold to a Burman-Armenian priest-Punishment of the Cross. April 1, 1838. Lord's-day. Six persons at worship. Moung Shwe Thing* called to see how we worshipped God on the Sabbath. He listened attentively to the remarks that were made, kneeled down with us in prayer, seemed somewhat affected with what he saw and heard, and said, as he was leaving, he thought our religion was the true religion, and he would follow it. For the first time in his life, this young man bowed the knee in worship before his Maker. It was not, however, without a struggle that he rose from his chair and kneeled with us. We saw him for a moment hesitate, and then the act was done. We hope he is sincere, and will soon give us some evidence that he is an earnest inquirer after the truth. 3. Read and explained portions of the scriptures to a man from Pantanau, and gave him the N. Testament and tracts. 10. In the street met an old friend from Bassein, the writer at whose house I stayed on my way from Arracan, in April, 1835. Invited him to the house, where we spent some time together in conversation. He promised to call again before he returned home. 11. Early this morning the writer called. Gave him the bound volume of tracts, and the Ship of Grace to his attendant. He informed me that he * The letter i pronounced as i in pine. ten used by many of the impenitent in Christian lands. Read 16. Two young men, friends of Moung Shwe Thing, called. to them parts of the Investigator, and endeavored to impress on their minds the great truths of religion. 20. Forwarded by a friend, who is going to Amarapúra, two small Burman books to prince Mekara, and one also to a young princess, who is a favorite of the king. 22. Lord's-day. Worship as usual, in Burman.* Eight persons were present, six of whom were females; two only of the number were members of the church. 23. Moung Shwé Thing called and received the Digest. He said he believed the truths he had heard and read of the eternal God, and would come to us, and be a disciple, when we returned to Amarapúra. 29. Lord's-day. worship. Ten persons at 30. Two men called. Read to one the Investigator. He seemed to pay attention and promised to call again. The other sat and conversed some time. Neither of them had any idea of the true God. June 19. Wrote to the disciples at Ava. Walked to the Chinese street, and in conversation with a Chinaman on religion, he immediately handed me from his shelf two Chinese books on the Christian religion, which he had received and read. He seemed to be a little acquainted with their contents. * Burman worship is conducted in a large upper room. Br. Abbott has worship at the same time with the Karens in a room below. July 3. Took the bound volume of tracts and Child's Book on the Soul, to an Armenian friend, who had requested them for the use of his wife and her relations, who are all Burmans. An old man aged seventy-five called and received the bound vol. of tracts. 9. An old Catholic man called with his little son, to ask for an English | Primer. Gave him instruction in reference to his children, and with an old primer, presented the Burman catechism for his daughter, who could read. Mr. E. M., an Armenian friend, called for books, to give to some Burmans who came to his house from the country. Gave him portions of the scriptures and tracts. He mentioned | that he had recently given thirty-five of our books, principally to heads of families, who, he thought, would take care of them and read them. 11. The old man who called on the third instant, came again, and talked on religion; said he did not worship idols and wished to know what book was the best to read. 26. Five men called, to whom Moung Oo Doung read the catechism, and explained its contents. Gave them four testaments and four bound volumes. Three other persons called during the day. 25. Moung Shwé Thing called at breakfast with a stranger, and at noon with his brother. The latter read our books, but does not appear anxious to know the truth. Moung Shwé Thing requested and received the New Testament and eight tracts, to send to his relations and friends at Moksobo. 29. Colonel Benson, the Resident, and Capt. Mc Leod, assistants to the Resident, with the escort, left to-day for Amarapúra. Moung Oo Doung returned to his friends, in Mr. Edwards' boat. Gave him a supply of tracts and books for the native brethren; also, to the care of Messrs. Edwards and Good, testaments 5, bound tracts 5, Extracts from Old Testament 100, History of Joseph 50, Ship of Grace 50, Father's Advice 50, Way to Heaven 50. These were given for the use of Moung Oo Doung, if he should require any for his friends,* and Messrs. E. and G. also were requested to give a book or tract to any of their friends, as opportunities occurred. 30. Moung Shwé Doke, a Rangoon convert, paid me a visit, and received the bound volume of tracts. Sept. 1. Moung Shwé Doke, and Moung Shwé Thing called. The latter was present at our family worship, and knelt down with us. 19. Moung Shwé Thing's father, and brother, and uncle made us a August 5. Lord's-day. At the request of Mr. Glasscott, a pious English officer commanding the Resident's escort, had religious worship in Eng-friendly visit this evening. The old lish at the Residency. Twelve persons present. Native service with the Karens. man has a situation under the woondouk. May we not hope that he and other members of the family may receive sufficient light, by means of the books handed them by Moung Shwé Thing, to lead them to see the folly of idol worship, and the necessity of worshipping the true God in spirit and in truth. 19. Lord's-day. Services at noon at the English Residency. Held a prayer meeting in the afternoon with Moung Oo Doung and a few Karens, who are concealed in our house. They are related to the Young Chief,* who is in confinement, and are waiting to see what will be done with him. Read to them the cases of Daniel, Jer-ments. emiah, and Peter, and exhorted them to put their trust in God, who was still the same, and would not forsake his people when suffering for his sake. 21. A Burman young man from Mergui, who understands and reads English, and appears willing to hear what is said on religion, called, and purchased for his own use an English bible.j * See Mr. Abbott's journal. This young man promises to be very useful. He gave me a rupee very cheerfully for the bible. He intends to read it with the Burman translation. 25. At the request of the Armenian priest, gave him two Persian testaAs he is now about to return to his family, who live in Persia, near the Persian gulf, he hopes to do good with them. Service in Oct. 21. Lord's-day. English. Gave the bound volume of tracts and four small tracts to a member of the Catholic church, for the use of himself and family. Nov. 3. Mrs. Simons and children, with sister Abbott and child, embarked this evening on board the steamer Ganges, for Maulmain. *We did not give Moung Oo Doung many tracts to carry himself, because, being alone, some one might bring him into trouble. We have received no information from Moung Oo Doung since he left. This is probably owing to the unsettled state of things between the two govern 17. Three men were led through the streets with their hands tied behind them, and a small rope round their necks. It is said that they have been endeavoring, with fifty-seven oth-ments. ers, to raise up a rebellion in favor of the late heir apparent, who, they say, is still in existence. They are to be crucified to-morrow. 18. Lord's-day. A prayer-meeting in English. The three men who are to be crucified to-day, passed our house to the place of execution about ten o'clock this morning. A number of officers and jail keepers, with their large knives and spears, were in attendance, and a large concourse of people followed. Towards evening passed the place of execution. Two of the men were still alive on their crosses, writhing under dreadful agonies. Besides being nailed to the cross, each had a pointed thick stick, about two feet long, hammered down his throat. The man who was dead, I was informed, died instantly after the stick was hammered into his throat, and thus was an end put to his pains. I never had the idea of the agonies endured by persons nailed to the cross, which I have had since I saw these two men alive on the cross, with the nails in their feet and hands, saying, as well as they could, to the by-standers, "I thirst"-give me water. LETTER OF MR. SIMONS, DATED MAULMAIN, JAN. 29, 1839. Further notices of Moung Shwe Thing -Relations of Burmah and the E. I. Company. I cannot say that I have any evidence that the truth has reached the heart of Moung Shwé Thing, but he has always appeared very anxious to hear, and read, and understand all he can, and has said he is pleased with the Christian religion, believes it to be true, and that he will not again worship idols. He is now at Amarapúra or Moksobo. Before he left Rangoon, I made him acquainted with Moung Oo Doung, and requested him to call and see the deacon and Ko Shway Nee. I also wrote a few lines to the deacon, by his son, Moung Oo Doung, concerning him, so that he might know how to instruct him, if he should call. *These poor miserable creatures, with their hands and feet bound, passed our house a few days afterwards. They have nearly all been executed. No Burman dares be seen near the Residency, and hence there is no safe way for him to send us letters. My last communication apprized the Board of the arrival of Col. Benson, the new Resident. He has been now some months at Amarapúra, and up to the last communications received from him, dated on the 1st instant, he had had no interview with the king, and it was still somewhat doubtful how the difficulties between the two governments will terminate. The following are extracts from letters which I have received from correspondents at Amarapúra and Rangoon. 66 Amarapúra, Oct. 24. The Burmese court continues to treat the mission with studied neglect up to the present moment. All the king's protegés (foreigners) are strictly prohibited from coming near us; even the town's people avoid being seen talking to any of the followers attached to the Resident. Our situation at present is far from being comfortable. "Nov. 18. Col. Benson has not, to this day, obtained an interview with any of the ministers, as the king proposes that the Col. should be considered (according to the treaty) merely as an officer with 50 men, and hesitates to give him the usual reception of a Resident, or even that of a common agent from the Shyán states. Our situation here, just now, is far from being comfortable; not a soul dares come near us. "27. The insolent and contumelious treatment of the present British mission by his majesty and his officers, has forced Col. Benson to purchase boats and provisions, which have cost upwards of 500 rupees, for proceeding down to Rangoon, to await the further orders of government. The ministers, perceiving that the Col. was not an officer that would allow them to trifle with him, have begun to act with a little civility. "30. The Col. has had an interview with the ministers this day, but nothing satisfactory was elicited from them as regards his representative character and manner of transacting business with them on the same footing as with Col. Burney. I fear we shall not be able to keep on terms long with the present king and court. "Dec. 5. Col. Benson was in a man I have been thus particular in stating these facts, because they have an important bearing on our work in Burmah Proper; for so long as the difficulty between the two governments remains unsettled, the people are kept ner forced by the court, to apply for his departure from the capital, in consequence of their refusing to give him satisfactory replies respecting the different points in dispute between the two governments. Boats and one hundred men were supplied, in accord-in constant dread of a war, and there ance with his request, and the whole is no knowing what thoughtless, bloodof our baggage was removed into the thirsty officers in a moment of rage boats; but just as we were on the point may be tempted to do. of quitting our premises, in comes a letter from the ministers, somewhat more satisfactory than those hitherto received, leaving the Col. no other alternative, but to remain here until he Barens. INGALLS. In the autumn of 1838, Mr. Kincaid being desirous to return to his labors at Ava at the receives further instructions from the EXTRACTS FROM THE JOURNAL OF MR. government of India. His majesty has issued orders to the governors of provinces, and to the different military chiefs, to prepare for war, and the notorious Daffa Gam, the Kakhyen chief, has just arrived, no doubt to be employed against the British troops in the expected encounter. earliest favorable period, his place at Mergui was supplied by Mr. Ingalls, who had been designated as a permanent occupant of that station. Mr. Ingalls arrived at Mergui on the 29th of Oct., accompanied by three assistants. Two departments of labor-Zayat conversations-Baptisms at Kabin. "Jan. 1, 1839. Though preparations for war are in progress, both at the capital and in the provinces, yet the court is evidently giving in on the most material points, and it is hoped that the present differences will yet be This station embraces two departsettled without having recourse to the ments of labor, Karen and Burman. sword. Col. Benson has sent in to In the Karen department a good begovernment a statement of all that has ginning has been made. There are occurred since our departure from two Karen churches, one at Kabin, Rangoon to the present moment, and numbering fifty members, another at on receipt of replies from Bengal, we Thingboung, numbering between fifshall be enabled to come to some de- teen and twenty. Besides the above, termination as regards our future pro- there are several Christians scattered ceedings. Col. B. declines applying over the jungle-germs of future for an audience of the king, until the churches-and a number of good inreceipt of instructions from the gov-quirers. This department affords every ernor general of India. prospect of success. Rangoon, Jan. 13. News! we have none ! Boat after boat comes down, and we eagerly expect that the next, and the next, will bring something final; but no. Time is, however, getting precious, and another month, doubtless, will see "the deed is done." The Colonel and suit have suffered enough to entitle them to the glory of half a dozen martyrdoms. The fort has 29 guns mounted on it. Barracks are built out at the foot of the great pagoda, and a place also for his highness, the woondouk." The Burman department is still lying waste. Though much preaching has been performed, the people, with few exceptions, are wedded to idols. Still grace triumphs, and converts are won. We have one Burman applicant for baptism, who gives good evidence of a change of heart, and some are evidently under the influences of the Holy Spirit. Nov. 11, 1838. This is the second Sabbath spent in Mergui. We have met and have had our season of worship. Our numbers were few, none of the inhabitants present. We have commenced Burman worship every evening and on the Sabbath. After evening service, the assistants give an account of the labors of the day. Besides the above, I would also mention that her majesty's ship of war, the Favorite, has been lying off the town of Rangoon ever since we left, and the steamer Ganges has been passing to and fro, for the last twelve months, with despatches from Rangoon, Maul-natic (?) who had listened to the preachmain and Calcutta. 15. Went this morning to see a lu ing of the assistants, and taken books, |