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most to forget our past sorrows, in the abundant mercies he is now conferring upon us; the unusual health at present enjoyed, the success he is granting us in prosecuting the study of the Chinese language, and the sweet satisfaction he often imparts to our souls from commun

The Closing Year-Chinese New-Year-ion with himself. We do hope that, Tours among the Villages.

THE providential circumstances which led Mr. Johnson to Chantaboon were mentioned at p. 110.

through his blessing upon our studies, our tongues may be unloosed, so as to make known to these dying heathen the joyful news of salvation through our once crucified, but now risen and glorified Redeemer.

December 31, 1835. The year that Jan. 6. 1836. Visited Ban Ka Char closes with this day, has been to myself with Mrs. J. for the distribution of books. and Mrs. J. one of the most eventful of Gave away forty copies of the Celestial our lives. We have been tossed upon a || Mirror, thirty of the treatise on the Ten tempestuous ocean, and called to pass Commandments, and one hundred of the through deep waters; but the Lord has Exhortation to the Age. The books, as preserved us from sinking beneath the usual, were eagerly and gratefully rebillows, and enabled us to rejoice in the ceived. Left a copy of the Ten Commidst of our severest afflictions. This mandments in the Chinese temple, placpassage has been verified in our happy ing it on the altar in front of a number of experience: "When thou passeth through gilded idols, hoping it might there be an the waters, I will be with thee, and effectual testimony against the worship through the rivers, they shall not over- of false gods. On passing through the flow thee: when thou walkest through village, had the happiness of seeing the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither great numbers diligently reading the shall the flame kindle upon thee." In tracts I had just before given them. Oh reviewing the past year, I see much that that they might prove the power of God should fill me with shame, and lead me to the salvation of many souls. to the deepest humiliation of soul before God. The Lord saw that my spiritual condition called for his chastizing strokes, and he adapted the remedy to my wants. He has stripped us one after another of our earthly objects of affection, but our inward and outward afflictions have been sanctified to the weakening of our attachments to the world, and the increase of our attachment to himself. We have often felt disposed to thank God for his merciful chastisements. Through his goodness we have been constrained al

VOL. XXXIII.

Feb. 16. This day we understand, commences the Chinese new year, commemorated by general gambling, idolatrous feasting, and every species of dissipation. Our hearts were pained by the sight of our eyes and the hearing of our ears, and especially by the conduct of our friend Luang Nai Sit, of whom we had hoped better things. On the preceding day he paid his Chinese workmen the money then due them; and at the same time gave them a general invitation to gamble with him. An invitation

17

coming from so respectable and honora- || habited chiefly by Siamese deriving ble a personage, few of them were dis- their support apparently from their riceposed to reject. That afternoon the play fields. The banks of the river were lined commenced in a house adjoining our by numerous herds of domesticated bufown, continuing all the following night faloes, and far back on either side the and a part of the next day, the koon land appeared to have been a long time joining with them, and occasionally even under cultivation. The stream is very his principal wife. Their children also crooked, but its general course is about were present, a son of about ten years southeast. Its banks are remarkably and two younger daughters, to witness steep, and from ten to twelve feet high. the example of their revered parents. Above Chantaboon it rapidly diminishes In the end, it was said that the prince in depth and breadth, so that at the won from his poor laborers no small por-point where I stopped, it was difficult to tion of the money paid them the day previous. At the close of the sport, many who just before had in their purses fifteen, twenty, or thirty ticals,* penniless. They wept at their loss, but their tears were unavailing.

were

It is the custom of the Chinese to devote to eating and drinking, gambling, and every kind of excess the first three or four days of each new year; and thus that period which should be spent in serious reflection, is peculiarly devoted to the service of sin and Satan by 360,000,000 of our dying race.

proceed with a small boat. Had no opportunity for tract distribution. Spent part of my time in reading and conversing with my Chinese teacher. At Chantaboon was overtaken by a smart shower. Throughout the afternoon it continued to thunder from the summits of the cloudcapped mountains on my right, which are a continuation of the Sabap range. A little before night commenced my return, and reached Semet Nyam about eleven o'clock. Chantaboon appears to be surrounded by a numerous agricultural population, both Siamese and Chinese, living without any knowledge of the way of salvation. A little above Chantaboon is a small settlement of priests.

March 8. Last evening our teacher returned from Chantaboon, with the intelligence of the sudden death of two of his friends by the cholera, both living April 1. Went on a tour of tract disin the same family, related as brother tribution, to a settlement called by the and sister. Both died within the space Chinese Se-Bok-Swa-Ka, at the foot of of four days, and neither was sick above the Sabap ridge of mountains. Here are twenty-four hours. Compared with the several hundred Chinese speaking the population, the mortality is said to be Kay dialect. Our route led us over exvery great. Oh that while the judg-tensive paddy-fields now almost destitute ments of God are abroad and among them, they would learn righteousness.

15. Was called to attend a Chinese ship carpenter, one of Koon Sit's workmen, who had fallen into the hold of the man-of-war now building here, and broken his leg. The man seemed very grateful for ny attentions. My heart compassionated his temporal sufferings, now a helpless stranger in a strange land, but felt still more for his benighted

soul. The labor and care connected

with this case, was rather a severe trial of my yet feeble frame; but it is good to labor in the cause of humanity and of

God.

16.

Journeyed about eight miles above Chantaboon with the view of still further exploring the country, and distributing tracts. Above Chantaboon found no villages of much importance as to size, but passed many individual dwellings, and one or two small hamlets in

*A tical is about half a dollar.

of vegetation. The rice is raised mostly by Siamese in comfortable ci cumstances. The near view of these lofty mountains, covered with heavy timber, and arrayed in all the verdure of the northern summer, was both grand and beautiful. On my way distributed about two hundred tracts, including several kinds, most of which were readily and limited that I could converse very little thankfully received. My time was so with those to whom I gave tracts; besides, they spoke a dialect with which I am not acquainted.

concluded statedly to observe this day as 4. Monthly concert of prayer. Have a season of fasting and prayer. Have found it a season precious to my soul. Was enabled to-day to plead with much earnestness for the revival of religion in my own heart, for the conversion of our Chinese teacher, for this people, for the blessing of God on the distribution of tracts, for missiona ies, for the people of God generally, and the millions of the dying heathen.

Use of Opium-Return to BankokPopulation and Languages.

9. Went to the mouth of the river for distribution of tracts among the Chinese. Found few Chinese here, excepting the crews of two junks, whom I pretty liberally supplied with the bread of eternal life, and accompanied the truth with such instructions as I was enabled to impart. Gave them a large number of tracts to distribute among their friends at home. Visited a Chinese temple, and found there a number of idle and emaciated Chinese, evidently addicted to the use of opium. The use of this poisonous drug by the Chinese is very general, and is a most serious obstacle to their conversion. To it many tens of millions are now probably enslaved, and fast hastening to temporal and eternal ruin. Opium holds its victims by a much firmer grasp than even alcohol, and more rapidly prostrates their energies both of body and mind. But the Chinese are annually furnished with a vast amount of this destructive article by those who bear the christian name, and in opposition to their own laws. What have not professedly christian nations done to corrupt the heathen world, and bar it against the blessings of the everlasting gospel! Our own countrymen are deeply implicated in this crime, though the greater portion of this drug is raised in Hindostan, and thence conveyed in English ships to China, where it is smuggled into the empire, in opposition to severe, but generally ineffectual penal enactments. We had sad and painful experience of its destructive influence in our Chinese teachers, and one other individual formerly in our employ.

26. To-day the Lord granted us the privilege of embarking for Bankok. We expected to have returned long before this, but in the wise providence of God,|| have hitherto been prevented from gratifying our earnest desires. We leave this section of country, not because it does not contain great multitudes of precious, immortal souls, perishing in ignorance of God our Savior, nor because it does not present to the missionary a most interesting and important field for benevolent effort; but because Bankok seems to have still stronger claims to our services as missionaries to the heathen. A missionary resident in the district of Chantaboon would be subject to some trials and privations, from which he would be free at Bankok; but these are trifling considerations, and worthy of no regard. We have indeed

at times been almost upon the point of concluding that duty required us to remain here, and endeavor to lead these dying souls to Christ; and it is only the hope of being more useful among the hundreds of thousands in Bankok that has reconciled us to the idea of leaving this dark region. We are not sorry that we have resided here for a season. During our residence in this district we have been permitted to distribute about two thousand christian tracts, to acquire much knowledge of this extensive field, and to exert an influence over the minds of the people, which I hope will be highly favorable to the efforts of future laborers. If it may assist in preparing the way for the introduction among them of the faithful ambassadors of Jesus Christ, our heart will rejoice. Often have our hearts been deeply pained at the thought of leaving them without a spiritual shepherd; but we have endeavored to commit them to the care of our Heavenly Father, beseeching him to bless his truth already in the hands of so many, and make it the means of their salvation. We hope we shall never forget them. God, we hope, has made our residence here the means of much good to our own souls. Through his grace we have been in some measure revived. Our opportunity for studying the Chinese has never been equalled since we commenced this difficult language. We hope we are now better prepared than ever before to make known among that people the everlasting gospel. Still our knowledge of this language is but limited. We most of all need additional supplies of grace.

28. This morning set sail for Bankok with a light and favorable breeze. We go in a very large Siamese war-boat, of perhaps five hundred tons burthen, commanded by Mr. Paschal, an intelligent and respectable Portuguese, a native of Siam, and possessing some influence with the government. His elder brother, Peah Vesset, is the governor of the Portuguese population in Bankok, a people of a mixed descent, speaking the Siamese language and Indo-Portuguese, adopting mostly the Siamese manners, but attached to the Catholic faith. The crew consists of Siamese, Chinese, Portuguese, Cochin-Chinese, Catholics, Peguans, and I think some few of two or three other nations. There are ten or twelve different languages spoken on board our vessel, a Babel in miniature, only an imperfect specimen, however, of Bankok. This immense variety of languages forms a powerful obstacle to the rapid progress of the gospel in these ends of

the indignation of the nobles. The prah klang is expected here in a few days from Chantaboon, and I am encouraged by his son, Luang Nai Sit, to hope that on his arrival he will give me permission to return hither. With God would I leave the disposal of the matter.

the earth, multitudes of the children and adults not being sufficiently acquainted with any one of them, to be instructed to advantage in the christian religion. Multitudes only pick up a little smattering of several different languages, as their emergencies may require, but becoming acquainted with no one. We 8. Sabbath. Was happy in the privoccupy a little apartment about eight ilege of being permitted to spend another feet long and five wide. Sabbath in Bankok with our brethren, May 4. Reached Paknam on the after having been so long deprived of the evening of the 2d, and endeavored to delights of social worship. This mornprocure a boat and proceed immediately ing conversed with the little Chinese to Bankok, but without success. At six congregation at the request of Mr. Dean. o'clock in the morning set sail with a Opened the exercises by prayer in Chilight and favorable wind, and reached nese, it being the first instance in which Paklat, about five miles above Paknam. I have attempted to pray publicly in that There we were obliged to stop, the bend language. About fifty were present toin the river being such that we could no day. They were very still, and appeared longer take advantage of the wind, the much interested in the important truths tide also being against us. At Paklat is exhibited. Made some remarks to them a canal a mile and a half in length, at the close of the exercises, but fear I which is thought to shorten the distance was but partially understood, owing to to Bankok about twenty miles; but is their being Trochews, and to my impertraversed only by boats. At three, P. M., || fect acquaintance even with the Fokien the tide being strong in our favor, we dialect. It would rejoice my heart to be raised anchor and advanced rapidly on permitted from Sabbath to Sabbath to our way, till about nine. We were al- || speak to the dying heathen. I hope that lowed to meet our friends at ten this with the divine aid I may soon be able morning. After an absence of six to collect a congregation among the Fomonths, we were prepared to meet each kiens residing here. Future Chinese other with gratitude and joy. As we as- missionaries to Bankok ought to study cended the broad and deep stream, the the Trochew dialect in preference to the numerous junks on the margin of the Fokien, owing to the numbers of that river, heathen temples, humble private class of Chinese being vastly greater, in dwellings, the hurry of business, and the this region. In the afternoon attended crowd of immortal beings on our right worship at Doct. Bradley's dispensary, hand and on our left, forcibly reminded Mr. Robinson conducting it in the us that we were in the midst of a great, Siamese language. The audience conpopulous, and idolatrous city. In re- sisted of more than a hundred men, flecting on the changes through which women, and children, remarkably still I had passed since reaching mission and attentive. ground, I was deeply impressed with the uncertainty and transitory nature of all earthly things, and viewing my own weakness and insignificance, and the mighty obstacles that here oppose the progress of the everlasting gospel, I was led to ask myself, What can I hope to do for these multitudes of immortal souls? But I was enabled in a measure to stay myself on God, and to trust all my concerns to his all-wise, and almighty care, beseeching him to prepare me for all his holy will, and make me a blessing to my brethren and the dying heathen.

6. Called to see my house at Samping. Found it in much such a state as when I left for Chantaboon. Visited Nai Clin, the owner of the compound, and found him very desirous that I should return to the house, but much afraid to allow me to do it without permission of the principal prah klang, fearing he should incur

General Remarks respecting Chantaboon and Vicinity-Tract and Book Distribution.

From the foregoing, and from the journal of Doct. Bradley, an opinion may be formed of the claims of the district of Chantaboon. Within a circuit of fifteen miles around Chantaboon, I should suppose there must be a population of 30,000 inhabitants, by far the larger portion Chinese, most of whom speak the Trochew dialect. It seems very desirable that at least one missionary should early be sent to this interesting field. If he were but partially acquainted with medicine, and should reside in any one of the principal villages, I doubt not he would be joyfully welcomed by the people, and might enter on his labors among them with cheering prospects of success.

Though from our connection with Koon Owing to our unsettled condition ever Sit, we were obliged to live remote from since we reached Siam, we have not been any one of the principal villages, yet able to pursue that connected plan of numbers applied to us daily for medi- operation which we might otherwise cines, sometimes fifteen or twenty, have done. Myself and Mrs. J. have often coming inany miles. The people made it our chief object as soon as possigenerally appeared to be friendly and ble to acquire an adequate knowledge of communicative; and manifested compar- the Chinese language. Had I now a atively little of that haughty disposition congregation speaking the Fokien diawhich is so common in large and crowd- || lect, I should hope to be able to make ed cities. Here are far less temptations the services both interesting and profitato vice and profligacy of manners, than ble to their souls. I hope hereafter to in Bankok; the people are less immersed pursue a course of daily visitation among in business, and consequently would find this people, both for my own improvemore leisure for and be less disinclined ment in their language, and the promoto serious reflection. Here, moreover, are tion of their everlasting well-being. I comparatively few priests to encourage hope ere long to succeed in persuading them in their adherence to idolatry and more or less to meet together on the prejudice their minds against missionary Sabbath for the worship of the living and efforts. Here the servant of God can true God. But here, as well as in other choose his field of labor and place of places, we have to contend not only with residence; and would, I doubt not, be the settled and deep-rooted depravity of permitted to extend his travels and re- the heart, but with the greatest moral searches as far as he pleased. I know apathy and numerous strong and longof no other point from which he can so existing prejudices. But the Lord, in easily penetrate the territories of Cambo- whom we trust, has a strong and invincija, with the view of establishing christian ble arm, and he will eventually give his missions there. Owing to the vicinity servants the victory, and bring this idolof numerous mountains, the climate is atrous people to know, acknowledge, and considerably cooler than that of Bankok, love him. and during the summer season it might be a desirable retreat for invalids from this city. It might be so, provided a mission could there be established, and suitable buildings could be erected in some of the healthy and elevated situations which there abound.

The Siamese government evidently regards that section of country as one of great importance, as appears from the vast amount of labor and money already expended in fortifying it; and if so important in a national point of view, we may consider it as of great moment in a religious one. As excellent ship-timber abounds there, the Siamese may probably continue to prosecute ship-building there with vigor. Communication between Chantaboon and Bankok is quite frequent, and is likely to continue so, so far as we can see. During my stay there we distributed 2,194 tracts, numbering about 18,606 pages. Thus the word of life here has been extensively distributed, and we hope likewise read, and now it rests with the Board and the christian public to say whether the tract shall soon be followed by the living teacher; or whether that perishing population must for many years be left without a spiritual watchman, to guide their wandering feet to heaven. I have felt, and still feel a deep interest in their behalf.

A little more than a year since, I opened a school among the Chinese; but after several months was obliged to suspend it, from inability vigilantly to superintend it, on account of my then ill health, sickness in my family, and other pressing cares. Subsequently having been expelled from our house, and in the providence of God led to Chantaboon, we have made no farther effort at the establishment of schools.

The Chinese junks were supplied with tracts, principally by Mr. Dean of the Baptist mission, previous to my return from Chantaboon. Forty or fifty have been here the present season, and generally received tracts with great readiness. Recent tours have shewn that in the region of Bankok there is a large Chinese population unsupplied with tracts, whom I hope soon to visit. Since our arrival in Siam we have distributed in this city about 12,500 volumes of tracts, and portions of Scripture, besides those distributed in the district of Chantaboon. We have now on hand 10,000 volumes of Chinese tracts. Through the mercy of God, my health is good, greatly superior to what it was last year at this time. The government seem not at all disposed to throw any serious obstacles in the way of our missionary operations. What we most of all need is the powerful energies of the Holy Spirit, to revive

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