a distressing conviction that they are in the wrong way."

A spirit of religious inquiry has of late been rapidly growing among the Burmese. Dr. Judson writes, February 5th, 1831:

"The most prominent feature in the mission, at present, is the surprising spirit of inquiry which is spreading every where through the whole length and breadth of the land. I sometimes feel alarmed; like a person who sees a mighty engine beginning to move, over which he knows he has no control." A month after, he says:

"The great annual festival is just past, during which multitudes come from the remotest parts of the country to worship at the great Shway Dagong pagoda in this place, where it is believed that several real hairs of Gaudama are enshrined. During this festival, I have given away nearly ten thousand tracts, giving to none but those who asked. I presume there have been six thousand applicants at the house. Some came two or three months' journey, from the borders of Siam and China. 'Sir, we hear that there is an eternal hell.

We

are afraid of it. Give us a writing which will tell us how to escape it.' Others came from the frontier of Cassay, a hundred miles north of Ava. 'Sir, we have seen a writing which tells us about an eternal God. Are you the man that gives away such writings? If so, pray give us one, for we want to know the truth before we die.' Others came from the interior of the country, where the name of Jesus Christ is a little known. Are you Jesus Christ's man? Give us a writing that tells us about Jesus Christ.'

"Brother Bennett works day and night at the

press, but he is unable to supply us; for the call is great at Maulmein and Tavoy, as well as here at Rangoon."

On this it has been well remarked in an American journal: "The queen of Sheba came from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon. The wise men of the east came to see the Saviour in Bethlehem, having beheld his star in their native country. The Greeks wished to see Jesus, having heard his fame. Report brought together a vast number to hear the gospel on the day of Pentecost. Multitudes in christian lands are drawn within the sound and saving influence of the gospel, by curiosity.

"Now the religion of Christ brings strange things to the ears of heathen people,-heaven, hell, a holy law, an infinite, eternal, holy God, a dying Saviour. Let these, and other kindred facts contained in the Scriptures, be noised abroad by verbal report, or by means of the press, and let the Holy Spirit employ them to arrest attention and to awaken curiosity, as he does in Burmah, and it will not take long for a change of religion to be effected in a nation."

A correspondent at Rangoon writes, January 12th, 1832, "During five months I have found opportunity to distribute, either personally, or by a native assistant, about ten thousand tracts and portions of Scripture; and four persons, during that period, have been added to our little church. The whole number added to all our churches in Burmah, during the year 1832, was one hundred and ninety-two; of whom nearly ninety were more or less connected with the English army; the rest were native Burmans, Talings, and Karens. This

latter people live scattered on the mountains and in the jungle, somewhat like the aborigines of America, without any fixed religion, and present a field of great extent and interest.

The Burman mission is at present in a favourable state. The first baptism occurred in 1819, when three natives were admitted to the church. Since that time, between 400 and 500 have chosen the service of God, and joined the churches at Rangoon, Tavoy, Maulmein, and Mergin. Printers and presses have been sent out: large numbers of tracts have been circulated through the whole empire. The New Testament is translated and printed, and an epitome of the Old. The advantages of christian schools have been enjoyed by many children. Villages have been visited, and many of their inhabitants have believed in Jesus. The Karens and the Toung-thoos have heard the word of life, and multitudes of the former have become the disciples of Christ.

Very important aid is derived to the mission from the native converts. Some, having received ordination, are successfully employed in preaching the gospel others are useful in the schools, in distributing tracts, and in variously communicating religious instruction to their countrymen. Their growth in grace, their fidelity and stability, and their diligence in the acquisition of spiritual knowledge, are peculiarly gratifying.

Of Ava itself, Mr. Kincaid says: "Among our inquirers, are some who listen to the news of salvation with joyful hearts. Very many have their eyes half open, and inquirers appear to be gaining on every hand. We occupy a zayat, about a mile and a half from Ava, on the great

street that leads to Ummerapoora: at this station several hundred persons hear the gospel daily. We occupy another zayat on the south side of the city, and the verandah of our house is another preaching-place. Tho Shoon and Tho Sanbone, are my assistants in preaching: they are good faithful men. I preach every evening in the house. From what we see and hear, we feel encouraged to go on; we feel that the still small voice is abroad."

This is evident, too, from the desire for books and tracts which still continues. On the arrival of one of the presses up the Irrawaddy to Ava, tracts were distributed till the supply was exhausted. Some persons were afraid to receive them; but others waded through the water, and not a few swam off from the shore, or pushed off in boats, to get possession of "books which told about the new religion." An able buddhist priest, familiar with all their sacred books, was struck with deep consideration while reading some of these publications.

There is, therefore, abundant reason to cherish the most confident expectations, that multitudes will yet arise to be eminently successful in diffusing the knowledge of the gospel in this country, until the knee of the golden-footed monarch of Ava shall bend before the glory of the cross, and the nations of eastern Asia shall be added to those who now call the Redeemer blessed.

CHAPTER VIII.

Ceylon.-Budhism.- Efforts of the London and Baptist Missionary Societies.-Rev. Dr. Coke.-His Death.Arrival of Wesleyan Missionaries.-Early Labours.Moodeliar of Galle.-Conversion of a Budhist Priest.— Cruelties of the King of Kandy.—Triumph of the British Troops.-Another Convert from Budhism.-Native Schools.

-Conversion of two Priests.-Effects of Christian Instruction on the Young.-The Gospel introduced to the Kandyan Territories.-Idolatrous Processions.-Pleasing Contrast. -Chapel opened at Kornegalle.-Death of a Native Teacher.-Villages visited.-Heathen Festival.-Death of Don Luis Perera.-Board of Translators.-Versions of the New Testament.-Recent State of the Wesleyan Mission, BUDHISM varies considerably, both in doctrine and practice, in the different nations where it is professed; yet, from the most correct accounts we have from the nations on the north of Asia, as well as those beyond the Ganges on the east, it is pretty evident that, in the general outline, it is the same system everywhere: and the reflection is a inost fearful one-that this system commands an influence over the minds of as large a portion of the human race as that of christianity, including even the Greek and Roman churches! In Ceylon the system has taken deep and extensive root in the minds and hearts of the natives, and is the religion of the interior, or kingdom of Kandy, of all the maritime province from Chilaw, on the north-west coast, to nearly Batticaloa, on the east. In the rest of the provinces, chiefly those of the north, the brahminical religion prevails; besides which,

R