TAVOY (KAREN) MISSION. TAVOY.-Rev. Messrs. C. BENNETT, E. B. CROSS, J. BENJAMIN, and their wives. Rev. F. and Mrs. MASON, temporarily at Maulmain. Ten out-stations; fourteen native preachers and assistants. Four out-stations; five native assistants. 2 stations and 14 out-stations; 5 missionaries, one a printer, and 5 female assistants; 19 native assistants. Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin arrived at Tavoy in April of last year. Mrs. Brayton, on the recovery of her health, sailed for Burmah in Oct. Mr. and Mrs. Wade return to Burmah the current year; but are expected, in accordance with their expressed wishes, to labor, as before stated, in connection with the Burman Mission at Maulmain. The labors of the Tavoy station and out-stations have devolved on Messrs. Bennett and Cross, and those at Mergui and its dependencies on Mr. Brayton. The northern and eastern churches were visited by Mr. Bennett, the southern Tavoy churches by Mr. Cross, and the residue in Mergui province by Mr. Brayton. A tour of exploration was also made by Mr. Brayton along the borders of Siam. The churches in the northern section were found in an unsettled and somewhat dilapidated state, in consequence of the wide dispersion of the people through fear of the small pox. The six churches in the neighborhood of Pyeekhya were in a more prosperous condition, maintaining among themselves a proper discipline, and manifesting a good degree of interest for the conversion of the heathen around them. Those of the extreme south, visited by Mr. Cross, were in a less orderly condition. Several of the churches have erected new chapels or repaired the old. The Ulah church, (Pwo Karen,) during Mr. Brayton's absence in this country, "had experienced some signal favors and passed through sore trials." "Five had been excluded, and two others restored. The church at Palaro river is of recent formation, and consists of Pwo Karens. Schools. The school for native assistants has numbered the past year nineteen pupils, whose progress in study has given increased gratification. The English and Burmese school has enrolled nearly fifty pupils, with an average attendance of forty. A Karen school, of about twenty girls and ten boys, has been taught by Mrs. Bennett. Mr. Brayton conducted a boarding school at Mergui during the rains, of forty pupils." Schools were taught also at the out-stations by native assistants. The whole number of schools including four boarding schools was twenty, and of pupils 377. * The first and great object of the school, as is usual, was "to convey Bible truth to the understanding and the heart." The text books were Matthew, John, Luke and Acts, all of the Scriptures that had been printed in the Pwo dialect, on which three hours were spent daily. Religious meetings were also held every evening in the week. Such instruction was given in scientific studies as the circumstances of the school permitted; and the proficiency of the pupils, especially in arithmetic, was satisfactory. Publications. The principal publications of the Tavoy press, the past year, were the Book of Genesis, in Sgau Karen, 1,000 copies; the Psalms in the same dialect, and the Karen and English vocabulary. The whole amount of printing reported, was 2,096,960 pages, and of issues 849,676. Contributions.-The amount of donations and subscriptions to the Tavoy Missionary Society the past year, was rs. 669.12.3., of which rs. 204 were from native sources. The contributions made in connection with Mergui station are not reported. Churches.-The following table gives a statement of the churches and schools in connection with Tavoy station: Mr. Brayton gives the following statistics of the Mergui stations, exclusive of Themboung and Kabin named in the preceding table: Siamese Karens and Salongs.-Early in 1849, Mr. Brayton ascended the Tenasserim, crossed the mountains, and penetrated to the Longwo or Meinam river, in Siam, striking it at Paunchate, a Taling settlement, twenty days' journey above Bangkok. His intention was to proceed to Prat-thoo-wan, a Pwo Karen city, about eight or ten days' travel above Paunchate, and the central point of the Siamese Karens. In this he was disappointed in consequence of the sickness of some of his attendants. He sent, however, an experienced Karen preacher, who travelled among them about a month and was cordially received. Mr. Brayton reports a large Pwo Karen field there, now wholly uncultivated; * Ordained preacher. + Other native contributions to the Tavoy Missionary Society increased the above sum to rs. 204. which he is exceedingly anxious to enter. The point most favorable for entrance, he thinks, may be Maulmain, Amherst or Yeh. Some of the Siamese Karens have also been seen at Bootah by Mr. Harris, who had come, some six, some ten days' journey to "spy out the land," with a view to emigrating to Tenasserim, if they were pleased with it. Mr. Harris hopes soon to make a tour among these Karens, bordering on the mountains and Siam. Of the Salongs little information has been received in addition to former communications. Mr. Brayton renews the epxression of his belief that "there is great encouragement in behalf of that people." Our first introduction to them was through Mr. Wade, who (in 1844) represented them as a "people dwelling on the islands between Mergui and Pinang, far below the Karens in knowledge and civilization, despised, abused, and robbed by Chinese, Malays, and all the surrounding tribes; their only means of livelihood, fishing and fabricating a species of mats." Their number has been estimated at 10,000. Their language has been reduced to writing by Mr. Stevens, who employed the Pwo Karen characters; and a primer, with some grammatical notices, has been prepared, which may be found of use to any who may study the language. Mr. Brayton has repeatedly visited them; some have been taught in the Mergui schools. Some have listened to the gospel of Christ; and a church has been constituted of believers, numbering twenty-nine at the last report. The Committee have appointed Mr. Benjamin C. Thomas, of the senior class in the Newton Theological Institution, as a missionary with special reference to the Karens of Mergui and the Salongs. ARRACAN MISSION. AKYAB.-Rev. C. C. MOORE. Rev. L. INGALLS on his way to the United States. RAMREE.-Moung Pyoo, native preacher, and other native assistants. On their way to the station, Rev. Messrs. H. E. KNAPP and H. M. CAMPBELL, and their wives. Two stations, 1 out-station; 4 missionaries and 2 female assistants; 6 native assistants. Mr. and Mrs. Moore arrived at Akyab last year, March 5. The latter was early removed from her work by death, Nov. 5. Mr. Ingalls, after exposure to the toils of the missionary field for fourteen years, is about to return temporarily to the United States. Mr. Knapp, specially designated to labor among the Kemees, has probably before the present time reached his destination. Mr. Campbell, who left Boston in the same vessel, Oct. 18, is under appointment to the Burmese in Ramree district. Moung Pyoo was ordained on the first Sabbath in January, in reference to the pressing wants of that region, and set out on the 16th, for his field of labor. Baptisms. On the Sabbath following the arrival of Mr. Moore, four young men, previously examined by Mr. Ingalls, were baptized at his request by Mr. M. They are regarded as men of promise, and are 1 now in school. On the 22d of the same month an interesting convert was examined at the same station from Kondeing, a village five days' journey from Akyab. He is a learned man, sixty-one years of age, and formerly occupied an honorable place among the distinguished men of his nation. He first heard the gospel six years ago from Mr. Comstock, who visited his village three or four times and gave him a New Testament. He immediately received the word and commenced proclaiming its glad tidings. This man has persuaded twenty families of the village to embrace the new religion with him; and several of the inhabitants came with him to receive further instruction and to be baptized. Another promising convert is Tha O, a young man from Ramree, a preacher by profession. There is a class of men in Arracan, to which he belongs, who gain a livelihood by preaching at funerals. When a native dies the neighbors assemble for several nights in succession at the house of the deceased, and one of these "preachers" entertains the company till a late hour by reciting in a plaintive strain passages from the sacred books. This young man had acquired great celebrity by this employment. He was baptized in October last in the "new chapel " at Akyab, and a large and solemn assembly witnessed the rite. The most cheering prospects are opening before the misssion in Arracan. Mr. Ingalls remarks: "I have never seen so many indications of good in Burmah since I entered the empire as now. We are daily at the work of demolishing the false system that now enslaves these multitudes. Some of the most talented Burmans, though not publicly Christians, join us and deal heavy blows. There is a wide-spread impression that Boodhism is a system of lies and deception, and that the religion of Christ will soon prevail. Many have forsaken idolatry who have not yet embraced Christianity. Since the last report twenty-two have been baptized, and five have died." The Akyab chapel above alluded to, 45 by 30 feet, built of the best material and roofed with tin, has been completed the past year. It contains a baptistery of brick. The cost was about rs. 1,200. At Ramree many are inquiring the way of salvation. A year since, the native teacher reported that more than sixty people came to his house habitually for prayer. A Keyzon was sent thither at a later period, and wrote in September that he was preaching to assemblies numbering from 300 to 400 daily. Kemee Department.-Tidings from the Kemees continues to be favorable. A class of Kemee pupils has been instructed at Akyab; and they have now a teacher and a school among themselves. The whole influence of the Kemee chief is on the side of Christianity. The Burman head-man associated with him is equally desirous that his district be occupied by missionary laborers, and promises to build a zayat. Head-men from several other districts are equally urgent. Contributions.-Of the sum expended in constructing the Akyab chapel, the church contributed about rs. 115, 4 an.; East Indians, 70; Mussulmans, 50; Chinamen, 10; Burmese, 353, 8; English residents, 330. The liberality of the native Christians in this work was very striking. Even aged widows, who had no means of support, were anxious to give a little. |