around to pay their devotions to the gilded shrines. In that tank, under the shadow of that pagoda, and in sight of their former companions, who now gazed with mingled astonishment and malice, the two young disciples solemnly renounced their vain idols, and put on the Lord Jesus Christ by a public profession of his name. O, it was a joyful, memorable occasion. Some of the heavenly host, I doubt not, gazed on the sight with approbation; and He who promised to be in the midst of two or three, assembled in his name, was, I trust, in the midst of us.

"August 7. Had the unspeakable pleasure of hearing from America by letters and magazines. Bless the Lord, O my soul, for the news of the prosperity of the Redeemer's kingdom in our beloved native land.

"Moung Bo came and told how happy he was, although persecuted in every quarter. Many listening hearers at the zayat. There seems to be a shaking among these dry bones.

"August 8. This morning received the joyful intelligence of the effusion of the Holy Spirit at Maulmein. In the afternoon had a very solemn congregation at the zayat. Yesterday and to-day are among the most pleasant of my life; and certainly, the most encouraging, as respects usefulness among the heathen. O that the shower of grace which has begun to fall at Maulmein, may soon reach Tavoy. I seem to see the day dawning. Rise, thou Sun of Righteousness, with healing in thy wings.

"August 10. Lord's-day. After worship with the native Christians in the morning, went to the zayat, where we had an attentive congregation. Two persons in particular, profess to be convinced that the Gospel is true, and begged for Christian books. After tea had Burman worship as usual. Two Karens from the jungle were present. It is proposed to commence to-morrow, at sunrise, a daily devotional exercise, at which the Burman Christians and the school boys are to meet me at the house. May the Lord vouchsafe to us his gracious presence.

"August 12. Two persons who had before visited the zayat, and received portions of the sacred Scriptures, came again to day, and afforded encouraging signs of an inquiring, if I may not say, of a believing mind.

"To-day, one of the native Christians, finding a book

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which he had written with much care, torn to pieces, his mind,' to use his own expression, rose' to an unwarrantable pitch. Being engaged at the time, I knew nothing of the affair, till he had left the house. Soon as I was discharged, the poor penitent came and related the whole story to me. He was so ashamed of his anger that he could not look me in the face. This only made me love him the more. He is generally of a most humble and quiet spirit. I doubt not God has forgiven him; but he cannot forgive himself. Several hours after, he said to me, 'My mind is still hot, on account of my sin.' On my telling him God would show mercy to those who confess and forsake their sins, he seemed relieved."

The following is a description of the manner in which Mr. Boardman usually observed the Sabbath.

"Aug. 17th. Lord's-day evening. The past may, perhaps, be considered a fair specimen of the manner of our spending the Sabbath. At 6 o'clock we have Burman worship with the Christians and the school. After this, till breakfast, at 8, we spend the time in retirement and English reading. The scholars, meanwhile, are taught the catechism by a Burman Christian. After family worship and breakfast, Mrs. B. and myself, with the Chinese Christian, have worship, and a printed sermon is read. At the same time, the Burman Christians hold a prayer-meeting with the school, in an adjoining room. After this, public worship in Burman, and catechising the boys. At 2 o'clock, P. M. I go to the zayat, and remain there till dark. After tea, Burman family worship, when one of the native Christians prays. From 8 till 10 o'clock, read the Scriptures, perform evening devotions, &c. &c. Mrs. Boardman is engaged in the afternoon and evening in family cares, and in giving religious instruction to the scholars and domestics. Today, while I was catechising the boys in the hall, the Burmans were holding a religious meeting in the west verandah, and the Chinese Christian explaining the Gospel to a company of his countrymen in the east verandah of our house. One of the Chinese has become so far enlightened as to refuse to worship images, by which he has lost his Bituation. But he says, 'God will take care of me.'

Aug. 20th and 21st. Many Chinese came to converse with Ke Keang on religion. Moung Shway-Ken, the young man mentioned on the 11th July, called at the house. He has experienced opposition for listening to me, and has sought relief by laboring out of town for a month. During all this time he has been thinking of the Gospel, and is almost persuaded to be a Christian.

"Aug. 22d. Moung Shway-Bwen relates the circumstance of a very respectable Burman calling at the zayat and professing a conviction of the truth of the Gospel. He first heard the truth from Moung Bo, ten days ago, and has since been constantly employed in considering it. He professes to be a decided believer.

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Aug. 24th. One of my hearers at worship to-day, was Moung Shway-Kyah, a respectable and intelligent young man, mentioned in the journal for July 7th, as accompanying Moung Bo, and thinking like him. He now professes a firm attachment to the Gospel, and we have reason to hope he is sincere.

"Six Chinese came to-day to converse with Ke Keang. It appears that ten or twelve persons are in the habit of visiting him almost daily, at his lodgings, to converse respecting the Gospel. These circumstances, together with a letter I have recently perused, from a friend in Singapore, encourage me to hope, that the Holy Spirit is about to be poured out on the dispersed' of this interesting people.

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Aug. 26th. About a month since, an interesting young Karen was found by Ko-thah-byoo, in the niche.of a pagoda, where he had been fasting for two days. Knowing only the religion of Gaudama, which he had heard from the Burmans, he had embraced it so far as to practise this austerity, in hope of obtaining a great reward in a future state. Our Karen Christian explained to him the folly of fasting as practised by the Burmans, and invited the young man to our house, where he paid a very serious attention to religious instruction. After learning the way of the Lord more perfectly, he took a Christian book and returned to his native forest. Our prayers accompanied him. We all remarked something peculiarly amiable and interesting in his appearance. I have often wished to have him live with me, in hopes he might become truly pious and a her

ald of the Gospel. Yesterday he returned to us, with three of his relations, to receive further instructions. After conversing with me for some time, and attending Burman worship with us, he went to Ko-thah-byoo's apartment, where I heard them talking of the Gospel till near midnight; and at break of day, this morning, the conversation was renewed. This afternoon he expressed a desire to live with me, that he might learn more fully the great doctrines of Revelation. On my inquiring how long he would be willing to stay for this purpose, he replied, Ten or twelve years, till I can learn fully about God and Christ. Many of the Karens will also come.' He says he wishes no longer to worship heaps of brick-pagodas-but to know and serve the everlasting and true God.

"Attended the funeral of a Chinese, who had become a Boodhist, and had expended 15,000 rupees in erecting and gilding pagodas in this place. When will Christians do as liberally for the true God?

"Aug. 27th. After evening worship in Burman, the Karen Christian having related the adventures of the day, said to me, 'There is one subject on which I wish to wait your decision: I wish you would write to America for more teachers to be sent out.' The same subject had rested with much weight on my own mind nearly all the day. We are in very great need of at least two additional missionaries in the province of Tavoy.

Aug. 30th to 31st. We are not left wholly without encouragement. Our school is in a more flourishing state than at any former period; and one of the boys seems somewhat impressed with divine things. Many Karens have heard the Gospel, and profess to believe it; and we hope that during the last two months, since the zayat was opened, one or two persons have been savingly converted. Several others appear to be inquiring, and the Gospel has been heard, and the Scriptures read, by several hundred persons. God's word will not return to him void. In the divine promises alone, our hopes are fixed and firm. Whatever of good may have been, or may hereafter be done, should be wholly ascribed to the agency of the Holy Spirit. To that blessed Agent's care I commit the interests of truth in this place, and again adopt the language of the praying prophet, O Lord, revive thy work; in the midst of the vears make known; in wrath remember mercy.'

CHAPTER XIV.

Plan of enlarged operations in the department of native schoolsThe deified book of the Karens.

IMPRESSED with the rational belief that a knowledge of the useful sciences was an important means of raising the intellectual character of the heathen from its depressed and bewildered state, a prominent object with Mr. Boardman, both at Maulmein and Tavoy, was the establishment of native schools. As these schools would be under his immediate direction, they would also afford him a convenient opportunity for imparting religious instruction, without which, a knowledge of the sciences would be of compara tively little avail. But his own pecuniary resources did not at this time admit of any extended plan of operations in this department of his labors. Under these circumstances, it must have been peculiarly cheering to his heart to become acquainted with the gentleman named in the following letter, who so readily seconded his object, and so liberally contributed to its support.

It will be seen by the subjoined communications, that Mr. Boardman had devised liberal things for Burmah. Had he lived to carry his noble plans into execution, very important benefits would undoubtedly have followed.

"Dear Sir,

Letter to Dr. Bolles.

Tavoy, Sept. 8, 1828.

"A few days since I had an interview with A. D. Maingay, Esq. civil commissioner for these provinces, when, after expressing a deep interest in native schools, he generously authorized me to draw on him monthly, for fifty Madras rupees, to establish and support a boys' day school, for the English and Burman languages, and the more familiar and useful sciences. Such a school has since been opened, and nineteen scholars are now successfully pursu ing their studies. One of these scholars is Moung Shway