Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1837-08-23
LETTERS TO THE PRESIDENT.

of the Bible Convention:
LETTERS TO THE PRESIDENT.
AVA, May II, 1886.
My Dear Brother-Yours, in behalf oil
the Bible Society. dated Sept %, 1885,
came TO hahd few DAYS since, and |
have read il, together with the circular
and the printed letters, with the greatest
interest. Most happily shall I do any
thing in my power TO all the Bible So
clety in the sublime and hol y work Of
circulating the word Of God.
We will, in the first place, survey the
field Ava, Umerapoora, and Sagoing,
three cities hardly separated from each
other. contain at least half a million Of
people; then for 200 miles in every d.
rection are large towns and viIlagrs.--
West Of Ava, about 200 miles, is the
small kingdom Of Kathny; east Of Ava,
about 200 milss, you enter the country Of
the Shyans, nine principaIities Of which
are tributary TO the court Of Ava, besides
several independent princes, and ali speak
ing one language Shvan is an extensive,
country, and is supposed to be more pop
ulous than Burmah. About 200 or $50
miles north Of Ava you enter the frontiers
ofChina. Take Burmah, Kathay, Shyan,
and a few provinces Of China bordering
upon Burmah, and we have population
Of one hundred and fifty millions Of
which this city is the centre, Here is
field which loudly calls for Christian ef-
fort In the immediate neighborhood Of
this -ity are several thousands Of Kathay-
ans, but no part Of the Scriptures has yet
been translated into their language.-
Some of the more learned understand
Benralee. and have received from Rev.
Wm. Pearce, of Calcutta, so Testaments,
25 Of which were bound, and 25 were
done up in parcels; also several bundled
tracts in the Bengalee language. These
were distributed at once, and have rca-
son to think are sill read with interest.
Great numbers Of Shyans visit this city
for purposes Of trade. Occasionally l
find persons who can read Burman, and
these supply with books l hope before
long some portions Of The word Of God
will be translated in:o the Shyan Ian
guage
In Umerapoora are several thonsant
Chinese, besides large caravans come IN
from Yunnam every season; frequently
two journeys are made IN ono cold season.
Hitherto have had no means Of doing
any thing for this people, as not one IN
500 is able 10 read Burman. | have spent
some days among them at different times
conveTsing with those who have some
knowledge OF Burman, and have always
found them ready to listen. have nc
doubt but they would take the Scriptures
i'll h1d them to give, and that thousands
Of copies Nigh, be sent into the provinces
bordering upon Burmah and Thibet.
As far as / SIN able to Judge, NIL Bur
nah, Kalbay, Shyan, and China. are
re,dy 10 receive the Word Of God, and
read il, If we can only find men and
means TO take ho,d Of the work. Diff
cuNes are great when looked at from q
disance, but when we encounter them
they vanish. have distributed grea
number Of Luke and John, the EpiSiIcs
Acts, and some copies Of Matthew and
Mark; also the Psalms and Old Tesla
mcnt Extracts to a large amount, ant
some entire copies Of the New Testament
Two years ago gave a New Testament
10 Prince Mekara, and some months afte'
he sent to me for books Tor his two son'
and seven daughters. Two other princes
have asked Cor books, and l have no doub
but they are read. Bramins an! Mussel
men, as well rs Burinans, call for books
have just returned from a tour thro
ahe country, preaching and distributin.
tracts and portions Of the word OF God
Twas absent three months AMI three days
visited great number Of cities and villa
Qes, and though sometimes repulsed, "
sn many places found much TO encou
noe me IN the work. This IS barrc
lanI. vet God has promised to water
and viii, through the iustrumentality
his own blessed WORD. We need pres
here very much to give efficiency to o.
Operations, and the Board will don6.lel
Mace one here before long. Nothin
but she doctrines Of the Bible can enllgl
en- this nation, and deliver ts million
from the dominion ofslavery.
should be glad To- mention three
four facts which have come under y
notice in this my. as inducements to dll
gence in distributing the word Of God, b