Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1837-02-08
o. S. MURRAY, EDITOR AND PRorR1rroR.

sapan wood, denee, IA species of leaves
used in roofing houses,) mats, raaans, sea
slug, tortoise-sEell, and edible birds nests.
1t was founded within century by the
Burmans. The ancient Qualifications are
still seen, though -apidly vanishing by
the use of the bricks for other purposes.
1t is thus with the ramparts of all the
towns in British Burmah, it being useless
to retain extensive walls for handful of
men, which yet, if occupied by hosts of
natives, might help them in resistance.
The province of Mergui has a popula-
ton of 10000, Of which above 5000 are
in this town. OF these thirty-fve at this
time are English, Including some soldiers
This great scantiness of people in one of
the first regions of the earth is owing to
the intolerabIe government under which
they have lived. Though the oppression
was felt every where, and at all times, it
was about twenty years ago unusually
severe in this province under the viceroy-
ship of dang woon, who was engaged in
repelling the Siamese. The atrocities of
this monster were incredible, and drove
forty or fifty thousand inhabitants from the
province, besides the multitudes which he
destroyed. In speaking to the Burmans,
of hell, even at this day, no circumstance
is so appalling, as to assure them that
Dang woon will be there
The town seems to increase under the
regular administration of justice, and it is
now enjoyed through English authority.
Formerly men were deferred from gath
ering around them comforts superior to
their neighbors. or building better houses,
for fear Of exactness Now they are Sc
cure in their earnings, and the newly
built houses are much improved in size,
materials, and workmanship. There
are none of those traps and trammeIs
which embarrass courts in Eng land and
America. The presiding officer in each
province, Amherst, Tavoy, and Mergui,
sits as magistrate on certain days every
week, and before him every citizen, male
or female, may plead their cause and have
immediate redress, without the bubbles
of pettifoggers. Every where, in British
Burmah, the people are loud in their
vi JuoIlSC OuL lllCy &c
not yet reconciled to regular taxation
oppressive agents took from them FIVE
times the amount they pay now, yet it was
occasional--was obtained by distraint,
and consisted chiefly in labor, and they
were not under the necessity Of saving any
thing against certain day-a matter to
which they have been altogether unac-
customed.
Here, as at Maulmein and Tavoy, l
find numerous Cinnamon married to Bur
man wives They are at once the most
valuable of the community, for all me-
chanical and mercantile conveniences, and
the most pernicious for introducing and
vending, wherever they 60, arrack and
opium. Without them Europeans would
suffer many discomforts, end through them
the natives are greatly corrupted. Their
superiority in civilization and intelligence
to the various nations with whom they
are intermixed in this country, is very
striking.
Beside the usual quantity Of pagoda'
and knoungs, there are four mosques, fol
the use OF the Mussulmen part Of the
population, and popish chapel. Abou
four hundred OF the inhabitants profess tt
; be christians. They are all lineal descen
dants from the Portuguese. No converts
that my informants knew of, have joine'
the plumber from among the Burmese, ex
cept some who join in order to be married
to those who belonged before.
Mcrgui is enormously put down as on
of our occupied stations" Ko Man-poke
who has long been printed as settled there
: was merely there for six months w
have but one professed Christian In tn
place, and she a woman. Mr.. Mason ha
been thrice through the town, on his wa!
to the Karens up the Trenasserim, an
l the efforts he and his associates have made
5 have met encouraging results. In th'
r respect a very great change has bee
= wrought, we trust, by the good hand {
the Lord. 10 Ing was greatly persecut
t ed, and could get but few hearers. Fl
5 was reviled as he walked along tn
E street, and some would even throw stones
At his death, the people showed no dispe
sition to listen, and his wife, with the aboV
named woman, were the only Christian
: His death robbed the mission of one
!. its most valuable assistants, and the subst
/ quent marriage and removal Of his wit
d left the solitary widow to hold up talI
e light, in dark place Now, the case
J.. quite different. A large part of the pet
5 pie readily receive tracts and New Test
d ments, so much so, that when Ko Myet-
lately visited the place. taking one hui
|, dred and fifty Testaments and many tract
IS all were gone in two days, without his g
=, ing abroad to offer them. All were al
e piled for at bis lodgings, and received Wit
ut many expressions of thanks. Not onI
ID did he thus impart the blessed truths