Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1837-02-08

really under serious impressions, and
about twenty openly profess to have en-
braced the gospel These have not yet
been baptized, for want of opportunity SUI
iciently to examine and try them; but
they are said TO be steadfast, though much
relieved by their pagan acquaintance.-
They are like sheep without shepherd
and need immediate care. Moreover
they would probably form an encouraging
church at once, if a missionary could be
placed there. The husband of the disci-
pie above named, and an interesting
daughter, are DESTROYS of baptism.
Late circumstances have conspired with
the above fact, to make Mergui now a
favorable opening. A few years ago, the
two chief po1ghees came to an open rup-
ture, and all the people took sides with
one or the other. Great luminosity and
confusion prevailed for long time, each
party denouncing hell to the other. A
few months ago one of them retired to
Tavoy, and there died* His party have
ever since utterly refused 10 worship the
priests who remain, or make them any
offerings, and, in fact, have almost ceased
all their religious observances. These
are now particularly ready to hear our
preachers.
The fact, too, that Siamese Shyans live
here, most of whom, the men at least, speak
Burman, and that on the Tenasserim, and
its tributary streams, and on the coast be-
low Mergui they have villages, one con-
tanning 800 souls, urges us to make ear y
efforts here. If any of these Shyans
should receive Christ, land sure y we may
hope and believe they would,) they would
be invaluable in carrying the gospel to
their countrymen, who inhabt the hills
and mountains from the Tenasserim to
Bankok. Tracts, &c. in this language
can at once be had from Mr. Jones, and all
things seem to be ready The intercourse
between Burmah and Siam, so far as the
natives Of the two countries are concerned,
is perfectly unrestrained, though no white
man is allowed to pass the frontier.
Many Karens, too, are assembled con-
veniently by boat, from Mergui. up the
Tenasserim and its branch hes. NIatah
village stands on an extreme branch Of
this river, accessible by water only to
very small boats Tenasserim city, once
very large, but now containing popula-
ton of only about $50, is but forty miles
up the river from Mergui. 1t is resorted
to from different places, for gold dust, and
would be an important outpost for ma
tive assistant.
The islands on the Tenasse-im coast
are quite populous and, as yet, have never
been visited by Christian teachers
There are three large islands in one clus.
ter, inhabited by Se-longs, without writ,
ten language, and in very degraded state
These would claim some of the time Of
native assistants from Mergui, and occa
sional visits from the missionary.
All these facts conspire to urge US tc
place a missionary here as soon as posi-
Bile. In order to this, the man must be
sent out, as no missionary on the GROUND
can be spared from his present post. The
place is as salubrious, perhaps, as an5
part ofthe earth; and the presence of the
British officers secures nearly all the
conveniences ofhouse keeping with entire
regularity. The cost of living is les.
than at MauImein.
ITO be Continued