Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1837-02-15
M IssIoN RY.

From the Bsp. Missionary Magazine, Feb. 1887
Deputstiop to Eastern Missions.
JOURNAL or Mr.. MALcoM.--coNT1NUED
Return to- Maslmein--Missionary Con-
=. .. = - ference. - .... .. -.
Learning that Mr.. Mason was at a: vii
lage not far distant, on the coast, intending
to remain a. few days. and then come t
Mergui for passage home, I Immediate Y
sent an express, and had the pleasure II
due time Of welcoming him on bo1rd he
cutter, with his ten or twelve coolies, who
had been carrying his tracts and baggage
insthe jungle. His report Of his journey
ofpine weeks will be deeply.iuteresting to
the friends of missions, and etninently -ex
emplify the usefulness of native assistants
The present period Of the year on this
coast, is the latter part Of the dry and hot
season, and Is ma rked by occasional heavy
squalls and showers After these, there
is about six weeks of clear weather, in
creasin gly hct. after which, the monsoon
changes 10 the southwest, with violent
storms, and the rains set in for the next
six months, 10 this return voyage to
MauImein. we have experienced three Of
these storms, accompanied by much thuh-
der, each severely testing the power Of
our anchor aad vessel. The4rocky coast
furnishes no harbor except Mergui, Tavoy,
aud Amherst and the high Inountains
which skirt the shore, seem to draw to-
gether the utmost fury fthe elements. =
One of these storms experienced off
Tavoy point, viii be memorable to all
on board. Asrnight drew on, the thun-
der which bad been growing on the
mountains, grew more. violent. 1t was
evident we should have hard blow, and
the tide turning against Us, we were oblig.
ed to anchor in an exposed situatlon.-
After dark, the wind and lightning in
creased. and W. got topnast; gaf, &c. up
on the deck, and, paying out much cable,
waited the issue. uneasy. AT length, it
blew a hurricane, and the lightning kept
up glare bright as midday. 1t was but
at intervals that il was dark, even for o
moment. The light fickered constantly
like a torehing wind. We were IN the
yery midst OF the electric cloud, andsthe
sharp cracking thunder was deafening.
The little cutter pitched heavily at her
anchor. and the loud roaring Of the lee
surftold what we shord experience, if she
parted her chain We, howeyer, left all
in the hands Of God, and were sitting in
silence below, when a universal shout oil
terror brought Us on deck-a ball OF fire
rested on the mast head The consterna
ton was universal. The captain and
every one ofthe crew vociferating prayers
one 10 the. Virgin Mary. another TO Ma
homet. Sc, each in different language
They seemed frantic, and their voices ros,
on the tempest like the swelling wall Q
dying men. One declared it was th'
devil and proposed to drive him away b!
burning q certain mixture to make a hor
rible snaeih They seemed comfofted
howevers 10 see US confident, and fulll
aware Of its cause. The Christian Ka
rens were tranquil, but awe-struck, an,
lay on their knees with their faces to en-
deck. uttering prayer each for himself, il
low but audible voice. II was, indeed
an hour OF great danger; but the goo
hand Of the. Lord was upon Us, and on
frail bark rode out the storm, which aba
ted 10 is violence Before morning =.
Aside fromthe danger OF navigating TIL
side Of the bayof Bengal, texceEt fror
September 10. March, when the weathe
10 exceedingly, 6ne. the Inconvenience
are not small. at times, arising fromth
bad construction aud worse managemeI
Of the vessels employed, and the annoyin
insects. &c. with which they abound
M little cutter Is superior ia ell those +,
sheets 10 the Burnan vesseIs. which Re,
nee, generally 10 sail in from place
pIsee. can stand up in the cabin, viii
in those one can only sit and that on Il
fioor. Ihaye a little quarter deck bic
\ they know nothing Of And, in case
4 danger, we have an iron anchor, VIII
theirs u but piece OF wood. shaped Isl
a 6sh.hook. On the score OF insects. e
am informed chat my condition Is
better n the latter point however,.
can by no means boast Hupdreds OF an
treat and small black and red. move
endless files every where Cockroach
hy;nk and creeping, spotted, striped, a
plain, walking over me, and about me-
night bbt through mercy they do Z
bite. and are. withal. quite shy VIII
there Is 4 hight burning, and 50 do not
istrup, me Wbcn engaged. now q
thcn kilIa forward fellow. but it's ia "
70 think Of absting the nuisance. for til
''name 8, legion. ~, I have, nice SUI
enc aid IN 4 corner for the ma. A r.