Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1838-01-31
MISSIO N A R Y .
From the Bap. Missionary Magazine.

AsAM.-LETTERs OF MR.. BROWN.
In letter of March 6, Mr.. B. having
alluded to the appointment of Messrs.
Thomas and Bronson, and the expediency
of one of them devoting himself TO the
Khamtis, branch of the Shyans, COM
prising large portion of the population
of the northern and eastern parts of the
Burman empire, gives the following no.
tice of the
Singpho and AbOr Tribes.
There are two other tribes, in this vi
cinitv, which have perhaps nearly equal
claims upon US for immediate missionary
effort, viz the Singphos and Abors; and
we were just on the point of making an
application to the Board in their behalf
when we received the glad intelligence
that our brethren were alread y on their
| way.
Both these tribes we know to be very
numerous, though it is impossible to form
an accurate estimate of their numbers
The population of each, however, is ex-
tremeIy scattered, dwelling in small soil
tary villages, in the depths of the forests
and the Businesses of the mountains. To
penetrate the interior and distant portions
of their territories, and preach the gospel
to their whole population, is work which
would be attended with great, and at pres.
ent insurmountabIe difficulties, but to enter
upon their outskirts and commence the
work of evangelization amongst large
portion of these two great families, is &
work which, so far as we can now dis
cover, would be entirely practicable and
safe.
TIE Singphos are the great southern
tribe and divide with the Shyans nearly
the whole territory between here and Ava
Within these limits, it is generally agreed
by the natives, that the Singphos are
fully equal, if not superior, in point o
numbers, to the Shyans. Including, how
ever, all the branches ofthe Shyan family
r dwelling north, east, and south of Ava
that is doubtless far the most numerous
of all the Indo-Chnese races.
The Singphos are an entirely dfferen
race from the Shyans less cultivated, bu
more energetic, and in war more savage
Their language possesses little affinity t.
2 any of the neighboring dialects. The!
| have no regular and settled religious sys
TEN, like the Shyans, who borrowed thei
=, religion from their conquerors, the Bur
mans. But the Singphos exhibit few o
no traces of Buddhism, though they posses
T. some rude and general ideas of religion
: So far as their religion is concerned, w
: should not suppose it to present those Oh
D stacles to the introduction of Christianit!
which attend the preaching Of the gospe
- in countries where Hinduism or evel
Buddhism prevails They, as we'll as tn
e Abors, appear to be in very much tn
e same state as the karens, whose genera
It ideas of religion constitute state OF min
- far more favorable for the reception of tn
gospel. than is to be found in those coun
tries where deep-rooted systems of idola
> try are interviewer with the whole fahri
t and texture of society
7, The Singphos, at least large porto
y of them, are easy Of access from this plac,
,e Companies of them are constantly comm
in, for the purposes of trade, and many {
II the people here understand the Singph
- language The tea forests lie chief
- within the Singpho territory, which,
proportion as they are cultivated, wi
- become the means of increasing the faci
E. ties for communication with this peopI'
il Many Of the villages are included With
D the possessions ofthe English government
land of course the residence Of mission
ary among them would be entirely SAT-
Healthy locations might probably be foan
o. amongst them, otherwise missionaI
IS. Twill have to retreat 70 Sadiya during Il
,e.lrains. Ningru, fine village on II