Page:History of the Indian Archipelago Vol 2.djvu/326

 282 STATE OF CHRISTIANITY In Japan, the intrigues of the Christian mission- aries, and those who employed them, caused the massacre of many thousand Christians, in a perse- cution more awful and extensive than any of which the annals of Christendom itself afford an example. The perpetual proscription of their religion, and the loss of that vast portion of the population of the globe, to the intercourse, and almost to the know- ledge of the rest of mankind followed. * The Chi- nese,! as the influence of the Christians was smal- ler among them, and, therefore, excited less alarm, endured them longer, but they, too, finally ex- pelled them, because they saw no end to their rest- less and unprincipled ambition. In Tonquin,t Cochin China, 1 1 and Camboja, they were persecut- ed, executed, or expelled, and a similar treatment was pursued towards them in Siam.§ With the exception of the obstacles which the impolicy of Europeans themselves has created a- gainst the propagation of their religion, there exist no others. The habits and character of the people of this portion of Asia are not, in any respect, in- imical to the adoption of a new form of worship. They are rather, indeed, in that stage of society i Duhalde's China, Vol, II. % Choix Lettrt's Edifiantes, Tom. II. p. 32, et sequent. II Choix Lettres Edifiantes. Tom. II. p. 72, &c. ^ Kempfer*s Japan, Vol, I. B. ii.
 * Kempfer, Vol. II. Book iv.