Page:The Chinese Repository - Volume 01.djvu/34

 help, and I took occasion to converse with him on religious subjects. He greatly approved of Christian principles, but did not apply to the fountain of all virtue, Jesus Christ. In consequence of an ulcer in his lest side, he again called in my aid; yet his proud son despised the assistance of a barbarian; neither would the royal physicans accept of my advice; and the man soon died. Even a disaster of this description, served to recommend me to his Majesty, the present King, who is naturally fond of Europeans; and he entreated me not to leave the kingdom on any account; but rather to become an officer, in the capacity of a physican.—Paya-meh-tap, the commander in chief of the Siamese army in the war against the Laos or Chans, returning from his victorious exploits, was honored with royal favour, and loaded with the spoils of an oppressed nation, near the brink of destruction. A severe disease prompted him to call me near his person. He promised gold, which he never intended to pay, as a reward for my services. And when restored, he condescended so far as to make me sit down by his side, and converse with him upon various important subjects.—Paya-rak, a man hated by all the Siamese nobility, on account of his mean, intriguing spirit, and sent as a spy to the frontiers of Cochinchina, urged me to explain to him the nature of the gospel; and as he found my discourse reasonable, he gave me a present of dried fish for the trouble I had taken.—The mother of prince Kroma-zorin, one of the wives of the late king, contrasted Evangelical truth with Budhistical nonsense, when she made me meet one of her most favorite priests, of whom she is a decided patron. Though she had built a temple for the accommodation of the priests of Budha, that mass might be constantly performed in behalf of her son, who lately died, she thought it necessary to hear, with all her retinue, the new doctrine, of which so much had been said at court of late.—The sister of Paya-meh-tap invited me, on purpose to hear me explain the doctrine