Page:The Chinese Repository - Volume 01.djvu/39

 near the mouth of the Meinam, and began to revenge themselves upon their tyrants: but falling short of provisions, they were forced to put to sea. Followed by a small Siamese squadron they were compelled to flee; till contrary winds, and utter want of the necessaries of life, obliged them to surrender. The ringleader escaped to Cochinchina, but most of his followers were either massacred, or sent to prison for life. From that time all hope of recovering the nation from abject bondage disappeared; though there are a great many individuals, who trust that the English (according to their own expression,) will extend their benevolent government as far as Siam. Every arrival of a ship enlivens their expectation,—every departure damps their joy. (to be continued.)

RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE.

In this country a wide field is opened for benevolent enterprise. The Word,—which reveals life and immortality,—has been extensively circulated, and it has prospered, accomplishing the will of Him, who would have all men come to a knowledge of the truth and be saved. A correspondent at Rangoon, January 12th 1832, writes, "During five months I have found opportunity to distribute, either personally or by a native assistant, about 10,000 tracts and portions of Scripture; and four persons, during that period, have been added to our little church. The whole number added to all our churches here (in Burmah), during the year 1832, was 192; of whom nearly 90 were more or less connected with the English army; the rest were native Burmans, Talings, and Karens. This latter people live scattered on the mountains and in the jungle, somewhat like the aborigines of America, without any fixed religion, and present a field of great extent and interest.

"Our press has furnished, during the year, nearly a million of pages, most of them octavo; and the whole number of tracts disposed of, in the 12 months, is probably, about sixty or seventy thousand. There are many Chinese in Rangoon, and still more at Maulmein and Tavoy. But they are a sad, gambling, opium-smoking, opium-chewing set. Many of them, however, are excellent artisans, and are certainly, in point of civilization, superior to the Burmans."

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