FOX'S BOOK OF MARTYRS
CHAPTER XXII
The Beginnings of American Foreign Missions
Samuel J. Mills, when a student in Williams College,
gathered about him a group of fellow students, all feeling the
burden of the great heathen world. One day in 1806 four of them,
overtaken by a thunderstorm, took refuge in the shelter of a
haystack. They passed the time in prayer for the salvation of
the world, and resolved, if opportunity offered, to go themselves
as missionaries. This "haystack prayer meeting" has become
historic.
These young men went later to Andover Theological Seminary,
where Adoniram Judson joined them. Four of these sent a petition
to the Massachusetts Congregational Association at Bradford, June
29, 1810, offering themselves as missionaries and asking whether
they might expect support from a society in this country, or
whether they must apply to a British society. In response to
this appeal the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign
Missions was formed.
When a charter for the Board was applied for, an unbelieving
soul objected upon the floor of the legislature, alleging in
opposition to the petition that the country contained so limited
a supply of Christianity that none could be spared for export,
but was aptly reminded by another, who was blessed with a more
optimistic make, that this was a commodity such that the more of
it was sent abroad the more remained at home. There was much
perplexity concerning plans and finances, so Judson was
dispatched to England to confer with the London Society as to the
feasibility of the two organizations cooperating in sending and
sustaining the candidates, but this scheme came to nothing. At
last sufficient money was raised, and in February, 1812, the
first missionaries of the American Board sailed for the Orient.
Mr. Judson was accompanied by his wife, having married Ann
Hasseltine shortly before sailing.
On the long voyage out, in some way Mr. and Mrs. Judson and
Mr. Rice were led to revise their convictions with reference to
the proper mode of baptism, reached the conclusion that only
immersion was valid, and were reabptized by Carey soon after
their arrival in Calcutta. This step necessarily sundered their
connection with the body which had sent them forth, and left them
wholly destitute of support. Mr. Rice returned to America to
report this condition of affairs to the Baptist brethren. They
looked upon the situation as the result of an act of Providence,
and eagerly planned to accept the responsibility thrust upon
them. Accordingly the Baptist Missionary Union was formed. So
Mr. Judson was the occasion of the organization of two great
missionary societies.
The Persecution of Doctor Judson
After laboring for some time in Hindustan Dr. and Mrs.
Judson finally established themselves at Rangoon in the Burman
Empire, in 1813. In 1824 war broke out between the British East
India Company and the emperor of Burma. Dr. and Mrs. Judson and
Dr. Price, who were at Ava, the capital of the Burman Empire,
when the war commenced, were immediately arrested and confined
for several months. The account of the sufferings of the
missionaries was written by Mrs. Judson, and is given in her own
words.
"Rangoon, May 26, 1826.
"My beloved Brother,
"I commence this letter with the intention of giving you the
particulars of our captivity and sufferings at Ava. How long my
patience will allow my reviewing scenes of disgust and horror,
the conclusion of this letter will determine. I had kept a
journal of everything that had transpired from our arrival at
Ava, but destroyed it at the c ommencement of our difficulties.
"The first certain intelligence we received of the
declaration of war by the Burmese, was on our arrival at
Tsenpyoo-kywon, about a hundred miles this side of Ava, where
part of the troops, under the command of the celebrated Bandoola,
had encamped. As we proceeded on our journey, we met Bandoola
himself, with the remainder of his troops, gaily equipped, seated
on his golden barge, and surrounded by a fleet of gold war boats,
one of which was instantly despatched the other side of the river
to hail us, and make all necessary inquiries. We were allowed to
proceed quietly on, when he had informed the messenger that we
were Americans, not English, and were going to Ava in obedience
to the command of his Majesty.
"On our arrival at the capital, we found that Dr. Price was
out of favor at court, and that suspicion rested on most of the
foreigners then at Ava. Your brother visited at the palace two
or three times, but found the king's manner toward him very
different from what it formerly had been; and the queen, who had
hitherto expressed wishes for my speedy arrival, now made no
inquiries after me, nor intimated a wish to see me.
Consequently, I made no effort to visit at the palace, though
almost daily invited to visit some of the branches of the royal
family, who were living in their own houses, out of the palace
enclosure. Under these circumstances, we thought our most
prudent course lay in prosecuting our original intention of
building a house, and commencing missionary operations as
occasion offered, thus endeavoring to convince the government
that we had really nothing to do with the present war.
"In two or three weeks after our arrival, the king, queen,
all the members of the royal family, and most of the officers of
government, returned to Amarapora, in order to come and take
possession of the new palace in the customary style.
"I dare not attempt a description of that splendid day, when
majesty with all its attendant glory entered the gates of the
golden city, and amid the acclamations of millions, I may say,
took possession of the palace. The saupwars of the provinces
bordering on China, all the viceroys and high officers of the
kingdom were assembled on the occasion, dressed in their robes of
state, and ornamented with the insignia of their office. The
white elephant, richly adorned with gold and jewels, was one of
the most beautiful objects in the procession. The king and queen
alone were unadorned, dressed in the simple garb of the country;
they, hand in hand, entered the garden in which we had taken our
seats, and where a banquet was prepared for their refreshment.
All the riches and glory of the empire were on this day exhibited
to view. The number and immense size of the elephants, the
numerous horses, and great variety of vehicles of all
descriptions, far surpassed anything I have ever seen or
imagined. Soon after his majesty had taken possession of the new
palace, an order was issued that no foreigner should be allowed
to enter, excepting Lansago. We were a little alarmed at this,
but concluded it was from political motives, and would not,
perhaps, essentially affect us.
"For several weeks nothing took place to alarm us, and we
wnt on with our school. Mr. J. preached every Sabbath, all the
materials for building a brick house were procured, and the
masons had made considerable progress in raising the building.
"On the twenty-third of May, 1824, just as we had concluded
worship at the Doctor's house, the other side of the river, a
messenger came to inform us that Rangoon was taken by the
English. The intelligence produced a shock, in which was a
mixture of fear and joy. Mr. Gouger, a young merchant residing
at Ava, was then with us, and had much more reason to fear than
the rest of us. We all, however, immediately returned to our
house, and began to consider what was to be done. Mr. G. went to
Prince Thar-yar-wadee, the king's most influential brother, who
informed him he need not give himself any uneasiness, as he had
mentioned the subject to his majesty, who had replied, that 'the
few foreigners residing at Ava had nothing to do with the war,
and should not be molested.'
"The government were now all in motion. An army of ten or
twelve thousand men, under the command of the Kyee-woon-gyee,
were sent off in three or four days, and were to be joined by the
Sakyer-woon-gyee, who had previously been appointed viceroy of
Rangoon, and who was on his way thither, when the news of its
attack reached him. No doubt was entertained of the defeat of
the English; the only fear of the king was that the foreigners
hearing of the advance of the Burmese troops, would be so alarmed
as to flee on board their ships and depart, before there would be
time to secure them as slaves. 'Bring for me,' said a wild young
buck of the palace, 'six kala pyoo, (white strangers,) to row my
boat;' and 'to me,' said the lady of Woon-gyee, 'send four white
strangers to manage the affairs of my house, as I understand they
are trusty servants.' The war boats, in high glee, passed our
house, the soldiers singing and dancing, and exhibiting gestures
of the most joyful kind. Poor fellows! said we, you will
probably never dance again. And so it proved, for few if any
ever saw again their native home.
"At length Mr. Judson and Dr. Price were summoned to a court
of examination, where strict inquiry was made relative to all
they knew. The great point seemed to be whether they had been in
the habit of making communications to foreigners, of the state of
the country, etc. They answered that they had always written to
their friends in America, but had no correspondence with English
officers, or the Bengal government. After their examination,
they were not put in confinement as the Englishmen had been, but
were allowed to return to their houses. In examining the
accounts of Mr. G it was found that Mr. J. and Dr. Price had
taken money of him to a considerable amount. Ignorant, as were
the Burmese, of our mode of receiving money, by orders on Bengal,
this circumstance, to their suspicious minds, was a sufficient
evidence that the missionaries were in the pay of the English,
and very probably spies. It was thus represented to the king,
who, in an angry tone, ordered the immediate arrest of the 'two
teachers.'
"On the eighth of June, just as we were prearing for dinner,
in rushed an officer, holding a black book, with a dozen Burmans,
accompanied by one, whom, from his spotted face, we knew to be an
executioner, and a 'son of the prison.' 'Where is the teacher?'
was the first inquiry. Mr. Judson presented himself. 'You are
called by the king,' said the officer; a form of speech always
used when about to arrest a criminal. The spotted man instantly
seized Mr. Judson, threw him on the floor, and produced the small
cord, the instrument of torture. I caught hold of his arm;
'Stay, (said I,) I will give you money.' 'Take her too,' said
the officer; 'she also is a foreigner.' Mr. Judson, with an
imploring look, begged they would let me remain until further
orders. The scene was now shocking beyond description.
"The whole neighborhood had collected--the masons at work on
the brick house threw down their tools, and ran--the little
Burman children were screaming and crying--the Bengalee servants
stood in amazement at the indignities offered their master--and
the hardened executioner, with a hellish joy, drew tight the
cords, bound Mr. Judson fast, and dragged him off, I knew not
whither. In vain I begged and entreated the spotted face to take
the silver, and loosen the ropes, but he spurned my offers, and
immediately departed. I gave the money, however, to Moung Ing to
follow after, to make some further attempt to mitigate the
torture of Mr. Judson; but instead of succeeding, when a few rods
from the house, the unfeeling wretches again threw their prisoner
on the ground, and drew the cords still tighter, so as almost to
prevent respiration.
"The officer and his gang proceeded on to the courthouse,
where the governor of the city and the officers were collected,
one of whom read the order of the king, to commit Mr. Judson to
the death prison, into which he was soon hurled, the door
closed--and Moung Ing saw no more. What a night was now before
me! I retired into my room, and endeavored to obtain consolation
from committing my case to God, and imploring fortitude and
strength to suffer whatever awaited me. But the consolation of
retirement was not long allowed me, for the magistrate of the
place had come into the veranda, and continually called me to
come out, and submit to his examination. But previously to going
out, I destroyed all my letters, journals, and writings of every
kind, lest they should disclose the fact that we had
correspondents in England, and had minuted down every occurrence
since our arrival in the country. When this work of destruction
was finished, I went out and submitted to the examination of the
magistrate, who inquired very minutely of everything I knew; then
ordered the gates of the compound to be shut, no person be
allowed to go in or out, placed a guard of ten ruffians, to whom
he gave a strict charge to keep me safe, and departed.
"It was now dark. I retired to an inner room with my four
little Burman girls, and barred the doors. The guard instantly
ordered me to unbar the doors and come out, or they would break
the house down. I obstinately refused to obey, and endeavored to
intimidate them by threatening to complain of their conduct to
higher authorities on the morrow. Finding me resolved in
disregarding their orders, they took the two Bengalee servants,
and confined them in the stocks in a very painful position. I
could not endure this; but called the head man to the window, and
promised to make them all a present in the morning, if they would
release the servants. After much debate, and many severe
threatenings, they consented, but seemed resolved to annoy me as
much as possible. My unprotected, desolate state, my entire
uncertainty of the fate of Mr. Judson, and the dreadful
carousings and almost diabolical language of the guard, all
conspired to make it by far the most distressing night I had ever
passed. You may well imagine, my dear brother, that sleep was a
stranger to my eyes, and peace and composure to my mind.
"The next morning, I sent Moung Ing to ascertain the
situation of your brother, and give him food, if still living.
He soon returned, with the intelligence that Mr. Judson, and all
the white foreigners, were confined in the death prison, with
three pairs of iron fetters each, and fastened to a long pole, to
prevent their moving! The point of my anguish now was that I was
a prisoner myself, and could make no efforts for the release of
the missionaries. I begged and entreated the magistrate to allow
me to go to some member of government to state my case; but he
said he did not dare to consent, for fear I should make my
escape. I next wrote a note to one of the king's sisters, with
whom I had been intimate, requesting her to use her influence for
the release of the teachers. The note was returned with this
message--She 'did not understand it'--which was a polite refusal
to interfere; though I afterwards ascertained that she had an
anxious desire to assist us, but dared not on account of the
queen. The day dragged heavily away, and another dreadful night
was before me. I endeavored to soften the feelings of the guard
by giving them tea and cigars for the night; so that they allowed
me to remain inside of my room, without threatening as they did
the night before. But the idea of your brother being stretched
on the bare floor in irons and confinement, haunted my mind like
a spectre, and prevented my obtaining any quiet sleep, though
nature was almost exhausted.
"On the third day, I sent a message to the governor of the
city, who has the entire direction of prison affairs, to allow me
to visit him with a present. This had the desired effect; and he
immediately sent orders to the guards, to permit my going into
town. The governor received me pleasantly, and asked me what I
wanted. I stated to him the situation of the foreigners, and
particularly that of the teachers, who were Americans, and had
nothing to do with the war. He told me it was not in his power
to release them from prison or irons, but that he could make
their situation more comfortable; there was his head officer,
with whom I must consult, relative to the means. The officer,
who proved to be one of the city writers, and whose countenance
at the first glance presented the most perfect assemblage of all
the evil passions attached to human nature, took me aside, and
endeavored to convince me, that myself, as well as the prisoners,
was entirely at his disposal--that our future comfort must depend
on my liberality in regard to presents--and that these must be
made in a private way and unknown to any officer in the
government! 'What must I do,' said I, 'to obtain a mitigation of
the present sufferings of the two teachers?' 'Pay to me,' said
he, 'two hundred tickals, (about a hundred dollars,) two pieces
of fine cloth, and two pieces of handkerchiefs.' I had taken
money with me in the morning, our house being two miles from the
prison--I could not easily return. This I offered to the writer,
and begged he would not insist on the other articles, as they
were not in my possession. He hesitated for some time, but
fearing to lose the sight of so much money, he concluded to take
it, promising to relieve the teachers from their most painful
situation.
"I then procured an order from the governor, for my
admittance into prison; but the sensations, produced by meeting
your brother in that wretched, horrid situation--and the
affecting scene which ensued, I will not attempt to describe.
Mr. Judson crawled to the door of the prison--for I was never
allowed to enter--gave me some directions relative to his
release; but before we could make any arrangement, I was ordered
to depart, by those iron-hearted jailers, who could not endure to
see us enjoy the poor consolation of meeting in that miserable
place. In vain I pleaded the order of the governor for my
admittance; they again, harshly repeated, 'Depart, or we will
pull you out.' The same evening, the missionaries, together with
the other foreigners, who had paid an equal sum, were taken out
of the common prison, and confined in an open shed in the prison
inclosure. Here I was allowed to send them food, and mats to
sleep on; but was not permitted to enter again for several days.
"My next object was to get a petition presented to the
queen; but no person being admitted into the palace, who was in
disgrace with his majesty, I sought to present it through the
medium of her brother's wife. I had visited her in better days,
and received particular marks of her favor. But now times were
altered: Mr. Judson was in prison, and I in distress, which was a
sufficient reason for giving me a cold reception. I took a
present of considerable value. She was lolling on her carpet as
I entered, with her attendants around her. I waited not for the
usual question to a suppliant, 'What do you want?' but in a bold,
earnest, yet respectful manner, stated our distresses and our
wrongs, and begged her assistance. She partly raised her head,
opened the present I had brought, and coolly replied, 'Your case
is not singular; all the foreigners are treated alike.' 'But it
is singular,' said I, 'the teachers are Americans; they are
ministers of religion, have nothing to do with war or politics,
and came to Ava in obedience to the king's command. They have
never done any thing to deserve such treatment; and is it right
they should be treated thus?' 'The king does as he pleases,'
said she; 'I am not the king, what can I do?' 'You can state
their case to the queen, and obtain their release,' replied I.
'Place yourself in my situation--were you in America, your
husband, innocent of crime, thrown into prison, in irons, and you
a solitary, unprotected female--what would you do?' With a
slight degree of feeling, she said, 'I will present your
petition, come again to-morrow.' I returned to the house, with
considerable hope, that the speedy release of the missionaries
was at hand. But the next day Mr. Gouger's property, to the
amount of fifty thousand dollars, was taken and carried to the
palace. The officers, on their return, politely informed me,
they should visit our house on the morrow. I felt obliged for
this information, and accordingly made preparations to receive
them, by secreting as many little articles as possible; together
with considerable silver, as I knew, if the war should be
protracted, we should be in a state of starvation without it.
But my mind in a dreadful state of agitation, lest it should be
discovered, and cause my being thrown into prison. And had it
been possible to procure money from any other quarter, I should
not have ventured on such a step.
"The following morning, the royal treasurer, Prince
Tharyawadees, Chief Woon, and Koung-tone Myoo-tsa, who was in
future our steady friend, attended by forty or fifty followers,
came to take possession of all we had. I treated them civilly,
gave them chairs to sit on, tea and sweetmeats for their
refreshment; and justice obliges me to say that they conducted
the business of confiscation with more regard to my feelings than
I should have thought it possible for Burmese officers to
exhibit. The three officers, with one of the royal secretaries,
alone entered the house; their attendants were ordered to remain
outside. They saw I was deeply affected, and apologized for what
they were about to do, by saying that it was painful for them to
take possession of property not their own, but they were
compelled thus to do by order of the king.
"'Where is your silver, gold, and jewels?' said the royal
treasurer. 'I have no gold or jewels; but here is the key of a
trunk which contains the silver--do with it as you please.' The
trunk was produced, and the silver weighed. 'This money,' said
I, 'was collected in America, by the disciples of Christ, and
sent here for the purpose of building a kyoung, (the name of a
priest's dwelling) and for our support while teaching the
religion of Christ. Is it suitable that you should take it?
(The Burmans are averse to taking what is offered in a religious
point of view, which was the cause of my making the inquiry.)
'We will state this circumstance to the king,' said one of them,
'and perhaps he will restore it. But this is all the silver you
have?' I could not tell a falsehood: 'The house is in your
possession,' I replied, 'search for yourselves.' 'Have you not
deposited silver with some person of your acquaintaince?' 'My
acquaintances are all in prison, with whom should I deposit
silver?'
"They next ordered my trunk and drawers to be examined. The
secretary only was allowed to accompany me in this search.
Everything nice or curious, which met hjis view, was presented to
the officers, for their decision, whether it should be taken or
retained. I begged they would not take our wearing apparel, as
it would be disgraceful to take clothes partly worn into the
possession of his majesty, and to us they were of unspeakable
value. They assented, and took a list only, and did the same
with the books, medicines, etc. My little work table and rocking
chair, presents from my beloved brother, I rescued from their
grasp, partly by artifice, and partly through their ignorance.
They left also many articles, which were of inestimable value,
during our long imprisonment.
"As soon as they had finished their search and departed, I
hastened to the queen's brother, to hear what had been the fate
of my petition; when, alas! all my hopes were dashed, by his
wife's coolly saying, 'I stated your case to the queen; but her
majesty replied, The teachers will not die: let them remain as
they are.' My expectations had been so much excited that this
sentence was like a thunderbolt to my feelings. For the truth at
one glance assured me that if the queen refused assistance, who
would dare to intercede for me? With a heavy heart I departed,
and on my way home, attempted to enter the prison gate, to
communicate the sad tidings to your brother, but was harshly
refused admittance; and for the ten days following
notwithstanding my daily efforts, I was not allowed to enter. We
attempted to communicate by writing, and after being successful
for a few days, it was discovered; the poor fellow who carried
the communications was beaten and put in the stocks; and the
circumstance cost me about ten dollars, besides two or three days
of agony, for fear of the consequences.
"The officers who had taken possession of our property,
presented it to his majesty, saying, 'Judson is a true teacher;
we found nothing in his house, but what belongs to priests. In
addition to this money, there are an immense number of books,
medicines, trunks of wearing apparel, of which we have only taken
a list. Shall we take them, or let them remain?' 'Let them
remain,' said the king, 'and put this property by itself, for it
shall be restored to him again, if he is found innocent.' This
was an allusion to the idea of his being a spy.
"For two or three months following, I was subject to
continual harassments, partly through my ignorance of police
management and partly through the insatiable desire of every
petty officer to enrich himself through our misfortunes.
"You, my dear brother, who know my strong attachment to my
friends, and how much pleasure I have hitherto experienced from
retrospect, can judge from the above circumstances, how intense
were my sufferings. But the point, the acme of my distresses,
consisted in the awful uncertainty of our final fate. My
prevailing opinion was that my husband would suffer violent
death; and that I should, of course, become a slave, and languish
out a miserable though short existence, in the tyrannic hands of
some unfeeling monster. But the consolations of religion, in
these trying circumstances, were neither 'few nor small.' It
taught me to look beyond this world, to that rest, that peaceful,
happy rest, where Jesus reigns, and oppression never enters.
"Some months after your brother's imprisonment, I was
permitted to make a little bamboo room in the prison inclosures,
where he could be much by himself, and where I was sometimes
allowed to spend two or three hours. It so happened that the two
months he occupied this place, was the coldest part of the year,
when he would have suffered much in the open shed he had
previously occupied. After the birth of your little niece, I was
unable to visit the prison and the governor as before, and found
I had lost ocnsiderable influence, previously gained; for he was
not so forward to hear my petitions when any difficulty occurred,
as he formerly had been. When Maria was nearly two months old,
her father one morning sent me word that he and all the white
prisoners were put into the inner prison, in five pairs of
fetters each, that his little room had been torn down, and his
mat, pillow, etc., been taken by the jailers. This was to me a
dreadful shock, as I thought at once it was only a prelude to
greater evils.
"The situation of the prisoners was now distressing beyond
description. It was at the commencement of the hot season.
There were above a hundred prisoners shut up in one room, without
a breath of air excepting from the cracks in the boards. I
sometimes obtained permission to go to the door for five minutes,
when my heart sickened at the wretchedness exhibited. The white
prisoners, from incessant perspiration and loss of appetite,
looked more like the dead than the living. I made daily
applications to the governor, offering him money, which he
refused; but all that I gained was permission for the foreigners
to eat their food outside, and this continued but a short time.
"After continuing in the inner prison for more than a month,
your brother was taken with a fever. I felt assured he would not
live long, unless removed from that noisome place. To effect
this, and in order to be near the prison, I removed from our
house and put up a small bamboo room in the governor's inclosure,
which was nearly opposite the prison gate. Here I incessantly
begged the governor to give me an order to take Mr. J. out of the
large prison, and place him in a more comfortable situation; and
the old man, being worn out with my entreaties at length gave me
the order in an official form; and also gave orders to the head
jailer, to allow me to go in and out, all times of the day, to
administer medicines. I now felt happy, indeed, and had Mr. J.
instantly removed into a little bamboo hovel, so low, that
neither of us could stand upright--but a palace in comparison
with the place he had left.
Removal of the Prisoners to Oung-pen-la--Mrs. Judson Follows Them
"Notwithstanding the order the governor had given for my
admittance into prison, it was with the greatest difficulty that
I could persuade the under jailer to open the gate. I used to
carry Mr. J's food myself, for the sake of getting in, and would
then remain an hour or two, unless driven out. We had been in
this comfortable situation but two or three days, when one
morning, having carried in Mr. Judson's breakfast, which, in
consequence of fever, he was unable to take, I remained longer
than usual, when the governor in great haste sent for me. I
promised him to return as soon as I had ascertained the
governor's will, he being much alarmed at this unusual message.
I was very agreeably disappointed, when the governor informed,
that he only wished to consult me about his watch, and seemed
unusually pleasant and conversable. I found afterwards, that his
only object was, to detain me until the dreadful scene, about to
take place in the prison, was over. For when I left him to go to
my room, one of the servants came running, and with a ghastly
countenance informed me, that all the white prisoners were
carried away.
"I would not believe the report, but instantly went back to
the governor, who said he had just heard of it, but did not wish
to tell me. I hastily ran into the street, hoping to get a
glimpse of them before they were out of sight, but in this was
disappointed. I ran first into one street, then another,
inquiring of all I met, but none would answer me. At length an
old woman told me the white prisoners had gone towards the little
river; for they were to be carried to Amarapora. I then ran to
the banks of the little river, about half a mile, but saw them
not, and concluded the old woman had deceived me. Some of the
friends of the foreigners went to the place of execution, but
found them not. I then returned to the governor to try to
discover the cause of their removal, and the probability of their
future fate. The old man assured me that he was ignorant of the
intention of government to remove the foreigners until that
morning. That since I went out, he had learned that the
prisoners had been sent to Amarapora; but for what purpose, he
knew not. 'I will send off a man immediately,' said he, 'to see
what is to be done with them. You can do nothing more for your
husband,' continued he, Take care of yourself.
"Never before had I suffered so much from fear in traversing
the streets of Ava. The last words of the governor, 'Take care
of yourself,' made me suspect there was some design with which I
was unacquainted. I saw, also, he was afraid to have me go into
the streets, and advised me to wait until dark, when he would
send me in a cart, and a man to open the gates. I took two or
three trunks of the most valuable articles, together with the
medicine chest, to deposit in the house of the governor; and
after committing the house and premises to our faithful Moung Ing
and a Bengalee servant, who continued with us, (though we were
unable to pay his wages,) I took leave, as I then thought
probable, of our house in Ava forever.
"The day was dreadfully hot; but we obtained a covered boat,
in which we were tolerably comfortable, until within two miles of
the government house. I then procured a cart; but the violent
motion, together with the dreadful heat and dust, made me almost
distracted. But what was my disappointment on my arriving at the
courthouse, to find that the prisoners had been sent on two hours
before, and that I must go in that uncomfortable mode four miles
further with little Maria in my arms, whom I held all the way
from Ava. The cart man refused to go any further; and after
waiting an hour in the burning sun, I procured another, and set
off for that never to be forgotten place, Oung-pen-la. I
obtained a guide from the governor and was conducted directly to
the prison-yard.
"But what a scene of wretchedness was presented to my view!
The prison was an old shattered building, without a roof; the
fence was entirely destroyed; eight or ten Burmese were on the
top of the building, trying to make something like a shelter with
the leaves; while under a little low protection outside of the
prison sat the foreigners, chained together two and two, almost
dead with suffering and fatigue. The first words of your brother
were: 'Why have you come? I hoped you would not follow, for you
cannot live here.'
"It was now dark. I had no refreshment for the suffering
prisoners, or for myself, as I had expected to procure all that
was necessary at the market in Amarapora, and I had no shelter
for the night. I asked one of the jailers if I might put up a
little bamboo house near the prisoners; he said 'No, it was not
customary.' I then begged he would procure me a shelter for the
night, when on the morrow I could find some place to live in. He
took me to his house, in which there were only two small
rooms--one in which he and his family lived--the other, which was
then half full of grain, he offered to me; and in that little
filthy place, I spent the next six months of wretchedness. I
procured some half boiled water, instead of my tea, and, worn out
with fatigue, laid myself down on a mat spread over the paddy,
and endeavored to obtain a little refreshment from sleep. The
next morning your brother gave me the following account of the
brutal treatment he had received on being taken out of prison.
"As soon as I had gone out at the call of the governor, one
of the jailers rushed into Mr. J's little room--roughly seized
him by the arm--pulled him out--stripped of all his clothes,
excepting shirt and pantaloons--took his shoes, hat, and all his
bedding--tore off his chains--tied a rope round his waist,
dragged him to the courthouse, where the other prisoners had
previously been taken. They were then tied two and two, and
delivered into the hands of the Lamine Woon, who went on before
them on horseback, while his slaves drove the prisoners, one of
the slaves holding the rope which connected two of them
together. It was in May, one of the hottest months in the year,
and eleven o'clock in the day, so that the sun was intolerable
indeed.
"They had proceeded only half a mile, when your brother's
feet became blistered, and so great was his agony, even at this
early period, that as they were crossing the little river, he
longed to throw himself into the water to be free from misery.
But the sin attached to such an act alone prevented. They had
then eight miles to walk. The sand and gravel were like burning
coals to the feet of the prisoners, which soon became perfectly
destitute of skin; and in this wretched state they were goaded on
by their unfeeling drivers. Mr. J's debilitated state, in
consequence of the fever, and having taken no food that morning,
rendered him less capable of bearing such hardships than the
other prisoners.
"When about halfway on their journey, as they stopped for
water, your brother begged the Lamine Woon to allow him to ride
his horse a mile or two, as he could proceed no farther in that
dreadful state. But a scornful, malignant look was all the reply
that was made. He then requested Captain Laird, who was tied
with him, and who was a strong, healthy man, to allow him to take
hold of his shoulder, as he was fast sinking. This the
kind-hearted man granted for a mile or two, but then found the
additional burden insupportable. Just at that period, Mr.
Gouger's Bengalee servant came up to them, and seeing the
distresses of your brother, took off his headdress, which was
made of cloth, tore it in two, gave half to his master, and half
to Mr. Judson, which he instantly wrapped round his wounded feet,
as they were not allowed to rest even for a moment. The servant
then offered his shoulder to Mr. J. and was almost carried by him
the remainder of the way.
"The Lamine Woon, seeing the distressing state of the
prisoners, and that one of their number was dead, concluded they
should go no farther that night, otherwise they would have been
driven on until they reached Oung-pen-la the same day. An old
shed was appointed for their abode during the night, but without
even a mat or pillow, or anything to cover them. The curiosity
of the Lamine Woon's wife, induced her to make a visit to the
prisoners, whose wretchedness considerably excited her
compassion, and she ordered some fruit, sugar, and tamarinds, for
their refreshment; and the next morning rice was prepared for
them, and as poor as it was, it was refreshing to the prisoners,
who had been almost destitute of food the day before. Carts were
also provided for their conveyance, as none of them were able to
walk. All this time the foreigners were entirely ignorant of
what was to become of them; and when they arrived at Oung-pen-la,
and saw the dilapidated state of the prison, they immediately,
all as one, concluded that they were there to be burned,
agreeably to the report which had previously been in circulation
at Ava. They all endeavored to prepare themselves for the awful
scene anticipated, and it was not until they saw preparations
making for repairing the prison that they had the least doubt
that a cruel lingering death awaited them. My arrival was an
hour or two after this.
"The next morning I arose and endeavored to find something
like food. But there was no market, and nothing to be procured.
One of Dr. Price's friends, however, brought some cold rice and
vegetable curry, from Amarapora, which, together with a cup of
tea from Mr. Lansago, answered for the breakfast of the
prisoners; and for dinner, we made a curry of dried salt fish,
which a servant of Mr. Gouger had brought. All the money I could
command in the world I had brought with me, secreted about my
person; so you may judge what our prospects were, in case the war
should continue long. But our heavenly Father was better to us
than our fears; for notwithstanding the constant extortions of
the jailers, during the whole six months we were at Oung-pen-la,
and the frequent straits to which we were brought, we never
really suffered for the want of money, though frequently for want
of provisions, which were not procurable.
"Here at this place my personal bodily sufferings
commenced. While your brother was confined in the city prison, I
had been allowed to remain in our house, in which I had many
conveniences left, and my health continued good beyond all
expectations. But now I had not a single article of
convenience--not even a chair or seat of any kind, excepting a
bamboo floor. The very morning after my arrival, Mary Hasseltine
was taken with the smallpox, the natural way. She, though very
young, was the only assistant I had in taking care of little
Maria. But she now required all the time I could spare from Mr.
Judson whose fever still continued in prison, and whose feet were
so dreadfully mangled that for several days he was unable to
move.
"I knew not what to do, for I could procure no assistance
from the neighborhood, or medicine for the sufferers, but was all
day long going backwards and forwards from the house to the
prison, with little Maria in my arms. Sometimes I was greatly
relieved by leaving her, for an hour, when asleep, by the side of
her father, while I returned to the house to look after Mary,
whose fever ran so high as to produce delirium. She was so
completely covered with the smallpox that there was no
distinction in the pustules. As she was in the same little room
with myself, I knew Maria would take it; I therefore inoculated
her from another child, before Mary's had arrived at such a state
to be infectious. At the same time, I inoculated Abby, and the
jailer's children, who all had it so lightly as hardly to
interrupt their play. But the inoculation in the arm of my poor
little Maria did not take--she caught it of Mary, and had it the
natural way. She was then only three months and a half old, and
had been a most healthy child; but it was above three months
before she perfectly recovered from the effects of this dreadful
disorder.
"You will recollect I never had the smallpox, but was
vaccinated previously to leaving America. In consequence of
being for so long a time constantly exposed, I had nearly a
hundred pustules formed, though no previous symptoms of fever,
etc. The jailer's children having had the smallpox so lightly,
in consequence of inoculation, my fame was spread all over the
village, and every child, young and old, who had not previously
had it, was brought for inoculation. And although I knew nothing
about the disorder, or the mode of treating it, I inoculated them
all with a needle, and told them to take care of their diet--all
the instructions I could give them. Mr. Judson's health was
gradually restored, and he found himself much more comfortably
situated than when in the city prison.
"The prisoners were at first chained two and two; but as
soon as the jailers could obtain chains sufficient, they were
separated, and each prisoner had but one pair. The prison was
repaired, a new fence made, and a large airy shed erected in
front of the prison, where the prisoners were allowed to remain
during the day, though locked up in the little close prison at
night. All the children recovered from the smallpox; but my
watchings and fatigue, together with my miserable food, and more
miserable lodgings, brought on one of the diseases of the
country, which is almost always fatal to foreigners.
"My constitution seemed destroyed, and in a few days I
became so weak as to be hardly able to walk to Mr. Judson's
prison. In this debilitated state, I set off in a cart for Ava,
to procure medicines, and some suitable food, leaving the cook to
supply my place. I reached the house in safety, and for two or
three days the disorder seemed at a stand; after which it
attacked me violently, that I had no hopes of recovery left--and
my anxiety now was, to return to Oung-pen-la to die near the
prison. It was with the greatest difficulty that I obtained the
medicine chest from the governor, and then had no one to
administer medicine. I however got at the laundanum, and by
taking two drops at a time for several hours, it so far checked
the disorder as to enable me to get on board a boat, though so
weak that I could not stand, and again set off for Oung-pen-la.
The last four miles were in that painful conveyance, the cart,
and in the midst of the rainy season, when the mud almost buries
the oxen. You may form some idea of a Burmese cart, when I tell
you their wheels are not constructed like ours, but are simply
round thick planks with a hole in the middle, through which a
pole that supports the body is thrust.
"I just reached Oung-pen-la when my strength seemed entirely
exhausted. The good native cook came out to help me into the
house but so altered and emaciated was my appearance that the
poor fellow burst into tears at the first sight. I crawled on
the mat in the little room, to which I was confined for more than
two months, and never perfectly recovered, until I came to the
English camp. At this period when I was unable to take care of
myself, or look after Mr. Judson we must both have died, had it
not been for the faithful and affectionate care of our Bengalee
cook. A common Bengalee cook will do nothing but the simple
business of cooking; but he seemed to forget his caste, and
almost his own wants, in his efforts to serve us. He would
provide, cook, and carry your brother's food, and then return and
take care of me. I have frequently known him not to taste of
food until near night, in consequence of having to go so far for
wood and water, and in order to have Mr. Judson's dinner ready at
the usual hour. He never complained, never asked for his wages,
and never f or a moment hesitated to go anywhere, or to perform
any act we required. I take great pleasure in speaking of the
faithful conduct of this servant, who is still with us, and I
trust has been well rewarded for his services.
"Our dear little Maria was the greatest sufferer at this
time, my illness depriving her of her usual nourishment, and
neither a nurse nor a drop of milk could be procured in the
village. By making presents to the jailers, I obtained leave for
Mr. Judson to come out of prison, and take the emaciated creature
around the village, to beg a little nourishment from those
mothers who had young children. Her cries in the night were
heartrending, when it was impossible to supply her wants. I now
began to think the very affliction of Job had come upon me. When
in health, I could bear the various trials and vicissitudes
through which I was called to pass. But to be confined with
sickness, and unable to assist those who were so dear to me, when
in distress, was almost too much for me to bear; and had it not
been for the consolations of religion, and an assured conviction
that every additional trial was ordered by infinite love and
mercy, I must have sunk under my accumulated sufferings.
Sometimes our jailers seemed a little softened at our distress,
and for several days together allowed Mr. Judson to come to the
house, which was to me an unspeakable consolation. Then again
they would be as iron-hearted in their demands as though we were
free from sufferings, and in affluent circumstances. The
annoyance, the extortions, and oppressions, to which we were
subject, during our six months residence in Oung-pen-la, are
beyond enumeration or description.
"The time at length arrived for our release from that
detested place, the Oung-pen-la prison. A messenger from our
friend, the governor of the north gate of the palace, who was
formerly Koung-tone, Myoo-tsa, informed us that an order had been
given, the vening before, in the palace, for Mr. Judson's
release. On the same evening an official order arrived; and with
a joyful heart I set about preparing for our departure early the
following morning. But an unexpected obstacle occurred, which
made us fear that I should still retained as a prisoner. The
avaricious jailers, unwilling to lose their prey, insisted that
as my name was not included in the order, I should not go. In
vain I urged that I was not sent there as a prisoner, and that
they had no authority over me--they still determined I should not
go, and forbade the villagers from letting me a cart. Mr. Judson
was then taken out of prison, and brought to the jailer's house,
where, by promises and threatenings, he finally gained their
consent, on condition that we would leave the remaining part of
our provisions we had recently received from Ava.
"It was noon before we were allowed to depart. When we
reached Amarapora, Mr. Judson was obliged to follow the guidance
of the jailer, who conducted him to the governor of the city.
Having made all necessary inquiries, the governor appointed
another guard, which conveyed Mr. Judson to the courthouse in
Ava, to which place he arrived some time in the night. I took my
own course, procured a boat, and reached our house before dark.
"My first object the next morning was to go in search of our
brother, and I had the mortification to meet him again in prison,
though not the death prison. I went immediately to my old friend
the governor of the city, who was now raised to the rank of a
Woon-gyee. He informed me that Mr. Judson was to be sent to the
Burmese camp, to act as translator and interpreter; and that he
was put in confinement for a short time only, until his affairs
were settled. Early the following morning I went to this officer
again, who told me that Mr. Judson had that moment received
twenty tickals from government, with orders to go immediately on
board a boat for Maloun, and that he had given him permission to
stop a few moments at the house, it being on his way. I hastened
back to the house, where Mr. Judson soon arrived; but was allowed
to remain only a short time, while I could prepare food and
clothing for future use. He was crowded into a little boat,
where he had not room sufficient to lie down, and where his
exposure to the cold, damp nights threw him into a violent fever,
which had nearly ended all his sufferings. He arrived at Maloun
on the third day, where, ill as he was, he was obliged to enter
immediately on the work of translating. He remained at Maloun
six weeks, suffering as much as he had at any time in prison,
excepting that he was not in irons, nor exposed to the insults of
those cruel jailers.
"For the first fortnight after his departure, my anxiety was
less than it had been at any time previous, since the
commencement of our difficulties. I knew the Burmese officers at
the camp would feel the value of Mr. Judson's services too much
to allow their using any measures threatening his life. I
thought his situation, also, would be much more comfortable than
it really was--hence my anxiety was less. But my health, which
had never been restored, since that violent attack at
Oung-pen-la, now daily declined, until I was seized with the
spotted fever, with all its attendant horrors. I knew the nature
of the fever from its commencement; and from the shattered state
of my constitution, together with the want of medical attendants,
I concluded it must be fatal. The day I was taken, a Burmese
nurse came and offered her services for Maria. This circumstance
filled me with gratitude and confidence in God; for though I had
so long and so constantly made efforts to obtain a person of this
description, I had never been able; when at the very time I most
needed one, and without any exertion, a voluntary offer was made.
"My fever raged violently and without any intermission. I
began to think of settling my worldly affairs, and of committing
my dear little Maria to the care of the Portuguese woman, when I
lost my reason, and was insensible to all around me. At this
dreadful period Dr. Price was released from prison; and hearing
of my illness, obtained permission to come and see me. He has
since told me that my situation was the most distressing he had
ever witnessed, and that he did not then think I should survive
many hours. My hair was shaved, my head and feet covered with
blisters, and Dr. Price ordered the Bengalee servant who took
care of me to endeavor to persuade me to take a little
nourishment, which I had obstinately refused for several days.
One of the first things I recollect was, seeing this faithful
servant standing by me, trying to induce me to take a little wine
and water. I was in fact so far gone that the Burmese neighbors
who had come in to see me expire said, 'She is dead; and if the
king of angels should come in, he could not recover her.'
"The fever, I afterwards understood, had run seventeen days
when the blisters were applied. I now began to recover slowly;
but it was more than a month after this before I had strength to
stand. While in this weak, debilitated state, the servant who
had followed your brother to the Burmese camp came in and
informed me that his master had arrived, and was conducted to the
courthouse in town. I sent off a Burman to watch the movements
of government, and to ascertain, if possible, in what way Mr.
Judson was to be disposed of. He soon returned with the sad
intelligence that he saw Mr. Judson go out of the palace yard,
accompanied by two or three Burmans, who conducted him to one of
the prisons; and that it was reported in town, that he was to be
sent back to the Oung-pen-la prison. I was too weak to bear ill
tidings of any kind; but a shock as dreadful as this almost
annihilated me. For some time, I could hardly breathe; but at
last gained sufficient composure to dispatch Moung Ing to our
friend, the governor of the north gate, and begged him to make
one more effort for the release of Mr. Judson, and prevent his
being sent back to the country prison, where I knew he must
suffer much, as I could not follow. Moung Ing then went in
search of Mr. Judson; and it was nearly dark when he found him in
the interior of an obscure prison. I had sent food early in the
afternoon, but being unable to find him, the bearer had returned
with it, which added another pang to my distresses, as I feared
he was already sent to Oung-pen-la.
"If I ever felt the value and efficacy of prayer, I did at
this time. I could not rise from my couch; I could make no
efforts to secure my husband; I could only plead with that great
and powerful Being who has said, 'Call upon Me in the day of
trouble, and I will hear, and thou shalt glorify Me;' and who
made me at this time feel so powerfully this promise that I
became quite composed, feeling assured that my prayers would be
answered.
"When Mr. Judson was sent from Maloun to Ava, it was within
five minutes' notice, and without his knowledge of the cause. On
his way up the river he accidentally saw the communication made
to government respecting him, which was simply this: 'We have no
further use for Yoodathan, we therefore return him to the golden
city.' On arriving at the courthouse, there happened to be no
one present who was acquainted with Mr. J. The presiding officer
inquired from what place he had been sent to Maloun. He was
answered from Oung-pen-la. 'Let him then,' said the officer, 'be
returned thither'--when he was delivered to a guard and conducted
to the place above-mentioned, there to remain until he could be
conveyed to Oung-pen-la. In the meantime the governor of the
north gate presented a petition to the high court of the empire,
offered himself as Mr. Judson's security, obtained his release,
and took him to his house, where he treated him with every
possible kindness, and to which I was removed as soon as
returning health would allow.
"It was on a cool, moonlight evening, in the month of March,
that with hearts filled with gratitude to God, and overflowing
with joy at our prospects, we passed down the Irrawaddy,
surrounded by six or eight golden boats, and accompanied by all
we had on earth.
"We now, for the first time, for more than a year and a
half, felt that we were free, and no longer subject to the
oppressive yoke of the Burmese. And with what sensations of
delight, on the next morning, did I behold the masts of the
steamboat, the sure presage of being within the bounds of
civilized life. As soon as our boat reached the shore, Brigadier
A. and another officer came on board, congreatulated us on our
arrival, and invited us on board the steamboat, where I passed
the remainder of the day; while your brother went on to meet the
general, who, with a detachment of the army, had encamped at
Yandaboo, a few miles farther down the river. Mr. Judson
returned in the evening, with an invitation from Sir Archibald,
to come immediately to his quarters, where I was the next morning
introduced, and received with the greatest kindness by the
general, who had a tent pitched for us near his own--took us to
his own table, and treated us with the kindness of a father,
rather than as strangers of another country.
"For several days, this single idea wholly occupied my mind,
that we were out of the power of the Burmese government, and once
more under the protection of the English. Our feelings
continually dictated expressions like these: What shall we render
to the Lord for all His benefits toward us.
"The treaty of peace was soon concluded, signed by both
parties, and a termination of hostilities publicly declared. We
left Yandaboo, after a fortnight's residence, and safely reached
the mission house in Rangoon, after an absence of two years and
three months."
Through all this suffering the precious manuscript of the
Burmese New Testament was guarded. It was put into a bag and
made into a hard pillow for Dr. Judson's prison. Yet he was
forced to be apparently careless about it, lest the Burmans
should think it contained something valuable and take it away.
But with the assistance of a faithful Burmese convert, the
manuscript, representing so many long days of labor, was kept in
safety.
At the close of this long and melancholy narrative, we may
appropriately introduce the following tribute to the benevolence
and talents of Mrs. Judson, written by one of the English
prisoners, who were confined at Ava with Mr. Judson. It was
published in a Calcutta paper after the conclusion of the war:
"Mrs. Judson was the author of those eloquent and forceful
appeals to the government which prepared them by degrees for
submission to terms of peace, never expected by any, who knew the
hauteur and inflexible pride of the Burman court.
"And while on this subject, the overflowings of grateful
feelings, on behalf of myself and fellow prisoners, compel me to
add a tribute of public thanks to that amiable and humane female,
who, though living at a distance of two miles from our prison,
without any means of conveyance, and very feeble in health,
forgot her own comfort and infirmity, and almost every day
visited us, sought out and administered to our wants, and
contributed in every way to alleviate our misery.
"While we were left by the government destitute of food,
she, with unwearied perseverance, by some means or3 another,
obtained for us a constant supply.
"When the tattered state of our clothes evinced the
extremity of our distress, she was ever ready to replenish our
scanty wardrobe.
"When the unfeeling avarice of our keepers confined us
inside, or made our feet fast in the stocks, she, like a
ministering angel, never ceased her applications to the
government, until she was authorized to communicate to us the
grateful news of our enlargement, or of a respite from our
galling oppressions.
"Besides all this, it was unquestionably owing, in a chief
degree, to the repeated eloquence, and forcible appeals of Mrs.
Judson, that the untutored Burman was finally made willing to
secure the welfare and happiness of his country, by a sincere
peace."
Missionary
Beginnings
1800. Carey's first convert baptized.
1804. British and Foreign Bible Society organized.
1805. Henry Martyn sails for India.
1807. Robert Morrison sails for China.
1808. Haystack meeting held near Williams College.
1810. American Board organized.
1811. Wesleyans found Sierra Leone Mission.
1812. First American Board missionaries sail.
1816. American Bible Society organized.
1816. Robert Moffat sails for South Africa.
1818. London Missionary Society enters Madagascar.
1819. Methodist Missionary Society organized.
1819. American Board opens Sandwich Islands Mission.
1819. Judson baptizes first Burmese convert.
Epilogue to the Original Edition
And now to conclude, good Christian readers, this present
tractation, not for the lack of matter, but to shorten rather the
matter for largeness of the volume. In the meantime the grace of
the Lord Jesus Christ work with thee, gentle reader, in all thy
studious readings. And when thou hast faith, so employ thyself
to read, that by reading thou mayest learn daily to know that
which may profit thy soul, may teach thee experience, may arm
thee with patience, and instruct thee in all spiritual knowledge
more and more, to thy perfect comfort and salvation in Christ
Jesus, our Lord, to whom be glory in secula seculorum. Amen.
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Job 11:10 (KJV)