thousands of Chinese emigrants, who throng Bankok from Cochin China and Hainan, will furnish them with opportunities for usefulness as fast as they advance in the acquisition of the dialects spoken by those interesting people.

ARRACAN.

KYOUK PHYOO.-Missionaries, Rev. GROVER S. COMSTOCK, Mrs. COMSTOCK.

The province of Arracan, formerly a part of the Burman empire, but, since 1826, under the jurisdiction of the Honorable East India Company, lies on the east side of the bay of Bengal, south of Chittagong, and between 15° 54′ and 20° 51′ north latitude. Its population is estimated by Mr. Comstock at something less than 250,000, and that of Ramree, one of the four districts into which the province is divided, at about 70,000, scattered around in 374 villages. Of the other districts, Akyab, lying to the north of Ramree, is somewhat larger, and has one missionary, Rev. J. C. Fink, of the Serampore Society. At the south, are Sandoway and Aeng, smaller than Ramree, and entirely destitute of missionary laborers. The station occupied by Mr. Comstock, is in Ramree district, at the north point of Ramree island, containing about 2,000 natives, besides English residents, troops, &c.

The missionaries arrived there froin Maulmein March 4, 1835, and were kindly received into the family of Mr. Adams, the master-attendant of the port, until they were provided with a permanent place of residence. The following Sabbath, March 8, Mr. Comstock commenced his missionary work, visiting the villages, collecting the people around him, few of whom appear ever to have heard of the eternal God, and the Lord Jesus Christ-and reading and distributing tracts and portions of scripture, of which he had brought from Maulmein more than a million and a half of pages. At the close of the first three months' labor, some knowledge of the new religion had been extensively disseminated, and an interest excited even in remote villages. Visiters had called on Mr. Comstock from the neighboring island Cheduba, and from Aeng district, to obtain tracts, and to learn who was the more excellent, Gaudama, or the Lord Jesus; and though no one had as yet appeared to be deeply convinced of sin and of his need of the Savior, there were several, both male and female, who professed to believe in Christ and to desire new hearts.

During the rains, Mr. Comstock's time was almost exclusively devoted to the study of the language. Fewer visiters called at the mission-house than previously-occasionally, however, 15 or 20 were present. When the weather permitted, Mr. Comstock was accustomed, as before, to visit the neighboring villages, preaching and distributing tracts. The number of tracts distributed dur ing the rains, was 25,000.

MISSION TO THE TELINGAS.

Missionaries, Rev. SAMUEL S. DAY, Mrs. DAY, Rev. ELISHA L. ABBOTT.

The attention of the Board was first directed to the people who speak the Telinga or Teloogoo language, by the Rev. Mr. Sutton, of the General Baptist Mission in Orissa. According to his statement, in connection with information derived from other sources, a territory stretching along the coast southwesterly from Orissa, 600 miles nearly to Madras, and transversely into the interior, about 400, with a population equal to the whole census of the United States in 1830, and speaking essentially one language-embraces within its wide extent but one missionary station, occupied at the present time by a single missionary. A part of this territory, the Northern Circars or Collectorates, lies within the jurisdiction of the Presidency of Madras, or Fort St. George, and contained, in 1826, a population of about 3,000,000.* The remaining 10,000,000 are subjects of the Nizam (Nabob) of Hyderabad or Golcondah, anciently called Telingana, from which the Telingas derived their name. The territory belonging to the Nizam lies mostly between the Godavery and Krishnah or Kistnah rivers, and includes, together with Hyderabad, parts of Aurungabad, Beeder, and Ellichpoor, extending as far as the Gawilgurh on the north, and the Toongbudrah be

* Ganjam, 375,281; Vizagapatam, 941,004; Rajahmundry, 738,308; Masulipatam, 529,849; Guntoor, south of the river Kistnah, 454,754 ;-Total, 3,039,196.

low Rachore on the south, and from Budrachellum on the Godavery in the east, westward to Purainda, 17 miles from Poona, embracing an area of 95,000 square miles. The Telinga language meets the Mahratta and Karnata at Beeder. The missionary station alluded to, is at Vizagapatam, in the Collectorate of the same name. The territories of the Nizam have never been entered, it is believed, by the Christian missionary.

Mr. and Mrs. Day, and Mr. Abbott, were designated to commence the Telinga mission the 20th of September last, and on the 2d day following took passage, with other missionaries, in the ship Louvre, for Calcutta. The measures they would adopt on their arrival at that port, whether to accompany Mr. Sutton to Orissa, or to proceed directly to Madras, were left to the indications of Providence. One of their earliest objects will be to acquire an adequate knowledge of the Teloogoo language; and another, to ascertain the most favorable point at which to enter on their labors. Either of these could be prosecuted to good advantage both in Orissa and at Madras. Considerable intercourse is carried on between Orissa and the Collectorates, and many of the Telingas are accustomed to resort there, while, at Madras, the language spoken by the native population is said to be the Teloogoo, under the common name of Malabar. Possibly, however, the missionaries will find it expedient to proceed, with very little delay, to their contemplated field of operations, in which case an important position may be found at Rajahmundry, Vizagapatam, or Masulipatam.

At some future, and, we hope, not distant day, it may be found advisable to penetrate into the interior, and to establish missionary posts at Hyderabad and other cities of the Nizam. No impediment to the propagation of the gospel is apprehended in any part of his dominions, sustained as he is, in his authority, by the forces of the East India Company, while the comparative coolness and salubrity of the climate are favorable to extensive itineracies.

In commencing a series of missionary operations in the regions we have now indicated, the Board have learned with high satisfaction that much important preparatory work has been done, in the kind appointment of God, to convey the knowledge of his salvation to this benighted people. If we cannot say, in the language of the Calcutta Appeal, an Appeal addressed to the American churches on behalf of British India, at the very time, though mutually unaware, when the Board were devising the means of commencing the Telinga mission,-if we cannot say, as may be said of Bengal, "the seed has been scattered abroad, and the fields are white for the harvest," we can at least say, "the soil is ready for the reception of the seed, and the seed ready to be sown." As early as 1809, a Telinga version of the New Testament had been made by the Serampore missionaries, and though it perished in the destructive fire of 1812, it was prepared anew, and printed in 1817-18. The Telinga Pentateuch was also printed by the Serampore missionaries in 1821. And since that time the Madras Auxiliary Bible Society, to whom the charge of completing the Telinga Scriptures was then transferred, have been laboring with commendable zeal in the same good work, while the Religious Tract Society, also of Madras, have been providing Teloogoo tracts and other valuable publications, among which are Hymns, Catechisms and Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress. What is now mainly wanted, is men. "The present number of missionaries," says the Appeal just mentioned, "is very inadequate even to carry on the stations already in existence, much less to extend the sphere of their exertions, which would be so desirable." Let the requisite number of missionaries be furnished-the duty specially assigned to the American churches-and the work is ready to their hands. They may at once enter in and plant, and reap, and gather unto everlasting life.

MISSION TO THE SHANS.

Missionaries, Rev. NATHAN BROWN, Mrs. BROWN, Mr. OLIVER T. CUTTER, printer, Mrs. CUTTER.

"Shan," says Mr. Jones, "is the name given by Burians and Siamese to the Laos country." It is not limited, however, to that region, or to the people who dwell there. "Their kindred races," says the British Resident at Gowahatti, "extend throughout the country, whence arise all the mighty rivers from the Burrampooter, to Kianguan (the river of Nankin;) they occupy entirely the two

frontier provinces of Ava-Hookoom and Moongkoom; they occupy all the east bank of the Irrawaddy; they stretch down the Salwen to Tenasserim; Laos and Siam and Cochin China are their proper countries; they compose half the population of Yunnan, a great proportion of that of Salwen, and stretch up into that district that has always baffled the Chinese, between Thibet, Tartary and Sechuen; whilst Assam is chiefly populated by the overflowings of this great people. The Cacharese are Shans; and the governing race of Upper Assam for many centuries, the Ahoms,-are a tribe from the highest eastern sources of the Irrawaddy."

Various estimates have been given of the numbers belonging to the Shan tribes. Spread abroad over so many and extended regions, they cannot be few. They are represented by Capt. Jenkins, the gentleman from whom we have just quoted, to be ten times as numerous as the Burmese. Their character is also said to be much superior to the Burman. Those whom Mr. Kincaid saw at a Shan mart, a short distance from Ava, appeared to be a mild and industrious people, and by their dress and manufactures indicated a state of society much more advanced in civilization than the Burmese. Many of them dwell in large towns; other tribes are agricultural; some are engaged in traffic. The Khamtis, who live in the north-east district of Assam, are "a fine bold people, and their neighbors, the Sing-phos, though less civilized, are a good-tempered, simple race."

Their religion has been generally supposed to be Boodhism. The Khamtis and Sing-phos are called Boodhists, and the Ahoms were probably sectarians of some branch of Boodhism, though they had not the image of Boodh in their temples, and do not appear to have been idolaters. But whatever their religion is, it is not Christianity. The true God is to them, still," the unknown God," and, with here and there an exception, the name of Christ has not been heard by them. Occasionally our missionaries in Burmah have announced the gospel to such as Providence cast in their way; but no herald of salvation has ever ascended their rivers or traversed their plains; the feet of them that publish glad tidings have never been seen on their mountains; and so far as we have been able to learn, not a solitary individual of these unnumbered millions has believed on Him through whom only is the remission of sins.

The point at which it is proposed to commence operations to evangelize this benighted people, is Sadiya, situate at the north-east extremity of Assam, a country formerly subject to the emperor of Burmah, but of late under the nominal control of a native prince, protected by the Honorable East India Company. The Board were directed to this place, in the first instance, by Messrs. Pearce and Trevelyan, of Calcutta, and through them, by Captain F. Jenkins, the gentleman to whom reference has already been made, and to whose kind offices, in connection with Messrs. Trevelyan and Pearce, the Board are indebted, under God, for "so wide and effectual an opening " into the heart of countries hitherto deemed inaccessible. According to their representations, indeed, it would be difficult to find a position more inviting in itself, or more commanding. The country is believed to be healthy, on the testimony of English residents after a trial of many years; the climate is pleasant, the soil is exceedingly rich, and the tribes with whom the mission will be brought into immediate contact, the Khamtis and Sing-phos, are intelligent and well-tempered.-But its principal recommendation is the bearing which it seems to have upon adjacent countries and the missions already in progress in Siam and Burmah. From Sadiya the communication is open with Yunnan in China, and by this route a corps of scientific gentlemen were intending the last season to penetrate the interior of that country for the purpose of inquiry respecting the tea plant. It lies near the head waters, it will also be recollected, of the Kiangku, or Nankin river, which runs through the centre of China. "I hope," says Mr. Brown, "the Board will avail themselves of this opening of Providence, and immediately send out one or two missionaries with a view to enter China. They might leave their families at Sadiya, while they went to explore the country, previous to making a permanent settlement, and, in case they should at any time be driven from China, they might find a safe retreat and a fine field of labor among the Shans." An equally direct communication is presented on the north with Bootan and Thibet, countries under the sway of the Grand Lama, and the seat of the Shaman religion, hitherto unvisited by the Christian missionary. Lassa, the capital of Thibet, and the residence of

the Grand Lama, is situated near the Burrampooter, which flows thence through the whole extent of Assam, and might be easily reached, it is believed, from Sadiya. The Chinese, too, have considerable trade with Lassa, and it is not improbable that Sadiya lies on, or near, one of their thoroughfares. "On this side," says Mr. Trevelyan, "Bootan, and Thibet, and more countries and people than we have any accurate knowledge of at present, lie open to the messengers of the gospel." Similar facts exist in relation to Assam and Cassay, (Katheh.) South-west from Sadiya lies the whole extent of Assam, bisected by the Burrampooter; and the nearest missionary station is Gowahatti, under the direction of the Serampore mission, distant several hundred miles; while at the south, Manipur, the capital of Cassay, (the country between Assam and Burmah,) at the distance of about 200 miles, and entirely destitute of the light of the gospel, is easily accessible by a road travelled at some seasons by cavalry. Further to the east, is the district of Bong, inhabited by Koukies, (supposed to be a tribe of Shans,) and this again borders close ou Bamoo (or Bomau) the northernmost city of Burmah, lying on the Irrawaddy, which washes the golden city, and within 20 miles of the Chinese border.-The relation of Sadiya, as a missionary station, to the Siam and Burmah missions, is of no less interest. The Meinam or Siam river might be ascended about two thirds of the distance from Bankok to Sadiya, and a chain of missionary posts extended through the whole length of Laos, and along the south-western border of China. And if Bomau were occupied by missionaries from the north, the whole length and breadth of Burmah might be speedily filled with the light of the knowledge of the glory of God.

"All this," says Mr. Kincaid, speaking of the desirableness of planting a branch of the mission at Bomau, with a press at Ava, and Burman assistants travelling incessantly between Ava and Bomau, preaching the gospel and distributing tracts,—" all this is practicable, and vastly desirable; and when we consider the end to be obtained, we ought to be willing to risk ease and health, and even life itself. These regions, that have never been trodden by the messengers of peace, might soon lift up their hands to God. O, that American Christians would take a careful survey of this vast field, and send up their united petitions to the God of all grace, in behalf of these nations."

The individuals designated to commence the mission at Sadiya, have already been named. Their appointment, made originally by the missionaries at Maulmein with entire unanimity, was eminently judicious, and has received the cordial sanction of the Board. Mr. Brown having assiduously prosecuted the study of the Burman language for nearly two years, and Mr. Cutter having had some experience in printing eastern languages, they will be prepared to enter at once into their work among a people whose dialect and written characters bear a close resemblance to Burmese and Siamese, and many of whom are able to understand and speak the former. The Board have also the satisfaction to believe that this arrangement will be entirely agreeable to the gentlemen who have taken so deep and active an interest in the establishment of the mission. "I know of no person," Capt. Jenkins writes, "to whom I would more willingly apply, to select a missionary, than Dr. Judson. The connection of the Sadiya dialects and tribes with the Burmese language and country, makes it obviously most important to get a gentleman from the Rangoon mission; otherwise we should be losing a year of precious time, whilst the individual was acquiring a competent knowledge of the Shan languages, which a Burmese scholar will master without difficulty." indeed was the solicitude of this gentleman to forestall the least unnecessary delay, in supplying Sadiya with a missionary, that he proposed to contribute 1000 rupees as "his mite towards the establishment of a mission family in that place," and whenever they had had a press at work six months, to double that sum, if he remained in charge of the Province.

Such

Messrs. Brown and Cutter, with their families, arrived at Calcutta from Maulmein, September 2, and were expecting to set out for Sadiya, about the 1st of November, after the close of the rains. The ascent would probably occupy four months. Mr. Cutter would take with him a printing-press procured at Calcutta, for present use, together with a standing-press, 100 reams of paper, and a sufficiency of Burmese and Roman type with diacritical marks in Shan, &c.; also a type-mould and some type metal. An additional press with a full supply of printing materials will be sent out to the station during the current year, and a complete set of Shan characters prepared as early as practicable.

DOMESTIC OPERATIONS.

MISSIONARY APPOINTMENTS.

During the year ending April 1, 1836, the Board have commissioned, exclusively of native assistants in Burmah, thirty-two missionaries and assistant missionaries; thirty of whom have entered upon their work, or are on their way to their respective fields of labor; one has been released from his engagement, on account of sickness, and one removed by death.

Their names and designations are as follows:

Germany.-Rev. J. G. Oncken, Mr. C. F. Lange, assistant.
Liberia.-Mrs. Elizabeth Mylne, Rev. A. W. Anderson.

Chinese. Rev. Jehu Lewis Shuck, Mrs. Shuck, Rev. Alanson Reed, Mrs. Reed.

Siam.-Rev. Robert D. Davenport, printer, Mrs. Davenport.

Telingas.-Rev. Samuel S. Day, Mrs. Day, Rev. Elisha L. Abbott.

Burmah.-Rev. Lovel Ingalls, Mrs. Ingalls, Rev. James M. Haswell, Mrs. Haswell.

France. Rev. Erastus Willard, Mrs. Willard, Rev. D. Newton Sheldon, Mrs. Sheldon, Rev. Louis Dusart, Mr. Alexy Moutel, assistant.

Ottawas.-Miss Mary Bond, Miss Sarah Day.

Ojibwas.-Miss Nancy Brown, Judson Bingham, assistant.

E. Cherokees.-Oganaya, native preacher.

W. Cherokees.-Rev. Chandler Curtiss.

Choctaws.-Rev. Eber Tucker, Alanson Allen, M. D.
Shawanoes.-Mr. Robert Edmonds.

Miss Eleanor Macomber, who was also recently designated to the Burman mission, was formerly connected with the mission at Sault de Ste. Marie.

FOREIGN AGENCY.

On the 22d of September last, Rev. Howard Malcom, a member of the Board, and late pastor of the Federal Street Baptist church, Boston, embarked in the ship Louvre, for Calcutta, under appointment to visit our missionary stations in South-eastern Asia. On arriving at Calcutta, and having provided, as far as may be, for the favorable commencement of the Telinga mission, he will proceed, by the earliest opportunity, either to Burmah or Siam, and there enter on the more direct objects of his important trust. In the right prosecution of these, he will of course need, and will undoubtedly receive, the hearty co-operation of the missionaries at their respective stations. At the same time he will avail himself of all suitable opportunities for more extended inquiry, and for personal observation, and will endeavor to ascertain such facts and principles as will best aid the Board in the future prosecution of their work, either at the stations already occupied, or at those which shall be established in connection with them, and in extending our operations to adjacent countries, especially among the Chinese, the nations bordering on the south and west of China, and the islands of the China Sea.

Mr. Malcom's intercourse with the missionaries will, also, it is believed, be highly gratifying and salutary to them, and will tend to perpetuate the mutual confidence and harmony that have so happily existed among them, and between them and the Board, and which are so essential to the right discharge of the momentous duties devolved upon us.

The term of his absence will be limited to the shortest period required to effect satisfactorily the designs of his appointment.

DOMESTIC AGENCIES.

The operations of the Board in this department of their work have been enlarged the past year by the appointment of two additional agents, Rev. Samuel