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
