em by a foreigner, who commanded them to worship it;
which command they had faithfully obeyed. Mr. Boardman felt the
strongest curiosity to see this _deified book_, but owing to the
prevalence of the rains, he was not gratified till the following
September. He was then waited on by a large deputation of Karens,
bringing with them in a covered basket, the mysterious volume, wrapped
in fold after fold of muslin; on removing which it proved to be an
Oxford edition of the Common Prayer Book in the English language! With
the greatest simplicity they asked Mr. B. if this book contained the
doctrines of the new religion, and if so, requested to be taught its
contents. Mr. B. assured them that the book was good, but should by no
means be made an object of worship; and accepting it from them, he gave
them in its stead, portions of the Scriptures, translated into a
language they could understand. They entreated him to visit them in
their own villages, assuring him of the readiness of their tribe to
welcome him, and to receive the gospel; and, struck with their
earnestness and candor, he promised at some future time to yield to
their request.

The sorcerer who had preserved the book, and prescribed to the simple
heathen the forms of its worship, threw away his cudgel, or wand of
office, and laid aside his fantastic dress; and Mr. Boardman sent the
mysterious volume to America, to be deposited in the museum of the
Baptist Missionary Society.

Who the "foreigner" may have been, that thus supplied an ignorant people
with a Divinity, or object of worship; or what were his motives in so
doing, will probably always remain a mystery.

If we have devoted considerable space to this notice of the Karens,
their subsequent history will prove that they are not unworthy of such
notice.

FOOTNOTES:

[Footnote 8: Gammell.]

[Footnote 9: See Gammell.]

CHAPTER VII.

LETTER FROM MRS. B.--MR. B.'S VISIT TO THE KARENS IN THEIR
VILLAGES.--DEFECTION OF DISCIPLES.--ITS EFFECT ON MR. AND MRS. B.

Extract of a letter from Mrs. Boardman to a "beloved sister," dated
Tavoy, 1828.--"Nothing especial has occurred since I last wrote. We are
still in good health, and happy in our work. We are now destitute of all
religious society, and feel that our responsibilities are great
indeed.... We have to suffer many little inconveniences in this country,
but have no disposition to complain. We rejoice in the kind providence
that has directed our st