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THE MISSIONARY.
No 51 Vol. Vl. j
Pi* v r IDENTIAL DELIVERANCE.
Our readers are already informed of the re*
markable deliverance of the American Baptist
Missionaries at Rangoon, when that place was
attacked by the British. The following particu
lars are from the journal of Mr. Wade, who, with
his companion, Ylr. Hough, and several Europe
ans, were confined in chains when it was known
that the British fleet was ascending the river.
Mag 1 lift, 1824. The night was long and
tiresome, but at length morning arrived.
Mrs. VV. and H. sent us breakfast by the
servants, accompanied by a note,requesting
to know the very worst of our circumslan
cea. There was but one hope left; it was
that o( addressing a petition to Mr. Sarkies,
an officer of considerable rank and influence
among the Bormans, but a foreigner; this,
therefore, we advised them to do. To this
petition Mr. Sarkies answered, that he had
already done all that lay in his power in om
behalf; hut so far from being able lo give
us any assistance, he expected every mo
ment to share a like fate, The fleet very
early in the morning had got under weigh,
and was rapidly advancing upon the town.
About three or four thousand armed Bur-
Vlans were collected together in front of
the town, along the shore, to repel any at
tack which might be made by the approach
ing enemy. The women and children, as if
foreseeing the events of (he day, left the
town and lied to the jungles, catr)mg with
them as large a portion of their little prop
erty as they were able. When it was an
nounced that the fleet was within a few miles
of the town, two other Englishmen chained
together, with a Greek and an Armenian
chained in the same manner, were added to
our miserable number. Our guard was
(considerably strengthened, and enjoined
strictly to keep us close : all communica
tion with our servants, and things without,
was cut off. One faithful old servant, be
longing to captain Tench, seized an oppor
tunity, when our door was partly opened,
nl slipping into the room uriperceivefl.
Seeing ‘be situation of his master, and of
us atl, he wept like a child ; and not only
wept, but taking a large turban from his
head, and tearing it into strips, bound them
round our ancles, to prevent our chains from
galling; which we afterwards found of es
sential service to us. Shortly after, orders
from the Yawhojn wero_comrnunicWl to
our guard, through the gates of the prison,
viz. that the instant :he shipping should open
afire upon the town, they were to massa
ere all the prisoners wi'hout hesitation.
This blasted all our hopes. The guards
immediately began sharpening their instru
ments of death with bricks and brandishing
them about our heads, io show with how
much dexterity and pleasure they would
execute their fatal, order®. Upon the place
which they intended ‘or the scene of butch
erv, a large quantity of sand was spread to
receive the blood. Among ihe prisoners
reigned the gloono and silence of death—the
vast ocean of eternity seemed hut a step be
fore u. Mr. 11. and myself threw ourselves
down opoa a mattress, expecting never to
rise again, and calmly waited to hear the
first gun that should he fired upon the town,
ns the signal for our certain death. In the
mean time, an account of our real situation,
which we had used various means to conceal,
reached thS ears of Mrs. VV and H. Their
feeling? can be better conceived than ex
pressed. Who can tell with what agony of
soul they listened to hear the first gun, the
messenger which would relate a tale, more
sad and awful than death itself could relate.
At length the fleet arrived, and the attack
■commenced. The first ball thrown into
ihe town came with a tremendous noise di
rectly aver our heads. Our guards, filled
with consternation and amazpment, seem
ingly unable to execute their murderous or
ders, slunk away into one corner of the
prison, where they remained perfectly qui
et, until a broadside from the Liffey, whirl*
made the prison shake and tremble to i’s
very foundation, so effectually frightened
them, that like children, they cried on!
through fear; and openly declared their in
tent ion of breaking open the door. We
used every argument to prevent thpirdoiog
so, fearing, if the should find us
deserted by the guard, they might be indu ;
ced to despatch us at once, to prevent our
making an escape. But they felt the force
of no arguments, saying, “ The building will
certainly be down upon us; we must go.”
soon found means to brpak open the
door: which being done, they all went out,
but took the precaution to secure the door
again, by fastening it with rattans upon the
outside.
We were now left alone. About this time
the firing ceased upon both sides; and we
began to cherish the fond hope of deliver
ance, inferring from the circumstance just
named, that the Burmans bad either sur
rendered or fled, and that the English troops
MOUNT ZION, (HANCOCK COUNTY, GEORGIA,) MONDAY, JULY 18, 1825.
were already landing, who would shortly
appear to deliver us from our dangerous sit
uation. Mrs. W. and H. heard the firing
commence, under the impression, that at
that moment the merciless Burmans were
imbruing their hands in our blood. They
also had much reason to fear, that a few mo*
ments more would bring them to the same
fate. Moung-shwa-ba still remained with
them, declaring that be would do all in his
power to protect them and our property :
which he did, even at the risk of his own
life. He told them plainly, that the Bur
mans would come in search of them, it be
ing an invariable custom among them, when
they put a man to death under our circum
stances, to sacrifice also his wife, children,
and all his relations, even to the sixth gen
eration. Finding, therefore, that they
could not remain iri the house with the least
prospect of escape, they secreted their most
valuable articles of furniture, and having
taken a few clothes, a pillow, and a Bible,
sought refuge within the walls of a Portu
geese church, a little distance off. They
begged the priest to open the doors of the
church to them; but the holy father would
not suffer a place so sacred to be polluted
bv the unhallowed feet of hereticks. lie
drove them from the church, from his own
house, and even out of his verandah. They
then conceived the project of disguising
themselves, as they were obliged to go out
into the streets, which were completely fil
led with Borqians. For this purpose they
obtained clothes of the servants who attend
ed them, which they put on over their own,
dressing their heads in Burman style, and,
lastly, blacked their bands and faces. In
this disguise they mixed with the multitude,
and passed along undiscovered, while they
frequently heard Burmans inquiring for the
teacher’s wives, which kept them in con
stant fear, lest (hey should be known. Af
ter going some distance, they came, to the
house of a Portuguese woman, into which
they entered and begged protection; but
(he unfeeling wreicli refused them, saying,
if she gave them protection, she should en
danger her own life. But being entirely
exhausted with fatigue and distress of mind,
they threw themselves down upon a mat,
feeling that they were unable to go any
further. Here, therefore, we shall leave
them for the present, and return to the
prison, where all had remained quiet about
the space of half an hour; but in a moment
the whole scene changed. About fifty
armed Burmans came rushing into the
prison like madmen. We were instantly
etzed, dragged out of the prison, our
lothes torn from our bodies, and our arms
drawn behind us with a cord, so tight that
it was impossible to move them. I thought
mine would have been cut entirely to the
bone : indeed, we were treated just as they
would treat criminals, whom they were
about to lead to the place of execution.
We were-now put in front of several armed
men, whose duty it was to goad us along
with the points of their spears ; others had
hold of the cord which bound our arms;
they would pull us first this way, then that,
so that it was impossible for us to determine
in what direction they would have us go.
Sometimes we were impelled forward ; then
drawn backward®, and again our legs were
so entangled with the chains as to quite
throw ns down : in short, they seemed to
study methods of torturing us; but com
plainls were quite useless.
After making an exhibition of us through
almost every street in the town, we were
at length brought to the’Yongdau, or place
where all causes are tried, and sentences
pat; it was the seat of judgement, but not
the seat of justice. Here sat the dispenser
of life and death ; surrounded by other of
fleers of the town. He ordered as to be
placed before him in a kneeling posture,
with our faces to the ground, to which we
submitted in the most respectful manner.
On one side of us was a noisy rabble, crying
out altogether, “That dan, that dau,” that
is, let them be put to death. Between us
and the Yawhoon were two linguists, kneel
ing, and with tears begging for mercy for
u. The cries of the multitude prevailed.
The executioner,who stood on one side with
a large knife in his hand, waiting the decis
ion, was ordered to proceed; but just as he
was lifting the knife to strike off the head
of the prisoner nearest to him, Mr. H. beg
ged permission to make a proposal to the
Yawhoon, who having beckoned to the ex
ecutioner to desist a little, demanded what
he had to say. The proposal was, that one
.or two of the prisoners should be sent on
board Ihe shipping, in which case he would
at least promise that the firing upon the
town should cease directly. But said the
Yawhoon, “Are yon sure of this; will you
positively engage to make peace ?” At this
moment a broadside from the Liffey occa-
sioned great alarm. The Yawhoon and
dther officers instantly dispersing, sought
.refuge under the bank of a neighbouring
tank. We were now permitted once mors
to stand upon our feet, which but a moment
ago we never expected to do again. The
firing increased, and the multitude began to
flee with great precipitancy. Though our
ankles were already miserably galled with
our chains, the cords on our arms intolerably
painful, and destitute of any clothes except
pantaloons, urged along with spears, we
were obliged to keep pace with those whom
fear impelled with hasty step Having
passed through the gate of the town, they
kept close uuder the walls to prevent being
cut down by the -cannon balls, which were
falling in every direction around us: at
length they bent their course towards the
place of publick execution, whither we sup
posed (hey intended to carry us. We pas
sed directly by the Portuguese woman’s
bouse, where Mrs. W. and 11. had but a few
moments before turned in to ask protection.
They saw us as we passed. They knew
they were driving us towards the place of
execution, and said to each other, “ That is
the last time we shall ever behold our bus
bands.” They thought till now we wereal
ready dead; it was therefore a little relief
to know we were still living. Their first
impression, as they have since told me, was
to follow us, and share our fate; but h mo
ment’s reflection convinced them of the im
propriety of such a step : it would make the
parting intolerable, both to them and us, to
be murdered before their eyes. Fortunate
ly tor us, we did not know that they saw us,
until all was over.
We soon after found that they did not de
sign to carry U 9 to the place of execution:
for having passed by this spot they proceed
ed in the direction dt tbe Great Pagoda.
Looking behind, we saw the Yawhoon and
his officers following us upon horseback.
When they had overtaken us, they alighted,
and having seated themselves in a Zayal,
ordered us to be placed before them a sec
ond time, but not in so degrading a posture
as before ; indeed their whole treatment of
us seemed a little more mild. Our arm 9
were untied, a little water was offered us to
driak, also a few plantains and cheroots.
After a few moments consultation upon the
proposal made by Mr. H. it was assented to,
and his chains were taken eff: he asked to
have me sent with him, but this was refus
ed. Mr. H. being gone, the remaining
prisoners were committed to the charge of
an inferiour officer, with strict orders, that
if Mr. H. did not succeed, to put us to death;
which also was the substance of Ihe message
sent by the Yawhoon to the General by Mr.
H. on whose success now hung all our hopes
of life. The officer directed, that we
should be deposited in a building standing
upon the base of the Great Pagoda, and be
treated hospitably until Mr. H’s. return.
Four of our number, being quite exhausted
with fatigue and pain, occasioned by the
galling of their chains, were unable to go
any farther, which the other officer per
ceiving, he allowed them to remain in a
building at the foot of the Pagoda. Tbe
place in which we were now to be confined
was a strong brick building consisting of
four apartments. The first of these was
occupied by large images. The second
was a kind of hall, and behind this were
two small dungeons, or dark gloomy apart
ments, apparently designed as repositories
for treasure. We were first confined in the
second of these apartments, but shortly af
ter in one of the dungeons ju9t mentioned.
We found the place filled with Burman
goods of almost every description; there
were no windows, or any thing else com
fortable, and they gave us nothing to eat or
drink. Mr. H. in his way to the shipping,
met a company of troops which had just
landed: he communicated his business to
one of the officers, and related where and
under what circumstances he had left us.
They proceeded forward io search of us;
but before they reached the spot we had
been removed, as before related; and the
Yawhoon with his attendants, being inform
ed that a company of troops was advancing
upon him, fled to the jungles. The same
detachment having received some informa
tion from Mr. H. of Mrs H. and W. also
made search for them. But they having
been driven out of the house of the Portu
guese woraao, as stated above, had at length
taken refuge in a small bamboo bouse, to
gether with a number of other females,
wives of foreigners, whose husbands were
also prisoners. This place merely hid
them from the eyes of the passing multi
tude, though they were in most imminent
danger from cannon balls, which were eve
ry moment falling around them; and even
here they were sought by Ihe Burmans ;
but a young man who stood At the door,
told the inquirers that tbe wives of the
teachers were not there, and that he knew
nothing of them. Here they remained in a
state o t great anxiety and danger, till at
length they heard the sound of the bugle®:
assured by this that English troops must be
near, they threw aside their Burman cos
tume, and ran out to meet them; their
bauds and faces still black, and tbeir whole
appearance that of persons in great distress.
Their first words to the kind officer [Major
Sale] who took them under his protection,
were, “Our husbauds, our husbands!”
“ Where.are vour husbands?” said the of
ficer. They could only answer, that but a
little while ago they saw os led by in chains,
and almost naked, towards the place of ex
ecution. He immediately despatched two
or three of his men to the spot to see if our
bodies could 6e found, not doubting but we
bad been put to death : they returned with
out intelligence. Mrs. W. and H. were
then conducted into town, (it being unsafe
to spend the night at the mission-house) and
placed under the protection of Mr. Sarkies,
whose family was very kind, and used every
possible exertion to accommodate and con
sole them. Mr. H. delivered his message
from the Yawhoon to Sir Archibald Camp
bell, who said in answer, “ If the Burmans
shed one dtop of white blood, we will lay
the whole country in rums, and give no
quarters.” lie returned to the place where
he had left the Yawhoon, for the purpose
of delivering the General’s answer; but not
finding him, he proceeded as far as the
Great Pagoda, where he found many Bur.
mans, of whom he inquired after the Yaw
hooo, and also for the prisoners; but being
unable to gain any information of either, he
returned back to town, where he found
Mrs. H. and W. safely protected. It is very
remarkable that he performed this excur
sion without being molested t>y a single
Burman. It was now near 8 o’clock, and
tbe firing from the shipping still continuing,
gave us reason to apprehend, that Mr. H.
had done little good by his message to the
General. We, however, remained as quiet
as possible, which was now our only hope
of safety. Exhausted by hunger, and the
fatigues of the day, we laid our naked bodies
upon the ground, in hopes of gaining a lit
tle rest; but our situation was too uncom
fortable to adtiut of sleep. Several times
during tbe night our fears were greatly ex
cited by tbe Burmans; for there were sev
eral hundreds around us; and it was almost
impossible to stir, without making a noise
with our chains loud enough to be heard at
a considerable distance.
\2th. —Very early in the morning, a
party of Burmans came, evidently with the
design of putting us to death, or carrying
U 9 with them into the jungle, which to me
seemed more terrible than death. Having
entered that part of (he building in which
they bad probably seen us deposited on
the preceeding evening, and not finding ns,
they fell into a great rage, if we might
judge from their language. This 100 m
being contiguous to the place where we
were, and the door not shutting perfectly
tight, they came to examine it, but finding
it locked, were about to burst it open, when
some person from the outside cried that
the English were coming, by which they
were alarmed, and fled with great precip
itancy. But a moment before we said to
ourselves, it is all over with us; death,
or something worse, seemed inevitable;
but now tbe most sanguine hopes succeed
ed to fear. All tbe Burmans bad fled, and
tbe English troops were near; we even
beard some of their voices distinctly ; but
were very soon again pluDged from the
pinnacle of hope into the depths of des
pair. The English troops passed by, aud
the Burmans again took possession of tbe
Pagoda ; and we frequently heard them in
the adjoining room; thus ‘hope and fear
alternate swayed our breast-’ At length
the moment of deliverance came. Anoth
er party of troops, headed by Sir Archi
bald himself, advancedi the Burmans, see
ing them at some distance, fired two guns,
which they had planted upon the Pagoda,
(which was the first intimation we had of
tbeir approach.) These guns were no
sooner discharged, than the Burmans took
to their heels as fast as possible; & about
ten minutes after, we bad tbe opportunity
and unspeakable pleasure of discovering
to the troops the place of our confiuement.
It was Gen. Campbell, I believe, who burst
open our door. We crawled out of our
dungeon naked, dirty and almost suffocated.
The General welcomed os to his protec
tion, and ordered our chains immediately
to be taken off but they were so large and
<liff, that all attempts were quite ineffectu
al : so that we were obliged to walk two
miles iuto the town, still in irons. Clothes,
victuals, &c. were immediately given m.