Journal of a residence in Siam, and of a voyage along the coast of China to Mantchou Tartary, by the Rev. Charles Gutzlaff.
[We are happy in being able to bring before our readers a Journal of so novel and interesting a character as that which we commence below. To an individual, who sees millions of his species wrapt in the gloom of ignorance and idolatrous superstitions, and devotes himself to the noble service of working out their deliverance, the considerations of civilized and Christian society, and of home, will not, in the least degree, lose their value; on the contrary, as they are viewed in contrast, their value is enhanced, while yet they are willingly foregone, and are counted but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Jesus Christ. Mr. G. is from the neighbourhood of Stettin; about six years ago, he relinquished the most inviting considerations, even royal patronage, to commence the humble labours of a missionary in the East. He is now on a voyage north, expecting to visit Formosa, Loochoo, Japan, Corea, and some of the ports along the coast of China; of this second voyage, it will be in our power, we hope and expect, to give some account at an early period. The population of Bankok, at which place the present journal commences, was four years ago, 401,300 souls, of whom 360,000 were Chinese.]
May 1831. During a residence of almost three years in Siam, I had the high gratification of seeing the prejudices of the natives vanish; and perceived with delight, that a large field amongst the different people who inhabit Siam, was opening. As long as the junks from China stayed, most of the time was taken up by administering to the spiritual and bodily wants of large numbers of Chinese. We experienced this year the peculiar blessings of our divine Saviour. The demand for books, the inquiries after the truth, the friendship shown, were most favourable tokens of divine approbation upon our feeble endeavours. The work of translation proceeded rapidly; we were enabled to illustrate the rudiments of languages hitherto unknown to Europeans; and to embody the substance of our philological researches in small volumes, which will remain in manuscript, presuming that they may be of some advantage to other missionaries. Some individuals, either prompted by curiosity, or drawn by an interest for their own eternal welfare, applied for instruction, and one of them made an open profession of Christianity.
