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 BV 3300 .M86 1839 
 Munson, Samuel, 1804-1834 
 Memoirs of the Rev. Samuel 
 Munson, and the Rev. Henry 
 
MEMOIRS 
 
 REV. MESSRS. MUNSON AND LYMAN. 
 
MEMOIRS 
 
 OF THE 
 
 REV. SAMUEL MUNSON, 
 
 AND THF. 
 
 REV. HENRY LYMAN, 
 
 LATE MISSIONARIES 
 
 TO THE 
 
 INDIAN ARCHIPELAGO, 
 
 WITH THE JOURNAL OF THEIR EXPLORING TOUR. 
 
 BY REV. WM. THOMPSON. 
 
 " Wi are more than conquerors." 
 
 NEW- YORK: 
 D. APPLETON & CO., 200, BROADWAY. 
 
 MDCCC XXXJX. 
 
H. LTTDWIG, PRINTERJ 
 
 72,'Vesey-st., N. Y. I 
 
PREFACE 
 
 The eyes of Christian nations are 
 turned with keen interest towards South- 
 eastern Asia. 
 
 Having- estabUshed a mission in 
 Siam, the A. B. C. F. M. directed their 
 attention to the neighbouring islands. 
 Reports from that quarter appeared to 
 warrant an effort to ascertain whether 
 
VI PREFACE. 
 
 the Gospel might not be speedily preach- 
 ed throughout the Indian Archipelago. 
 
 With this design Messrs. Munson 
 and Lyman were sent forth on a tour 
 of observation and inquiry. 
 
 Some time after their tragical death 
 it was concluded by a number of in- 
 telligent and judicious friends of the 
 cause in which they fell, that a me- 
 morial of the deceased ought to be pre- 
 pared for the public. 
 
 In accordance \^ith their judgment 
 and wishes, the present volume has 
 been drawn up. Had the times been 
 auspicious it would have appeared at a 
 much earlier period. 
 
 Up to the time of their embarka- 
 tion at Boston, the memoirs of Messrs. 
 
PREFACE. VU 
 
 Munson and Lyman are kept distinct. 
 After that time they are blended, except 
 that extracts are distinguished by the 
 initials M. and L. 
 
CONTENTS 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 Early life of Samuel Munson — His conversion — His charac- 
 
 acter in college 13 
 
 CHAPTER 11. 
 
 His professional studies at Andover — Attendance on Medical 
 Lectures in Boston and Brunswick — Connection with 
 the Missionary Society of Barnstable County— Marriage 23 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 Early Life of Henry Lyman — His Character on entering 
 College — Conversion — Consequent Improvement in 
 Scholarship — Interest in Missions 34 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 His professional studies at Andover — Attendance on Medical 
 Lectures in Boston and Bi-unswick — Marriage — Re- 
 ceives the Instructions of the Board 57 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 Voyage of the Brethren — Residence in Batavia — Employ- 
 ments — Obtain leave of the Government to pursue their 
 Exploring Tour 64 
 
I 
 
 VI CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 Journitl of Messrs. Munson and Lyman on their Tour of 
 Observation and Inquiry among the Islands lying west 
 of Sumatra 87 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 The violent Death of Messrs. Munsou and Lyman, in at- 
 tempting to explore the Batta Country 179 
 
MEMOIRS. 
 
MEMOIR 
 
 CHAPTER r. 
 
 Early life of Samuel Munson — His conversion — His character 
 in college. 
 
 Samuel, son of Samuel and Elizabeth Mun- 
 son, was bom in New Sharon, Maine, March 23, 
 1804. Near that time, his parents became subjects 
 of grace, and attended faithfully to the religious in- 
 struction of their household. During childhood, 
 young Samuel was, several times, the subject of 
 distressing apprehensions on account of sin. His 
 conscience, which appears to have been habitually 
 tender, was often quickened, at that period, by divine 
 truth. 
 
 At ten years of age he was left an orphan, by an 
 epidemic which proved fatal to both his parents. A 
 friend of his father now received him to his house, 
 which, from that time, he considered his home. 
 His fidelity and sweetness of temper soon endeared 
 him to each member of the domestic circle, and he 
 was uniformly treated as a son and brother. 
 2 
 
14 MEMOIROF 
 
 His boyhood was distinguished by the frank ac- 
 knowledgment of his faults, kindness of disposition, 
 a winning deportment, and that meek decision which 
 was a leading characteristic of his riper years. His 
 teachers esteemed him for his integrity and applica- 
 tion to his task, and his mates always welcomed 
 him as a favourite companion on the play-ground. 
 So strongly was young Munson attached to his 
 studies, that he frequently retired, during the hours 
 of relaxation at school, to gratify in solitude his 
 strong thirst for knowledge. 
 
 At nineteen years of age, the subject of this me- 
 moir hopefully experienced " the washing of regen- 
 eration and the renewing of the Holy Ghost." As 
 no particular account of his rehgious exercises at 
 that period has been preserved, the following narra- 
 tive of the Rev. Josiah Peet, of Norridgewock, 
 drawn from personal knowledge and recollection, 
 will be gratifying to the pious reader. 
 
 "Labouring occasionally in the work of the min- 
 istry in New Sharon, I became acquainted with 
 Samuel Munson, some time in the year IS 18, he 
 being at that time about 15 years of age. I re- 
 garded him with interest, both from his personal ap- 
 pearance, and also from the fact that he was an 
 orphan. As my acquaintance increased, I per- 
 ceived he was an unusually sedate, modest, rejflect- 
 ing, sensible youth. Were he to become pious, I 
 thought, he would be a suitable young man to 
 
SAMUEL M IT N S O N . 15 
 
 study for the ministry. His religious impressions 
 commenced in the early part of the year 1823. His 
 convictions were deep and scriptural. He saw him- 
 self to be a depraved, guilty, and lost sinner ; and 
 that nothing short of renewing grace, and an inter- 
 est in the merits of an Almighty Saviour, could save 
 him from impending, merited destruction. At 
 length he was enabled, as he hoped, to cast himself 
 upon the arms of the Saviour, and experienced 
 peace in believing. Though the hope he cherished 
 was a trembling one, he gave satisfactory evidence 
 of a change of heart. He saw in himself such un- 
 likeness to God, and so much that was wrong, that 
 he was slow to believe there could be any thing 
 truly good. 
 
 "In the course of the summer, others, who ob- 
 tained hope at the same time with himself, offered 
 themselves to the church, but he kept back, feehng 
 himself to be too unworthy and unfit to take this 
 important step. At a subsequent visit, however, I 
 found that he had concluded it to be his duty to 
 own Christ before men. Accordingly he offered 
 himself for examination, and on the 28th of Sep- 
 tember, 1823, was admitted to the church in full 
 communion." 
 
 Soon after his admission to the church his mind 
 was much occupied with the question, whether he 
 ought not to seek a preparation for work of the 
 ministry. At length, after repeated interviews with 
 
16 MEMOIROF 
 
 Mr. Peet, he resolved to enter upon a course of pre- 
 paratory studies, and during several of the follow- 
 ing months he received gratuitous instruction from 
 his clerical friend. He then joined the Academy at 
 Farmington, where he pursued his studies through 
 the summer and fall. The next winter he taught 
 school in his native town ; and though his pupils 
 were formerly his school-fellows, they readily yield- 
 ed the respect due to his superior attainments and 
 Christian decision. That season, for the first time, 
 prayer was offered in the school morning and even- 
 ing. At the close of his engagement at New Sha- 
 ron he returned to FarmingtDn, where he remained 
 till the fall of 1825, when he entered Bowdoin 
 College. 
 
 The following account, which he drew up near 
 the close of life, shows what difficulties opposed his 
 first endeavours to prepare himself for the ministry. 
 
 " In 1824 I was received under the patronage of 
 the Maine Branch of the American Education So- 
 ciety. About a year previous I indulged a hope in 
 a precious revival in the town of New Sharon. 
 Though I was then labouring on a farm, it was my 
 prayer to God for many months, that he would di- 
 rect me in the riglit way. I was desirous of doing 
 good ; but how I could accomplish the most good 
 did not then appear. 
 
 " I wanted, but I dared not mention it to my most 
 intimate friends, — I wanted to prepare myself to. 
 
S A 31 r E L M U X S O N . 17 
 
 preach the gospel to the heathens. But my 
 parents were both dead — I was destitute of pro- 
 perty, nor had I friends who were able to assist 
 me. During this state of suspense, a beloved friend 
 in the ministry inquired of me what course I in- 
 tended to take. I could not answer. The next 
 time we met he suggested a preparation for the 
 ministry. I told him, without reserve, all my diffi- 
 culties and wants. He then mentioned the Educa- 
 tion Society. I did not long deliberate. The next 
 week found me toiling with my Latin Grammar. 
 I studied a few weeks, and was examined by the 
 Directors, who admitted me to their patronage. 
 
 " But new perplexities beset me. The funds of 
 the society were low ; and I resolved to do with as 
 httle assistance as possible. My wants, as stated to 
 them, were always underrated. Indeed I did not 
 wish to urge my claims upon them, while the 
 wants of others better deserving their patronage, 
 might be greater than mine. The consequence 
 was, that, during my preparation for college, I re- 
 ceived from them less than fifty dollars. 
 
 " But my studies could not be prosecuted without 
 books. To run in debt for them would be impru- 
 dent. To borrow them was impossible. After every 
 effort to procure them had failed, I sat down with 
 the apprehension that this might be an obstacle 
 thrown in my way by Providence, to prevent my 
 progress towards the ministiy. I felt perplexed and 
 2* 
 
18 M E M O I R O F 
 
 distressed. My feelings often found vent in tears. 
 To abandon the enterprise seemed like giving up 
 the hope of existence. At length a distant friend 
 offered to lend me all the books I wanted. This 
 dispensation of mercy dissipated my distressing 
 doubts, and enabled me to go forward. 
 
 " Though all the time that could be spared from 
 my studies was employed in teaching school, yet pe- 
 cuniary embarrassment was my constant compan- 
 ion. When my studies at the academy were near- 
 ly finished, I was compelled to leave my class, and 
 return once more to the pursuits of the farm. The 
 remuneration which I received for a few weeks' la- 
 bour enabled me to defray the expenses of a journey 
 to college, and meet incipient expenses there. I did 
 not complain, though compelled to make a thanks- 
 giving dinner on bread and milk. The object I 
 had in view made me willing to submit to any 
 measure of privation which would ensure ultimate 
 success." 
 
 What object is here meant has been already 
 brought to view. " Secret and inviolable springs" 
 early set his heart towards missionary labour. This 
 purpose, sacredly cherished in the deep places of his 
 soul, continued steadfast through his academic and 
 professional studies, constantly animating and guid- 
 ing his intellectual pursuits. The difficulty of meet- 
 ing unavoidable expenses, during his first year in 
 college, occasioned so much anxiety, that he often 
 
SAMUEL M U N S O N . 19 
 
 found it impossible to apply his mind to study as he 
 wished. 
 
 " What adds to my perplexity." he remarks, " is, 
 that one of my intimate friends, in similar circum- 
 stances, has sunk under his increasing burden. We 
 frequently associated and took sweet counsel together. 
 We frequently encouraged each other, and mingled 
 our prayers and tears before the throne of grace. 
 Nothing now lies before me but a dreary, dubious 
 struggle. Were it not that I am persuaded the hand 
 of God has brought me thus far, and still points 
 onward, I should seek a refuge in the bosom of my 
 friends. When I look forward I see nothing in this 
 world but one continued scene of labour and trial. 
 When will this distressing anxiety, this body of sin, 
 and these dreary prospects be exchanged for the 
 calmness, purity, and never-ending felicities of the 
 upper world !" 
 
 While in college Mr. Munson united a uni- 
 form diligence in the several branches of his study 
 with the prayerful cultivation of spiritual religion. 
 His Christian graces, we have reason to believe, 
 escaped that sad eclipse which so many pious stu- 
 dents suffer on entering our public institutions. The 
 following sketch of his intellectual and rehgious 
 character, w4iile a resident at Brunswick, is fur- 
 nished chiefly by a gentleman conriected with Bovv- 
 doin College, who was more intimately acquainted 
 with Mr. Munson than any other member of the 
 faculty. 
 
20 MEMOIBOF 
 
 ''His intellectual character in college did not 
 exhibit a decided superiority. He was a person of 
 marked accuracy of judgmeiit, more distinguished 
 for this trait than for originality or imagination. To 
 some extent, there was a want of quick discernment 
 and comprehensive views of subjects. But although 
 not rapid hi the acquisition of knowledge, he com- 
 pensated for this by his great perseverance, and a 
 judicious application of his powers. He was a 
 patient student, and was unwilling to leave a sub- 
 ject without understanding it. He might be distin- 
 guished by that invaluable quality, common sense, 
 and insight into the proprieties of time and place, 
 which rendered his efforts available more than they 
 would otherwise have been. 
 
 " There was much of decision in his character, 
 and that decision which was ever ready for action. 
 Not that he was rash, or headstrong, or adventure- 
 some. On the contrary, he was a cautious man, 
 not hasty in forming his determinations, but when 
 he saw the way in which duty called him to go 
 forward, he was ready to obey the summons. 
 
 "He was of a contemplative cast of mind, prone 
 to think long and intensely on the wretchedness of 
 his fellow men, and highly susceptible of emotions 
 of pity and compassion. When he looked on the 
 degradation and wretchedness of those who dwell 
 in lands of darkness and cruelty, his eye affected 
 his heait, and there arose within him strong desires 
 
SAMUEL MUNSON. 21 
 
 and resolute purposes to go to their relief. Few, 
 perhaps, have in stronger exercise, that faith in 
 God, and those desires for usefulness, which adopt 
 at once the language, ' Here am I, send me.' 
 
 " His religious character was well developed when 
 in college. Every one saw in him one living under 
 the influence of the Gospel. His deportment was 
 serious, his feelings kind and equable, his discharge 
 of duty conscientious, his spirit prayerful with a 
 a deep and abiding sense of obligation to his God 
 and Saviour. There was not one of his associates 
 who, in looking back on college life, must not be 
 ready to acknowledge, that if any one of their num- 
 ber had the traits of the devoted missionary, Mun- 
 son was that individual. His conscientiousness 
 was very apparent, and was evinced by his close 
 attention to all the studies of the college course, 
 because they were required, when, had he followed 
 his own inclination on the subject, as did some of 
 his pious associates at that time, he would have 
 attended more fully to some to the neglect of others. 
 He always appeared to me as a fine specimen of 
 one making the best use of his powers, and improv- 
 ing to the utmost, his time and opportunities to 
 acquire useful knowledge. He was modest and 
 unassuming in his manners, with a slight tinge of 
 melancholy in his appearance, which was perhaps 
 constitutional." 
 
 To do good and to communicate was Mr. Mun- 
 
22 MEMOIROF 
 
 son's practice and pleasure. Without infringing 
 on the stated duties of college, he gathered a Sab- 
 bath School two and a half miles distant. Its 
 growing prosperity evinced his faithfulness and 
 skill. The sick and wretched were not unfre- 
 quently cheered by his visits. 
 
 After listening to a missionary sermon, preached 
 to the students by Rev. Mr. Stewart, of the Sand- 
 wich Island mission, he longed " to fly as a herald 
 of the Cross, to those benighted ones." But recol- 
 lecting his situation, he says, " While I thank the 
 Lord for the past, and pray for future success, may I 
 inquire, ' Lord what wait thou have me to do ?' " 
 
 While his associates could not fail to observe his 
 growing excellence as a scholar and a Christian, the 
 consciousness of painful deficiencies in both respects, 
 induced him to " fear that his future usefulness 
 would be very limited." " My soul," he says, " is 
 still disordered and sick. My spiritual joys are 
 withered ! O Lord, revive thy work in my heart !" 
 
 The train of college studies, from w^hich Mr. M. 
 had gained solid and extensive benefit, closed in 
 the year 1829. 
 
SAMUEL M U N S O N . 23 
 
 CHAPTER 11. 
 
 His professional studies at Andover — Attendance on Medical 
 Lectures in ?)03lon and Brunswick — Connection with the 
 Missionary Society of Barnstable County — Marriage. 
 
 On entering the Seminary at Andover, hundreds 
 have experienced a sacred and unutterable pleasure, 
 springing partly from intercourse with congenial 
 spirits, and partly from such engagements as pro- 
 mote a thorough knowledge of divine truth and the 
 growth of spiritual religion. 
 
 An additional source of happiness and improve- 
 ment is opened before one who aspires to the func- 
 tion of a Christian missionary. He enters the rooms 
 where Mills and Hall, with their associates, wept and 
 prayed together. He reads the weighty and solemn 
 arguments by which those servants of God enforced 
 the claims of the heathen. He is assured by many 
 witnesses, that those sons of Andover who embarked 
 in the first missions from America, aim to be " exam- 
 ples in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in 
 faith, in purity." He also holds daily interviews 
 with those few, who, like himself, intend to ' preach 
 Christ' in some distant field of pollution and wretch- 
 edness. Thus the fire which was perhaps almost 
 
24 MEMOIROF 
 
 quenched in college, is fanned to a flame, and the 
 whole character displays, in a short time, a happy 
 and decisive improvement. 
 
 No part of the prescribed course of studies, and 
 no opportunities for making useful acquisitions were 
 neglected by the subject of this sketch. Few of his 
 class-mates knew at the time, with what diligence 
 he explored the field of biblical knowledge, and pre- 
 served in writing the results of his inquiries. Sev- 
 eral small volumes of MSS. written at this period, 
 evince that he purposed to be " a scribe, well instruc- 
 ted into the kingdom of heaven." The following 
 remarks of one in all respects well qualified to judge, 
 will doubtless be pronounced strictly just by those 
 who knew Mr. Munson at Andover. 
 
 Of our lamented brother I entertained a very 
 high opinion from the time of our first acquaint- 
 ance ; and the more intimate I became with him 
 the higher this opinion rose. Though possessed of 
 very strong feelings, his natual temperament was 
 phlegmatic, rather than sanguine. He had a sound 
 judgment, an unusual sliare of prudence, a good 
 knowledge of human nature, and a well disciphned 
 and an uncommonly well balanced mind. As a 
 student he was dihgent and thorough. His talents 
 were highly respectable, — solid rather than showy. 
 
 " The moral excellencies of brother Munson were 
 many. His piety was ardent and deep toned, ex- 
 erting upon his whole character a controlling influ- 
 
S A J.I U E L M U N S O N . 25 
 
 ence. He had a good degree of zeal, and it was 
 well tempered and well directed by knowledge. To 
 sum up all, in a single expression, his character 
 was beautifully symmetrical.*' 
 
 The habit of being punctual and systematic, 
 which he carefully maintained, enabled him to cul- 
 tivate several branches of study which, by not a 
 few, are entirely dropped on leaving college. In 
 whatever quarter his researches were directed, the 
 commanding motive was the same, — the highest 
 possible usefulness as an ambassador of Christ to 
 the heathen. Whether exploring the difficulties of 
 the sacred text, or the field of physical science, 
 " The love of Christ constrained him." It was his 
 firm beUef, that the minister and the missionary 
 should be the last men to grow remiss in stated ef- 
 forts to invigorate and enrich their minds. That 
 his practice to the close of life coincided with this 
 conviction is certain. 
 
 We have already noticed some of the early indi- 
 cations that the Lord of the harvest designed Mr. 
 Munson should devote himself to the foreign ser- 
 vice. At Andover the subject of his prayers and 
 hopes for several years called for a new and solemn 
 consideration. The following extracts from a letter 
 to one whom he could address " without restraint,'' 
 present one of those trains of thought which 
 brought him to a final determination. 
 
 " I find in myself a mixture of feelings which it 
 3 
 
26 MEMOIROF 
 
 is difficult to analyze. There is a novelty connect- 
 ed with the missionary Hfe, — a voyage across the 
 ocean, — a tour perhaps among the ruins of an- 
 cient Greece, or a visit to the land which vi^as the 
 theatre of our Saviour's mission and the city over 
 which he wept, — or perhaps an abode in some re- 
 mote yet beautiful island in the Pacific, where 
 nature has lent all her charms to give elegance 
 and enchantment to her luxuries ; such prospects 
 connected with the success that has attended the 
 missionary effort, and the urgent call for more la- 
 bourers, have at times so wrought upon my feel- 
 ings, that I have thought I could stay here no 
 longer. Yet such a spirit is as different from the 
 true missionary spirit, as light from darkness. It 
 would wither before toils and sufferings, hke the 
 blighted blossom in the noon-day sun. It is the 
 ardour of youth, instead of the spirit of Christ. It 
 is a creature of self^ instead of that which seeketh 
 not her own. Such feelings then must be banished. 
 " It is sometimes supposed, that if an individual 
 has a willingness or desire to devote himself to the 
 missionary work, it is of course his duty. If he 
 could be satisfied that the desire originated from the 
 special Providence of God, he might safely yield to 
 it. If an inclination to become a missionary is, of 
 itself, sufficient evidence of duty, then the want of 
 such an inclination will, with equal certainty, excuse 
 one. 
 
SAMUEL MUNSON. 27 
 
 " But it is often said to theological students, ' You 
 dare not examine the subject, lest you should be 
 convinced that it is your duty to go to the heathen.' 
 There can be no doubt there are ministers settled in 
 New England who, had they impartially examined 
 the subject, would now have been in heathen lands. 
 And perhaps others among the heathen had they 
 done ihe same, would now have been in New Eng- 
 land. Not that a warm attachment to missions is 
 to be disregarded ; but it is not of itself a satisfacto- 
 ry evidence of duty. 
 
 " I have been fully convinced of late, that in order 
 to find any truth, we must first get into the path 
 that leads directly to it, and then divest ourselves 
 of those partialities and prejudices which would di- 
 vert us from that path. This is a task of no ordi- 
 nary magnitude ; but it must be done. The first 
 point that presents itself for our consideration, is the 
 comparative claims of our own country and the 
 heathen. The population of New England is 
 1,80 ),000. In this population there are, of all de- 
 nominations, about 18'J0 ministers ; or one to every 
 thousand inhabitants. In the United States there 
 are perhaps four millions, out of the twelve mil- 
 lions, destitute of the means of grace. But among 
 those four millions are employed about four hundred 
 missionaries, or one missionary to every ten thou- 
 sand souls. But the whole number of missionaries 
 sent from this country to the five hundred millions 
 
28 MEMOIROF 
 
 of perishing heathen does not exceed seventy ; and 
 the number of missionaries from all Christendom 
 now employed among the heathen does not exceed 
 five hundred, or, one missionary to a million of 
 souls. The most destitute parts of the United 
 States, compared with the heathen have, at this 
 moment, a supply of ten to one. From four hun- 
 dred and twenty-two students that graduated from 
 this seminary previous to the year 1827, thirty- 
 three have become foreign missionaries : i. e. less 
 than one twelfth of the whole number ; or, while 
 eleven have been retained to supply the waste 
 places in our own country, one has been sent to the 
 heathen ! And yet this institution, by way of emi- 
 nence, has been called the Foreign Mission Semi- 
 nary ; because it has sent out more missionaries than 
 any other institution in the land. These facts show 
 that theological students, in general, have not imita- 
 ted the first missionary to the Gentiles, who strove 
 'to preach the Gospel where Christ had not been 
 named, lest he should build upon another man's 
 foundation.' 
 
 "It is often said that our own country ought first 
 to be cultivated, and then there will be time enough 
 to send missionaries abroad. Such objections I 
 have carefully considered. Facts contradict them. 
 When has the church ever done so much to spread 
 the gospel at home, as since the establishment 
 of Foreign Missions? A common enquiry, to be 
 
SAMUEL MUNSON. 29 
 
 be sure, but one that cannot be too often re- 
 peated." 
 
 Having ir.ade his election among the various 
 spheres of Christian benevolence, before Him who 
 is the witness and the judge of all things, Mr. 
 Munson was not to be diverted from his course. 
 The question was settled. From that time no one 
 suspected that he was a victim of the wretchedness 
 and imbecihty that always cleave to "a double- 
 minded man." 
 
 The very imperfect journal which Mr. Munson 
 kept at this period, supplies a few notices in respect 
 to his religious experience, which, in the judgment 
 of most persons, it were wrong to omit in this sketch. 
 
 '' Jan. 16, 1831. — Detained from the house of 
 God to-day by ill health ; had my customary sea- 
 sons of special prayer for the promotion of Christ's 
 kingdom among the heathen ; remembered with 
 special interest the Chinese mission ; was enabled 
 to pray with unusual earnestness for our dear breth- 
 ren labouring there : while I looked over the dark 
 empire, my soul went out after God, '-esting on his 
 unfaiUng promises for the salvation of those bewil- 
 dered millions. 
 
 " 30th. — Have spent the day far from God — cold, 
 lifeless ; one favourable symptom ; I think my soul 
 does begin to mourn. Blessed Saviour, feed my soul 
 with the bread of life. 
 
 <' March 1st. — Spent the day in secret fasting and 
 3* 
 
30 MEMOIROF 
 
 prayer; read with deep interest the 11th of Mat- 
 thew. 
 
 "March 2d. — Fell into a foolish dispute respecting 
 the propriety of excluding a man from the church 
 who would not abstain from ardent spirits ; I gained 
 my point, but suffered an abatement of good feeling ; 
 have enjoyed some comfortable views of Christ as 
 a Saviour, for which I owe him everlasting grati- 
 tude. 
 
 "March 3d. — Had a sweet season of prayer this 
 morning ; could scarcely utter any language but 
 that of praise. 
 
 " April 1st. — Have been trying to recollect some of 
 my ' easily besetting sins ;' something must be- radi- 
 cally wrong : surely this stupidity, this utter indif- 
 ference, which so often takes possession of my heart, 
 cannot be without a cause. Excessive levity is one 
 fault against which I need particularly to guard ; 
 with that I am resolved to proclaim hostihties ; the 
 Lord help a worm to gain thee victory. 
 
 " Dec. 7th, 1831. — To me this has been a day of 
 solemn interest ; it has been set apart by my class- 
 mates as a day of fasting and prayer ; it is the day 
 appointed by the faculty to give us license to preach • 
 a season most fit to throw my thoughts back on the 
 past ; I will tell the story of my trials and deUver- 
 ances to Jesus, and mingle it with my praises. 
 
 " It is almost nine years since I indulged a hope in 
 Christ, and more than eight since I quit the farm, 
 bade adieu to my friends, and commenced a course 
 
SAMUEL MUNSON. 31 
 
 of preparation for the ministry. The record of my 
 life is kept above, but the mercies of God are too 
 deeply graven on my memory to be forgotten. All 
 along has he sustained me. Through my prepara- 
 tory studies — through college — in trial — in suffer- 
 ing — in temptation and in toil has he been a pre- 
 sent helper. 
 
 " At length he has brought me so near the attain- 
 ment of my object ; blessed be his holy name. 
 Praise the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within 
 me, praise the Lord. 
 
 " Without solicitude for the future, again I cast 
 myself, blessed Saviour, upon thy protection^ and in 
 my future life may I not claim that precious promise 
 ' Lo, I am with you always V " 
 
 Mr. Munson's first sermon in the chapel of the 
 seminary, from John viii : 34, produced an impres- 
 sion, it is believed, uncommonly deep and salutary. 
 The Society of Inquiry, and the CoramiUee on 
 Foreign Missions in particular, always found him at 
 his post,— an associate on whose sound judgment 
 and abiding zeal it was safe to rely. His remarks 
 and addresses, especially on taking leave of the 
 society, as their president, were characterized by a 
 power and unction which bespoke the lofty aim and 
 the fervent love of a true missionary. Both in his 
 public exercises, and in those solemn interviews 
 which were designed to call the attention of par- 
 ticular persons to the wants of the heathen, it was 
 
82 MEMOIROF 
 
 evident that he spake "out of the abundance of 
 the heart." 
 
 The greater part of the year after he left Ando- 
 ver, Mr. Munson devoted to the study of medicine 
 in Boston and Brunswick ; the prudential commit- 
 tee of the Board deeming some knowledge of the 
 healing art highly important to a missionary in the 
 East. At Brunswick, those who had known him 
 while a member of college, noticed the striking pro- 
 gress, intellectual and spiritual, which he had made 
 at Andover. 
 
 Congregations in the vicinity, among which he 
 spent his Sabbaths, will not soon forget his persua- 
 sive appeals in behalf of the heathen. His dis- 
 courses on this subject commenced with the discus- 
 sion of some evangelical doctrine, which was then 
 shown to authorize and imperatively demand, sys- 
 tematic, unremitted efforts for the salvation of men. 
 As his own experience had taught him the depen- 
 dence of a ruined sinner on the sovereign mercy of 
 God, he strove to cherish in the minds of Christians, 
 the belief that without "the spirit that quickeneth," 
 the wisest plans and the most abundant labours must 
 utterly fail to bring a single pagan to the knowledge 
 of the truth. 
 
 Just before his embarkation, Mr. Munson preached 
 a sermon from Acts viii : 4, which was published by 
 the Board as one of their " Missionary Papers." 
 This eloquent tribute to the "spirit of primitive 
 
SAMUEL MUNSON. 33 
 
 Christianity," shows that its author dehghted to 
 commune with primitive saints, of whom it has been 
 said, " To suffer and to love was their taste." 
 
 Like them he expected soon to encounter sharp 
 trials, and to stand in need of the same strength 
 that was made perfect in their weekness. 
 
 The friends of missions in Barnstable County, 
 Mass., where Mr. Munson had spent several weeks 
 in the service of the Board, and where he was 
 ordained, proposed to become responsible for his sup- 
 port while engaged in missionary labours. An 
 arrangement for this purpose was accordingly made 
 with the parent society by the auxihary of that 
 county. This proof of Christian confidence produ- 
 ced a happy effect on Mr. Munson's mind, and the 
 correspondence which he maintained with that soci- 
 ety, confirmed their interest in him, and the cause 
 to which they were pledged. 
 
 Shortly after his marriage w^ith Miss Abby John- 
 son, of Brunswick, Maine, Mr. Munson was sum- 
 moned to Boston, to be in readiness for his em- 
 barkation. 
 
34 AIEMOIROF 
 
 CHAPTER IIL 
 
 Early life of Flenry Lyman — His character on entering col'cge — 
 Conversion — Consequent improvement in scholarship — Inter- 
 est in Missions. 
 
 Henry Lyman was born at Northampton, 
 Massachusetts, November 23dj 1809. He was the 
 oldest son, and the third child, of Theodore and 
 Susan W. Lyman, both natives of that town, where 
 they resided till 1827, when they removed to Am- 
 herst, a few miles distant. Shortly after his birth, 
 Henry was taken so ill that his life was almost des- 
 paired of. While in that dangerous condition, as 
 he was lying in his cradle, his father, in an act of 
 solemn devotion, dedicated him to the Lord, and re- 
 solved, if he should be spared, to educate him for the 
 Holy Ministry. The infant's life, which hung in 
 doubt a short season, was mercifully preserved, and 
 the tender vows of his parent were kept in faithful 
 remembrance. Mr. and Mrs. Lyman deemed it 
 their first care to impress divine truth on the niinds 
 of all their children at a very early stage, and with 
 strict regularity maintained the several branches of 
 domestic rehgion. 
 
HENRY LYMAN. 35 
 
 The subject of this sketch, when a child, was dis- 
 tinguished among his brothers by a prompt and 
 cheerful obedience to his parents, and a disposition 
 to anticipate their wants. 
 
 He also displayed, at an early period, a remark- 
 able love of neatness and order. Having completed 
 the Elementary studies, customarily taught in the 
 common schools of New-England, he commenced 
 preparation for college, purely in compliance with 
 the wishes of his father ; for the plan was not at all 
 to his taste. His lively and enterprising spirit would 
 have been well pleased with the pursuits of com- 
 merce or agriculture ; almost any thing, indeed, 
 rather than the grievous drudging which he fancied 
 to be inseparable from the life of a scholar. Till 
 his hopes and aims received a new and nobler direc- 
 tion, he marvelled at his father's choice, and gave 
 only a reluctant and moderate attention to his 
 books. 
 
 Reviewing his early life, Mr. Lyman confessed, 
 that he was a great source of trouble to his teachers. 
 '' Not unfrequently," he remarks, " did I smart 
 under the rod, and, except in one case, always de- 
 servedly. One teacher remarked before the school, 
 that he hoped he should not be obliged, in future, to 
 punish any boys so much as he had me. 
 
 " My first oath is written on my memory as with a 
 pen of iron. The time, the place, the circumstances, 
 are before my mind as if it were yesterday. When 
 
86 MEMOIROP 
 
 at the age of ten or twelve, I had returned from 
 school with two or three of my companions, and 
 was standing near my father's house, I muttered 
 out the oath, for I feared to speak it boldly. ' What 
 would your father say if he heard that!' exclaimed 
 my companion : ' Henry Lyman, what would your 
 father say if he heard that !' was the response of 
 conscience, I felt as if I had taken a great stride in 
 the broad road. It was truly a fearful step. I felt 
 my moral nature tremble under the shock. Every 
 thing around, as if taking cognizance of the fact to 
 bear testimony at the judgment day, impressed itself 
 on my mind, and at this day, though twelve years 
 have passed, I see the appearance of the buildings, 
 the earth, the sky, and the countenances of my com- 
 panions. I hear even now that oath ringing in my 
 ears, and the voice that uttered the reproof. 
 
 '' Another gross sin was the violation of the eighth 
 commandment. This never extended further than 
 tresspasses upon father's change drawer. Once I 
 was detected by my father and punished with the 
 rod. For this I had no care only while I felt the 
 smart. Detecting me again, he took me aside and 
 prayed with me, and left me to an half hour's inter- 
 view between my conscience and God. This was 
 too much for me. The eye of God ! The pains of 
 hell! I shrunk back and resolved to reform. For 
 months I kept my promise." 
 
 This temporary reformation was followed by ad- 
 
HENRY LYMAN. 37 
 
 dilional offences, and open violations of duty, in 
 several particulars, became so frequent, that Mr. 
 Lyman, at a subsequent period, looked back with 
 horror upon the destructive course which he then 
 pursued. 
 
 Having- completed his preparatory studies at 
 Northampton and Hadley, he joined the fi^shmen 
 class, in Amherst College, at the commencement of 
 1826. 
 
 A youth, on entering college, even if he is forti- 
 fied by religious principle and a wholesome disci- 
 pUne, comes within the sphere of moral dangers 
 proverbially great. To acquit himself with credit 
 as |i scholar, and to maintain stated communion 
 with God as a Christian, the pious student needs a 
 large ''supply of the spirit of Christ." He will 
 "give thanks to God always," upon the recollection 
 of the snares which he was enabled to shun during 
 that critical period. 
 
 But when these dangers surround the young 
 scholar who " makes a mock at sin," and seeks a 
 front rank among those who "set their mouth 
 against the heavens," it is well nigh " hoping 
 against hope" to expect that he will not sink in the 
 depths of wicked ness» 
 
 With no better prospects, according to his own 
 
 confession, and the testimony of his associates, 
 
 young Lyman went to Amherst in the fall of 1826. 
 
 " My recollections of him," says a class-mate, 
 
 4 
 
88 MEMOIEOF 
 
 "from the time of his entering college, are quite 
 distinct. His traits of character were such as al- 
 most necessarily to attract attention. He was pecu- 
 liarly ardent, active, and gay. During the first 
 year and a half he was the acknowledged leader 
 of the •' wild part" of his class, and no great ex- 
 ploit could be performed without his aid. Sociable, 
 frank, and good-natured, he was a favourite com- 
 panion. From my first acquaintance with him I 
 felt a deep interest in his welfare, and earnestly de- 
 sired that his prominent talents, and active mind, 
 should be consecrated to the service of God." 
 
 "It was apparent,"' observes tlie revered President 
 of Amherst College, "that he had within him/he 
 elements of energy and enterprise : but whether for 
 good or for ill, was exceedingly problematical, as he 
 was at that time far from being religiously inclined. 
 At times, we felt a good deal of uneasiness about 
 him, as there were some perilous influences around 
 him in college, and as he seemed too much inclined 
 to yield liimself to their sway." 
 
 The " bad eminence" to which he speedily rose 
 may be inferred from the following passage in the 
 "Corner Stone," by Rev. Jacob Abbot, at that time 
 a member of the faculty. The leader referred to 
 was Lyman. 
 
 " The officers were much encouraged, (in view 
 of favourable religious appearances) but our hopes 
 were all dispelled by the success of a manoeuvre 
 
HENRY LYMAN. 39 
 
 which is so characteristic of college Ufe and man- 
 ners, fhat I will describe it. The plan adopted by 
 the enemies of religion was, to come up boldly, and 
 face the awakening interest, and, as it were, brave 
 it down. The first indication of this design which 
 I perceived was this. I had been invited by the 
 serious portion of the students, to address them 
 one Saturday evening in a recitation room. The 
 door opened, and in walked, one after another, six 
 or eight of the most bold, hardened, notorious ene- 
 mies of relisrion which the institution contained. 
 They walked in, took their seats in a row, directly 
 before me, and looked me in the face, — saying by 
 their countenances most distinctly, ' Sir, we defy you 
 and all your religion :' — and yet it was with that 
 peculiar address with which a wild college student 
 can execute his plans, so that there was not the 
 shghtest breach of any rule of external propriety, 
 or any tangible evidence of intentional disrespect. 
 I can see the leader now, as distinctl}^ as if he was 
 before me: — his tall form, manly countenance, and 
 energetic look. He maintained his ground as the ene- 
 my of God and religion, for a year after this time." 
 Of the numerous revivals which have occurred 
 in Amherst College, that of 1827 was distinguished 
 for its power and the genuineness of its fruits. 
 Those who witnessed the wonderful works of God 
 at that memorable season, do not hesitate to mention 
 among the most striking cases of sudden, radical 
 
40 MEMOIROF 
 
 change, the name of Henry Lyman. Some ac- 
 count of this transformation is here given in his 
 own language. 
 
 ''Lest I should forget the particular way in 
 which I was led by the Spirit, I will here record it 
 for the sake of a frequent perusal. But lest I 
 should forget also ' the hole of the pit whence I 
 was digged,' and thus be made to think lightly of 
 the grace that saved me, I will briefly notice my 
 previous character. 
 
 " The next spring after I entered college, there 
 was a partial awakening among Christians, and I 
 believe one or two hopeful conversions. At times 
 I was quite anxious. And again quite loud in ridi- 
 culing ' ihe pious.' I was unwilhng to be known as 
 seeking the Lord. While, therefore, I was fore- 
 most among my companions at the card table, in 
 profane carousals, and mock prayer meetings, I 
 would, as soon as by myself, call on God to redeem 
 my soul. About this time, too, a revival com- 
 menced in my native place. A beloved sister was 
 one of the first subjects of the work. Being but 
 eight miles distant, I was often at home. I saw 
 many of my friends, and those quite inlimate, 
 coming out and acknowledging themselves on the 
 Lord's side. The thought of being left alone in 
 the world made me at times unhappy ; still I disre- 
 garded all warnings and entreaties. My sister was 
 particularly earnest and persevering, but I met her 
 
HENRY LYMAN. 41 
 
 with scoffs and ridicule. Some friends were injudi- 
 cious in their conversation ; of this I made a han- 
 dle. One talked for half an hour in this strain : 
 That I was ' going to hell straight as I could go, 
 and if 1 did not repent at that moment I should be 
 damned,' He might as well have talked to the 
 wind. He did not seem to care for my soul. An- 
 other used underhanded means to get me to his 
 house, and then resorted to unfair means to keep 
 me while he was holding a lecture, the substance 
 of which was, ' I might as well repent, for if I 
 went to hell I should have to fight my way there. 
 It was utterly impossible to get there without great 
 exertions, through so many prayers as were offered 
 for me.' He also judged so illy as to tell me that 
 he talked with me at my sister's request, and gave 
 me a letter from her on the subject of my soul's 
 concerns. As soon as possible I left this man, pity- 
 ing him for his weakness, and so vexed at his arti- 
 fice, and his cold impertinence, that I tore the letter 
 into a thousand pieces, and scattered the fragment? 
 to the four winds. In the fall vacation I deter- 
 mined to be out of the infected atmosphere, and ab- 
 sented myself on a journey. My understanding 
 was convinced of the necessity of regeneration, but 
 my heart did not feel it. At the close of the vaca- 
 tion I returned to college more hardened than ever. 
 " As I would not hearken to entreaties, promises, 
 and threatenings, a merciful God sent his judg- 
 4* 
 
42 MEMOIKOF 
 
 meiit. I was brought by a fever to the borders of 
 the grave, and for more than a week my friends 
 and physicians thought the contest doubtful. Con- 
 trary to their expectations, however. I recovered. 
 
 "Before my health was fully established I re- 
 turned to college, and put off the great concern 
 from time to time till the winter vacation. This 
 vacation was a continual round of wickedness in the 
 extreme ; and how a righteous God could bear with 
 me so long, excites gratitude and wonder. So great 
 had been my dissipation that, through fear of under- 
 mining my constitution, I determined at the com- 
 mencement of the spring term, 1827, to reform. I 
 now lived a very different life, though still opposed 
 to the laws of God, 
 
 "After the revival began, I frequently endea- 
 voured to draw my religious class-mates into a dis- 
 pute upon the doctrines of the Bible, for the sake 
 of wounding their feelings, and to let them know 
 how hardened and wicked I was. I continued op- 
 posing the work of God till Tuesday, April 17. 
 On the morning of that day I rose with such feel- 
 ings as I never had before. I had no longer a desire 
 to keep company with my old associates, or to en- 
 gage in frivolous conversation. 
 
 "This seriousness increased till Wednesday morn- 
 ing, when, walking out before breakfast, I was 
 more than ever sensible of my need of religion ; 
 but how to obtain it I knew not. I made a solemn 
 
HENR^T LYMAN. 43 
 
 VOW in the presence of God, that I would neither 
 eat nor sleep till I had obtained it. At 8 o'clock 
 attended a prayer meeting of my class and wept 
 very much; more, I believe, because I knew not 
 how to obtain rehgion, than on account of my sins. 
 After meeting, by the advice of one of my class- 
 mates, I called on the President and told him the 
 state of my feelings, and what resolution I had 
 formed. He advised me to read the fifteenth, six- 
 teenth, eighteenth and nineteenth chapters of St. 
 Luke — eighth, ninth and tenth chapters of Romans; 
 and the fifty-third, fifty-fourth and fifty-fifth of 
 Isaiah. After praying with me, I left him, and 
 retired to a grove, where I read the chapters pointed 
 out, and spent the time in prayer till nearly 12 
 o'clock, and not being able any longer to with- 
 stand my appetite, and as I had made the vow, 
 came to the conclusion that it was impossible to 
 get rehgion. My conscience reproved me for com- 
 ing to such a conclusion, but 1 endeavoured to 
 quiet it by saying, T had probably committed the 
 unpardonable sin. The reason why I said this 
 was because I had slighted so many warnings, and 
 such means as I had always enjoyed. 
 
 "After this I felt quite calm, and after eating 
 dinner, returned to college, and began to laugh with 
 my old companions. I never served the wicked 
 one so much in any year of my hfe before, as I did 
 in the following twenty-four hours. Scoffing at 
 
44 MEMOIROF 
 
 the Bible, profaning the name of God, laughing, 
 ridiculing the prayers of his people, to such lengths 
 as made others tremble. Well do I remember the 
 countenance of one of my classmates as we met 
 in the hall that afternoon. He stopped and looked 
 at me with a countenance expressive of astonish- 
 ment and pity ; that look pierced my soul. It 
 made an impression which time can never eflface. 
 It made me tremble; and the only way in which 
 I could find relief, was by launching forth in the 
 greatest extremes of wickedness, and opposing the 
 revival and every thing of a serious nature ; but 
 conscience, that faithful iTionitor, was all the time 
 reproving loudly and calling upon me to turn. 
 
 " The next day (Friday) was a day of fasting 
 and prayer in college. After the afternoon service, 
 our president sent for me to his study, and conversed 
 with me very affectionately, telling me that although 
 I had broken my vow there still was hope ; the sin 
 was in making, not breaking it. I left him with 
 the determination to begin again, and not make any 
 more vows. 
 
 "An alarm for myself began again, and from this 
 time increased till the next Wednesday, and during 
 that time I was reading religious books, attending 
 meetings, or in prayer almost continually. Wed- 
 nesday morning one of my class-mates offered me 
 his room, that I might be alone. There I spent the 
 time in meditation and prayer till about three o'clock, 
 
HENRY LYMAN, 45 
 
 P. M., when a class-mate came and informed me 
 that my rooin-mate expressed a hope of pardoned 
 sins, and that he feared I should be left to grieve 
 away the Holy Spirit. This alarmed me to such a 
 degree 1 hardly knew what to do. As soon as he 
 left me, I prayed for some time that God would 
 direct me in the right path, and lead me by his Holy 
 Spirit, in such a manner that I might submit myself 
 to him, for I saw myself to be in the wrong way, 
 and entirely unable to direct myself aright: I knew 
 not how to seek. About fifteen minutes before the 
 bell rang for evening prayers, I was in very great 
 distress, and cried unto the Lord that he would hear 
 and have mercy upon me. My mind seemed to be 
 torn in pieces. I thought I had submitted myself 
 entirely to my Maker, but I found no relief. Some- 
 thing was wrong, but what I could not tell. It 
 seemed to be sin to pray, and sin lo withhold prayer, 
 and yet I could not assist myself in the least. It 
 appeared as though a!l the time I had been 
 under conviction, I had been sinning to the highest 
 degree, for I had been trusting to my prayers, and 
 endeavouring to derive aid from Christians rather 
 than Christ, and trying to climb up some other way, 
 and be saved any way rather than by the right- 
 eousness of Christ. I just began to perceive I had 
 not been acting from the heart, I had not been " stri- 
 ving," and my mouth had given the lie to my heart. 
 I had not before perceived that it was this wicked 
 
46 MEMOIROP 
 
 thing which stood in the way, that this was yet in 
 open rebelUon against so much nnercy. 
 
 " What to do in this situation I knew not. I 
 knew what was requred in thi Bible. I had been 
 told over and over again by my friends what Imust 
 do, and thought I had done all that was required ; 
 yet my heart told me I had not, and that something 
 more was wanting. In distress, I thought I would 
 go to my room-mate and find out what he had done, 
 in hopes 1 might find what I should do. When 
 asked, he smiled, and said he could not tell me what 
 to do. O, how I loathed that smib ! if he had 
 aimed a dagger at my heart, he would not so much 
 have stirred up my feelings. I burst into tears, and 
 walked the room, for the first and only time in my 
 life, in distress. It was hke tearing in sunder soul 
 and body." 
 
 Without giving the narrative entire from this 
 period, it may suffice to state, that it was only a 
 short time before these painful exercises of alarm 
 and conviction, gave place to an unutterable delight 
 in the Lord Jesus Christ. 
 
 Mr. Lyman was thoroughly persuaded that this 
 change resulted from the special influence of the 
 Holy Spirit. Before it took place, it appears from 
 the foregoing account, that he resorted, in vain, to 
 the very expedients which are prescribed as infalli- 
 ble by the advocates of regeneration by self-love. 
 His meditations, his solemn vows, his earnest endea- 
 
HENRY LiTM AN. 47 
 
 voursj — what was their effect? Precisely the same 
 as is experienced in every case of genuine convic- 
 tion, — a deep sense of helplessness, joined with the 
 behef that salvation depends on the sovereign mercy 
 of Go:l. These characteristics, it is well known, 
 belonged, in a high degree, to the experience of 
 David Brainard ; nor is it easy to see how the 
 reverse agrees with scripture, which represents men 
 as "dead in trespasses and sins." 
 
 " I recollect," writes a pious class-mate, " a short 
 interview I had with Lyman about fifteen minutes 
 before he obtained relief. The day had been a 
 fine one for the season of the year ; all nature 
 seemed hushed in silence. An almost perfect still- 
 ness reigned throughout the college hall, interrupted 
 only by the voice of agonizing prayer or grateful 
 praise. The Holy Ghost came down that day with 
 unwonted power. Before the sun disappeared 
 behind the western hills, seven of my beloved fel- 
 low students had been brought out of the bondage 
 of sin and Satan into the glorious liberty of the 
 children of God. It was late in the afternoon that 
 I repaired to L.'s room for the purpose of conversing 
 with him and his room-mate, upon the great subject 
 which then absorbed all our minds. L. was absent 
 in a neighbouring grove where he had been spending 
 most of the day alone with his Maker in deep 
 anguish of spirit. After a few minutes, and just as 
 the bell was ringing for prayers, L. entered with a 
 
48 BiEMOlROP 
 
 Bible in his hand, and with a countenance the very 
 image of despair. No sooner was the door closed, 
 than he exclaimed with the deepest emotion, ' Bro- 
 ther B. lohat shall 1 do7 what shall 1 do ?' at the 
 same time bursting into tears, and crying hke a 
 little child. When urged to give up the controversy, 
 and yield his heart to the Saviour, he replied, that this 
 he had been trying to do all day but without avail ; 
 and again he sobbed and groaned aloud, still exclaim- 
 ing, Hohat shall I doV Fearing that he was 
 trusting to his own efforts and the prayers of Chris- 
 tians, 1 remarked that he might well despair of any- 
 thing he could do, (short of coming to Christ,) or 
 that his Christian friends could do for him ; at the 
 same time assuring him that there was an infinite 
 fulness in the Redeemer, and that to doubt his wil- 
 hngness to save every returning prodigal, was 
 exceedingly ungrateful and wicked, inasmuch as he 
 had declared that he would in no wise cast out any 
 that come to him. I had time to make only two 
 or three other suggestions of this kind before the 
 tolling bell hastened us into the chapel. During that 
 evening 1 saw hiiri again, and he seemed truly an 
 altered and happy man. 
 
 " The change was very marked and striking. All 
 his ardour and energy were devoted to the service 
 of Christ. His piety was almost uniformly glow- 
 ing Frequently, in time of religious declension, he 
 would come to my room, and after uniting in prayer, 
 
H fi N R Y L Y M A N . 49 
 
 Would sit dowQ and propose measures for promoting 
 the spiritual interests of college. 
 
 ^' No person of my acquaintance ever manifested 
 a deeper interest in social prayer meetings. At such 
 times he would pour forth the desires of his heart 
 with great fervency. No one who ever heard him 
 pray will forget his peculiarly earnest manner." 
 
 After stating some particulars of Mr. Lyman's 
 conversion, Dr. Humphrey adds : " From that time 
 his course w^as very decided and consistent. He 
 was not a man to go by the halves in any thing. 
 He turned right about. Every body saw the great 
 change in his whole deportment; and no one, I 
 beheve, doubted his sincerity in the profession which 
 he made at the close of the year. Thenceforward he 
 applied himself diligently to his studies, and beheld 
 a respectable standing in his class when he gradu- 
 ated. After that I saw him but seldom. But it was 
 evident to me as I met him from time to time, that he 
 was growing in grace, and w^ould, if life should be 
 spared, more than fulfil the highest expectations 
 which his friends had indulged while he was a mem- 
 ber of college. How much he would have done 
 had he lived, we know not ; but certainly, take him 
 all in all, he w^as a young man of great promise in 
 the ' sacramental host of God's elect.' " 
 
 Soon after the happy change described above, a 
 vacation occurred in college, duiing which Mr. Ly- 
 man suffered much on account of his " confused 
 5 
 
$9 MEMOIROF 
 
 notions of religious duty," and the remembrance of 
 those practices to which he had formerly been addict- 
 ed. This last source of trial often supplied him, 
 during the remainder of his life, with motives to 
 watchfulness and self-mortification. 
 
 The solemn dedication of himself to God, which 
 he made about this time, appears to have been instru- 
 mental of much spiritual benefit during his connex- 
 ion with college, for he conscientiously recurred to it 
 at particular seasons, and found it the occasion of 
 deep searchings of heart, and of sweet meditations 
 on the Redeemer's faithfulness and love. 
 
 A few extracts from the journal which he kf pt 
 during his junior year, will best show the variations 
 and general progress of his religious experience. 
 
 " Dec. 12th. — This evening I think I feel, in an 
 unusual degree, my entire dependence on the Holy 
 Spirit to draw my affections towards God. 
 
 " Feb. 7. — In prayer with m}^ room-mate|this even- 
 ing; caught myself several times attending to the form 
 of the words more than the spirit ; fear all my prayers 
 are offered with a view to make myself happy and 
 acceptable in the eyes of God, instead of being offered 
 in Jesus' name, and that he might be glorified. 
 
 " 8. — Awoke this morning with the love of God in 
 my heart ; this evening feel constrained to search 
 my heart ; corruption and wickedness still abound. 
 
 " 14. — The past has been a short week ; have felt 
 more like devoting myself and all I have to Christ ; 
 
HENRYLYMAN. 51 
 
 more indifferent to the opinions of the world, and 
 more willing to do the whole will of God than for 
 some time past — yet how many sad reflections at 
 my misimprovement of time, and the proud, selfish, 
 envious affections of my heart ! 
 
 " 27. — Read this noon the account of President 
 Edwards' conversion ; am I not deceiving myself 
 as he was for some time after he supposed his heart 
 was changed ? There have been seasons when I 
 thought I enjoyed God's presence ; but " Satan 
 transforms himself into an angel of light." 
 
 "28. — Give way to temptation easier than I 
 breathe; is it possible that 1 can ever gain heaven? 
 if so, the patience and mercy of God are infinite. 
 
 " March 1. — Retired last night rejoicing in my 
 God, and awoke with much the same feeling this 
 morning ; O, that I might walk in the fear of the 
 Lord all the day. Though I begin the day with 
 God, yet I neglect to watch and pray ; I complain 
 because I have trials ; David had trials, too, and 
 shall I complain 1 in his own pious strain lie says, 
 ^Be of good courage and he shall strengthen your 
 hearts, all ye that hope in the Lord.' 
 
 " Aug. 9. — This evening a brother came before 
 the church with a written confession of aggravated 
 departures from the path of duty ; felt that I should 
 like to join him in making acknowledgments and 
 in requesting the prayers of the church." 
 
 Near the beginning of his senior year, Mr. Lyman 
 
52 MEMOIROF 
 
 seems to have reflected much on the clanger of trust- 
 ing in his own heart. At that period he made the 
 humiliating discovery that in his rehgious engage- 
 ments he had not heen free from " a desire to become 
 renowned in the church for piety," and often lament- 
 ed bitterly the prevalence of " selfish thoughts." 
 
 " Nov. 23. — O, that I might remember this text 
 through the year : ' Walk in the spirit, and ye shall 
 not fulfil the lusts of the flesh.'" 
 
 In the midst of painful conflicts with bosom-sins, 
 he was sometimes cheered with such meditations as 
 the following : 
 
 " Had peculiar joy in contemplating the condi- 
 tion of him who overcomes, who hath washed his 
 robes and made them w^iite in the blood of the 
 Lamb. He joins the ' thousands of thousands' 
 around the throne, saying, ' Thou art worthy, O 
 Lord, to receive glory, and honour, and power ;' ' Sal- 
 vation to our God which sitteth upon the throne and 
 unto the Lamb.' " 
 
 A desire to make Christ known to the heathen 
 appears to have sprung up in Mr. Lyman's heart, 
 almost as soon as his religious life began. That it 
 formed an important element in his Christian expe- 
 rience at college is beyond doubt. In his stated sea- 
 sons of devotion, he poured out his heart in strong 
 cries and tears for the pagan world. 
 
 After reading the last chapter of Matthew one 
 evening, he found his " heart enlarged in prayer for 
 
H E N R r L Y M A N. 53 
 
 the heathen. Why is it that God gives me plea- 
 sure in praying for them? Why these desires? Why 
 so much meditation upon them ? Why are all my 
 thoughts and feehngs inclined that way if the Lord 
 of the harvest does not intend that I shall go and 
 preach to the nations ?" 
 
 Under another date he speaks of " hearing a dis- 
 course from Mr. Dvvight, appointed on a mission to 
 Greece, which led him to seek Divine aid, that he 
 might thoroughly practice that self-denial which he 
 deemed an essential qualification in a missionary to 
 the heathen." 
 
 Subsequently, when on his way to church, " the 
 evangelization of the world burst upon his mind in 
 all its beauty and greatness. I longed for a ten- 
 fold portion of the Spirit ; I longed to have my body, 
 soul and spirit, prepared for arduous labours in the 
 vineyard." 
 
 Writing to a relative in Montreal, he says, " I 
 know not yet in what field God designed 1 should 
 labour. My prayer is for the guidance of the Holy 
 Spirit. The claims of six hundred millions come 
 with irresistible power. How can the heathen hear 
 without a preacher ? Who will preach ? Who will 
 go ? My heart is drawn out in love to the souls of 
 the heathen. My duty, my happiness, my all de- 
 pend upon my laying down my life among untu- 
 tored savages ; I mean with my present views and 
 feelings, if God does not close the door which now 
 
54 MEMOIKOF 
 
 seems to stand open. Yet the responsibility makes 
 me tremble. One false step may destroy my useful- 
 ness forever." 
 
 It was not till near the close of his collegiate stu- 
 dies that he made known to his nearest relatives 
 how his soul panted for the work of missions. The 
 matter was first confided to that sister whose tender 
 solicitude and prayers were closely linked with his 
 spiritual renovation. She was then on a visit to 
 Canada, and had written to her brother an affecting 
 account of the moral desolation which exists in that 
 region. Mr. Lyman replied : 
 
 " But, dear sister, is there no portion of the world 
 destitute but Canada ? It makes my soul bleed to 
 hear the Macedonian cry from Europe, Asia, and 
 Africa. Millions bow to Juggernaut, millions to Mo- 
 hammet, millions to the Pope, and millions to the 
 sun, moon and stars. Every thirty years seven 
 hundred millions sink to perdition from this earth. 
 Every day carries some there. Now what shall 
 be done ? 
 
 " By divine leave and assistance I will go. The 
 pleasure of leading poor heathens to Jesus shall not 
 be sacrificed for home, country, or friends." 
 
 That true benevolence urged the subject of this 
 memorial to seek the salvation of the heathen, 
 appears in part from the great and uniform concern 
 which he showed for the salvation of his impeni- 
 tent relatives and fellow-students. While at Am- 
 
HENRY LYMAN. 55 
 
 herst he often wrote to the former in a strain of ten- 
 der and earnest expostulation, beseeching them to 
 forsake their sins, and striving to portray the excel- 
 lence of that Saviour in whom his soul delighted. 
 Of four brothers who were then " without God and 
 without hope in the world," three have since profes- 
 sed their faith in Christ. 
 
 His endeavours to reclaim the irreligious members 
 of college, were abundant, and were accompanied 
 by such evident seriousness and good- will as to 
 secure attention from the most thoughtless. The 
 slightest appearance of unusual solemnity in col- 
 lege he was accustomed to welcome with heartfelt 
 gratitude, and made it the occasion of solemn fast- 
 ing and prayer. Indeed, he uniformly abounded 
 in these spiritual employments, and dealt severely 
 with himself whenever they failed to deepen his 
 abhorrence of sin and his love to Christ. 
 
 To the several branches of study prescribed in 
 college. Mr. Lyman applied himself with zeal and 
 success ever after he felt the new motives which 
 religion supplies. Till then he seems to have been 
 a stranger to those mental exercises and habits which 
 are indispensable to thorough scholarship. The 
 injury resulting from remissness in the early part 
 of his course, it was not the province even of sin- 
 cere piety to repair. " When he came to himself," 
 he found with deep regret that he had scarcely begun 
 to establish those intellectual habits which are pre- 
 
56 MEMOIROF 
 
 supposed in the more severe studies that occupy the 
 latter half of the college course. 
 
 "To every thing there is a season, and a time to 
 every purpose under the heavens." 
 
 Like thousands of other scholars, Mr. Lyman 
 found it so respecting the particular under considera- 
 tion. In the midst of engagements demanding the 
 steady application of a well-trained mind, he con- 
 fessed it necessary for him to begin at the beginning. 
 Still he struggled against these disadvantages with 
 encouraging success, and, as Dr. Humphrey has 
 remarked, "he held a respectable standing in his 
 class when it graduated," in 1829. His theme at 
 commencement was " The moral courage of John 
 Knox," upon which he dwelt with a spirit and force 
 which showed the workings of a soul congenial with 
 that of the intrepid reformer. 
 
HENRY LYMAN. 57 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 His, Professional Studies at Andover — Attendance on Medical 
 Lectures in Boston and Brunswick — Marriage — Receives the 
 Instructions of tlie Board. 
 
 With a keen thirst for useful knowledge and true 
 holiness, Mr. Lyman commenced the study of the- 
 ology at Andover in the fall of 1829. This impor- 
 tant turn in life was accompanied with several sea- 
 sons of protracted meditation and prayer. His jour- 
 nal is replete with evidence that he " sorrowed after 
 a godly sort," in view of his intellectual and spirit- 
 ual defects. The deliberate purposes, now formed, 
 in reliance on divine aid, were highly conducive to 
 the auspicious change which his associates soon 
 noticed in some striking points of his character. 
 
 When reminded of some failing, as occasional 
 levity, he thankfully received the admonition, and 
 forthwith endeavoured to correct the fault. Though 
 his profiting appeared to all who had known him 
 in college, yet to himself he seemed habitually 
 inconsistent and vile. Scarcely a day passed with- 
 out his recording some expression of self-abhorrence. 
 The smallest portions of hfe were statedly brought 
 
58 MEMOIR OF 
 
 under review, always furnishing fresh motives to 
 humility, and often yielding delightful evidence that 
 the Holy Spirit did leave him to contend alone with 
 in-dwelling sin. In the midst of engrossing pro- 
 fessional studies, like Paul in his abundant labours, 
 Mr. Lyman could say, " One thing I do." He could 
 not permit, " no, not for an hour," the enchant- 
 ments of saied or of sccial intercourse, to 
 interfere with the claims of personal religion. 
 
 No hours were so precious as those allotted to 
 prayer. In this duty, it may be truly said, that 
 Mr. Lyman abounded. The fervour, variety and 
 earnestness, which appeared in his public devotional 
 exercises, his brethren, with good reason, ascribed 
 to the frequency of his interviews with " Him that 
 seeth in secret." To neglect the closet in a single 
 instance was sure to wound his spirit. A train of 
 uneasy emotions quickly followed, admonishing him 
 of the wants of his spiritual hfe. 
 
 Those desires for the salvation of men, which 
 characterized the subject of this memorial while in 
 college, gained additional strength during his con- 
 nexion with the seminary. This is evident from 
 the touching appeals found in his correspondence 
 with impenitent friends, the assiduity of his labours 
 and prayers in behalf of the Sabbath school in which 
 he was a teacher, and his ardent intercession for 
 the heathen. 
 
 At an early stage in his theological course, Mr 
 
HENRY LYMAN. 59 
 
 Lyman announced to his parents, his determination 
 to spend his life in missionary service. A few sen- 
 tences only will here be quoted from his letter. 
 
 •'Tlieol. Seminary, Andover, Feb. 10, 1830. 
 
 " Dear Parents, — I have employed my leisure 
 time, the past week, in considering the great ques- 
 tion to which I have alluded in former communi- 
 cations. I have considered, ' He that loveth father 
 or mother more than me, is not worthy of me ;' 'and 
 he that taketh not up his cross and follow eth after 
 me, is not worthy of me.' ' He that loveth his life 
 shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this 
 world shall keep it unto life eternal.' 'How shall 
 they call on him in whom they have not believed? 
 and how shall they believe in him of whom they 
 have not heard 7 and how shall they hear without 
 a preacher'/' 
 
 "I have also examined, 1, The moral condition 
 of my own country. 2, The condition and pros- 
 pects of the heathen. 3, The success of missions — 
 and, 4, My own character, talents, and feelings ; and 
 I can find nothing in the way of my going to the 
 heathen, and there spending my days in building 
 up Christ's kingdom.****** 
 
 "If ever I have had any pleasure in contem- 
 plating the future, or enlargement in prayer, it has 
 been concerning the heathen.***** Indee , rny fu- 
 ture happiness is dependent upon going to them 
 with the news of salvation.****** 
 
60 MEMOIROF 
 
 "Perhaps I may meet an early grave; and 
 what if I should ? I shall sooner be free from sin, 
 and serve God without weariness and without end. 
 I hope my parents will not only be willing, but re- 
 joice to have me go, if Providence should so order 
 it — for I have not only now m ide inyseH willing, 
 but ready, to go, if the Lord should call me. These 
 are the feelings of your affectionate son, 
 
 "Henry Lyman." 
 
 A large shar^ of his meditations and reading 
 had special reference to the character and wants of 
 imevangelized nations. Respecting the " Condition 
 and character of females in pagan and Mohamme- 
 dan countries," after much research, he prepared a 
 dissertation, the substance of which has gone 
 through several editions in the form of a tract. It 
 is a heart-rending statement of facts corroborated 
 by numerous witnesses of entirely opposite charac- 
 ters and professions. Long may it plead the cause 
 of the female sex, dishonoured and middcn^d as 
 they are, by oppression and nameless wrongs, 
 wherever the gospel is not enjoyed ! 
 
 It is not claimed for Mr. Lyman, that he distin- 
 guished himself by theological attainments at An- 
 dover, nor that he applied himself with uncommon 
 diligence to the appropriate occupations of the Se- 
 minary. The unhappy influences of early irregu- 
 larities disqualified him, iu a measure, for patient 
 
HENRY LYMAN. 61 
 
 investigation and rigid analysis. Whatever subject 
 came before lum, his mental operations were ener^ 
 getic and rapid : had they been imder the control 
 of a purer taste and a sounder judgment, their re- 
 sults would have been far more valuable in them- 
 selves, and more properly arranged. It is not 
 known, however, that he neglected any branch of 
 the prescribed course, while to some subjects of an 
 exegetical and doctrinal nature, he devoted an un- 
 usual amount of labour. 
 
 Expecting that the employment which he had 
 chosen would require him to "endure hardness as 
 a good soldier of Jesus Christ," Mr. Lyman accus- 
 tomed himself to abstinence and fatigue. As a 
 pedestrian he was probably without an equal among 
 the sons of Andover. Endowed with almost Her- 
 culean strength, and dauntless courage, united with 
 glowing benevolence, he longed to enter the region 
 of toil, of danger, and wretchedness. 
 
 Having been accepted by the A. B. C. F. M., 
 Messrs. Munson and Lyman, in due time, were ap- 
 pointed to a field of missionary service, precisely 
 such as their own choice would have selected. Mr. 
 Lyman, in particular, often expressed a desire to 
 go where no missionary had been sent. 
 
 Having received ordination at Northampton, Oct. 
 
 15th, he pursued the study of medicine at Boston 
 
 and Brunswick, with his accustomed ardour. In the 
 
 mean time, by conversation, letters and preaching, 
 
 6 
 
63 MEMOIROP 
 
 he constantly endeavoured to animate the friends 
 of missions, and gain additional patrons to the 
 cause. 
 
 On the 16th of May, he was married to Miss Eliza 
 Pond, of Boston, and after a short visit among his 
 friends, returned to receive the Instructions of the 
 Board, and set his face towards the Islands of the 
 East. 
 
 Mr. Munson and Mr. Lyman were charged, by 
 the Prudential Committee, to spend a short time 
 in Batavia, thence to proceed, on a tour of observa- 
 tion and inquiry, to Pulo Nias, an island west of 
 Sumatra. They were next, if possible, to explore 
 the northern part of Sumatra, occupied by the 
 Battas, a populous nation, so far made known to 
 the civilized world, by the narrative of Sir Thomas 
 Raffles, as to claim special attention from Christian 
 philanthropy. Amboyna, Timor and Borneo, were 
 then to be investigated by the missionaries, for the 
 purpose of ascertaining whether the way was open 
 for Christian teachers, and where would be the most 
 eligible locations. 
 
 Near the close of their Instructions, the Commit- 
 tee say: 
 
 "You 'go bound in the spirit' to uncongenial 
 climes, and distant nations but partially civilized, 
 and opposed to the religion of Christ; 'Not know- 
 ing the things that shall befall' you. ' Afflictions,' 
 in different forms, it is most likely, 'abide you.' 
 
H E N R Y L Y M A N . 63 
 
 Your labours may be soon terminated by death. 
 But you have given yourselves to Jesus Christ 
 without reserve, for the work of missions among 
 the perishing heathen. That work, you know, 
 he regards with peculiar favour ; for none is so near 
 like his ov/n and that of his beloved apostles. He 
 has pledged to you, everywhere, and in all circum- 
 stances, his special presence, assistance and comfort. 
 ' Lo, I am with you always.' •' My grace is suffi- 
 cient for thee.' ' As thy days so shall thy strength 
 be.' ' When thou passest through the waters, I 
 will be with thee ; and through the rivers they 
 shall not overflow thee ; when thou walkest throusfh 
 the fire, thou shalt not be burned, neither shall the 
 flame kindle upon thee : for I, Jehovah, am thy God, 
 and the Holy One of Israel thy Saviour.' ' Touch 
 not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm.' 
 'For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with 
 peace: the mountains and hills shall break forth 
 before you into singing, and all the trees of the field 
 shall clap their hands.' ' Be ye faithful unto death, 
 and I will give you a crown of life.' What need 
 you fear in such a work, with such a Saviour, and 
 such promises. May you have hearts filled with 
 love to him and his cause, and faith to realize con- 
 tinually, his presence and preciousness and power, 
 and to trust the wisdom and plenitude and un- 
 changeableness of his love." 
 
64 MEMOIRSOF 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 Voyage — Residence in Batavia — Employments — Obtain leave of 
 Government to pursue their exploring tour. 
 
 On the 10th of June, 1833, Messrs. Munson and 
 Lyman, with their wives, embarked at Boston, on 
 board the Duncan, for Batavia. Tiiey were ac- 
 companied by two other missionaries, destined to 
 labour among the Siamese. After uniting in a de- 
 votional exercise with the Christian friends who 
 attended them to the ship, they cahnly bade them 
 adieu, and quickly found themselves moving out of 
 the harbour. 
 
 At the trying juncture, which had long been an- 
 ticipated with dread, they experienced such divine 
 support that peace and joy prevailed in the parting 
 embrace with their dearest friends. With many of 
 their near relatives they confidently expected to meet 
 where sorrow and separation shall be no more. 
 
 In a letter to his parents, after noticing the calm- 
 ness of his mind, Mr. Lyman says : " There were 
 several causes of regret that we were so unexpect- 
 edly called to embark, especially as T was thus pre- 
 vented from expressing to you, my father and mo- 
 ther, the obligations under which I feel myself laid 
 
MUNSON'AND LYMAN. 65 
 
 for your ten thousand kindnesses in all my past 
 life. Under God I owe to you my education, my 
 character, my salvation. I wished also to ask your 
 forgiveness for all the trouble and trials I have wil- 
 fully cost you. I wished to ask you to help me 
 praise God for his unbounded grace towards me. 
 You are not aware how great a sinner your son has 
 been, in carousing and profanity, and — but I will 
 not enter into particulars. 
 
 ^' During the whole of my wanderings in forbid- 
 den paths, the voice of parental caution and paren- 
 tal prayers was not entirely lost. I often com- 
 plained, in early life, of your strictness in my edu- 
 cation ; now I thank you for it. All the return I 
 can make, is to pray for you. The Lord reward 
 you a thousand fold." 
 
 The Duncan was a new, fast-sailing ship, with 
 ample accommodations, and an obliging captain. 
 The passengers, and all concerned, had occasion to 
 rejoice that she was fitted out on the principle of en- 
 tire abstinence from intoxicating liquors. By the 
 aid of this regulation, another, forbidding the use 
 of profane language, was easily enforced, to the 
 great gratification of the missionaries. 
 
 In twenty-three days they reached the 10th de- 
 gree of north latitude ; at that point exchanging 
 favourable w^inds and fine weather for a dead calm 
 and a scorching heat. " The burning rays of a 
 tropical sun," says Mr. Munson, "the glossy surface 
 
66 MEMOIKSOF 
 
 of the ocean, smooth as polished marble, and the 
 long, heavy swells that follow each other in slow , 
 and melancholy procession, are some of the most 
 striking characteristics of this region, which stretches 
 like a broad l^elt, entirely over the Atlantic. Along 
 this ill-fated region, the 'lucre-bitten slaver' and 
 pirate prowl with more than savage ferocity. A 
 small vessel of peculiar construction, lined with 
 arms and ammunition, manacles and instruments of 
 torture — thirty or forty monsters of all colours, lan- 
 guages and nations, as though such a mass of pollu- 
 tion could not be gathered from the sweepings of 
 one kingdom — these constitute what seamen call 
 a ' slaver,' or ' pirate.' At one time we supposed our- 
 selves in great danger of an attack. A small sail 
 was discovered ahead, which was soon recognized 
 as a slaver. They appeared to be making directly 
 tow^ards us. To flee w^as impossible. All hands 
 were called, — our carronades, nmskets and pistols 
 w^ere charged. After an half-hour's anxious sus- 
 pense, we saw them cross our bows and bear 
 away, as we supposed, to the West Indies. I shall 
 never forget the appearance of their vessel, — black 
 hull, black spars, and black masts — fit emblem of 
 their moral character." 
 
 Under date of July 12th, Mr. Munson describes 
 himself as greatly reduced by sickness, and medita- 
 ting, with unutterable delight, " on that better coun- 
 try where the homeless exile is received into his 
 
M U N S O X AND LYMAN. 07 
 
 Father's house." "I have not much expectation 
 that my trials on earth are soon to terminate ; yet 
 it is consohng to look forward to the time when 
 through the mercy of God, I shall sing the praise 
 of redeeming love." M, 
 
 From conversation with the Captain, Mr. Lyman 
 understood that no obstacles would be thrown in 
 the way of any efforts which the brethren might be 
 disposed to make for the spiritual good of the sai- 
 lors. Stated religious services were accordingly held 
 during the voyage, and the crow were often urged 
 individually, to set their "affections on things 
 above." When the "sea shall give up the dead 
 that are in it," these labours may be found to have 
 been instrumental of saving at least one "sinner 
 from the error of his ways." 
 
 July 17th, Mr. Munson wrote to his sister; "The 
 Lord willing, my dear sister, we shall cross the 
 Equator to-morrow morning. The north star has 
 already disappeared. I looked for it to-night, but it* 
 was buried beneath the mists that encircled the ho- 
 rizon, and I shall see it no more. So one thing 
 after another that reminds me of my country and 
 friends, drops off. I sometimes almost wish I could 
 have that pensive, melancholy state of feeling, 
 which such events are calculated to produce ; but 
 it is not so. To tell you the truth, my heart beats 
 with all those cheerful and warm emotions which I 
 should feel were I returning home after a long ab- 
 
68 MEMOIRSOF 
 
 sence. Home ! I am going to the home my heart 
 has most ardently desired to see for many years. 
 Could the statesman say, 'Where liberty dwells, 
 there is my country?' With equal ardour can I 
 say, where the field of uesfulness is, there is my 
 country, my home ; I desire no other." M. 
 
 Mr. Munson's journal contains a striking notice 
 of a brilliant exhibition in the torrid zone, origina- 
 ting from myriads of small animals. 
 
 " Two or three things seem to be prerequisite to 
 a good display of their remarkable qualities. The 
 night must be dark ; there must be wind enough 
 to blow the surface of the ocean into a foam, and 
 other circumstances not well understood. The ap- 
 pearances that sometimes present themselves, I am 
 utterly unable to describe. Every wave that breaks 
 seems to be a w^ave of fire; and the light is so 
 vivid as to enable one to read a printed book. The 
 course of the fish that move many feet, and perhaps 
 many fathoms, beneath the surface, can be distinctly 
 traced by the luminous wake they leave behind. 
 Several nights, in succession, we were greatly 
 amused by the porpoises that played around our 
 ship. In their rapid evolutions, each one left a 
 serpentine trail of light, which I could compare to 
 nothing but an immense fiery serpent. 
 
 " The most curious and splendid illumination of 
 this kind, which we witnessed, was reserved till 
 near the close of the voyage. At four o'clock in 
 
MUNSON AND LYMAN. 69 
 
 the morning the officer on watch observed that the 
 water assumed a milky appearance. He supposed 
 we were passing over a coral reef. The Captain 
 was called, and the lead was thrown, but we found 
 no soundings. Any one who has seen a pond 
 covered with ice and snow has had an exact repre- 
 sentation of the appearance of the ocean, as far as 
 the eye could reach. On examining the water, I 
 found it to be full of illuminated hnes or strings, so 
 minute as not to be distinguished when brought to 
 the light ; but by the help of the microscope, in the 
 dark, each line was found to consist of illuminated 
 'points^ united by a transparent jelly. A more 
 thorough examination showed that each line was a 
 chain consisting of animals linked together. When 
 a very large one was minutely divided, each division 
 continued to pulsate till life was extinct." M. 
 
 After leaving the torrid zone, the Duncan passed 
 rapidly round the Cape, to the 40th degree of south 
 latitude, thence directing her course towards the In- 
 dian Ocean. With the exception of Mr. Lyman 
 and Mr. Robinson, the passengers suffered severely 
 from sea-sickness, so that Mr. Munson found him- 
 self disqualified, during almost the entire voyage, for 
 those intellectual efforts which he designed to make 
 on the passage. 
 
 Addressing his sister, from the 17th degree of south 
 latitude, Mr. Munson says : " You will see by our 
 position, that we are near our destined port. I need 
 
70 MEMOIRSOF 
 
 not tell you that expectation is wide awake. In 
 two days more we hope to see land." Under the 
 next date, they were so near land that they could 
 distinctly see the palm trees that lined the shore. 
 The first group of heathens that came in sight, 
 touched their hearts, and gave fresh energy to those 
 pious affections which at first led them to seek the 
 missionary service. 
 
 " It was the answer of my prayers for the last 
 ten years," says Mr. M. ; "I trust some of our 
 number have already lifted their hearts to God for 
 the salvation of these poor Islanders. It was pecu- 
 Uarly pleasant to remember them in our social 
 prayers." M. 
 
 After being one hundred days at sea, they were 
 brought within sight of " Java Head ;" and three or 
 four days from that time, landed at Batavia. 
 
 On the arrival of the missionaries, Rev. Mr. Med- 
 hurst, of the London Missionary Society, extended 
 to them a cordial welcome, accompanied with an 
 invitation to take rooms in his house, and sit at his 
 table. Until a house could be procured, they availed 
 themselves of this kindness, and subsequently expe- 
 rienced repeated proofs of the sincerity with which 
 it was offered. The hired house, into which they 
 soon removed, was about four miles from the city, 
 on the corner of the " King's Plain," a beautiful level, 
 half a mile square. " Ours, with nearly all the 
 bouses in Ratavia, is of one story. It stands on the 
 
MUNSON AND LYMAN. 71 
 
 Street that encircles the plain, with bamboo, cotton, 
 coffee, cocoa-nut and cinnamon trees growing around 
 it. Some beautiful coffee plants are just under our 
 window. We cannot do as we would in our native 
 land. All our work must be done by servants. Eu- 
 ropeans cannot endure labour in this climate. If we 
 wish to go a mile in the middle of the day we must 
 ride, and indeed to travel a few miles on foot at any 
 time would probably bring on a fever that might 
 prove fatal. We can sit and study, and do such 
 work as requires no physical effort. At present it is 
 quite healthy in the city. We are happy and con- 
 tented in our w^ork. It is our daily prayer that we 
 may be spared to labour long among the heathen. 
 
 " As yet we have seen but few exhibitions of 
 pagan worship. A few days since the Chinese had 
 a festival in honor of some Saint. The image was 
 placed on an elevated table ; before it were burning 
 some very large red candles. Fifteen or twenty 
 individuals were on their knees, and a priest was 
 reading prayers. I laboured, while a member of the 
 seminary, to form a just idea of pagan worship ; but 
 after all, I must say, idolatry is idolatry, and to 
 form any idea of it, we must see its rites and cere- 
 monies, the exceeding stupidity and degradation of 
 the human mind, and the insult offered to the God 
 of glory. I do not wonder that the primitive Chris- 
 tians, in the heat of their zeal, pulled down heathen 
 
T2 MEMOlRSOF 
 
 temples, and demolished their idols, and that, too, at 
 the expense of their lives. 
 
 " A door of usefulness for us is every day opening 
 wider and wider. A few years since a Chinese or 
 a Malay, would not receive a tract, — now they 
 eagerly stretch out their hands for them. I have 
 been out with Mr. Medhurst several mornings to 
 converse and distribute tracts. We have uniformly 
 met with good treatment, and not unfrequently have 
 returned without a single tract left. 
 
 *' Our opportunities for doing good are very greatj 
 and there is no want of encouragement to labour. 
 We hardly find time to think of home. I have 
 friends in N. S. that I tenderly love ; but I should 
 be very miserable to be with them and know that 
 these poor creatures were perishing without the least 
 ray of divine light. The labour to which we are 
 called is hard, the weather is hot, and w^e are sub- 
 jected to a thousand inconveniences; yet we are 
 happy." M. 
 
 Not long after their arrival serious fears were 
 entertained that Mrs. Lyman would speedily sink 
 under an affection of the lungs. 
 
 " The hurried journey, the voyage, the sea-sick- 
 ness which lasted, more or less, the whole way, 
 were too much for her. At present she spits more 
 or less blood from her lungs, and' I should not be 
 surpiised if she were not to continue many months. 
 The will of the Lord be done !" L. 
 
MUNSON AND LYMAN. 73 
 
 The alarmiag symptoms, however, by the divine 
 blessing, yielded to medical skill, and mourning was 
 tm*ned into gladness. But Mr. L. was soon taught 
 to " rejoice with trembling." Almost the first let- 
 ters from America informed him of the death of his 
 father. It had not entered his heart that on com- 
 mencing his labours among the heathen, he w^ould be 
 admonished by such an affecting providence to be 
 diligent and finish the work given him to do. Pierc- 
 ed with sorrow, and trembling under the divine 
 frown, he was constrained to " pray without ceas- 
 ing." Prayer had yielded the richest happiness he 
 had known when free from outward affliction, and 
 now in time of need it led him to a " refuge and 
 strength, a very present help." 
 
 In the first letter addressed to his mother after he 
 was apprised of the desolating blow, having first of 
 all reminded her of " the grace of our Lord Jesus 
 Christ, and the love of God," he says, — " Is it pos- 
 sible that I must now pray for the widow and father- 
 less 7 There it is on paper ; I cannot be mistaken ; 
 it is even so. But, beloved mother, I weep not that 
 one of our family has gone home to rest. If it were 
 not wicked to wish otherwise than God has ordained, 
 I should wish we were all with him, we so much 
 loved uniting in that unending anthem. 1 weep, 
 however, and weep bitterly, as I think of those who 
 are left behind. For once I wished myself at home. 
 I felt distressed that I could not have been there at 
 7 
 
74 MEMOIRSOF 
 
 the time. 1 thea found how good was prayer. E. 
 and I knelt at the throne of grace, and commended 
 you to the care of Him who has promised to be the 
 widow's God and the father of the fatherless. We 
 remembered the promises ; they were sweet. 
 
 " In his last moments, how did father look upon 
 all the self-denials he had made to prepare me for 
 the work upon which the Lord has permitted me 
 to enter? They were many and great. I bless 
 God, yea, I would magnify his name forever and 
 ever, that I have been permitted to pray for so long 
 a time that he might be prepared for his final 
 change." L. 
 
 Agreeably to their instructions, the missionaries 
 began immediately to acquire the Malay language. 
 After a short time Mr. Munson commenced the study 
 of Chinese. 
 
 " Besides the study of the languages, we have, 
 with the help of Mr. Medhurst, set up a dispensary 
 in town, to which all who choose to accept our ser- 
 vices gratis, come and receive medicines. We visit 
 this three times a week. I went down on Saturday 
 morning and found a most wretched set of mortals ; 
 some with ulcers, some with asthma, others with 
 dropsy, &c. ; to all of them Mr. Medliurst and I 
 attended as well as we could. We gave them medi- 
 cines for the body and also medicines for the soul. 
 We always go with tracts and portions of scripture, 
 which many of them receive with gratitude. Be- 
 
MUNSON AND LYMAN. 75 
 
 sides these, we have patients come to our house 
 almost every clay. It is, however, a great per- 
 plexity ; it keeps us ahuost constantly consulting 
 medical books." M. 
 
 ^' Nov. 28. — Last week I visited a native market, 
 twenty miles from Batavia, We took each a bundle 
 of books, Chinese and Maly, and went into the crowd. 
 
 ^' The native markets are composed of rows of 
 small shops, with only a foot-path between them. 
 The crowd, the heat, and the odour are very annoy- 
 ing. Mr. Medhurst preached, or rather talked all 
 the way as we went ; whenever he stopped a crowd 
 would collect, and while he talked to them, I gave 
 books to such as could read. We carried up two 
 hundred tracts, and in two hours every leaf was 
 gone. 
 
 " In the course of our walk we halted at a Chi- 
 nese temple. These are exceedingly common in 
 Batavia. The largest is connected with the Chi- 
 nese burying-ground. It contains three immense 
 idols, and a host of smaller ones. The burying- 
 ground of the Chinese is a great curiosity. Just in 
 the passage that leads to it is the great temple. 
 Some graves occupy scarcely less than a quarter of 
 an acre. They are immense mounds, forty or fifty 
 feet high, appearing Hke large family tombs in Ame- 
 rica* It is not the ties of relationship that prompt 
 these expensive burials ; but the hope of gain ! 
 The tomb of a deceased relative is the " hong 
 
76 MEMOIRSOF 
 
 chung" of the survivor ; i. e. literally, it is his "wind 
 and water," or in plain English, it is his luck. In 
 proportion as the son expends money on the tomb 
 of his father, he expects to acquire wealth." M. 
 
 Their communications to friends and patrons in 
 this country, show that Messrs. Munson and Lyman 
 gave themselves wholly to their work in Batavia, 
 at no time forgetful of the great and sacred trust 
 committed to their hands. The following extract 
 is from a letter to the A. M. S. of Barnstable county : 
 " It is a blessed work, and I wish to bind myself 
 to it by every cord that can entwine itself around a 
 moral being. Every day that I look at the great 
 enterprise before me, it appears greater and more 
 glorious, and my prayer is that it may go on 
 increasing in magnitude and splendour, till it shall 
 fill the whole horizon of my moral vision ; so that 
 I shall see and feel, and be warmed and fired by no- 
 thing else. Time will not permit me to state par- 
 ticulars, but be assured I never felt more confident 
 of the final and speedy success of the gospel. The 
 obstacles which the church will have to encounter in 
 preaching the gospel here are many ; t,he enemies 
 that oppose are numerous and formidable ; yet in 
 the name of the Lord we shall conquer. ' They 
 that are for us are more than they that be against 
 us.' But, dear brethren, what ' we do let us do 
 quickly. '■ Behold I come quickly,' says the Lord 
 
MUNSON AND LYMAN. 77 
 
 of the harvest, ' and my reward is with me.' Even 
 so, come. Lord Jesus, come quickly." M. 
 
 Addressing Rev. Mr. Stearns, of Bedford, Mass., 
 Mr. Munson says: 
 
 "I am aware that much has been written re- 
 specting this island — enough, it would seem, en- 
 tirely to exhaust the subject. Yet the Christian 
 community are quite as ignorant of the moral con- 
 dition of these Islanders, as they were a century 
 ago. The reason of this is obvious. Those who 
 have written have not directed their inquiries 
 towards this, of all others, the most important point. 
 Some have been intent on gain. Such inquire 
 only into the resources of the island. Others, still, 
 have burned with the desire of conquest, of rule 
 and oppression. Such number the population, in- 
 quire into the strength and resources of the native 
 Princes, and cast around the anxious look for 
 means to carry their unholy schemes into execu- 
 tion. For two hundred years the natives have in- 
 discriminately been made the sport of avarice and 
 ambition; — the objects of oppression, and the in- 
 struments of gain to foreign conquerors. — Con- 
 querors too, who have denominated themselves 
 Christians ! 
 
 " But who among the long catalogue of Chris- 
 tians, who have successively visited these islands, 
 has cared for the souls of the natives ? Who has 
 wept in secret over their miseries, and cast around 
 7* 
 
78 MEMOIRSOF 
 
 him the anxious and sympathizing inquiries of the 
 Christian philanthropist 7 Who has spread out 
 their wants before the Christian world, and im- 
 plored help in delivering from their degradation, 
 their moral bondage, and in elevating them to the 
 exalted privileges of the sons of God? I might 
 almost answer — not one. 
 
 "It is true, that one ostensible object of these 
 Christian conquerors has been, to propagate the 
 gospel. But let us see their zeal for the Lord — let 
 the result of their labours bear witness. 
 
 " The moral aspect of this island, so far as I have 
 the means of judging, is far more favourable than 
 we might expect. The Malays, who embraced the 
 religion of the false prophet earlier than any other 
 people this side of Bengal, and who have ever been 
 considered the bulwark of Mohammedanism in 
 this quarter, are neither so bigoted, nor so preju- 
 diced against Christianity as most accounts would 
 lead us to expect. Even the prejudices that may 
 remain are fast dwindhng away. I have never 
 seen a Malay refuse a tract, even though he knew 
 it to contain the outlines of Christianity. I have 
 assisted in the distribution of hundreds of books 
 among them: — many were received with apparent 
 gratitude, and I doubt not were perused with be- 
 coming seriousness and attention. Indeed, Mr. 
 Medhurst assures me, that he has known them 
 spend the whole night with their priests in the 
 
MUNSON AND LYMAN. 79 
 
 discussion of questions originating from the reading 
 of Christian books. This is an interesting trait in 
 their character, and may yet turn out greatly to the 
 furtherance of the gospel. I am fully convinced, 
 that were some Samson to lay hold of the main 
 pillars of Mohammedanism, and in the spirit of 
 the gospel, uncover its appalling deformities and in- 
 consistencies ; such a work, with the blessing of 
 God, would go far to dissipate the spell that now 
 holds men in iron bondage. Such an experiment 
 is about to be made. The tract is now in press. 
 Our prayer is, that it may be mighty through God, 
 in pulhng down this strong-hold of Satan." 
 
 The following, from a communication to John 
 Tappan, Esq., Boston, shows that the mortality 
 among Europeans in the East Indies, should not 
 be altogether ascribed to the climate : 
 
 " My heart is sick with seeing the glass filled and 
 emptied before breakfast, with breakfast, at eleven 
 o'clock, before dinner, with dinner, and continually 
 after till bed-time. Wherever I have been in India, 
 wine is placed on the table in the morning ; when 
 the table is cleared away, the decanter-stand of 
 strong drink makes its appearance ; with dinner, 
 w4ne and beer are like water, in abundance, and 
 after dinner the strong drink again. I believe the 
 quantity consumed is diminishing, but still it is 
 terrible. Formerly it was so pernicious in its effects, 
 at Padang, that it obtained the Malay name of Pa- 
 
^ 
 
 80 MEMOIRSOF 
 
 koe, (nail,) because, the people said, ' It drove one 
 more nail into a man's coffin.' You might hear 
 them call to their servants, ' Bring me the red nail ;' 
 or, ' Bring me the white nail.' Mr. Vangrale, of 
 Beucooleu, told me, that when he came to India, 
 twenty years since, the young men, when warm 
 with wine, would go out, fasten weights to the legs 
 of the table and the chairs, and sink them in the 
 canal ; then sit in the water till day-light, drinking. 
 
 "The influence of the American Temperance 
 Society has been felt here. A spark has been kin- 
 dled that ought to be fanned into a flame. I dined 
 and spent some time with the Governor General, 
 (Bonde,) and almost all the time I could spare from 
 my Missionary business, was employed by him in 
 making inquiries concerning the temperance move- 
 ments in the United States. In every place where 
 I have not introduced the subject, the people have. 
 Our temperance ships, and temperance captains, and 
 supercargoes, have done wonders." L. 
 
 Besides preaching, when opportunities occurred, 
 on board the ships in the roads, the brethren occa- 
 sionally relieved Mr. Medhurst in the stated services 
 of his chapel. Conformably to their instructions, 
 they devoted themselves chiefly to those languages 
 in which it was their hearts' desire and prayer to 
 God that they might proclaim the gospel to millions 
 among whom Christ had not been named. In 
 these pursuits, from which few striking incidents 
 
MUNSON AND LYMAN. 81 
 
 could be expected to arise, they spent the fall and 
 winter. 
 
 On the twenty-seventh of February, Mr. Mun- 
 son found himself, for the first time, exercised with 
 parental affection, by the birth of a son. In a let- 
 ter to the parents of Mrs. M., after informing them, 
 in a tender strain, of the joyful event, he proceeds: 
 
 " We hope and pray that the Spirit of God will 
 prepare his heart for the work of a missionary. We 
 desire for him no more honourable employment, 
 nor any greater emolument than will accrue to him 
 from labouring faithfully for the salvation of the 
 heathen." He adds; "Our employments are the 
 same as when we last wrote. We are daily trying- 
 to acquire a knowledge of these strange tongues. 
 Our progress is slow, but we hope, ere long, to be 
 able to say something to the heathen in their own 
 language, about Jesus Christ and the great salva- 
 tion. 
 
 " Our sphere of action as physicians, might be 
 enlarged to any extent. Indeed it is already ex- 
 tended too far. I feel my time seriously encroached 
 upon. But what can we do? They come to us 
 loaded with disease, or perhaps they come to inter- 
 cede with us in behalf of their sick and dying 
 friends ; and we cannot close our ears. I hope the 
 Lord is in this way enabhng us to speak effectually 
 to them by our actions, before we can do it by our 
 words. 
 
82 MEMOIRSOF 
 
 "We are preparing for our departure to Neas and 
 Sumatra. The Lord willing, we shall embark 
 in about one week." M. 
 
 Such are the regulations of the Dutch Govern- 
 ment in the Netherlands, in regard to India, that the 
 missionaries could not prosecute their undertaking 
 without permission from the Governor and Council. 
 In a joint communication to Rev. R. Anderson, 
 Secretary of the A. B. C. F. M., they describe the 
 measures taken to effect this object. 
 
 "Batavia, April 5th, 1834. 
 
 " Dear Sir, — ******"VVe have as yet communica- 
 ted nothing in respect to our intercourse with 
 Government, that we might give the whole at 
 one time. 
 
 " About the middle of December, Mr. Munson's 
 health being such that a little recreation seemed ne- 
 cessary, the opportunity was improved to make a 
 journey to Buitenzorg, the Governor's residence, 
 about forty miles interior. His Excellency the 
 Commissary General, Van der Bosch, and his Ex- 
 cellency the Governor General, ad interim^ Bonde, 
 both expressed themselves favourably disposed 
 towards the establishment of a mission in Puloe, 
 Nias, and in the same breath advised to the estab- 
 lishment of a mission in the Batta country of Su- 
 matra. As. however, we could not be permitted to 
 reside in Batavia, or travel in other islands without 
 
MUNSON AND LYMAN. 83 
 
 liberty, granted by the Governor General in council 
 assembled, the following petition was prepared and 
 forwarded to his Excellency, near the close of De- 
 cember last." 
 
 The petition, after exhibiting the object and lead- 
 ing operations of the A. B. C. F. M., proceeds : 
 
 " The smiles of Providence upon their exertions in 
 other parts of the world, and the command of our 
 Saviour, ' Go ye into all the world and preach my 
 gospel to every creature,' make them desirous of 
 benefitting their degraded fellow-men among these 
 islands, as well as the neighbouring continental 
 countries. A glance at their history, [referring to 
 the Board of Missions,] will show that as they have 
 hitherto not interfered with politics or the operations 
 of other benevolent societies ; upon this principle 
 they wish still to proceed. They have accordingly 
 sent your petitioners hither for the purpose of ex- 
 ploring those places not pre-occupied by other bene- 
 volent societies. Their instructions are, that we 
 proceed first to Nias, then to the Battas of Sumatra, 
 1 then to the interior of Borneo, to fix upon the most 
 ; eligible locations for other missionaries, whom they 
 intend immediately to send hither to occupy those 
 fields of labour. 
 
 '' The importance of rescuing the souls of these 
 heathen from the consequences of idolatry and 
 vice, to which they are addicted, and putting into 
 their hands the word of God, which points out 
 
84 MEMOIRSOF 
 
 the way of salvation, will of course commend our 
 object to the favourable regard of his Excellency in 
 council assembled." 
 
 " Tlie long delay of an answer to this petition 
 caused us," say they, " many an anxious thought, 
 and many an earnest prayer, although we could 
 conceive of no possible motive that could influence 
 his Excellency to negative the request. In an in- 
 terview with the Governor General, about four 
 weeks since, he informed us that the petition 
 , received immediate attention, and was forthwith 
 / handed over to the Committee on Ecclesiastical Af- 
 fairs, of which Rev. Mr. Lenting was President. 
 On inquiry, Mr. Lenting regretted that it was so, 
 but he had unfortunately mislaid the petition, and 
 begged for another copy. As soon as more stamped 
 paper could be procured, and a person to translate 
 the petition, a duplicate was placed in his hands. 
 Three weeks more passed. The time of our de- 
 parture drew near. Another journey to Buitenzorg 
 was deemed necessary. Although, on our arrival, the 
 petition was found to be at Batavia, yet the journey 
 was not regretted, inasmuch as it afforded an oppor- 
 tunity for a free, social interview with his Excel- 
 lency." 
 
 After stating several particulars in which the 
 Governor expressed himself kindly, in regard to the 
 work of missions, they add : 
 
 "From this it must be apparent, that the present 
 
Mr N SON AND LYMAN. 85 
 
 governor, ad interim^ is favourable to the cause of 
 benevolence ; and while he is in office the opportu- 
 nity ought to be secured of sending out men and 
 laying a broad foundation for further operations. 
 
 "In short, the smiles of Almighty God on our 
 operations thus far, and the encouraging prospects 
 for the future, demand our thanksgiving and 
 praise, and renewed diligence on our part, to im- 
 prove the talent and discharge the responsibilities 
 committed to us. While we call to mind the pro- 
 mise, 'As thy days so shall thy strength be,' we 
 would not forget the diligence in business and fer- 
 vency of spirit that become us ; and that we may 
 have them in a still greater degree, we request 
 that you will remember us at the throne of 
 grace. Your missionaries, 
 
 "Henry Lyman, 
 "Samuel Munson." 
 
 Having at length secured the requisite papers 
 from government, the brethren soon completed their 
 preparations for leaving Batavia. 
 
 During their residence in that city, they enjoyed 
 the invaluable counsels and aid of Rev. Mr. Med- 
 hurst; and besides the study of Malay and Chi- 
 nese, they accustomed themselves, as we have seen, 
 to a variety of labours, specially suitable for those 
 who would " Endure hardness as good soldiers." 
 
 On the Sabbath previous to their taking leave of 
 8 
 
86 MEMOIRSOF 
 
 their families, they were permitted to renew their 
 strength, and " receive an unction from the Holy 
 One," at the table of their Lord. 
 
 The whole number of communicants on that 
 affecting occasion, was fifteen. Mr. Medhurst and 
 the two missionaries, who were " ready to depart on 
 the morrow," united in conducting the solemnity. 
 To Mr. and Mrs. Munson the day was rendered 
 memorable by the baptism of their infant son, the 
 only American child ever born on the island of 
 Java. As they retired from the chapel, Mr. Mun- 
 son signified to his wife that he had but a faint ex- 
 pectation of meeting her again at the table of Christ. 
 It was strongly impressed on his mind that in a 
 few hours he should bid her and the little one a 
 final adieu. But "none of these things moved" 
 him. "He steadfastly set his face to go" towards 
 the field of new toil and danger, because the voice 
 of duty summoned him away. 
 
MUNSON AND LYMAN. 87 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 Journal of Messrs. Munson and Lyman, on their tour of obser- 
 vation and inquiry among the islands lying west of Sumatra. 
 
 From the separate journals of the missionaries 
 after leaving Batavia, such portions have been select- 
 ed for the present chapter as comprise a continuous 
 narrative of observations and facts, with the leading 
 suggestions to vi^hich they gave rise. 
 
 It is the design of the present chapter to furnish, 
 by means of extracts from their journal, a continu- 
 ous narrative of the missionaries' travels and obser- 
 vations, from the time of their leaving Batavia till 
 their arrival at Tappanooly, on the Island of Su- 
 matra. 
 
 "April 7. — Embarked onboard the Diedericka, 
 Capt. Townsend, for Padang. In looking forward 
 to this time, I have had many anxious forebodings ; 
 but the Lord happily brought me to a full and entire 
 acquiescence in his will. I thought I could say with 
 all my heart, if I must return and find my wife in 
 the grave, ' thy will be done ; ' or, if I must be 
 sacrificed to the passions of untamed men, or the 
 more unyielding ferocity of untamed beasts, ^ Even 
 fio, Father, for so it seemeth good in thy sight/ 
 
MEMOIRS OF 
 
 shall be my language. Still hope has not deserted 
 me. I had not rode a mile towards the ship, before 
 I began to say to myself, ' Well, only six months 
 more and I hope again to see those I love.' 
 
 " To separate from one's family in the midst of a 
 heathen country, and to plunge still further into the 
 depths of heathenism, is quite another thing from 
 leaving home to enter upon a foreign mission. Still 
 the same great God can and will protect. 
 
 " Our barque, which carries only 250 tons, though 
 having much deck room, presents quite a Babelic 
 scene. There are American, Indian, and Dutch 
 passengers, besides soldiers, European, native, Ben- 
 galees and Malays. 
 
 " The languages spoken by these ninety souls, are 
 twelve in number ; viz : English, French, Dutch, 
 Spanish, Portuguese, Danish, Bengalee, Moor, Java- 
 nese, Malay, Chinese, and Nyas ; while there is 
 scaicely an individual on board who does not under- 
 stand more or less of Malay." L. 
 
 " April 8. — To-day we have been gently, though 
 rapidly pursuing our passage through the straits of 
 Sunda. Recognized many islands and points of 
 land, which we saw when passing the straits months 
 ago. The coast of Java is much changed ; then 
 it was parched and burned by a four months' 
 drought ; now it is clothed in the richest verdure. 
 
 " April 9. — This morning the last vestiges of the 
 coast of Java were fast disappearing. On our left 
 
MUNSON AND LYMAN. 89 
 
 was the immeasurable expanse, and on our right 
 the coast of Sumatra. With the exception of a 
 few hills, the coast seemed low and marshy. It is 
 inhabited by the Lampongs, Mohammedans by pro- 
 fession ; but miserable disciples of the false prophet. 
 
 " About noon we had the rare satisfaction of wit- 
 nessing the original of one of Stewart's most beauti- 
 tiful pictures ; I mean a 'dying dolphin/ The dol- 
 phin is surely the most gaudy fish that inhabits the 
 ocean. His natural colour is exquisitely beautiful ; 
 but to describe all the tints and shades he puts on in 
 the agonies of death, would exhaust the resources of 
 the most scientific and accomplished painter. The 
 mode of taking them is very curious and simple. 
 A body is made of wax ; to this wings made of 
 feathers are attached, so as exactly to resemble the 
 flying fish. This is fastened to a hook and thrown 
 into the water, when it is immediately seized by the 
 dolphin as his favorite morsel. But, alas, the hook ! 
 By that he is deceived and taken." M. 
 
 "April 11. — To-day and yesterday have been read- 
 ing Lander's Expedition to Africa. I could not but 
 reflect if these men were willing to undergo so much 
 for the sake of benefiting science and obtaining 
 their wages, shall I shrink back when my object is 
 to benefit the soul for time and eternity ? No, no. 
 Blessed be God, if I may be counted worthy to suf- 
 fer for his name. If I am never permitted to return 
 and reap the reward of my labours here, by seeing 
 8* 
 
90 MEMOIRSOF 
 
 the kingdom of God established among these pea- 
 pie to whom 1 am sent, while in this world, yet I 
 know in whom I have trusted, and in eternity all 
 will be made right. 
 
 " Our passengers consist of a lieutenant in the 
 Dutch service, a French Catholic infidel, and a 
 young man in the employment of government. 
 
 *' We had this evening quite an interesting dis- 
 cussion. The lieutenant had read Yoltaire ten 
 times, but not once the Bible ; because he was not 
 allowed to by the priests. With him it was ' all a 
 lie,' ' on the same level with the Koran,' &:c. He is 
 very much of a gentleman, and stated his objections 
 with a great deal of apparent honesty. I endeavoured 
 to answer them at some length, although I regret- 
 ted that my limited knowledge of Malay, in which 
 language only we can converse, prevented my pre- 
 senting the arguments as clearly as 1 could wish. 
 
 " But the most convincing argument in favour of 
 the Holy Scriptures, being what they profess to be, 
 and those which I have often found most successful 
 with sceptics in New England, was the incompara- 
 ble excellence of its doctrines and precepts ; its ten- 
 dency to make society better; the lives of those 
 who adhere most closely to its precepts, particularly 
 as manifested in their benevolence." L. 
 
 '- April 13. — Last night the clouds cleared away 
 and gave us a fair view of the Sumatran coast. 
 This morning the mountains, trees, and fields are all 
 
MUNSON AND LYMAN. 91 
 
 in sight. Last night the captain told us of a nar- 
 row escape from assassination. (See Singapore 
 Chronicle, for January, 1831.) It is not a matter of 
 surprise that so many officers are murdered by their 
 men. The crews of these country ships are liter- 
 ally collected from the four winds of heaven. The 
 officers are Europeans, but the sailors, which are 
 three times as numerous as thos3 cf American ships, 
 are gathered from every nation and tribe in the 
 East. A crew of thirty men usually speak not less 
 than a dozen languages. 
 
 "They are indolent in the extreme. No depen- 
 dence can be placed on them when their help is 
 most needed. The consequence is, the officers beat 
 them without mercy, and some of them, especially 
 the Manilla men, take revenge by murder. Many 
 times in a year this mournful tragedy is acted over 
 in one or more of the country ships. 
 
 " Not a day I as passed since our embarkation, in 
 which I have not witnessed repeated instances of 
 these unmerciful peltings. One morning I heard 
 the boatswain, whose station is always in the fore- 
 castle, chastising a Bengalee sailor. The delin- 
 quent retired abaft out of his reach. The captain, 
 observing this, stepped down from the poop, and 
 struck him several times on the head and back, 
 then kicked him flat upon the deck. This brought 
 him again within the jurisdiction of the boatswain, 
 who gave him a warm reception with the butt end 
 
92 MEMOIRSOF 
 
 of a bamboo. He drove the poor wretch forward, and 
 concluded by giving liim the rope's end ! Yet I was . 
 assured by a fellow-passenger, who is well acquaint- 
 ed with the treatment which these sailors receive, 
 that the crew of this ship are comparatively treated 
 with great humanity and forbearance ! I could 
 not but ask, if this is humanity, what is cruelty ? 
 
 " April 19. — I shall not soon forget my first intro- 
 duction to Sumatra. We anchored in Pulo Bay at 
 two o'clock. The captain resolved to land and go 
 in search of an Englishman, who resided at the head 
 of the bay. The captain, a Dutch officer, a civil 
 servant of the company, and myself, formed the 
 party. We were three miles from the shore. It 
 came on to blow fresh after we started, and the spray 
 beat over us at every stroke of the oar. We soon 
 found it impossible to advance or return. Our only 
 alternative was to let the boat run before the wind, 
 and land on the lee shore, where the surf looked 
 truly formidable. The boat struck some distance 
 from the shore. The oar-men leaped out, up to 
 their necks in water, and finally succeeded in draw- 
 ing us into a small creek, where, after being tho- 
 roughly wet, I first set my foot on Sumatra. We 
 went in search of the Englishman, but found to our 
 mortification, that he had removed to Bencoolen. 
 
 " We found a family of Malays in his house, who, 
 at our solicitation, prepared supper, for it was not 
 practicable to return to the ship. They served up 
 
MUNSON AND LYMAN. 93 
 
 currie and rice for us; knives, forks, and spoons were 
 GUt of the question. We were therefore compelled 
 to resort to the Malay method of eating, with our 
 fingers. 
 
 " The rest of the company having been longer in 
 the country, succeeded well ; but I could not acquire 
 the necessary sleight of hand. Fortunately, I had 
 been amusing myself with conchology, by collecting 
 a few shells on the beach. So, taking the half a 
 bivalve, I finished my supper without further diffi- 
 culty." M. 
 
 "Ill health prevented my visiting the shore in 
 company with Brother Munson, the captain, and 
 others. 
 
 "Had conversation with one of the Portuguese 
 helmsmen, who is from Goa, and speaks a httle 
 broken English. He appeared a very wicked, hard- 
 ened man. When I spoke of the way of salvation, 
 he replied with a contemptuously emphatic, and hard- 
 hearted sneer, ' God Almighty make man ; make 
 torment ; put him in always ! I poor man ; I 
 troubled in all the world, and when make dead, I 
 go to hell !' And he shook his head and turned 
 away, expressing by his actions, ' It is a hard say- 
 ing, who can bear it V When I urged the subject 
 still further, and endeavored to explain the govern- 
 ment of God, he turned and walked away with such 
 an expression of cold, settled hatred to the gospel^, 
 that it seemed like throwing pearls before swine^ 
 
94 MEMOIRSOF 
 
 " Went on shore to see if any missionary labour 
 could be done. 
 
 " April 20. — The Buffalo-carts, in use among the 
 people here, are of a peculiar construction ; the 
 wheels solid, about three feet in diameter, and 
 the cart raised upon a frame upon the axletree 
 about twelve inches above the tops of the wheels. 
 Their tops covered with mats, with a roof like a 
 house, except that the ridge-pole bends in from the 
 ends, the front peak being higher by a few inches 
 than that behind. There was no other way of 
 egress and ingress than by a small door in front. I 
 should judge them to be three feet wide, by five 
 long, designed for one buffalo. 
 
 " I have before heard of velvet lawns, and mea- 
 dows of velvet softness ; but never saw one before to- 
 day. The grass was not far from three inches in 
 height, and without exaggeration, more than twice 
 as fine, and four times as thick as I ever saw in the 
 most cultivated and richly-dressed door-yard in New 
 England. The most elastic Turkey carpet I ever 
 walked upon, did not appear more soft and agree- 
 able." L. 
 
 "April 21. — At six o'clock landed at a small vil- 
 lage of fishermen. At ten o'clock, a horse and 
 buggy having been sent from Bencoolen, we set off 
 for that place. 
 
 "April 22. — Went this morning to examine a 
 small plantation of spices. The nut-meg, (hux 
 
MUNSON AND LYMAN. 95 
 
 myristica,) tree very much resembles the apple tree, 
 though the branches are nearly horizontal, and the 
 top more acuminated. The male tree seldom bears 
 any thing but flowers ; on the female tree may be 
 seen the blossom, the green and ripe fruit at the 
 same time. The fruit is much hke the peach in 
 shape, size, and appearance. When ripe the fruit 
 bursts and exposes the nut-meg partially covered 
 with the red mace. The produce of an acre differs 
 not much from two pikuls (266| lbs.) per annum. 
 
 " The clove tree (lary ophulus aromaticus) is one 
 of the most elegant productions of nature. In size 
 and shape it is not much unlike the common cherry 
 tree. The germ of the blossom is, when gathered 
 and cured, the clove of commerce ; if permitted to 
 blossom, it becomes the ' mother clove.' The flower 
 is of all others the most exquisite in scent. It is 
 a perfect combination of all that is spicy, fragrant, 
 and pleasing to the senses. 
 
 " The produce of the clove is about 328 lbs. per 
 acre. The clove and nut-meg were introduced into 
 Bencoolen from the Moluccas in 1798, by Broff. 
 Since that period the cultivation has been gradually 
 extending. The natives are now eagerly inquiring 
 after the plant, and carrying it into the interior. 
 This valuable article of commerce promises to be 
 widely cultivated, even in Sumatra. 
 
 " Called on the ' assistant resident,' and obtained 
 permission to distribute a few tracts among the 
 
96 MEMOIRSOF 
 
 Chinese, of whom there were about 500 in Bencoo- 
 len. Went out with a small supply which I 
 brought from the ship, and before I had proceeded 
 half through the village, I had not a tract left. 
 Tried to say something to them about Jesus Christ, 
 of whom they are always ready to hear. Met with 
 one Chinaman who could speak English. I re- 
 turned to my lodgings and procured for him an 
 English Testament, for which he seemed very 
 grateful. I left him with the promise that he 
 would read it every day. The Lord grant that it 
 may prove a hght to his feet, to guide him in the 
 way of salvation. 
 
 " The Malay population of Bencoolen is not far 
 from 5000. There are, also, fifteen or twenty 
 Europeans. Went in and examined 'Fort Marl- 
 borough.' It is a noble monument of English 
 skill and industry. Perhaps it is the best fort now 
 in possession of the Dutch in the East. 
 
 "Bencoolen holds out many encouragements to 
 missionary effort ; at least were an active missionary 
 occasionally to visit the place for the purpose of cir- 
 culating books among the Malays and Chinese, his 
 labours might be attended with the happiest 
 effects." M. 
 
 " The town is built on a point of land on the 
 upper side of the outer entrance to Pulo Bay. Al- 
 though the north part of it is high land, yet a sand 
 bank and coral reef extends far out from the shore. 
 
MUNSON AND LYMAN. 9t 
 
 Ships of large burden, having cargoes for the place, 
 generally anchor at Pulo Tikoes, (Rat Island,) 
 seven miles distant. 
 
 "After breakfast, we paid our respects to his 
 honour the Assistant Resident. He laboured under 
 some embarrassment from a want of a perfect flu- 
 ency in his English. Nevertheless, he was very 
 polite, seemed interested in our announcement of the 
 intentions of the Board, in reference to these islands, 
 and expressed a willingness that we should distri- 
 bute books in this place. We accordingly set our- 
 selves to work ; I taking the Malay part of the 
 population. At first the people seemed backward 
 at receiving them, till I met a priest with whom I 
 entered into conversation, and in the presence of 
 many gave him a testament and two tracts, after 
 reading which, aloud, for a few minutes, he walked 
 on with them in his hand, through the Bazaar. 
 Whether his example exerted an influence on the 
 people, I know not, but soon I was necessitated 
 to return to my lodgings for more, and it was 
 not till the books were all gone, that I refused the 
 request of many for books. 
 
 "April 23. — This morning, at 6 o'clock, we 
 weighed anchor, and with a pleasant four-knot 
 breeze, stood off from the coast." L. 
 
 "April 24. — To-day we have been running so 
 near the coast of Sumatra, that we can see distinctly 
 the dense forests ; the high mountains and deep vales. 
 9 
 
98 MEMOIRSOF 
 
 "April 26. — This morning we were in sight of 
 the small islands scattered along the coast south of 
 Padang. They are low, and most of them unin- 
 habited. Many cocoa-nut trees line the shores. 
 These islands are beautifully secluded spots. I al- 
 most envied the lot of one sohtary man I saw cours- 
 ing along the beach. 
 
 "As we approached Padang, the islands became 
 mere bluffs, rising abruptly from the water, and 
 covered to their very summits with the richest 
 fohage. The scenery, altogether, was more pictu- 
 resque and beautiful than any thing I had before 
 witnessed. At 6 P. M. arrived in the Roads, and 
 cast anchor under Pulo Pisang." M. 
 
 " The anchorage is between Pulo Pisang bissar 
 and Pulo Pisang kathil. The row from these to 
 the town was romantic in the extreme. Pa- 
 dang Head is a bold, rocky promontory, thickly 
 w^ooded, hiding entirely the river and town. Ex- 
 cept for the magazine on the top of the hill, a little 
 in from the Head, and the signal staff, together 
 with a few native houses, a stranger would suppose 
 himself on an uninhabited part of the coast. 
 
 " On rounding the Head, the river's mouth pre- 
 sents itself, and also a few European houses on the 
 beach. On proceeding up a little, the river craft, 
 custom-house, and town itself, open to view. 
 
 "April 29. — Spent most of the day in company 
 with Mr. N. M. Ward, formerly of the Enghsh 
 
MUNSON AND LYMAN. 99 
 
 Baptist Society. He came out as a printer; first 
 lived at Bencoolen, and laboured there successfully 
 for about five years ; having established schools in 
 all the vicinity, and brought them under good 
 regulations. Soon after the place was made over 
 to the Dutch, he removed to this place, and la- 
 boured about two years. Mr. Evans, who was 
 originally established here, and laboured five years, 
 kft about the time Mr. Ward came, on account of 
 ill health. He is now hving in England. Mr. 
 Burton laboured two years in Tappanooly and 
 vicinity, among the Battas. He gathered two 
 small schools, but did not accomplish much ere ill 
 health compelled him to abandon the station. 
 From thence he proceeded to Bengal, where both 
 he and his wife died. A manuscript collection of 
 words which he made in the Batta language, and 
 some other manuscripts, are in the college at Se- 
 rampore; they, or copies, may be obtained, and 
 would perhaps be of some use to future mis- 
 sionaries. 
 
 " Mr. Ward, in company with Mr. Burton, made 
 a short incursion into the interior of the Batta 
 country, from Tappanooly, but did not reach the 
 most thickly inhabited part, which is on the borders 
 of the great lake Tobah. Their journey up was 
 five days, down, three, and six there. It was a fine 
 level plain, covered with rice and houses as far as 
 the eye could see ; perhaps thirty or forty miles. It 
 
100 MEMOIRS OP 
 
 is called Salindong District. Mr. B.'s ill health 
 compelled their return. They went up at the invi- 
 tation of the people, who came to Tappanooly for 
 trade, and soon after starting-, fell in with a chief, 
 who begged to accon.pany them, and at whose 
 house they lived during the six days, making from 
 there, daily, short excursions. Every where the peo- 
 ple received them with joy, and entertained them 
 well ; they being the first white men who had visit- 
 ed the country. 
 
 "The whole population came out to see them, and 
 feel them, to ascertain whether or not they were flesh 
 and blood. Sometimes they came in such crowds as 
 to fairly block up the way. The missionaries carried 
 the British flag always flying. This the people reve- 
 renced ; not on account of its being a national sig- 
 nal, but thinking it a charm. 
 
 " They called a public meeting of all the chiefs 
 in the vicinity, at which the object of the missiona- 
 ries was explained, and the ten commandments 
 read to them. They then entered into a long 
 discussion whether or not they should adopt the 
 moral law. They also had dances; one to the 
 English flag, which was hoisted over the house, an- 
 other to the missionaries themselves. The assembly 
 was held from nine o'clock, A. M., to three o'clock, 
 P. M." M. 
 
 They found many remnants of Hindooism ; bul- 
 locks and skulls upon the houses, dress of the wo- 
 
MUNSON AND LYMAN. 101 
 
 men, language, (for God they used the Hindoo word.) 
 They beheve that evil spirits reside in the water. 
 
 "The lake of Tobah is about thirty miles in 
 length, and has a regular rise and fall of tide; this 
 the natives attribute to the influence of evil spirits." 
 
 L. 
 
 "April 30. — I have now been long enough in 
 Padang to form some estimate of the place and 
 people. The town is an inconsiderable place, situ- 
 ated on the Padang river, a small stream, one hun- 
 dred yards wide, and extending twenty-five miles 
 into the interior. To the south and east, the town 
 is hedged in by high mountains. It enjoys a fine 
 sea-breeze every day; is, on the whole, a very 
 healthy place. The river is so shallow that there 
 is not more than two fathoms of water at its mouth. 
 The shipping finds a safe anchorage under Pulo Pi- 
 sang. The numerous monuments scattered here 
 and there, built over the remains of Europeans, 
 show that many, from one cause or another, have 
 fallen. Exclusive of soldiers, of whom there are 
 2000 Europeans and Javanese, there are six hun- 
 dred free Nyas men ; Europeans, 200 ; Chinese, 
 700 ; and Malays, on the whole plain, 40,000 ; 
 slaves, 2000 ; Cling men, 300. The Nyas men are 
 poor and wretched, but more civilized than in their 
 native country. The Chinese are many of them 
 from Pulo Pisang; some speak a Httle English. 
 They are next in rank to European merchants. 
 9* 
 
102 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 They do not, as in Batavia, deal in small articles ; 
 this is all left to the Malays. Most of them are 
 wholesale merchants, very intelligent, nearly all 
 able to read, and apparently men of wealth. 
 
 " The goldsmiths manifest an ingenuity, that one 
 would not expect to find in such society. With a 
 handful of tools of the rudest construction, they 
 draw gold and silver wire, and make ornaments 
 that would do credit to any European shop. In- 
 deed, the clasps and chains of gold used by the 
 first families, are of native manufacture. They 
 are able to distinguish gold and silver from all 
 counterfeits, of which there are here many, almost 
 by intuition. They are so expert at this, that their 
 word is law, even with Europeans. 
 
 " The Chng men are butlers, washermen, and 
 petty merchants. They are all Mohammedans. 
 
 "The Malays have mosques, and the Chinese 
 have a temple, all of which are frequented ; but the 
 Europeans have a church, which is deserted. 
 
 " They have a regular, organized church ; but 
 for want of a minister, it is fast going to decay. 
 
 " Their little meeting-house, in which the Rev. 
 Mr. Evans used to officiate, has been so much in- 
 jured by an earthquake, that it must be taken 
 down." M. 
 
 "April 30. — This evening visited old Mr. Int- 
 feld ; one of the old Dutch settlers ; a truly vene- 
 rable patriarch ; with silver buckles in his shoes, a 
 
MUNSON AND LYMAN. 103 
 
 broad skirted coat, large, portly frame, and long, 
 silver-grey hair flowing upon his shoulders. He 
 appeared, indeed, like one of the old school. A 
 half century he has lived in India ; and yet he ap» 
 pears vigorous and possessed of enlarged views, 
 and well informed in modern improvements, for 
 one of so advanced an age. Formerly he was ac- 
 customed to translate sermons into Malay, and read 
 of an evening in the church, to a congregation, in 
 that language. 
 
 '' May 1. — A rainy morning prevented my going 
 out to distribute books. A little after noon went 
 through Passar Borong, one and a half miles in 
 length ; and found but about one in ten that could 
 read ; gave away forty books, but without meeting 
 with any incident of importance. I left fifty more 
 with old Mr. Intfeld, who wished to call in his 
 Malay acquaintances, and explain the books to 
 them as he gave them away. ' 
 
 " Captain Boyle was once at Tappanoola, when an 
 intelligent chief came to invite him and the post- 
 holder to a feast upon a boy seven years of age. 
 This boy's father, thirteen years previous, murdered 
 the Rajah's brother ; the boy returned to the cam- 
 pong, and on being questioned as to his parentage, 
 very innocently acknowledged it ; whereupon he 
 was immediately seized and eaten for the sins of his 
 father, six years before he had the misfortune to come 
 into the world. Captain B. expostulated ; ' 0/ 
 
104 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 the chief replied, ' I know how bad it is as well as 
 yourself, but it is the law of my country, and 1 must 
 abide by it.' " L. 
 
 " May 3. — Went out this morning to distribute 
 tracts among the Chinese ; everywhere well receiv- 
 ed ; nearly all could read ; found one old man who 
 seemed much pleased with the tracts, but seeing an 
 idol in the room, I took occasion to ask him if he 
 worshipped that for his God, he seemed alike con- 
 fused; but finally said he worshipped God through 
 the idol," M. 
 
 " To-day we closed the bargain with Rajah Ma- 
 den, a Malay, for the use of his boat for two months. 
 It is of eight tons burden, one mast, and manned 
 by six Malays, besides the Nakho-da, (commander.) 
 He is to pay all expenses and be at all risk of the 
 boat, furnish us with water and fine wood, and be 
 at our disposal for two months." L. 
 
 " May 4. — Preached to a respectable congrega- 
 tion in a school-house, consisting of the officers of 
 government, the soldiers and citizens. It seemed 
 good to speak the truth once more to so large a con- 
 gregation. Hearers respectable and attentive ; hope 
 some good was done in the name of Jesus." M. 
 
 " May 5. — Formerly there were but three sove-' 
 reignties in this part of the Island, Indrapore, Me- 
 nangkabow, and Acheen. The two former scarcely 
 exist now, except on paper, and in the legendary 
 tale. Menangkabow is almost entirely extinct as to 
 
MUNSON AND LYMAN. 105 
 
 power, and tlie royal family of Indrapore live only 
 on the royalty of their ancestors. The sovereignty 
 formerly extended along this coast from Ager Bangy 
 down as far as Europeans had any knowledge of 
 the island, including, of course, Padang. The sul- 
 tan now receives a salute of. nine guns when he 
 comes here, and is not amenable to the native courts, 
 being acknowledged by the Dutch government as 
 superior to any native chiefs of the districts. Still 
 he scarcely possesses any authority out of his own 
 village, and in that, only as a head man or datoek ; 
 receives no pay from his people, and from govern- 
 ment but one hundred and fifty dollars per annum. 
 The native ruler of Moco-Moco has recently died, 
 and it is said he is to have that district added to hfe 
 real authority. It is well, however, to notice him, 
 as the former power of the family gives great weight 
 to his character, as the people retain a kind of super- 
 stitious reverence for those who were formerly over 
 them ; but he has in himself worthy traits of char- 
 acter. He was two years in Mr. Evans' school at 
 this place, reads and writes English, is very much 
 interested in the cause of education, and the im- 
 provement of those over whom he can exert an influ- 
 ence; delights in intercourse, and especially corres- 
 pondence with Europeans. 
 
 "May 6. — Was busy this morning packing up 
 goods which we have purchased as presents, and 
 making other arrangements for leaving. Saw the 
 
106 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 captain of a Dutch brig just come from Nyas, who 
 is post-holder at Pulo Batu. He says he should not 
 dare to land at any place on the island except Gu- 
 nong Stolis or Si Toelis, which is a Mohammedan 
 village, and here we must depend on Mohammedan 
 influence for protection, which is hke trusting to 
 the false prophet for support while we invade his 
 dominions. Pulo Batu contains about 5000 inhab- 
 itants ; 4000 Nyas, and 1000 Bugis, Malays, and 
 Chinese. Met to-day with a Chinaman born at 
 Bencoolen, who speaks English very well, and also 
 reads it. Malay he reads a little, and Chinese not at 
 all. He seemed to understand the way of salvation 
 by Christ as the only way, and the worship of Josh 
 as foolish and wicked. At my invitation, he called 
 this evening at the house, where we endeavour fur- 
 ther to impress on his mind the necessity of making 
 Christ his friend, prayed with him, gave him some 
 tracts, and promised to obtain for him if possible an 
 English testament, before he leaves for Bencoolen, 
 which is to-morrow. O, that he might be taught 
 by the spirit of God, and become the spiritual guide 
 of thousands of his deluded countrymen ; so did we 
 pray, and so would we ever pray. 
 
 "May 7. — Employed most of the day in copy- 
 ing charts for our tour ; received a note from the 
 Chinaman, alluded to yesterday, requesting the Bi- 
 ble. Having been unable to obtain one here, I send 
 him the gift of my mother when I entered college ; 
 
MUNSON AND LYMAN. 107 
 
 my guide to Jesus Christ, and subsequent conductor 
 in the way of salvation. It was a hard struggle to 
 me to part with it ; but how could I resist ? The 
 Lord send his Spirit, and make the book to him 
 what it has been to me, and I shall never regret 
 having parted with it. 
 
 " The Resident has appended to the resolutions 
 of Government, in reference to us, a circular to the 
 local authorities of Natal, Tappanooly, and Pulo 
 Batu ; also a letter to the Malay chiefs, and another 
 to Nyas chiefs on Nyas. 
 
 " He has also in his report recently made to gov- 
 ernment on the residency, recommended that mis- 
 sionaries be sent into the Batta country, also into 
 Borneo. He does not, however, recommend Dutch 
 missionaries ; if the American Board occupy the 
 ground, he says it is all the same. He recommends 
 that the missionaries should reside a while at Pa- 
 dang, Natal, Tappanooly, or Pulo Batu, and make 
 occasional visits there while acquiring the language. 
 
 " May 9. — We ar^ clear from the custom house, 
 and in the morning at seven o'clock, tlie Lord pros- 
 pering us, we hope to be under way. 
 
 " As to missionary life, every thing seems to have 
 been but preparation until now. I resolved to go, 
 but it was distant. I left my father's house and 
 country, but it was in company with my wife, to 
 reside in a city of enlightened. Christian society. I 
 bid my wife adieu, but it was to sail with pleasant 
 
108 MEMOIRS OP 
 
 society in a fine ship, to remain a few days among 
 a Christian people, to make inquiries and prepare for 
 the work. Now the work of preparation is at an 
 end ; all completed. We have spent the evening 
 in a pleasant circle of friends, (Captain Town- 
 send 's,) and have bid them farewell. We stand now 
 on the verge of civilization, just poising for a leap 
 among the untamed savages, and the perils of ex- 
 ploring a new country. I have at times almost been 
 left to say, ' Why was not I left over a snug parish 
 in New England ? and why did not the Lord send 
 by some other 1 ' But no ; the consolations of the 
 gospel, the strength of the Lord, the fulfilment of 
 that promise, ' Lo I am with you alway,' has sub- 
 dued every other feeling. In our evening devotions 
 the twenty-seventh psalm was read ; my soul seem- 
 ed to enter into every word of it ; prayer was sweet ; 
 it was pleasant to thank the Lord that he count- 
 ed us worthy for the work, and to resign all into his 
 hands for life or death ; it was pleasant, too, to re- 
 turn thanks for all his dealings, in bringing us to 
 this time, and to pray for all those friends whom, in 
 his infinite mercy, he has raised up to assist us. It 
 was sweet, also, in breaking away from this last 
 point of the civihzed world, and plunging for months 
 into the depths of darkness and moral desolation, 
 to raise one more anxious prayer in behalf of Chris- 
 tendom, that the Church may be watered, and her 
 
MUNSON AND LYMAN, 109 
 
 watchmen not cease to lift up theii- voice while a 
 sinner remains. 
 
 " May 11. — This morning we found ourselves still 
 in the river, there having been no wind during the 
 night. Not wishing to sail on the Sabbath, we took 
 breakfast at our old home, Captain Townsend's. 
 Most of our conversation this evening has been in 
 reference to the temperance cause. All over India, 
 the brandy, gin, and wine come upon the table of 
 every European, as regularly every day as his food, 
 and no less regular is his segar ; but it will be best, 
 perhaps, to give a view of a day's living as I have 
 observed it. A cup of coffee is the first thing when 
 out of bed ; then bathing, dressing, exercise, 
 &c., till breakfast, at eight or nine o'clock, which 
 is served up with coffee, tea, or wine, or all. At 
 eleven o'clock comes strong drink, at twelve or one 
 o'clock luncheon, with wine ; half-past five, dinner, 
 at which wine is drank without reference to quan- 
 tity, accompanied usually with strong beer ; after 
 the cloth is removed the ladies retire to the drawing 
 room to take their coffee or tea, and the gentlemen, 
 furnished with fresh supplies of wine, together with 
 a stand of brandy, gin, (fee. &c. Every gentleman, 
 almost, has a servant following him with a hghted 
 rope, as if not a breath could be drawn separately 
 from tobacco smoke. Such is the general character 
 of the East India Europeans in reference to living, 
 though there are many exceptions. Where the 
 10 
 
110 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 English customs prevail, the people are much more 
 temperate, and approach nearer the New-England 
 style of living, as at Padang. Still here are the 
 strong drink and segars. Under such circumstances, 
 with the apparatus before us, the discussion was 
 highly interesting." L. 
 
 " May 12. — We set sail this morning at five. 
 Our boat, which carries but eight tons, is small, and 
 our accommodations narrow and uncomfortable. 
 Besides, it is an old boat, and the smell is intolera- 
 ble. All the crew are Malays ; thus far they appear 
 kind and accommodating ; it is trying to patience 
 to sail with them. At four o'clock, P. M., because 
 the wind headed them, they let down anchor rather 
 than stir a sheet. 
 
 " May 13. — Found ourselves this morning abreast 
 of Priaman, just under Pulo Priaman ; dressed, 
 took breakfast early, and w^ent on shore. Priaman 
 is the port to which Menangkabow people bring down 
 their coffee. It is taken from thence to Padang in 
 small boats. Had Priaman a good harbor, the 
 Dutch would make it the capital of the west coast of 
 Sumatra. 
 
 " We found a captain and two companies of sol- 
 diers engaged in erecting barracks. The Captain 
 is a pleasant man, has been seventeen years in the 
 country, fourteen of which he spent at Borneo. 
 
 "He gave us many interesting accounts re- 
 specting that island ; says the interior is inhabited 
 
MUNSON AND I.YMAN. Ill 
 
 by Paris people, who are more civilized than the 
 Dyaks ; have forts, and those who have attempted 
 to enter their country have been driven back, or 
 murdered. He says that the Dyaks are a peaceable 
 people, and we can travel among them without 
 danger. 
 
 '' Priaman, like most of the towns on the west 
 coast, is a nook among the mountains. It is a 
 large and beautiful plain, surrounded by high 
 mountains. It wears the aspect of health and 
 plenty. Its ready communication with one of the 
 most powerful and wealthy tribes of the interior, 
 would point it out as the central and principal port 
 of Sumatra, were it not for the defect of its harbour ; 
 a defect which no labour can remedy." M. 
 
 " I called immediatel}^ upon the Toeangkoe, or 
 Rajah. In front of his house, which was not unusu. 
 ally large, and built as a portico to it, was the bally- 
 bally, or bechaza (consultation) house, forty feet 
 square, larger than the main body of the house. 
 
 "He is an inveterate opium smoker, as his eyes, 
 his nose, &c., gave lamentable proofs. He is not, 
 however, alone in this, for from this solitary cam- 
 pong of 2500 persons, the income of government is 
 2040 guilders per month for opium. 
 
 "I began soon to make inquiries about his peo- 
 ple, but he ' could answer no inquiries ' until he had 
 asked of the men w^ho accompanied me, whether I 
 belonged to government ; I saw from whence the 
 
112 MEMOIRS OP 
 
 trouble arose, and explained fully who and what I 
 was, and showed him Medhurst's school-book, in 
 which he was interested, and was very desirous of 
 retaining it to teach his own children. 
 
 " He would be glad to have schools established, 
 and the children taught. There are here but twenty 
 persons who can read. The priests instruct at 
 their houses. 
 
 " There are twenty priests, two Hadjies, and 
 one Mesjid, (mosque,) a miserable, dirty, little 
 place, in which a priest resides. 
 
 "I discoursed awhile with his excellency upon 
 the way of salvation, and bade him a Salamat tin- 
 gal, (good bye,) with apparently much good- will on 
 both sides. 
 
 "About one o'clock, we weighed anchor, and 
 soon left Priaman far astern." L. 
 
 "May 15. — Yesterday we were tossing all day 
 without wind. 
 
 " Mount Ophir, one of the most regular and 
 beautiful, as well as highest mountains on Sumatra, 
 was all day in sight. The want of wind compelled 
 us to anchor outside, in sight of Pulo Panjang, to 
 which we were next bound. The boat rolled in- 
 cessantly. 
 
 " After a little troubled sleep, I rose and went on 
 deck. The air was cool and refreshing ; the night 
 was calm ; the stillness of death reigned, except the 
 distant roar of the waves beating on the shore. At 
 
MUNSON AND LYMAN. 113 
 
 such a time my thoughts naturally turned towards 
 the land and the friends I had left. I thought of the 
 scenes of ray boyhood ; the causes which had con- 
 spired to place me in my present circumstances ; and 
 of the objects of my present pursuit. As I thought 
 on the nature of the work that had been assigned 
 me, the extent of the field, and the amount of la- 
 bour to be performed, I felt it impressed upon me 
 that this is to be the theatre of the remainder of my 
 earthly existence. I felt as if bidding adieu to my 
 friends forever; as if saying to them, Farewell ; we 
 shall meet no more in this w'orld. The days of 
 our intercourse have been many and sweet, but 
 they are past. I shall return to you no more. The 
 seasons will go and return; days, months, and 
 years will roll on ; but I shall see you no more. 
 Neither shall I see as I am seen, or know as I am 
 known, till the heavens be no more ; till the slum- 
 bers of the grave are finished, and the voice of the 
 archangel and the trump of God call all nations 
 before the throne of retribution ! It w^as a solemn 
 parting, and though only in thought, I have no 
 wish that it should not be real." M. 
 
 ^' Our prahu having come to anchor, and all 
 things being in readiness, we left, at one o'clock, for 
 Ayer Bangy, distant eight or ten miles. Ayer Bafi- 
 gy is the first town on the west coast, in the Batta 
 country, though no Battas of consequence are found 
 until a day's journey. 
 10* 
 
114 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 " The Malays, or Malay Battas, usually inhabit- 
 ing the coast are not considered within the pre- 
 cincts of that country. 
 
 ''We saw to-day the son of the Rajah of the 
 Rau, or Rawd country. He had as heavy a beard, 
 long, bushy mustachios and whiskers, and hand- 
 some, curly hair, as is seen upon the finest European 
 head. 
 
 " This is the Batta district which has been sub- 
 dued by the Padrees, and the people become mostly 
 Mohammedans, 
 
 " The Dutch were recently driven out of the dis- 
 trict, after being shut up in a fort nine days, and 
 reduced almost to starvation ; so much so as to de- 
 vour their dogs and horses. They made their 
 egress in the night, in silence, and escaped to the 
 Mandheehng district, where they have two forts to 
 defend that people, at their own request, from the 
 incursions of the Mohammedans. To the inquiry 
 whether it would be now safe to travel there ? He 
 replied, < Perfectly, if a man behaves himself well' 
 So all say, and so w^e have hitherto found it ; treat 
 the natives well, and they will treat us well. 
 
 "May 16. — The wind continuing a-head, we did 
 not weigh anchor till day-light this morning ; and 
 soon after, the wind coming a-head again, we cast 
 anchor five or ten miles in advance of this morn- 
 ing, near Pulo Poegago. This island is mostly 
 low, and covered with cocoa-nut trees. Half a dozen 
 
MUNSON AND LYMAN. 115 
 
 families reside here, and have a few buffaloes, 
 fowls, and goats. Here we found a small prahu 
 from Natalj and its owner quite an intelligent man. 
 He had been twenty days in the Batta country, 
 (Mandheeling district.) He advised an entrance at 
 the Toba district, by way of Tappanooly. Says if 
 we declare ourselves Englishmen or Americans, the 
 Battas, Bugis or Achinese, will receive us at once 
 as friends. If the latter suppose us to be Dutch- 
 men, nothing would induce them to spare our lives. 
 
 "Our conversation, on collecting the islanders, 
 and some from the main, who had come here, 
 two or three miles, to obtain cocoa-nuts, turned on 
 the plan of salvation, which was brought forward 
 and discussed, with no other apparent effect than to 
 lead them to suspect that I was a Padree." L. 
 
 " May 17. — This morning, while passing a point 
 of land, had a fine specimen of the animation that 
 prevails in the solitude of the wilderness. Three 
 or four species of monkeys set up their shrill cry, 
 calHng to and answering each other, with such a 
 multitude of voices, as to leave the impression that 
 every tree and shrub might be the habitation of at 
 least one of these loquacious babblers." M. 
 
 " The Sumatran shore, from Ayer Baiigy to 
 Pulo Tamong, where we left it for Pulo Pingie, is 
 wild, mountainous, and deeply indented with bays. 
 Passed this morning Docsoen Telloe Lalang, which 
 four or five years since was destroyed by the Pa- 
 
116 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 drees. At the time, it contained two hundred in- 
 habitants. 
 
 *'Had a conversation to-day with the Nakkoda 
 upon some of the Mohammedan superstitions, as 
 embraced by the Malays. He did not, nor did any 
 of the Malays, to his knowledge, abstain from the use 
 of wine and strong drink because the Koran pro- 
 hibited it, but because it was of no use, but rather 
 tended to make men worse. Nor did he abstain 
 from the use of pork because the Koran prohibited 
 it, but because if a Malay ate it, it would cause his 
 skin to crack, and his hair to fall off. 
 
 " The Nyas people are said to be treacherous, and 
 under pretence of examining a man's fire-arms, use 
 them against him, or under the pretence of leading 
 him to a fine hunt of wild hogs, lead him into an 
 ambuscade. This spirit, if it exists, has been pro- 
 duced by the nefarious trafl[ic in slaves, which has 
 been so long carried on there. More than two hun- 
 dred per annum are now actually carried off by the 
 Dutch government and private individuals, under 
 the gentle appellation of debtors. 
 
 " The encouragement of the trade, leads every 
 village to be continually in arms with a weigbour- 
 ing village, and every man with his neighbours. 
 Even the child who is sent to the spring for a httle 
 water, may never find his way to his home again. 
 The Rajahs seize their subjects ; their subjects seize 
 one another; and foreigners, Dutch, French, Achi- 
 
MUPfaoN AiTr» I.XMAN- 117 
 
 nese, Malays, (fcc, seize whoever they can lay their 
 hands upon. 
 
 " May 18. — It was some time, in making out our 
 outfit, before I could bring my feelings to put down 
 in the list, fire-arms and ammunition ; they ap- 
 peared so inconsistent with our object. But Mr. 
 Ward joined all others in saying, that while it 
 would be a temptation of Providence to go where 
 wild beasts were so abundant, without arms, they 
 would be a kind of scarecrow to all the natives, and 
 save us (not by their use, but sight,) from much 
 trouble and insult, and insure us, on the contrary, 
 safety and respect. This, together with the fact, 
 that all natives go armed, and we being on a tour 
 of investigation, finally overcame my scruples. But 
 I must confess, I would almost as soon allow 
 my own life to be taken, as to take that of a fellow- 
 man, though a savage. However, God will lead us 
 into no trial but he will find a way of escape. In 
 him we trust." L. 
 
 "May 18.— When I think of the tribes of the 
 Lord going up to worship, I feel forsaken and alone. 
 Oh, for one New England Sabbath. This morn- 
 ing, in opening my Bible, I found that well known 
 passage in which Christ reproves his disciples for 
 disputing who shonld be the greatest. I have, 
 of late, often opened to this portion and I felt 
 reproved. Perhaps it is the voice of my Master, 
 cautioning me to beware, lest a spirit of pride 
 
118 BLJfijaoiKS or 
 
 should influence me, and I begin to say within 
 myself, who shall be the most accurate observer 7 
 Who shall collect the most valuable information, 
 and make out the best report ? I know too well 
 the deceitfulness of the heart, to feel that I am in 
 no danger of being influenced by such motives. I 
 know too well, also, the sad effects which such a 
 spirit has wrought among missionaries, to think 
 that I can indulge such a disposition without guilt, 
 and without much injury to the cause of God. 
 My prayer is, that I may be delivered from it. God 
 forbid that I seek for honour, or a name in this 
 world ; but rather for glory and immortality in the 
 world to come. I am willing that my name should 
 stand in the lowest place on the catalogue of those 
 who have devoted their lives to the cause of God, 
 among the heathen. O, Lord, give me the right spirit. 
 
 " Passed this morning a coral bank. The sight 
 was novel and interesting. Sometimes I imagined 
 the bottom covered with a fleecy cloud ; at others, 
 I could discover nothing but white, interspersed 
 with dark spots. Here were snow drifts, trees, and 
 shrubbery ; and there, pillars, globes, and vases. 
 It was to me a new and splendid exhibition of the 
 rich and varied furniture of the deep. 
 
 " May 19. — The wind was fair all night ; but 
 the Malays would not stir the anchor, nor hoist the 
 sail, till after breakfast ! Just when the wind had 
 all died away they were ready to go. They are 
 
MUNSON AND LYMAN. 119 
 
 now, nine o'clock, P. M., rowing to get the boat 
 into the harbour of Pulo Batu. 
 
 "May 20.— This morning went on shore and 
 called on the Post-holder. Learned some miscel- 
 laneous facts in reference to the islands and their 
 inhabitants. 
 
 " Went to call at a cam pong, Bawa Tobara. 
 Some of the men met us, and informed us that ten 
 individuals were sick with the small-pox, and that 
 they were making medicine, and sacrificing to the 
 gods ; therefore we could not be permitted to enter 
 their cam pong before eight o'clock, P. M. These 
 rites they told us would continue seven days. The 
 disease has made great ravages among them in 
 past times. Eight years ago, it spread over these 
 islands and swept off nearly one half of the popula- 
 tion. At first sight I am constrained to call them 
 a fine race of people. They are more slender and 
 better formed than the Malays. Exceedingly 
 athletic ; altogether an interesting race of idolators. 
 I saw one of them exercise to-day with his shield, 
 &,c. He assumed the most horribly savage atti- 
 tudes I ever saw. 
 
 "The men had the right ear perforated, and 
 many were filled with ornaments ; some had 
 bracelets on the arm." M. 
 
 " It is truly astonishing what perfect salamanders 
 the natives are. With nothing on but a pair of 
 drawers, or a bit of cloth wound about the loins, 
 
120 MEMOIKS OF 
 
 and a handkerchief on the head, they will sit in a 
 noon-day tropical sun, and laugh, and talk, and 
 eat, with as much nonchalance as a New-Eng- 
 lander will sit over the fire in the winter. The 
 sun's rays would scorch our bodies in a few min- 
 utes, but it makes no impression ou them. 
 
 " Everywhere young boys, in a perfect state of 
 nudity, may be seen playing in the sun all day ; 
 and I have seen young infants, apparerttly but a 
 few weeks old, carried in their mothers' arms, or 
 on her back, with naught to shield them from 
 the sun's rays, the reflection of which from the 
 ground, when my body was shaded, I could scarce- 
 ly endure. 
 
 '' Off Sumatra's west coast is a group of islands, 
 one hundred and twenty-two in number, called, as 
 a whole, Pulo Batu, (Rock Island,) from a romantic 
 rock. The largest is called Tanah Massa. 
 
 " The whole number of people in the group are 
 about 8000, living on nineteen different islands ; of 
 whom 7357 are Nyas, 850 are Malays, 100 are 
 Chinese, three are descendants of Dutch, making 
 in all 7810. 
 
 " Having spent most of the A. M. with the Post- 
 holder, pro. tem., we visited the nearest Nyas vil- 
 lage, Bawa Tobara, nearly or quite a mile up the 
 coast. They appeared more open-hearted, manly, 
 intelligent, independent, and friendly, than the 
 Malays, Javanese, or central Sumatrans. They 
 
MUNSON AND LYMAN. 121 
 
 seem to be much interested in our object in visiting 
 these parts, and expressed a willingness to have 
 schools. I then explained to them how their 
 language could be written, and their king could 
 give his orders, and be understood, without leaving 
 his house, and they could correspond with one 
 another : at this they were highly delighted, and 
 could scarcely find words to express themselves. 
 We left them much gratified with our introduction 
 to the people for whom we had so long prayed, and 
 whose salvation has taken such deep hold of our 
 hearts." L. 
 
 " May 22. — Last night arrangements were made 
 to leave in the boat, at half-past five o'clock, for Se- 
 gata, an island about twelve miles distant, by far 
 the most populous of the whole group. 
 
 '^ The priests, says one man, of whom there are 
 ten, on Segata, receive no compensation for their 
 services ; but make likenesses of bad spirits, and 
 sell them to the people. The god in the centre of 
 the village is the great Satan, to whom sacrifice is 
 made when there is an epidemic in the village. 
 When there is sickness in a house, the small Satans 
 are sacrificed to ; and the priest holds a bechara, 
 for which he receives a rupee : or perhaps more. 
 
 " We passed Hyo and Bintuang, two beautiful 
 islands ; their shores covered with white sand, and 
 skirted with cocoa-nut trees, with here and there a 
 11 
 
122 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 solitary banian, giving- shade and protection to the 
 boats of a fishing village. 
 
 " At half-past ten we arrived at a campong ; but 
 the head man was attending a dance at the vil- 
 lage. The women came out to see us ; but as we 
 advanced they receded. After making some ar- 
 rangements for breakfast, we pushed on to the 
 next campong. 
 
 '' Our way lay along the beach, and the burning 
 rays of the sun were beyond endurance. When 
 arrived at a short distance from the village, we sent 
 our interpreter to inform the datock, head man, of 
 our arrival, and that we wished to speak with him. 
 He soon came out and welcomed us to the feast. 
 We entered a walled enclosure, one hundred yards 
 square, by a narrow gate, which seemed the only 
 way of access to the village. At the entrance were 
 about twenty hogs lying dead ; many were building 
 fires upon them, and scorching them, as a sort of 
 apology for dressing. Immediately after, they were 
 cut up and put, with the intestines, into boihng pots, 
 of which there were thirty in the square, and 
 cooked. Boiled pork, with boiled rice, of which we 
 saw a great abundance, constituted the feast. The 
 pork not used on the occasion was divided by one of 
 the principal head men, among tlie different vil- 
 lagers who had brought hogs to be killed at the 
 feast. 
 
 " The work of division was accomplished with 
 
MUNSON AND LYMAN. 123 
 
 the utmost order and good feeling. Not a murmur- 
 ing word was heard. 
 
 " At the entrance of the square a blue flag was 
 flying ; near the centre was a red and yellow one, 
 and before the Penghooloo's (chiefs) house, a white 
 flag, besides two or three others. We were led 
 rapidly through the yard to the house of the peng- 
 hooloo, and ascended by a flight of steps to the 
 principal hall. A mat was spread for us on the 
 same platform with the master of the feast, and 
 next to him we took our seats. A crowd followed 
 us up the steps, and as soon as we had taken our 
 seats, they all with one accord began to make the 
 most deafening shout, as a token of joy at our 
 
 anival. At the beck of the penghooloo this waS 
 
 repeated several times. Directly the crowd retired, 
 and we had full opportunity to look about and ob* 
 serve the dress and ceremonies. On the same 
 platform with ourselves, at our right, were seated 
 fifteen or twenty females in their full dancing 
 dresses. A description of their dress will give an 
 idea of the whole. Their hair was neatly put up, 
 and around it a beautiful head-dress of gold, with a 
 bronze plume in front. Around their neck many 
 of them had gold collars of pecuhar workmanship. 
 From each shoulder projected a piece of carved 
 wood, to each of which, behind, were attached 
 fifteen or twenty strings of yellow beads ; to the 
 pendant end, brass bells and a small species of 
 
124 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 shell. In front the strings passed from one shoulder 
 to the other. Beneath this was a red bajoe, (short 
 gown,) and about the waist a scarlet or yellow 
 sarong, some of woollen, and others of silk, beauti- 
 fully bound round, over which twenty or thirty 
 yards of biass wire chain completed the dress of the 
 body. Most of them had jewels in the ears, and 
 clasps about the waist. The women of the peng- 
 hooloo were distinguished by two ivory clasps of not 
 less than a pound weight. The dress of the males 
 was less gaudy and expensive. Many, especially 
 the head men, were dressed in red or yellow bajoes 
 (long jackets), and a sort of turban or cap upon the 
 head : besides a profusion of ornaments on the 
 fingers and right anus ,- and ciii iniiuense liug in 
 the right ear. Each man had his kris and short 
 cutlass. A few had on long red robes ; but many 
 had no other dress than a few strips of cloth. 
 
 " In the square, the women on one side, and the 
 men on the other, formed a circle, and moved by a 
 slow but regular step from left to right. The 
 music, if it could be so called, was vocal. All were 
 able to join in the dance : even children are taught 
 to take the step with perfect regularity. One I saw 
 not more than four years of age, who kept the time 
 perfectly well. The circle sometimes consisted of a 
 hundred, though it was constantly varying. Some 
 were leaving and others joining it. The bride and 
 bridegroom were not to be distinguished by their dress. 
 
MUNSON AND LYMAN. 125 
 
 " They joined in the dance, separated at a dis- 
 tance from each other. The females were led oa 
 by aged matrons, while little girls brought up the 
 rear. They offered us food, which we declined ; 
 but at length it was brought in, and we could not 
 refuse. It consisted of pork, cut up in square pieces, 
 and boiled rice, both warm and cold. 
 
 " We ate sparingly, and then asked permission to 
 pass through the houses. We went from one end 
 of the village to the other, passing from house to 
 house through small doors. I could easily perceive 
 that though their houses were similar, the skill of 
 the ladies in putting things in order was very dif- 
 ferent. 
 
 " While some houses were sadly filled with filth 
 and confusion, others might lay some claim to 
 neatness. 
 
 " When we had finished our observations, and 
 distributed w^hat few presents we brought, we took 
 leave, not, however, till we had witnessed their skill in 
 warlike manoeuvres. An old man distributed many 
 presents, saying, ' this and this I give to you, friend,' 
 and all the crowd shouted applause. The master 
 of the feast wore false mustachios made of gold- 
 leaf. From each corner of his mouth, horns of it 
 projected like tusks." M. 
 
 *' Visited the opium shop. The islands are farm- 
 ed out for four hundred and thirty guilders per month. 
 I asked the Chinaman how many of the little 
 11* 
 
126 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 messes he was weighing out would make a man a 
 fool ? He answered three ; I then remonstrated 
 with him for making his fellow men fools at ten 
 cents each." L. 
 
 " May 23. — Found one man who had formerly- 
 been connected with the mission school at Bencoo- 
 len. He inquired if I knew Mr. Ward, at Padang. 
 It is gratifying to see with what pleasure these men 
 were remembered by all who were once connected 
 with their schools. I love to trace the consequences 
 of such efforts. The cause, it is true, has ceased, 
 but the effects, the blessed effects, will be felt through 
 eternity. 
 
 " Mission schools are the engines with which God 
 designs to break down the strongest bulwarks of 
 superstition and idolatry. The disinterested spirit 
 manifested by such men, imperceptibly makes an 
 impression, on the mind even of a heathen youth, 
 which neither time nor circumstances can ever 
 efface." M. 
 
 " Wherever we have gone among the Nyas, the 
 cry has been for tombak, (tobacco.) This appears 
 to be the sine qua non with them. A national 
 frenzy seems to exist to obtain it. A few doit's 
 worth of it will purchase what a rupee would not. 
 
 " In their colour they are fairer than the Java- 
 nese or Malays. They are open and frank, far 
 removed from that sneaking, villainous duplicity 
 of the Malays, which, the more one becomes 
 
MUNSON AND LYMAN. 127 
 
 acquainted with them, the move he is led to 
 abhor." L. 
 
 " May 24. — Set out this morning early for Bono. 
 We reached the south-east side after rowing several 
 miles over a coral reef, so shallow, that at low water a 
 a man can pass from Bono to Sebranun, distant four 
 miles. There are on Bono one hundred and twenty 
 souls ; one campong, and a few scattered houses. We 
 entered the campong, and inquired for the house of the 
 penghooloo. We found his excellency seated on a pil- 
 low making baskets. We entered into conversation 
 and made many inquiries respecting the laws and 
 customs of the Nyas people. He conversed with free- 
 dom ; answered all our inquiries. He stated that 
 there was no priest on Bono ; but when the people 
 were sick, and it was necessary to make sacrifice, a 
 priest came from Speaker, a neighbouring island and 
 killed the hog. The crania of the swine thus killed 
 are hung beneath the little stand on which the 
 groups of gods are placed. The killing of hogs is 
 not resorted to unless the priest's or doctor's pre- 
 scriptions, (for they are both the same,) fail. Adul- 
 tery, murder and theft are capital crimes. If a man 
 lie he is fined ; if he divorces his wife, he pays a 
 sum to the penghooloo ; this, however, is seldom 
 done. There are two gods, one above and the 
 other below. Tlie one above is the less powerful, 
 and receives lit tie or no worship; though he is con- 
 sidered as a good being. The god below is the most 
 
128 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 powerful of all beings ; he presides over the affairs 
 of men. He commissions diseases, and they seize 
 upon a solitary individual, or on a whole campong. 
 He rebukes them, and they are stayed. To him the 
 family or village make supplication, when visited by 
 the desolating angel. 
 
 " The God below, whose name is Ladoe Radano, 
 is looked upon as an evil spirit, and the father or 
 original of all the evils which men suffer. The 
 God above is a good being, and to him the soul re- 
 turns when released from the body. 
 
 " May 25. — This morning a man called to inform 
 us that the penghooloo of Bambavo Jenoovoo or 
 Segata, whose campong we had visited in his ab- 
 sence, was now at home, and would be happy to 
 see us. This man is certainly one of much intelli- 
 gence, and in two interviews w^hich we have had 
 with him, has expressed himself in the most frank 
 and open manner respecting the objects of our mis- 
 sion. He wishes that white men might come and 
 reside among the Nyas people, and instruct the chil- 
 dren. Hjs name is Ahovavooloo. Iregetthat time 
 compels us to decline the invitation to visit his 
 village. 
 
 " May 26. — This morning we set off in the rain 
 to pay our respects to Bajah Boekit, the head man of 
 all the Batu islands. His ancestors formerly seized 
 on Pulo Simoe, and held it as a sort of sove- 
 reignty. Simoe is now under his jurisdiction. His 
 
MUNSON AND LYMAN. 129 
 
 residence is on the north side of Pulo Massa, the 
 largest of the Batu group. His village is in the 
 true Nyas style ; is built on a hill about seventy- 
 five feet high. The access to it is by a flight of un- 
 hewn stone steps. We soon found the house of 
 his excellency, and entered without ceremony. We 
 took our seat in the place of honour ; about thirty 
 attendants seated themselves on the floor. We com- 
 menced our conversation without delay, and went 
 through the whole range of questions usually pro- 
 posed. His excellency, who is'^a sharp-sighted old 
 man, loquacious, and rather conceited, answered all 
 our inquiries without hesitation, and with much ap- 
 apparent frankness." M. 
 
 " Hb appeared quite, interested in oiir plans ,• 
 
 would be rejoiced himself, and thought the people 
 generally, to receive missionaries, and endeavour to 
 avail themselves of their instructions. 
 
 " We saw here the first Nyas blacksmith's shop that 
 we have seen. The forge consisted of a few small 
 stones laid around in a small circle on the ground. 
 The bellows were two perpendicular wooden cylin- 
 ders, with a cotton stuffed swab in each, which a 
 boy, standing on an elevation equal to the top, 
 worked alternately up and down, on the principle 
 of an air pump or syringe, and thus forced the air 
 through a small bamboo at the bottom of each, 
 which directed from both a continual stream upon 
 the coals." L. 
 
130 MEMOIKS OP 
 
 '• May 27. — At four o'clock weighed anchor, and 
 spread our sails for Nyas. I confess, when turning 
 away from this interesting field, I felt a degree of 
 regret ; it seems already ripe for the harvest. 
 
 " The physical character of these islands is too 
 strongly marked to be passed unnoticed. The 
 whole Batu group, as far as my observations extend- 
 ed, rest on a bed of hme-stone. In some places it 
 forms the basis of the shore, against which the sea 
 beats with inconceivable violence. The continual 
 dashing of the waves has cut out numerous irregu- 
 lar channels ; yet the incorporation of recent shells 
 and fragments of vegetable matter, with the solid 
 rock, is certain proof that the immoveable founda- 
 tions are making rapid conquests upon the domin- 
 ions of the deep. 
 
 " From the deep basins among the islands, coral 
 beds are rising; and every year narrowing the 
 bounds of navigation, by forming new reefs and 
 islands, or uniting those before separated. So uni- 
 form, is this work, that at low water, a man can 
 now walk from the west side of Bono to Sebranun, 
 a distance of four miles. Some islands that were 
 formerly distinct, are now united and form one. 
 The soil is a light sand, intermixed wdth a black 
 mould, evidently originating from the decomposi- 
 tion of vegetable matter. Und6r proper cultivation, 
 it might soon be made to produce all the necessaries 
 
MUNSON AND LYMAN. 131 
 
 and luxuries of a tropical climate. Among the 
 fruits, the plantain, the pine-apple, the shadock, the 
 rose-apple, the lime, and orange, flourish well, and 
 are as cheap and abundant as in Java. Potatoes 
 and sago are also extensively cultivated ; the latter 
 is the principal article of food among the Nyas and 
 Malays. The rice used is brought from the island 
 of Nyas. Hogs and fowls are found in great num- 
 bers, in all the inhabited islands. Wild hogs are 
 abundant ; and in the large islands monkeys lite- 
 rally swarm. 
 
 "The shores of this island, most exposed to the 
 incessant beating of the heavy waves rolling in 
 from the Indian Ocean, are Uned with cocoa-nut 
 trees, with a few sohtary banians. The latter mark 
 the place of the village, as they afford an excellent 
 shelter to their boats and sampans. Some of the 
 smaller islands are covered entirely with cocoa- 
 nut trees and shrubbery ; while the hills and vales 
 of the larger are loaded with dense forests of timber 
 trees, adapted to all purposes of building and navi- 
 gation. 
 
 " On the shores of the islands, which are pro- 
 tected from the violence of the waves, the mangrove 
 takes the place of the palm, the sandy beach disap- 
 pears, and those hardy sons of the vegetable king- 
 dom, by thrusting their innumerable roots into the 
 deep sand, seem to echo to the mighty waters, the 
 sentiment of inspiration; 'Thus far shalt thou 
 
132 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 come and no farther, and here shall thy proud waves 
 be stayed.' 
 
 " The principal employment of the inhabitants is 
 fishing and making cocoa-nut oil. The food of the 
 Nyas is sago and fish. Of the latter they take an 
 abundance on the shores, besides immense numbers 
 of shell-fish, which abound on the reefs of lime- 
 stone. They plant large groves of the sago on 
 the marshy parts of the island, which form a shade 
 so perfect as to be actually dark at noon. The air 
 issuing from these groves resembles that coming 
 from a damp and confined cellar, llie sago, min- 
 gled with cocoa>nut milk, and cooked, constitutes 
 the principal food of the Malays and Nyas men. 
 Large numbers of the sea-slug, so much admired 
 by the Chinese, are taken on the coast, and sold at 
 an exorbitant price. 
 
 " The manufacture of cocoa-nut oil may be called 
 the business of the inhabitants. Twelve or four- 
 teen good cocoa-nuts will make a quart of oil, which 
 sells to the Chinese at the rate of twenty cents per 
 gallon. Even at this low price, so abundant are 
 the materials, that some of the Nyas have not only 
 a competence, but may be esteemed wealthy. 
 
 "The climate is said to be unhealthy. The 
 truth of this will not be questioned if we look 
 a moment at the condition of the soil. Most of the 
 islands are low and swampy ; the soil covered with 
 vegetation, which is constantly springing up and 
 
MUNSON AND LYMAN. 133 
 
 decaying. With the exception of here and there 
 an acre occupied by a Nyas village, the whole is a 
 wilderness. The effluvia arising from such a mass 
 of decaying matter, especially from the plantations 
 of sago, must contaminate the atmosphere, and 
 load it with pestilence. However, I am fully per- 
 suaded, that were some elevated position chosen, 
 (and nothing is necessary but to go and take pos- 
 session,) and the forest cleared away, it would be 
 found as healthy as any station in a tropical cli- 
 mate. The most destructive pestilence, that has 
 ever visited these islands, is the small pox. 
 
 "A Nyas village is altogether sui generis. A 
 suitable place is selected at a short distance from the 
 sea-shore. An oblong square, (perhaps one hun- 
 dred yards by seventy-five,) is enclosed by a sub- 
 stantial stone wall, seven or eight feet high, and as 
 many in thickness. Next to the shore is a narrow 
 gate-way, strongly defended. The two ends, and 
 the back side of the square, are occupied by houses. 
 On the right or left, near the gate-way, is a large 
 well, fifty or sixty feet in circumference, and ten 
 deep. Every one who draws water, descends into 
 it by a flight of steps ; fills his bamboo, and re-as- 
 cends by the same means. Near the well is an 
 enclosure, designed as a bathing-house for females. 
 The well, &,c., are the property of the village. The 
 head-man's house usually occupies the middle of the 
 row of houses that front the gate. The houses are 
 12 
 
134 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 all united, and connected with each other by small 
 doors. They are raised on posts, eight or ten feet 
 from the ground. They are all of one story. Be- 
 sides the back room, which is occupied mostly by 
 the females, there is but one room to each house. 
 This is a large hall, with the entrant at one side. 
 On the front is an elevation extending across it, 
 and above that another, which answers for a seat. 
 Near this is a sort of lattice-work across the front of 
 the house, which answers for a window. The 
 whole is surmounted by a roof altogether dispropor- 
 tionate, being as high as all the rest of the building. 
 Near the house of the head-man is a stone, elevated 
 two or three feet, as a stand, before which the village 
 meetings are held. In the centre of the yard is the 
 village god, placed in a little enclosure, beneath an 
 attap roof. The remainder of the enclosure is a 
 common, kept very neat and free from rubbish, for 
 purposes of walking and athletic exercise. 
 
 " On the whole, for neatness of design, for skill 
 in workmanship, and cleanliness, a Nyas village far 
 surpasses any thing I have ever seen among the 
 Malays, or had ever expected from a people who are 
 still ranked among barbarians. 
 
 " The customs of the Nyas men are no less 
 diverse from those of all other nations, than their 
 habitations. Every extraordinary event among 
 them is attended by a feast. Indeed, I doubt whe- 
 ther there are any occurrences among them that are 
 
MUNSON AND LYMAN. 135 
 
 considered proper occasions of mourning. A birth, 
 or death ; a marriage, or the visitation of a pesti- 
 lence, are all attended by feasting. Scenes of festi' 
 vity are accompanied with music and dancing. 
 Each village owns a number of hogs in common ; 
 and when a great feast is made, several villages 
 unite ; each furnishing several hogs. After enough 
 are killed for the occasion, each village receives of 
 the remainder according to the number sent. The 
 division is always made without dissatisfaction or 
 disturbance. 
 
 " Their mode of burying is peculiar. The body 
 is kept two days after death, when it is deposited in 
 a neat coffin, made much after the European man- 
 ner, and carried to the place of deposit. 
 
 " Their grave-yards, if so they can be called, are 
 always selected in some lonely, unfrequented spot. 
 In the Batu islands, the back side of the island, 
 where there is a high surf, where no boats can 
 land, where no village is near ; in a word, where 
 solitude is undisturbed by the voice of man ; there 
 the body is carried and laid on an elevated plat- 
 form amidst the thickest shades of the forest. As 
 I was stroUing one day on the back side of Seboo- 
 hassee, where nothing was heard but the dashing 
 of the waves, and the singing of birds, beneath the 
 shade of a large tree, I was startled to see seven or 
 eight coffins arranged in regular order. I gazed a 
 moment and hurried by, but had proceeded only a 
 
136 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 few steps before I saw as many more, and a little 
 farther was a still larger number. At the latter 
 place one man had recently been deposited. His 
 coffin was decorated with two small strips of red 
 cloth in the form of flags^ waving over it. Indeed 
 for some distance, along the back of this island, the 
 land is literally a Golgotha. A sepulchre with 
 shattered coffins, and bones mingled with bones in 
 horrid fraternity. 
 
 " The Nyas have a bad practice of cutting off the 
 front teeth level with the gums, under a mistaken 
 notion that it adds to their beauty. The god of 
 fashion reigns here, as well as in more civilized 
 society. 
 
 " This is done at twelve or fifteen years of age. 
 It is a very painful operation, and is followed by 
 several days' illness. The practice injures their 
 voices much. 
 
 " They marry young ; the female sometimes at 
 ten, and the male at fifteen. This is done by ask- 
 ing the consent of the parents, sometimes of the 
 head man. A feast, and the work is finished. They 
 are husband and wife. 
 
 " The priests are numerous ; their principal em- 
 ploymentj as priests, seems to be to make likenesses 
 of the evil spirits, and hold becharas with the devil, 
 in cases of sickness. For this they are well paid. 
 Yet their income from this source by no means 
 
M U N S O N AND L X U A N . 137 
 
 meets their wants. They labour daily, as other 
 citizens. 
 
 "Their language is peculiar to themselves. 
 Their words are uttered with great rapidity, and 
 they are really the most noisy people I have ever 
 seen. 
 
 " No man is without a wooden shield, four or 
 five feet in length, and fifteen inches in the middle, 
 but tapering to a point at each end. Besides this 
 they have the spear, kris, and sword. The arms 
 of a Nyas man — and they seldom appear abroad 
 without at least the kris and sword — are nearly a 
 load for one man. Their war like exercise consists 
 in a dexterous leap, so as to conceal the body be- 
 hind the shield ; then a plunge or two with the 
 spear ; when it is dropped, and the sword is drawn, 
 and brandished twice or three times, which closes 
 up the whole. The horrid aspect which the coun- 
 tenance assumes during this exercise is altogether 
 indescribable." M. 
 
 " No person can marry more than one wife at a 
 time. Upon the decease of a man's wife he can 
 marry again if he chooses, in two or three days. 
 When a woman's husband dies she must wait as 
 many months before she again marries. No man 
 can put away his wife as long as she retains a 
 good character. 
 
 " In case he designs to do it, he must apply to 
 the Ametjoer, whose decision is final. If he ob- 
 12* 
 
138 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 jects, they cannot be divorced. If he gives his 
 consent, the man must pay the woman twenty 
 dollars. 
 
 " When a young person is detected in a lie by 
 his parents, he receives a chastising. When ar- 
 rived at years of discretion he is brought before the 
 Ametjoer, and if he will not confess his fault, and 
 exhibit penitence, he is fined twenty dollars. 
 
 " When one is detected in theft, if he will not 
 confess to the Ametjoer his fault, ask pardon of the 
 one he has offended, and restore the property, his 
 hands and feet are bound together, and he is cast 
 into the sea. 
 
 "Adultery and murder are punished with in- 
 stant death by decapitation. These crimes occur 
 so infrequently that some of the Ametjoers have 
 almost lost the run of the laws. Some of the 
 oldest inhabitants, in some villages, cannot recollect 
 when either of the above crimes has occurred. 
 
 " One Ametjoer, of Oro Hili, informed me that a 
 Nyas man's becoming a Mohammedan, would 
 subject him to expulsion from the Bunwa (village.) 
 When asked how they would regard a man's 
 throwing away his idols and becoming a Christian, 
 he replied, no such case had yet occurred, and he 
 knew not how far it would interfere with their 
 customs. It would be time to decide when one 
 had become a Christian. Others, however, in- 
 formed us that there was no notice whatever taken 
 
M U N S O N AND LYMAN. 139 
 
 of a man's becoming a Mohammedan. He would 
 be obliged, however, on his own part to be very 
 careful not to become defiled where there were so 
 many swine. 
 
 '■ Rajah Bockit says, that but one has turned to 
 the ways of the false prophet, and he resides still in 
 his Bunwa. Others say there are twenty in Pulo 
 Batu. 
 
 " We have witnessed nothinsr amonsr them that 
 forbids the introduction of the gospel. They have 
 great dread and reverence for white men, and great 
 love for the English. They would rejoice to have 
 their children taught to read and write, if it can be 
 possible to write the Nyas language. A missionary 
 among them would be well received. They are 
 sufficiently far removed from the eye of the Dutch 
 to receive no trouble from them, while sufficiently 
 near to receive aid in times of trouble. He must, 
 however, be careful that he always pursues such a 
 course as to convince the people that he has no 
 connection whatever with government, while at the 
 same time, according to gospel principles, he must 
 render tribute to whom tribute is due, and custom 
 to whom custom, and be cautious that he never 
 does or says aught that will prejudice the minds 
 of the people against the government. 
 
 '• There is no question but now is the time to 
 look after these 8000 souls. Every facility possible 
 presents itself for present labour. The situation 
 
140 UEMOIRS OF 
 
 of the people in a village for church and school is 
 unparalleled in the history of missions. It is as 
 easy calling them together, and the people would 
 have no further to go than the students of a New 
 England College. Then their superiority of mind 
 and elevation of character ; their present exemption 
 from vice ; the looseness of their heathenism ; their 
 respect for foreigners ; their love for the English ; 
 everything seems to say the field is white, already 
 white for the harvest. Then its relation to Nyas. 
 It is like a portico to a house. If a man does not 
 find labour sufficient, one day's sail will carry him 
 to 200,000 speaking the same language, and 
 possessing the same customs. Or in connection with 
 this might be established a school or two at Pa- 
 dang, where are one thousand free, and two thous- 
 and slave Nyas." L. 
 
 " May 28. — Though I am now on my way to 
 Nyas, my feelings have not yet left the Batu 
 group. I am still in thought reviewing the field I 
 have so hastily surveyed. I can still see its dense 
 forests, its scattered villages, and hear the mighty 
 waves dashing against the shores of its hundred 
 islands. But that race of people on whom no light 
 hasshined ; my heart feels for them. I would devise 
 some means for their relief and salvation. It can- 
 not be denied that they are superstitious, and in 
 many respects degraded, yet they are not in a hope- 
 less state. All their sacrifices are to propitiate the 
 
MUNSON AND LYMAN. 141 
 
 evil spirit, and to avert the calamities he has power 
 to inflict. Rude likenesses of this god are ten-fold 
 more numerous than even the population. To se- 
 cure his favour is the beginning and end of their 
 religion. The awe usually felt at the idea of a 
 superior power ; and especially the high and holy 
 sentiments of love and gratitude towards an all- 
 wise and benevolent Father, which the Bible re- 
 veals, not only do not exist, but as yet they are 
 probably without a name. But with all their im- 
 perfections they possess many redeeming qualities. 
 They are not so low in the scale of morals as most 
 heathen who have lived without the restraints of the 
 gospel. 
 
 " This morning we found ourselves in sight of 
 the long-desired Nyas. I have read of it, thought 
 of it, and prayed over it, but now I see it. The 
 coast rises in gentle elevations, covered with grass 
 and low shrubbery. Surely this beautiful spot 
 could not have been designed for the residence of a 
 being so degraded as man in his fallen state, but 
 this desecration is permitted for a while, till a 
 brighter day shall come. And a brighter day shall 
 come. Along these shores the story of redeeming 
 mercy shall be told, and believed. Here immortal 
 hopes shall spring up, and ripen. 
 
 "The sound of the 'church-going bell' shall 
 echo along these valleys, and roll over these hills, 
 
142 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 filling thousands of hearts with gladness and joy 
 
 unutterable. 
 
 " I love to dwell on such thoughts when treading 
 
 on heathen shores. It makes me feel strong. I 
 
 feel at home in my Master's own enclosure. 
 
 Though Satan has usurped it for a little season, he 
 
 is shortly to be driven out of it with shame and 
 
 everlasting disgrace. 
 
 " At night anchored at Simambawa. Found an 
 
 Arab slaver and a Company's gun-boat in the roads. 
 Heard rumours of a meditated attack of the Achi- 
 nese on Gunong Holis." M. 
 
 " May 29. — Spent part of the morning in con- 
 versation with the Arab. He says around this bay 
 are five thousand people, but under different chiefs. 
 The villages are upon the summits of the hills, and 
 almost entirely concealed by the heavy foliage. 
 He is commissioned here by government ; — a Chris- 
 tian government for the purchase of slaves. 
 
 *' The Dutch gravely talk of debtors. Of sending 
 to Nyas for debtors. But here things go by their 
 right names. It is seUing slaves. They are 
 brought down to the beach corded, and while the 
 trade is going on, are bound to a post. And when 
 the bargain is concluded, handed over Hke dumb 
 beasts to the purchaser, and naked, except a bit of 
 bark about the loins, led by the cords to the boat, 
 and on board are fettered, and carried to a foreign 
 land. ' And why do you fetter them V I asked the 
 
MUNSON AND LYMAN. 143 
 
 Arab, ' Because they would throw themselves over- 
 board, or in some other way destroy themselves; 
 and perhaps they will do it now, as many do, before 
 they arrive, or as soon as they arrive and are freed. 
 I never fetter those who go wiUingly.' All the 
 men on board were fettered. I saw on the guard 
 boat that accompanied him, a very interesting boy 
 and girl, of about four and five or six years of 
 age. Their father and mother having died, their 
 uncle, by having the temptation laid before him, 
 had sold them. The government purchased them 
 for a number of years ; at the expiration of which 
 they are free. In the mean time they make coolies 
 of them, and give them their clothes, food, $1.20 
 cents per month ; or they sell their services to 
 others. I have never yet, in all my inquiries, met 
 with any one who has seen these people return to 
 their native land, or has known them to be liberated. 
 It may be said the slaves are better off than in 
 Nyas. But who created them free ? And who is 
 to be responsible for turning the hand of every man 
 against his neighbour, and filling a nation of two 
 hundred thousand of most interesting people, with 
 the worst of crimes, stealing and trafficking in 
 human flesh, and to obtain it, wading through 
 their neighbour's blood? 
 
 " May 29. — The chiefs came down with a train 
 of armed vassals, bringing one slave. I saw the 
 poor wretch dragged about with a cord passed over 
 
144 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 his arms. He looked up with a melancholy smile 
 upon the monsters who were seUing and buying 
 him. and then marched away to the floating 
 prison." M. 
 
 " About eleven o'clock two Rajahs, one over 
 three hundred, the other over two hundred and 
 fifty people, came down to the audience-house. 
 The greatest Rajah was quite an intelligent man, 
 a man of apparently great decision and firmness 
 of purpose, but a notorious beggar. 
 
 " When he learned we were Americans, he 
 would take us up to his village, if we would give 
 him some grog, as he said Americans always 
 carried it. He would scarcely believe that we be- 
 long to the temperance society. Next, we might 
 go if we would give him some tobacco, &c., &.c. 
 He informed us, however, that we could go to no 
 other village with safety. We declined his offer on 
 the same grounds." L. 
 
 " May 31. — To-day we have accomplished httle. 
 The other vessels have been taking in wood and 
 water ; we have done nothing. By a boat that 
 came up last night learned that the report of war 
 has been very much exaggerated. The quarrel 
 seems to be between the Achinese and Malays. 
 Have resolved to go on. After getting so near the 
 land of which we have thought so much, we cannot 
 leave it without good reason. 
 
 " We trust the Lord has some work for us to do 
 
MUNSON AND LYMAN. 145 
 
 in Nyasj which we cannot turn away from without 
 incurring guilt." M. 
 
 '' June 3. — This morning we anchored before 
 Mene. Before us was the breaking surf, the white 
 beach, an interval of a quarter of a mile, checked 
 with patches of trees, underwood, cultivated fields, 
 and scattered huts, backed by a long range of 
 hills of an undulating surface, divided between the 
 wildness of nature and the improvements of the 
 husbandman, with their tops covered with cocoa-nut 
 groves, and villages of the Nyas. But what gives 
 a beauty to the scene unknown in the more tempe- 
 rate climate of New England, is the tall, graceful- 
 ly-waving palm." L. 
 
 " June 4. — In the evening had a long conversation 
 with Mr. Messam, respecting the Nyas, their cus- 
 toms, &c. He stated many miscellaneous facts re- 
 specting the island and people. 
 
 " He says there is only one good harbour about the 
 island, which is at the north end, (the Mame.) At 
 Nako ships can anchor with tolerable safety under 
 the lee of the island. Except that place, there is no 
 other on the west side of the island. 
 
 "At Gelludallan, on the south coast, there are 
 roads, as also Simambawa, Mana, Gunong, Stolis, 
 &c. 
 
 " He states that the rice raised is nearly or quite 
 all of the Ladang or upland kind. The land is 
 cleared of the shrubbery and grass, and then the 
 
146 MEMOIRS OP 
 
 rice is planted ten or twelve inches asunder. A 
 sharp stick is thrust into the ground, and from four 
 to six corns in a hole. If the low land is planted 
 the rice is transplanted from the upland to the low. 
 Large quantities of it are sold every year for the 
 Padang market, and especially for the northern parts 
 of Sumatra. 
 
 " The Achinese consume great quantities of the 
 Nyas rice. The seed time is May or June, and the 
 harvest in four or five months. The produce of the 
 best ground is one hundred and fifty fold, and the 
 poorest is perhaps forty. One acre of land, well 
 cultivated, will produce about one half loyang, 
 (about one ton) or three hundred bamboos. The seed 
 time and harvest of rice is the only time when the 
 Nyas labour hard. The rest of the year is compara- 
 tively a season of idleness. Men, women, and chil- 
 dren all go into the field and labour together. A 
 sort of kris seems to be their principal implement of 
 husbandry. 
 
 "The sugar-cane flourishes well. The Nyas 
 make abundance of molasses, but no sugar. Sweet 
 potatoes are raised plentifully. They plant them 
 in hills seven or eight feet apart; and gather the crop 
 as they may want them, a few hushels at a time. 
 
 "Sufficient coffee grows for the consumption of 
 the island. Though it is not much used here, nor 
 does it equal Padang coffee, probably from the im- 
 perfect manner in which it is cultivated. Pulse is 
 
MUNSON AND LYMAN. 147 
 
 raised in sufficient quantities for internal consump- 
 tion, besides considerable for exportation. 
 
 " The cotton tree, (gossypium,) is found in all 
 parts of the island ; and on the south coast a coarse 
 cloth is manufactured for the native use. It is not 
 the small shrub of Java, but a most beautiful tree, 
 with distinct sets of branches, wearing an aspect 
 altogether unique in the forest. 
 
 " They receive in exchange for their rice, <fec., 
 tobacco, cloths of various descriptions, brass wire, 
 (very large,) iron, steel, arrack, (fee. The wire 
 they make into rings for the arms, and of the iron 
 and steel are made swords, krises and a sort of apo- 
 logy for a hatchet. Their armlets of shell are from 
 the shell Ihama, obtained at Tappanooly. Their 
 ornaments of gold are from Padang. 
 
 " Of fruit they have the cocoa-nut, which flour- 
 ishes in all parts of the island. Palm wine is not 
 uncommon, yet intemperance is not a frequent vice. 
 The betle palm is common. The durian, the plan- 
 tain, the pine apple, the shaddock, &c., are plenti- 
 ful. Oranges are not found. I had, however, the 
 pleasure to leave seeds, which, with proper cultiva- 
 tion, will spread over the whole island. 
 
 " The animals of the island are few. Snakes 
 are not unfrequent ; monkeys and wild hogs abound. 
 Deer of several kinds inhabit the forests, or rather 
 jungles. Buffaloes have been introduced by the Ma- 
 lays, but are not at all valued by the Nyas, Indeed 
 
148 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 they would not permit a man to reside in their cam- 
 pong, who would keep a buffalo. Goats abound ; 
 domestic fowls ; and the groves are well stocked with 
 singing birds ; the parrot and Java sparrow are here 
 seen. Hogs seem to be the life of the Nyas. With- 
 out them they could not carry on the important 
 operations of society. They could, without them, 
 neither marry the living, heal the sick, or give burial 
 to the dead. All these occasions require a feast, and 
 a feast cannot be made without hogs. 
 
 " The climate is peculiar. The days are warm, 
 but as soon as the sun sets, a heavy dew^ begins to 
 fall, and the thermometer sinks to seventy-seven 
 degrees, while during the day it is above ninety. A 
 residence among the hills, where one would enjoy 
 both the land and the sea breeze, might not only be 
 comfortable and delightful to the European, but also 
 very healthy. The face of the country is broken ; 
 rising into abrupt hills from the sea shore; and 
 indeed, the whole island seems to be made up of a 
 series of hills, thrown together without much order, 
 varying in height from five hundred to one thou- 
 sand, or perhaps fifteen hundred feet. 
 
 "The language of Nyas is radically the same, 
 though there are six dialects, which are distinguished 
 by the harder and softer manner in which the word 
 is pronounced. In some instances the words are 
 altered or contracted. Though these dialects, in 
 fact, amount to nothing, yet they enable the Nyas 
 
MUNSON AND LYMAN. 149 
 
 to distinguish the inhabitants of a different district 
 from their own. 
 
 •' The islands are divided into several districts, 
 which are governed by distinct rajahs. Under these 
 rajahs are head men. who preside over the affairs of 
 a single village. The rank of these head men and 
 rajahs is according to the number of men they are 
 able to bring into the field in time of war. War is 
 always indicated by a ' certain sound ' of the gong. 
 One kind of beat denotes marriage, another burial, 
 and another war, (fee. When the rajah dies his 
 eldest son succeeds to his place. All the villages 
 assemble ; a great feast is made, and the new rajah 
 is carried about on the shoulders of his subjects, 
 standing on a platform. The order of succession 
 is the same among the head men. I cannot learn 
 that they receive any compensation for their servi- 
 ces, except free-will offerings and bribes. Yet they 
 are usually the wealthiest of the population. In all 
 important questions the rajah and head men are 
 assembled and hold consultation. These are some- 
 times continued several days. When the subject is 
 thoroughly discussed in a full assembly, and the 
 opinions all taken, (and there is generally a full 
 agreement,) the decision is final. All cases of law 
 are decided in this manner. Their laws are, with 
 shght variations, the same throughout the island. 
 
 " For theft they have various punishments, accord- 
 ing to the nature of the crime. Stealing plantains 
 13* 
 
150 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 is fined fifty dollars ; goats something more ; and 
 rice and gold are punished with death. Murder, 
 adultery, and fornication meet with the same fate. 
 In the latter cases, both man and woman are put to 
 death. If a man owes his neighbour, and is unable 
 to pay, in one year the debt is doubled, and the 
 second year, it is doubled again ; i. e. a debt of one 
 hundred dollars in three years becomes eight hun- 
 dred ; or if he pays a part the remainder is doubled. 
 After three years, the creditor pays a small sum to 
 the rajah, as a bribe, and asks him to deliver that 
 family into his hands. This granted, he gives up 
 the family to the first slave-dealer that comes along. 
 They are sold and the debt is paid. If they and 
 their property amount to any thing more, the rela- 
 tions share it. This is one of the fruitful sources 
 of slavery. 
 
 " Bribery is very prevalent. If a man adminis- 
 ters poison to another, and it can be proved, he and 
 all his family are sold into salvery. 
 
 " Priests are numerous, though the compensation 
 which they receive for their services is the same as 
 at Pulo Batu. Priests are made by the people. The 
 man who wishes to be one puts on the aspect of 
 phrenzy. He performs some surprising feat, by 
 winch the people suppose that he has intercourse 
 with the bad spirit, and immediately pronounce him 
 a priest. 
 
 " June 5. — Having made previous arrangement, 
 
MUNSON AND LYMAN. 151 
 
 we set out at an early hour, to visit some of the Nyas 
 rajahs. The Malay rajah, rajah Messam, and 
 three or four servants composed our company. 
 
 " In the Erenoqeah district there are six head men 
 and one chief rajah. The population is about two 
 thousand men. The head rajah hves a mile from 
 the shore. We ascended the side of the steep 
 acclivity by a winding, narrow foot-path, through 
 mud and long grass, which every where abounds. 
 We crossed several rivulets of clear, cool water, issu- 
 ing from the hills, and winding their way through 
 the tall grass toward the shore. The house of the 
 rajah is almost concealed behind the thick foliage 
 of fruit trees, with which it is surrounded. It is a 
 mean habitation for a rajah, though he is making 
 preparations for a better. We entered by a ladder 
 to the chief apartment, and took our seats. His 
 excellency was not in. We waited some time, 
 expecting to see something extra, and was not a 
 little disappointed when a small, inferior, half naked 
 native approached us, who was announced as the 
 rajah. He shook hands, and then took his seat on 
 the floor before us. Cocoa-nuts were brought, with 
 which we quenched our thirst." M. 
 
 " The Datoek having received his instructions, 
 intimated that he had affairs of a public nature to 
 communicate. The rajah called one of his bro- 
 thers, and they placed themselves exactly in front 
 of the Datoek, a few feet distant on the floor, and 
 
152 MEMOIRS OP 
 
 signified that they were ready to hear. The Da- 
 toek then made a long speech, in which he' explain- 
 ed our object, the wishes of the good people of Ame- 
 rica to send men to reside among them, and instruct 
 them, (fee, (fee. The rajah expressed a great deal 
 of pleasure at the proposal, and furthermore said he 
 was very desirous such men should come, and no 
 doubt they would be joyfully received by all the peo- 
 ple. I could not but notice the eloquence with 
 which the speeches on both sides, but particularly 
 by the rajah, were dehvered." L. 
 
 " In the principal room were his gods, his charms, 
 his weapons, and indeed, nearly all the apparatus of 
 his office. A little bell suspended over our heads, 
 answered the same purpose as such an article among 
 Europeans. 
 
 " The cooking-stove, as in all the houses in this 
 part of the island, was at the back side of the great 
 hall. Of course, there being no chimney, every 
 article in the room was as black as years of smoke 
 could make it. We made him a small present of 
 cloth, but he did not appear to know how to make 
 a return. Said if he killed hogs and made a feast, 
 it could not be done that day ; and as for rice, it was 
 not such food as we had been accustomed to. He 
 seemed to be quite relieved, when we told him we 
 did not wish for any return. The house in which 
 he Uves has been standing for a long time. It now 
 contains fifty souls. 
 
MUNSON AND LYMAN. 153 
 
 " As we descended by the ladder to the yard, we 
 saw at the door a human skull suspended in a little 
 wicker basket made for the purpose. On inquiry 
 we found it to be the skull of the rajah of Genoho, 
 who had been his enemy. The Nyas rajahs are 
 very fond of obtaining skulls, especially of Malays, 
 Chinese, and Europeans. The bones are ensigns 
 of power when suspended at the door. From this 
 habitation of royalty, we directed our course to 
 another chief, who, though inferior in name, is not 
 less in power. 
 
 " We descended the hill, and prepared ourselves 
 for a long walk up another, far more steep and diffi- 
 cult. After a winding course of half an hour, we 
 entered a field which was under preparations for 
 paddy, and to our surprise we found the great chief 
 and his wives busily engaged in preparing the ground 
 for seed. He was very much confused and knew 
 not what to say. To relieve him a little, we assured 
 him that we were pleased to meet him in the field, 
 for now we could see how he carried on the opera- 
 tions of husbandry. He showed us his utensils 
 for clearing the ground and preparing the soil. Said 
 if we would ascend the hill, he should be happy to 
 meet us at his house. We commenced the arduous 
 task, by passing across his field and winding our 
 way up a gentle ascent, through the long grass, that 
 gives life and beauty to the hills, but which is the 
 greatest enemy of the farmer. We passed many 
 
154 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 cultivated spots, some covered with potatoes and 
 plantains, and others with paddy and sugar-cane. 
 Our path was a deep gully, as if one generation 
 had trod in the foot-steps of another for a long suc- 
 cession of ages." M. 
 
 "Our bechara, with this chief, was attended 
 with the same formahties as the other. He not 
 only expressed the same opinion as the other Rajah, 
 but said he would send to school all his own chil- 
 dren, amounting to six or seven. 
 
 " He said, also, that there would be no necessity 
 of seeing the other five chiefs of this district, because 
 he and his colleague were at the head of affairs. 
 After leaving a similar present, we took our leave 
 and commenced our descent. 
 
 " In Erenoqeah and Gunong Si Toolis districts, 
 there is much parental and filial affection ; but in 
 the south-eastern districts scarcely any at all. A 
 man there seizes his neighbour, binds him, and of- 
 fers him for sale as a slave. If the unhappy man 
 complains to the rajah, a few dollars from his cap- 
 tor makes all quiet, and he can obtain no redress. 
 Sometimes, in this way, parents sell their own chil- 
 dren, and children their own parents. When a 
 man's wife dies, he makes nothing of selling a child 
 or two she has borne him, to purchase a second 
 wife. Messam himself once bought a child sold in 
 this way. As to the number of slaves annually car- 
 ried from here, there are conflicting opinions. One, 
 
MUNSON AND LYMAN. 155 
 
 who has many years been engaged in the traffic, 
 says, two hundred from the whole island. Another, 
 who has resided here fifteen years, and was formerly 
 engaged in it, says one thousand from Simambawa 
 alone. Perhaps they will average five hundred 
 per annum. 
 
 "The Dutch Government have now a large 
 prahu on the coast, engaged to obtain two 
 hundred in six months. They likewise wish 
 for one hundred more, in the same time. They 
 allow about twenty dollars per head, and four dol- 
 lars more as a premium. 
 
 " The Achinese also purchase them, and occa- 
 sionally the French. About two years since, a 
 French ship took four hundred as a cargo, and 
 landed them on the Isle of France. 
 
 " When a rajah dies, his eldest son, or if he has 
 no son, his nearest relation, if he has none, the man 
 who will give the people the most money, is made 
 rajah. Women are never allowed to assume this 
 power. When a man is to be introduced into 
 office, the people assemble and make a great feast, 
 dance, carry upon their shoulders a platform upon 
 which the new rajah exhibits himself in a dance. 
 
 " The Nyas' have no temples, or, what may be 
 strictly called, public priests. They have no holi- 
 days. They believe in two gods. Love Langi, the 
 benevolent God above, and the least powerful, and 
 Battoe Bedani, Satan, who has power over all men 
 
156 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 and evils in this world. To the latter they make 
 all sacrifices, as being the most powerful, by the in- 
 tervention, however, of the images in their houses. 
 Besides these representations of Satan, they have in 
 their houses images of all their family who have 
 died, and when they make a feast, they give a por- 
 tion to these ; believing that when they cease pay- 
 ing their respects, evil will befall them. They 
 have, also, attached to the handle of their krises, a 
 charm, to prevent a blow upon the hand, and two 
 or three little images, which are able to give rain 
 when it is needed, and direct them in the right road 
 at night. 
 
 " They bury their dead in the northern districts, 
 generally beneath the ground, and in the southern, 
 above, generally near the house, under a small 
 shed, with a roof built up to a high peak, and ter- 
 minating in some sort of device. 
 
 "If a missionary would wish to reside in the 
 island, he would do well, as I have said before, to 
 bring with him his household furniture, iron work 
 for building, and stores, such as sugar, coffee, tea, 
 &c., (fcc, and goods for purchasing the necessaries of 
 life, and making some few presents. Goods should 
 consist of tobacco, iron and steel,, and coarse cloths 
 particularly. When arrived here, he should pay 
 his respects immediately to all the chiefs in the dis- 
 trict ; state distinctly that he is not a Dutchman, but 
 an American. He should ask them for a piece of 
 
MUNSON AND LYMAN. 157 
 
 land, or, rather, select a piece and tell them he 
 wishes to build upon it. His timber he will 
 purchase cheap. Labourers he will obtain, who 
 will make his house after a fashion, if he can 
 have patience to give them an exact plan, and 
 show all parts. When he is ready to raise it, 
 he must purchase a few hogs, and get ready a few 
 cloths, and invite all the chiefs of the district. They 
 will come, bringing some of their followers, par- 
 take of his feast, receive his presents, raise his 
 house, confer upon him a Nyas name, and he will 
 ever be considered an initiated citizen, able to go 
 any where in the district, unattended, and be ad- 
 mitted to sit in the Becharas of the chiefs. This 
 ground he can fence in, too, and cultivate, and it 
 will ever after be considered his property. 
 
 " He would do well to raise his own vegetabks, 
 fruits, fowls, hogs, sheep ; and keep a horse, with a 
 saddle and bridle. Rice and potatoes he could al- 
 ways purchase cheap, with goods. He must, of 
 course, first obtain leave of the Resident at Padang, 
 before he establishes himself permanently." L. 
 
 "June 7.— Early this morning we landed at 
 Gunong Stolis, to deliver our letters of introduction 
 to the Malay chiefs. We passed up the river a 
 short distance ; landed over the side of the prahu, 
 and made our way to the house of Malim Kaga. 
 
 " At the passage which leads to the village, was 
 stationed a large cannon ! and near it an immense 
 14 
 
158 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 cauldron, full of boiling rice. We went immediate- 
 ly to the rajah's house, which stands in the midst 
 of the village. Entered by a ladder, and found an 
 old man, who was introduced as the rajah. His 
 name is Malim Kaga. His age is fifty ; has an 
 open, frank, expressive countenance ; more so than 
 Malays ordinarily possess. He was seated in state, 
 at the corner of a large hall, beneath a canopy of 
 scarlet and yellow. We produced our letter of in- 
 troduction. He was unable to read, but handed it 
 to another. It was read and understood ; all was 
 ^ baiks,' (good). We took a few Malay books, 
 which were most eagerly sought for. We had not 
 enough to supply half the applicants. They 
 greedily sought after them, as though they knew 
 that the books told of Jesus. We had medicines 
 which were much in request. 
 
 " We proceeded up one-third, or half a mile, and 
 landed at the Malay campong. This is situated 
 some httle distance from the banks, amidst a grove 
 of cocoa-nut and durian trees. 
 
 " The people seemed interested in our exposition 
 of our object, and Hadji Palembang, son-in-law of 
 the datoek, the most intelHgent Malay here, speaks 
 a little Arabic, Portuguese, Chinese, and English ; 
 and is one of the panghooloos, or members of 
 council. Said he had no children, but if we would 
 establish a school, he would give a building for it, 
 and see that the Malay children were gathered in ; 
 
MUNSON AND LYMAN. 159 
 
 also, that we might obtain a suitable teacher here 
 for about three dollars per month, payable in goods. 
 About fifty people came in, and Hstened to the 
 bechara ; to a few we administered medicines. But 
 as for books it was impossible to supply their de- 
 mand. We had application upon application all 
 the time we remained, till, after making at least 
 fifty promises to bring more, we became tired. It 
 was with the greatest difficulty that I brought away 
 Medhurst's school-book. It seemed as if every one 
 could read. I think I never before met with more 
 free, frank, open-hearted, intelligent Malays. 
 
 " June 8. — After breakfast visited the Malay 
 village with my medicine, fifty tracts, and a volume 
 of the New Testament. The books went like the 
 dew; and I was obliged not only to use sharp 
 language, but to pull them away by force from 
 those who could not read, or but little, and who had 
 taken them from the bundle before I was aware. 
 In point of intelligence and vivacity I have never 
 seen any Malays like them ; and to-day, as I went 
 from house to house, I was surprised to find that the 
 children were as fair as Nyas children of the same 
 age, and, as bright and intelligent ; they approach 
 so much nearer than the Malays of Java, to Euro- 
 pean, that I could hardly persuade myself that 
 they were pure Malay, but the inhabitants assured 
 me that they were." L. 
 
 " On our return we visited a Malay school of 
 
160 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 thirty fine looking boys, taught by an Arab. We 
 had disposed of all our books, but promised more. 
 There are here two other schools ; all appeared 
 flourishing. This accounts for the large number 
 of Malays that can read, and, consequently the 
 great demand for books. On my return to the 
 prahu, I saw a large number of Nyas men walking 
 up the beach towards the village. At first I sup- 
 posed some bechara was to be held ; but, on inquiry, 
 found they had come to assist the Malays in the 
 erection of a fort against the Achinese. There 
 appears to be a most perfect understanding between 
 the Malays and Nyas men. The former are con- 
 sidered, in all deliberations for public good, as en- 
 titled to a seat, and as having a right to give an 
 opinion. The Malay and Nyas rajahs always sit in 
 council together, and are on an equality. The 
 Malays and Achinese, though brethren in religion, 
 are sworn enemies in politics. They are especially 
 jealous of each others power in Nyas. The Achi- 
 nese have considerable settlements on the north end 
 of the island. 
 
 "June 9. — Having made previous arrangements 
 to visit the rajah of Gunong Stolis, we took an early 
 breakfast, and went on shore to procure a guide and 
 interpreter. Our road lay along the sea-beach, for 
 eight or nine miles, in a south-east direction. The 
 land, for one fourth of a mile from the sea, is a level 
 plain. It then abruptly rises into hills, so steep as 
 
MUNSON AND LYMAN. 161 
 
 scarcely to admit of cultivation. At little more than 
 half the distance our path was intercepted by a 
 river. A Malay village stood near it. Thither we 
 directed our course to obtain a skiff. We crossed 
 the stream and proceeded on our journey. Direct- 
 ly, our progress was arrested by a high ridge of 
 land, which seemed to thrust itself into the very 
 waves of the sea. We wound our way up its side 
 without difficulty ; but the descent, on the other 
 side, was so steep and rugged, that I was compelled 
 to let myself down, from rock to rock, till we found 
 ourselves upon the beach, on the other side of the 
 mountain. About a mile further we found another 
 river, and near the sea-shore, on its left, a Malay 
 campong. Here our course was directly inland. 
 Having procured another guide, set off with haste, 
 to reach, if possible, the rajah's, in season to return 
 that night. Here we first learned that we had 
 been deceived as to the distance ; for it was said to 
 be but three hours from Gunong Stolis, and it was 
 now half-past one o'clock, and we had travelled not 
 less than nine miles. 
 
 " Our way now became arduous and difficult, be- 
 yond any thing I had before attempted. At first 
 we passed through a large paddy field, in which 
 were many wretched houses, and where children 
 are stationed to frighten the birds. 
 
 " Passing this field we began to ascend the hills. 
 It had recently rained ; and the httle foot-path, just 
 14* 
 
162 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 wide enough for one man to pass through the thick 
 jungle, was as slippery as ice. It was not length of 
 legs, but strength of muscle, now, that could help a 
 man forward. Meeting two Nyas men, cutting 
 wood, we took them in our train, and pushed on. 
 The guide, who had but one eye, took the lead. 
 The Nyas men and Malay brought up the rear. 
 For fear we should be separated too far, the men 
 called to each other from the front and rear, keeping 
 up a merry echo along the dense forest. I felt 
 amused at our little guide trotting through the mud, 
 half naked, fanning himself with a dry leaf, and 
 expressing in his countenance the utmost anxiety 
 for the gentlemen behind. He said we should not 
 be able to arrive at the rajah's. Sometimes we 
 climbed up hills, so steep we were compelled to lay 
 hold of the bushes, and draw ourselves up ; and 
 then again we plunged into deep vales, thickly 
 shaded with trees and vines. At length we came 
 in sight of a village, on a high hill, where, we were 
 told, was the rajah's house. I know not how we 
 made our way to it. Brother Lyman threw him- 
 self upon a mat as if half dead. When I had 
 breathed a little, observing a number of sick people, 
 among the crowd who had collected to look at us, 
 I called them to me one by one, and gave them a 
 little medicine. Some had ulcers ; one man re- 
 duced to the veriest skeleton with the asthma ; and 
 a httle child which had fallen down and injured the 
 
M U N S O N AND LYMAN. 163 
 
 chest considerably. It was pleasant to administer to 
 the temporal wants of these poor yet friendly people. 
 
 '■'- The rajah is a man of forty-five, sedate and 
 dignified in his appearance ; yet he suffers from the 
 most common of all diseases among the Nyas, the 
 ' white scurf,' or perhaps a species of leprosy. He 
 received us with kindness ; but seemed not much 
 disposed to converse on the subject of our mission. 
 He evidently wished for more information before 
 giving an opinion. He therefore promised to meet 
 us the next day at Gunong Stolis. We gave him a 
 few small articles, as a present. He seemed very 
 much pleased with them ; and offered us a fine 
 capon in return, which we were compelled to refuse. 
 We told him we wished to make friends with the 
 Nyas ; and, if he would come to Gunong Stolis, 
 we would make him another present. He hinted 
 to our interpreter, as he afterwards told us, that he 
 would bring us down a slave! 
 
 " Having looked about his house, and rested our- 
 selves thoroughly for the long walk, we prepared to 
 take our leave. At first I supposed him not so 
 superstitious as most of his countrymen ; not seeing 
 gods in the hall; but on looking around, I found 
 twenty -eight images in one row, besides hogs^ jaws, 
 deers' horns, and charms innumerable. Among 
 his paraphernalia were four or fiv^e small swivels, 
 unmounted, in a back room. In going out, we saw 
 a huge stone image, at the door. It was intended 
 
164 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 to represent a man, rudely sculptured from a block 
 of limestone. From its attitude I should suppose it 
 might be intended to represent the guardian divinity 
 of the village. The place was not large, yet the 
 houses, most of them, were larger and better built 
 than is common in this part of the island. 
 
 " This rajah is the prince of ten villages. The 
 influence of the chiefs could not now be safely 
 reckoned on in establishing a mission in this district, 
 because of the Malay chiefs who are permitted to 
 sit in council, and deliberate, and give an opinion 
 in all public matters. 
 
 " We returned by a shorter way with much less 
 fatigue than we went up. We stopped at the 
 Malay village next to the rajah's, and took cocoa- 
 nut water, and gave medicines to a number of sick 
 people, who flocked into the headman's house ; so 
 as almost to make it a hospital. A woman in his 
 house was nearly consumed with the leprosy. Soon 
 after leaving this village, we were overtaken with 
 rain. It wet the bushes in our path so as to drench 
 us completely. When arrived at the river our in- 
 terpreter forded it, and went to the village for the 
 sampan. When we returned we sent by him, as 
 the village was distant from the .sea shore, a small 
 present to the head-man for his trouble. He re- 
 turned bringing two large cocoa-nuts, which were 
 very refreshing. We reached the boat at seven, 
 
MUNSON AND LYMAN. 165 
 
 tired and hungry, having eaten nothing for thirteen 
 hours, and having travelled twenty-five miles. 
 
 " Gunong S tolls stands on a small river, of which 
 there are several on the east coast of Nyas, two or 
 three hours' sail in length. It is a lone and unhealthy 
 place, judging from its location. At any rate, if its 
 marshes were as extensive as those of Batavia, it 
 would be altogether intolerable to the European. 
 
 " The Malay village is the most filthy and unin- 
 viting of any I have ever seen. The people are 
 more intelligent than I have generally found Malays 
 elsewhere. Most of them can read. Arabs abound 
 here. Consequently the religion of the false prophet 
 flourishes. Here are high priests, and priests, pray- 
 ing chapels, and mosques, and all the paraphernalia 
 of that accursed imposture. The Malay population 
 is one thousand, all Mohammedans ; yet their 
 efforts to convert the Nyas have not been attended 
 with any success. ' Makan Babe,' (eat pork,) is 
 the touchstone of Mohammedanism, and the Nyas 
 will eat it, religion, or no religion. It is their most 
 delicious fare ; they cannot have a festival without 
 it. I have seen the poor creatures look upon us 
 with secret delight, when told that we eat pork. 
 Yet to refrain from its use is the most distinguishing 
 trait in the character of these Mohammedans." M. 
 
 " June 11. — About four o'clock, P. M., the anchor 
 was hoisted, and we sailed at a rapid rate down the 
 coast. Our helmsman wishing to go south before 
 
166 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 he crosses over to Tappanooly, rather than directly 
 across, on account of breakers occasioned by Drake's 
 Reef. In the interior, and especially on the southern 
 coast, it is unsafe travelling without a guard. We 
 did not feel that there was an object of sufficient 
 magnitude to be gained, to hire a guard of fifteen or 
 twenty men to pass across the island. Nor did we 
 feel authorized to expose our lives, contrary to the 
 advice of those we believed were our friends. We 
 travelled as far as we could with safety, made all 
 the inquiries which our circumstances would admit, 
 and, from all we can gather, are fully convinced 
 that Pulo Nyas is not in a suitable state for the 
 establishment of a Christian mission, just now. On 
 the other hand, Pulo Batu holds out every possible 
 encouragement we could desire. True, the popu- 
 lation is not large ; but, as they retain all the cus- 
 toms and feelings of the inhabitants of Nyas, it is 
 large enough to make a fair experiment upon. If 
 the experiment should prove successful, the Board 
 will feel amply rewarded for their labour. Besides, 
 it will reduce the language to writing, and open a 
 ready communication with the main island. If, on 
 the other hand, the experiment should be unsuccess- 
 ful ; or if it must fail altogether, it may as well fail 
 among a population of five thousand, as of two 
 hundred thousand. We say therefore, without 
 hesitation, that the Nyas are a race of idolaters that 
 demand immediate attention. 
 
MUNSON AND LYMAN. 167 
 
 " So far as we have been able to discover, they 
 possess few of those prejudices with which mission- 
 aries among other nations have liad to contend. 
 In many respects their character resembles that of 
 the Sandwich Islanders. If a mission is establish- 
 ed, it is our opinion that Batu is the best place at 
 present. The language may be acquired in Padang, 
 and a station may be found in Batu. And, as 
 soon as circumstances will admit, operations may 
 be commenced on the main island. The Dutch 
 may station soldiers on Nyas. Then there will be 
 peace among the villages, and, consequently, safety. 
 Or God will otherwise open the door, before the 
 language can be acquired, and books prepared. 
 We say then, without hesitation, no time should be 
 lost in sending forth the labourers. Padang is the 
 place to acquire the language, and Batu is the 
 stepping-stone by which to ascend and take the 
 citadel. 
 
 " The physical character of the island much re- 
 sembles Batu. It is a bed of calcareous tufa, thrown 
 up from the bed of the ocean by some tremendous 
 convulsion of nature. It is rather hilly and moun- 
 tainous. Steep and high hills rise abruptly from 
 the sea-shore, some of which may be denominated 
 mountains. Palms and shrubbery are abundant ; 
 but dense forests are unknown." M. 
 
 " The island is divided into several small districts, 
 containing a number of villages. Over each vil- 
 
168 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 lage is a chief, and over tlie whole district is a head 
 chief, or two head chiefs in colleague. The head 
 chiefs of the districts, however, exercise no unUm- 
 ited pov/er, but act as moderators of their councils, 
 <fec. And in some of the southern districts, it is 
 almost entirely each village for itself* In the mid- 
 dle and northern districts all causes are decided, and 
 all justice consummated by a council of all the chiefs 
 in the district in which they use the court, or high 
 dialect, which is quite different from the vulgar. 
 The great mass of the population reside in the 
 southern part of the island, in walled villages, while 
 that of the middle and northern is more scattered ; 
 and though residing on the summits of the hills, 
 yet not generally in compact bodies, or in rows of 
 connected houses. Their dwellings are detached 
 and circular. The south is more given to trade than 
 the north. It is principally in slaves and rice, which 
 they exchange for tobacco, iron, steel, and cloths. 
 The people in the interior trade with the rajah 
 nearest the coast, and he with the boats and ships. 
 The slave trade causes every man's hand to be 
 against his neighbour, and the greatness of a man 
 is known by the number of great heads he possess- 
 es. Foreign heads stand in high estimation. Those 
 of the Chinese higher than the Malays, and white 
 men higher than either. 
 
 '' Their offensive armour is a spear and two 
 knives, or krises, one perhaps eighteen inches, the 
 
MUTfSON AND LYMAN. 169 
 
 Other two feet ia length. The spears are of their 
 own manufacture ; the head is of steel, sometimes 
 straight, at others with an inverted prong, sharp on its 
 outer edge. The handle is of a dark-coloured, hard 
 wood ; sometimes ornamented with plaits of braid- 
 ed rattan, lead, steel, or brass, two inches asunder ; 
 sometimes inlaid with a spiral plait of brass one-half 
 or three-fourths of an inch in width ; and sometimes 
 ornamented just below the head with a tuft of hair, 
 according to the fancy of the owner. The knives 
 are also native, with wooden sheaths ornamented 
 like the spear handle, or plain, according to fancy. 
 The sir.aller is the common knife, which they use 
 for all the purposes for which we use a multitude of 
 complicated tools, and is never laid aside at home or 
 abroad. It is generally plain and made for hard 
 use. The larger is a full dress weapon, and used 
 for purposes of war. A large ball is formed by 
 binding some light substance on the outside just 
 below the hilt, as a guard for the hand ; on the out- 
 side of this are bound by narrow strips of different 
 coloured cloths, little wooden images, whose province 
 it is to give rain, direct the way in the night, 
 (fcc, besides various other ornaments, according to 
 the taste or wealth of the owner. 
 
 " Their defensive armour consists of a light, ob- 
 long wooden shield, and in some cases, a wooden 
 breast-plate, and a jacket reaching to the hips, made 
 of the bark of trees, or cotton of native manufac- 
 15 
 
170 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 ture, woven without seam, thick and hard, offering 
 nearly as much resistance as a coat of mail ; or 
 they wear four, five, or six jackets of different kinds 
 of cloth for the same purpose. The native jacket 
 they value at about eight cents of a Spanish dollar, 
 payable in goods, the shield at the same, and the 
 spear and knives according to quality, varying from 
 eighty cents to four dollars each. 
 
 " In the use of their weapons they are very expert, 
 and for a little tobacco any one of them will go 
 through with their evolutions. They consist in 
 dexterously throwing the body from side to side, into 
 the air, and again squatting, constantly defending it 
 with the shield, and brandishing the spear until it 
 leaves the hand, when the knife is drawn and a 
 tremendous onset is made with that. Their aim is 
 taken just over the upper left corner of the shield. 
 Not only would it be difficult for one unaccustomed 
 to their movements, to hit them with a spear, but 
 they will allow a person to throw stones at them as 
 fest as they can throw, one at a time. 
 
 " The southern portions are the most populous. 
 One village there, Baba Baba's town, contains two 
 thousand men, the same as the whole district of Ere- 
 noqeah or Larago, (Gunong Stolis,) and another of 
 one thousand five hundred men, Paleta's town. The 
 Nyas reckon more women than men, and from all we 
 have seen and heard, should say the smallest calcula- 
 tion for children would be equal to both, and 1 should 
 
MUNSOTf AND LYMAN. 171 
 
 think it might be even double the number of men 
 and women. Taking, however, the equality, we 
 make eight thousand people in one village, and six 
 thousand in another. 
 
 " They do not lose sight of education or religion j 
 but like most other Malays, they have only the form 
 even of Mohammedan godhness. They have one 
 miserably poor mosque and two praying places only. 
 Their priests are eight, and Hadjies three. I saw 
 some half-dDzen or more copies of the koran in differ- 
 ent houses ; the first I have ever seen among the Ma- 
 lays. Some few Arabs reside here, who of course 
 are rigid followers of the false prophet ; but they 
 can never influence the Malays where their own in- 
 terest is concerned. 
 
 " The population we had no means of ascertain- 
 ing ; yet I should suppose it would be safe to put it at 
 two hundred thousand. 
 
 " The missionaries on Nyas will find that letters 
 from government, (fcc, will not procure for them so 
 much respect and attention as their American name, 
 their own character, and their own purses. The 
 Dutch name is everywhere feared by the Malays. 
 By no people, perhaps, is it more hated, than by the 
 Achinese ; whereas they hail as a friend, every 
 Englishman, or American. Still, the favour of 
 government must be obtained so far as residence, 
 &c., is concerned. And nominally, government 
 affords protection to all who have leave of residence, 
 
172 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 by application to the nearest civil officer ; but it is 
 such a heavy machine, and moves so slowly through 
 its different grades of officers, and under-officers, 
 that the best protection would always be the affec- 
 tions of the people among whom the missionary 
 resides. 
 
 "We observed among them no signs of a musical 
 taste. We saw no instruments of native manufac- 
 Xure, exc^t, perhaps, one or two rude drfims, which 
 must have been patterned after the Malays'. Their 
 song, which accompanies the dance, is a rude kind 
 of bawling. 
 
 *' All the attempts of a missionary nature that 
 have been made among this people, were by two 
 French Papists, about two years since. They ob- 
 tained Nyas servants at Pinang, and learned a little 
 of the language. One of the servants became a 
 convert. They arrived at Padang ; spent a short 
 time in visiting the military post on Sumatra; and 
 were well received by the Catholic officers and 
 soldiers. They w^ere, from all we learn, monkish, 
 clownish enthusiasts. Their pay was but one 
 hundred Spanish dollars, per annum, and they 
 Were miserably fitted out. They, however, refused 
 all assistance for themselves, but -willingly received 
 old clothes from the officers, to give to the Nyas. 
 One of them embarked at Padang, in a httle open 
 boat, which, after he had put in his own baggage, 
 scarcely contained room for himself. He arrived at 
 
MUNSON AND LYMAN. 173 
 
 Gunong Stolis, and was kindly received by Messara, 
 who offered him his own house. But he chose 
 rather to erect a httle miserable open shed, on the 
 hill, near the house of a petty chief. He visited 
 among the people, and obtained a child of that 
 chief as his pupil ; but in a short time took a fever, 
 and died. His servant, also, had the same fever, 
 but returned soon after to Padang, and resided a 
 while with Mr. Embrycht. This man was hardly 
 dead, and his goods sealed up, ere the other came, 
 having embarked at Natal, where he had been to 
 visit the upper stations of the Dutch. But the 
 fever was already upon him, and he only landed at 
 Gunong Stohs, to hnger out eight or ten days, and 
 go to his final account. 
 
 " The Papists do not yet despair. They have 
 held correspondence with Mr. Embrycht, on the 
 subject of sending out other men, and expressed a 
 determination of so doing. It would be a very easy 
 matter for these followers of the Pope to substitute 
 their pictures and idols, for the idols of the Nyas ; 
 and engraft their mummeries, and impose their 
 dazzling, pompous ceremonies upon them. They 
 would not, like the Mohammedans, meet an in- 
 superable obstacle at the threshold ; an unconquer- 
 able attachment to pork. But who does not see the 
 hand of the Lord in all this ? How long the people 
 may be preserved in a waiting posture, for American 
 15* 
 
174 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 Christians to lead them to the fountain of life, who 
 can tell ? 
 
 "In the summer of the present year, six French 
 Catholic priests came to Batavia, three of whom 
 proceeded towards Cochin China and Siam, and 
 three to Padang. The latter, on arriving at their 
 destination, proceeded to study the Nyas language, 
 and officiate, in the mean time, among the Catholic 
 soldiers found there. One of them, however, finding 
 their salary, one hundred dollars per annum, too 
 small, returned to Batavia in the same vessel that 
 took them from thence, to remonstrate with their 
 superiors on the necessity of increasing their allow- 
 ances ; but, after a short conference wnth his friends 
 here, proceeded immediately to Macao. The Proe- 
 fectus Apostolicus Scholten, who presides over all 
 the Catholics in Netherlands India, proceeded, this 
 fall, in person, to Padang ; doubtless with a view of 
 arranging and consolidating their missions in Su- 
 matra ; from thence he goes to Rome, for which he 
 has obtained leave of absence, for two years. From 
 all this we may premise that the Catholics intend 
 doing great things in that quarter." L. 
 
 " June 12. — Still in the neighbourhood of Nyas. 
 It is with feelings of deep interest' that I look forward 
 to the result of these hasty efforts to explore Nyas. 
 In imagination I can leap over the few intervening 
 years of darkness that remain, and dwelJ on a 
 brighter morning. I can already see men filled 
 
MUNSON AND LYMAN. 175 
 
 with the apostoHc spirit, travelling along these shores, 
 and climbing over these hills, telling to one and an- 
 other, as they go, the story of Jesus, and him cruci- 
 fied. I can see the solemn assembly called, to hear 
 the truth preached in its purity and power ; sinners 
 hstening and turning to the Lord ; saints singing 
 and praying, and angels rejoicing. These are but 
 the conquests that the Spirit of God is yet to work 
 in the hearts of these now benighted idolators. 
 The Lord hasten it in his own time. 
 
 " We find, to our extreme mortification, that our 
 men, instead of taking us the most direct way from 
 Gunong Stohs, have brought us almost to Natal, 
 three times as far as to have taken the direct course. 
 The consequence will be that, instead of two days' 
 passage, we shall be nearly a week. We can 
 ascribe this to nothing but a fear of the Achinese. 
 
 " June 16. — Landed at Pulo Ely to procure wood 
 and water. These Malays never lay in more than 
 three or four days' store of either, at a time. The 
 wind was fair, but in spite of all remonstrance, they 
 would go. ' How can we sail without them V was 
 their significant negative. I went on shore to hurry 
 them off. On landing, was surprised to find rows 
 of posts ranged along the shore. Further back 
 were fragments of household furniture, the frames 
 of several buildings, &c., all indicating, in the 
 plainest manner, that civilized man had been there. 
 By inquiring I learned that a Mr. Horn, an Eng- 
 
176 MEMOIRS OF, 
 
 lishman, formerly lived there ; but, about three 
 years since, he was treacherously murdered by a 
 Malay, and all his goods plundered, and carried off. 
 It was a beautifully-retired spot ; a narrow flat in- 
 cluded between the beach and a perpendicular cliff, 
 at least two hundred feet high. Its summit was 
 covered with lofty trees, whose branches seemed to 
 hold intercourse with the clouds. 
 
 " The bustle of business and the voice of mirth 
 once cheered this secluded spot ; but now the silence 
 of death reigns. The whole island is a high bluff. 
 It is one of nature's fortifications, which she threw 
 up as a barrier against the sea. 
 
 " June 17. — To-day, at three o'clock, landed on 
 Pang-chun island. It is a small island three miles 
 from the head of Tappanooly bay, on which the fort 
 and government establishment stand. Called on 
 Mr. Bonnet, the Post-holder, who, though a Catholic 
 in sentiment, received us very cordially. Gave us 
 a room in his house, and a seat at his table. 
 
 " At evening went up to look into the fort. It 
 stands on a high rock, fronting the main entrance 
 into the bay. Its situation is commanding and 
 beautiful. A Dutch officer and fifty soldiers com- 
 pose the garrison. About three hundred Malays 
 live on the island. 
 
 "June 18. — Have done little to-day but get our 
 goods on shore, and commenced packing for our 
 journey. Our friend Bonnet, who has travelled in 
 
MUNSON AND LYMAN. 177 
 
 the country, seemed disposed to give us all necessa- 
 ry information. He has promised to procure coo« 
 lies, &c. 
 
 "June 21. — To-day we visited the rajah of Se- 
 boga, at the head of the bay. The Resident, the 
 commandant, and the officers of the vessel of war 
 accompanied us. We landed a short distance from 
 the village. The rajah came out to meet us. He 
 is quite a young man, and is so modest and unas- 
 suming in his behaviour, as at once to prepossess 
 one in his favour. After reaching his house we 
 began to make some inquiries respecting Mr. Bur- 
 ton. He had seen him, but his father was rajah 
 at the time of Mr. Burton's residence. We saw the 
 spot where his house stood which is now taken 
 down and removed. It was just out of the village, 
 near the sea-shore, beneath the shade of some beau- 
 tiful palm trees. When residing here he had a wife 
 and three children. He hved here seven years, and 
 it is now seven years since he removed to Bengal. 
 We could find no traces of his labours, in the per- 
 son of any native ; though it seems he had a small 
 school in v/hich the scholars learned English. 
 
 " June 22. — We have resolved to enter the Batta 
 country at Tappanooly, i. e. the head of the bay, 
 about three miles from here. 
 
 " To-morrow afternoon we set out. We have 
 engaged our interpreter, an opas, and eight coolies. 
 
 " The head man of a Batta village is to be our 
 
178 MEMOIRS OP 
 
 interpreter. We shall go well provided and guarded 
 at every point. Our greatest danger is, that our 
 faith in God will not be strong enough. " Except 
 the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that 
 build it," M, 
 
MUNSON AND LYMA.N. 179 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 The violent death of Messrs. Mnnaon and Lyman, in attempt- 
 ing to explore the Batta Country. 
 
 From private letters written during the tour de- 
 scribed above, it appears that Mr. Munson and Mr. 
 Lyman endured many sufferings not noticed in their 
 journal. The severe discipHne through which they 
 passed before reaching Tappanooly, resulted in 
 great spiritual consolation, courageous hope, and firm 
 confidence in God. At this period, more perfectly 
 than ever before they " walked with God," through 
 a '• supply of the spirit of Christ ;" danger, fatigue, 
 and want ministered to their religious affections a 
 high degree of purity and strength. 
 
 While investigating the condition of degraded 
 savages, " led captive by Satan at his pleasure," they 
 longed to close their preliminary labours, and go 
 about teaching the people publicly, and from house 
 to house. They found the field " white already to 
 harvest." But agreeably to their commission, they 
 directed their course towards other and more popu- 
 lous nations, to learn whether among them also 
 Christian teachers might not be introduced, with the 
 prospect of success. 
 
180 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 With this design they arrived at Tappanooly, 
 June 17, 1834. Here they wrote to their friends 
 and the Board, briefly noticing the dangers and 
 mercies of the tour thus far, and in a calm, cheer- 
 ful strain, committing their future " way unto the 
 Lord." These letters were their last. The journey 
 which they now undertook conducted them through 
 many hardships and perils to a violent death, and we 
 trust also to " eternal life." 
 
 The subjoined statements furnish all the infor- 
 mation that has been received respecting the sudden 
 removal of these lamented servants of God. The 
 first is from the post-holder, a Dutch officer, at Tap- 
 panooly, dated 2d July, 1834 : 
 
 " To my bitter grief, I find myself under the ne- 
 cessity of communicating to you the following mel- 
 ancholy account : 
 
 " On the 17th of June there arrived here, on board 
 the proro ' Tanjah,' under the command of Malim 
 Soctan, from Padang and Nyas, the Rev. Messrs. 
 Lyman and Munson, both American Missionaries 
 of the reformed persuasion, who informed me that 
 it was their intention to undertake a journey into the 
 Batta country, to Tobah, &c., for which end they 
 requested my assistance in the providing the neces- 
 sary guides, interpreters, and coolies for their bag- 
 gage, which were accordingly provided by me, con- 
 sisting of fourteen persons, viz : Datoe Radjae Man- 
 coeta, the head of Kalangan district, together with 
 
MUNSON AND LYMAN. 181 
 
 a police runner, named Si Rakim, and ten coolies, 
 to which we added their own two servants : but not 
 before I myself, together with the second lieutenant, 
 Schack, military commandant here, and Mr. Sick- 
 man, commander of His Netherlands Majesty's 
 schooner Argo, had most strongly dissuaded them 
 from their purpose, but in vain. On the 23d of 
 June, they went from the island on which the fort 
 was built, by way of Tappanooly to Tobah, and on 
 the 30th there appeared before me the above named 
 Datoe Radjah Mankoeta, the police runner, all the 
 coolies, and one of the servants of the above named 
 gentlemen, called Si Jan, returning out of the Batta 
 country, who, both severally and collectively, related 
 to me the following tale : 
 
 "That after their departure from Tappanooly, 
 they passed the first night in the village of Si Bo- 
 enga-Boenga, at the house of radjah Si Boendae : 
 the second night in the village of Rappet, at the 
 dwelUng of radjah Swasa : the third at Pageran 
 Sambong, at the place of radjah Gooroo Si Non- 
 gan •, and from thence they went to Goeting, to the 
 house of radjah Amani Bussir, (iron father,) by all 
 which chiefs they were received with hospitality and 
 respect, who, notwithstanding, most strongly advised 
 them not to prosecute their journey any farther 
 towards Tobah, saying that at Tobah there existed 
 disturbances ; that at that moment, the journey was 
 not to be undertaken without danger, and that they 
 16 
 
182 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 could not, and would not, be responsible for tbe con- 
 sequences. To which Messrs. Lyman and Munson 
 gave answer to these radjas, that since they came not 
 as enemies but as friends to visit the Batta country, 
 they had therefore no reason to fear the least danger, 
 and thus they would prosecute their journey to To- 
 bah. In this resolution they remained firm, till the 
 28th, when they again prosecuted their journey from 
 Goeting towards the village Sukka, at Sehndong, 
 with the intention of spending the night with the 
 radja Berampak, at that place. While they were 
 upon the march, about half way there, just at noon, 
 they were met by five armed Batta people, who en- 
 treated them to return, and not to prosecute their 
 journey any farther if they would avoid exposing 
 their lives to danger. 
 
 " That the above named gentlemen, notwithstand- 
 ing all these warnings, and the urgent request of 
 their own followers, to return, would pay no atten- 
 tion to all this ; and the five Battas, after being 
 provided with a httle tobacco, were sent back, with 
 orders to tell their Radjah, that they saw no danger 
 in prosecuting their journey to Tobah, since they 
 came to visit them as friends and not as enemies. 
 Whereupon they proceeded upon their march, till 
 about 4 P. M., when suddenly they saw themselves 
 surrounded, in a wood, by a band of about 200 armed 
 Battas, who made them lay down their arms, and 
 then inhumanly murdered both Messrs. Lyman and 
 
MUNSON AND LYMAN. 183 
 
 Munson, and one of their servants. In the mean- 
 time, the rest were enabled, after having forsaken 
 the baggage, to jump into the thicket, and, by flight, 
 to save themselves. 
 
 " That they, on their retreat hitherwards, had 
 heard, that Mr. Lyman and his servant, the same 
 evening on which they were murdered, and Mr. 
 Munson the following morning, had been made 
 away with by their murderers. 
 
 " You will thus, by this declaration, be pleased to 
 observe, that however great this misfortune has 
 been, the gentlemen themselves have been much to 
 blame, because neither here nor in the Batta coun- 
 try, would they give ear to any one's warning or 
 good counsel. 
 
 " The property of the deceased, sis much of it as 
 was found here, shall be sent by me to Mr. Boyle, 
 at Padang, according to their request before they 
 went from hence into the Batta country." 
 
 The following is the substance of the account 
 given by Si Jan, the servant who accompanied 
 Messrs. Munson and Lyman from Batavia. He is 
 described as an honest, simple-hearted man, who 
 had been long employed about the mission family, 
 and appears to have been seriously impressed by 
 the truth of the Christian religion. 
 
 He states that, after leaving Tappanooly, " they 
 found the road exceedingly difficult, consisting of 
 hills and ravines covered with thick forests ; so 
 
184 MEMOIRS OP 
 
 Steep in many places, that they were obliged to as- 
 cend by means of rattans, tied from the tops of rocks, 
 and to descend on their haunches. The coolies 
 were compelled to tie their burthens on their backs, 
 being unable to carry them on their shoulders or 
 heads. The brethren, however, were enabled to 
 master these difficulties. The thicket was so 
 dense, that they were not much troubled with the 
 the heat of the sun, and the road so solitary, that 
 they seldom met above four or five individuals in 
 the course of a day's march. No houses or vil- 
 lages were seen on the road, and only at the end of 
 each day's journey did they come to any thing like 
 a village. The journey was, of course, performed 
 on foot, and yet they managed to advance about 
 ten or twelve miles per day. When they arrived 
 at a village, they were immediatly surrounded by 
 multitudes of natives, men, women and children, 
 who showed no sort of timidity at the presence of 
 Europeans, but came boldly up to the travellers, and 
 examined their persons and dresses with much ea- 
 gerness, asking importunately for tobacco. On the 
 second night after their departure, they fell in with 
 a Radjah Swasa, who told them that it would be 
 better not to attempt to enter the Batta country at 
 first, but stay at Panchan until he should have 
 time to go into the interior and make inquiries, 
 when he would send them a letter from Tobah, to 
 inform them whether or not they would be well re- 
 
MUNSON AND LYMAN. 185 
 
 ceived. The brethren replied, that they came with 
 peaceable intentions, and that there was no neces- 
 sity for such a measure. On being questioned 
 whether he had joined in persuading the brethren 
 not to proceed. Si Jan replied that he had not ; but 
 while staying at Panchan, and hearing such fearful 
 accounts from the Malays residing there, of the 
 murderous practices and cannabalic habits of the 
 Battas, he had requested Mr. Lyman to be allowed 
 to remain behind, with the Chinese teacher, but 
 that Mr. Lyman replied, he must go, and that they 
 could not do without him. He therefore went, ac- 
 cordingly. The following villages which they 
 came to, with the names of their Radjah's, Si Jan 
 does not recollect; he only remembers crossing a 
 very rapid river, which they effected by swinging 
 across on rattan, tied from one side to the other. 
 The day on which the brethren fell, he thinks must 
 be Saturday, because he heard Mr. Lyman propose 
 stopping a day at the next stage for the Sabbath. 
 He has no recollection of the five Battas met on the 
 day of their murder, w^ho cautioned the brethren to 
 return, nor any other warning but that given by 
 the Radjah Swasa." 
 
 The last onset Si Jan describes as follows : — 
 "About four o'clock in the aft^srnoon of that day, 
 they came suddenly upon a log fort, which was oc- 
 cupied by a number of men, armed with muskets, 
 spears, &/C. To this fort they had approached within 
 16* 
 
186 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 a hundred yards without being aware of it. On 
 spying the fort and the men, the interpreter offered 
 to go first and parley with them. After him 
 followed the coolies with the baggage, and the 
 brethren, their two servants, and the police runner 
 behind. When the interpreter arrived at the fort. 
 Si Jan heard a disturbance, and on looking round, 
 found a band of about 200 armed men close upon 
 them, from the side and the rear. The coolies, upon 
 seeing the troop, and hearing the noise, threw down 
 their burthen and fled, escaping on the other side ; the 
 interpreter also became invisible. Immediately the 
 crowd of Battas came upon them, hallooing and 
 brandishing their weapons, threatening to despatch 
 the travellers at once. They came so near with 
 their pointed spears and muskets, that Mr. Lyman 
 was enabled to push by their weapons with his 
 hands, entreating them to wait a little, and come to 
 an explanation, taking off at the same time, their 
 hats and throwing them to them, with some tobacco 
 which they had. This not pacifying the rabble, 
 Mr. Lyman deUvered up his pistols, as did also Mr. 
 Munson, which were received and handed to the 
 rest, but the disturbance continued. Mr. Lyman 
 then asked Si Jan for the musket' which he carried, 
 but Si Jan refused lo deliver it up, saying he then 
 should be left defenceless. Si Jan even offered to 
 fire, but Mr. Lyman withheld him, and asked for 
 the musket for his own use. Si Jan gave it to him 
 
MUNSON AND LYMAN. 187 
 
 accordingly, and Mr. L. immediately handed it over 
 to the Battas. Mr. L. then said, call the the inter- 
 preter ; Si Jan ran a little way to call him, but not 
 perceiving him, turned round to go to Mr. Lyman, 
 when he heard the report of a musket, and saw 
 Mr. Lyman fall, calling out Jan ! Jan ! A shout 
 then rose from the Battas, which was answered by 
 those from the fort. A rush was then made on 
 Mr. Munson, who was run through the body, and 
 fell. Another shout then followed. The cook, 
 who had on a jacket given him by Mr. Munson, 
 was the next victim. On seeing the brethren fall, 
 he attempted to escape, but was pursued, and by 
 one blow of their cleavers, had his arm cut off, 
 while the cleaver went through the arm into his 
 side. Si Jan and the police runner now ran for 
 their lives, and got into a thicket at a short distance : 
 here they secreted themselves under the bushes, and 
 remained all night, (the evening shades having al- 
 ready set in,) until 5 o'clock next morning. While 
 Si Jan was in the thicket, he heard much shouting 
 and rejoicing : and about seven o'clock the Battas 
 fired off all their muskets, and then remained 
 quiet." 
 
 In a letter to the Barnstable County Auxihary 
 Missionary Society, which had engaged to support 
 Mr. Munson, Rev. Mr. Medhurst, of Batavia, thus 
 writes : — 
 
 "By the report of the Post-holder, he appears to 
 
188 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 have freely offered the brethren his advice, and 
 strongly to have persuaded them against the jour- 
 ney, — yea he repeats this so often, and urges it by 
 so many considerations, as strongly to excite the 
 suspicion that he is mainly anxious to exonerate 
 himself from blame, in allowing them to proceed 
 on such a dangerous expedition. The impression 
 on my mind is, that he did not use those strong 
 dissuasives which he gives out, and that on the con- 
 trary, he represented the journey as comparatively 
 free from danger, though the travelling would be 
 exceedingly difficult. This appears from a letter 
 written by Mr. Munson, the day previous to his de- 
 parture from Tappanooly, and by the report of the 
 Chinese teacher, who speaks much more strongly 
 on the subject than I have even ventured to insert 
 in the report. I have been a traveller myself on 
 exploring tours, something similar to those under- 
 taken by our beloved brethren, and 1 know^ that it 
 is exceedingly difficult for travellers to know how 
 to act on the advice given them. Sometimes I 
 have had an undertaking represented to me as cer- 
 tain destruction, when the result has turned out fa- 
 vourable, and on the other hand, have not received 
 a single warning when dangers thick and many 
 awaited me. If the brethren must, therefore, per- 
 form the duties required of them, it was incumbent 
 on them frequently to act on their own judgment, 
 independent of the advice given them, or to com- 
 
MUNSON AND LYMAN. 189 
 
 pare different accounts together, and decide accord- 
 ing to their own impressions. A pusillanimous 
 and hesitating line of conduct, is bad pohcy in the 
 common affairs of life, much more so on an explor- 
 ing tour. Something must be ventured — and we 
 have instances enough on record of the success at- 
 tending such expeditions, to encourage us to perse- 
 vere, though now and then a melancholy fact of a 
 contrary nature, to teach us not to presume. I am 
 one of those who do not regard missionaries as un- 
 der peculiar protection as to temporals — they must 
 bear their share of the ills of humanity, as well as 
 the rest of mankind. This, however, is certain — 
 a good man is immortal till his work is done. Their 
 warfare was accomplished, the crown of glory was 
 awaiting them, and the Lord saw fit thus early to 
 call them up to wear it. To them, sudden death 
 was sudden glory — they departed, and were with 
 Christ, which was far better. The manner of their 
 death was violent, and to human feehngs, dreadful, 
 — but of Stephen, who died a more dreadful death, 
 an inspired penman assures us that he fell asleep. 
 Thus of our brethren it may be said, ' they sleep in 
 Jesus,' &c. With regard to the interests of reli- 
 gion, and the salvation of the Battas, the prospects 
 indeed appear gloomy, and Zion may mourn be- 
 cause her sons are fallen ; but when did the inter- 
 ests of the Christian Church ever appear more 
 gloomy than when the disconsolate fellow-travellers 
 
190 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 exclaimed, 'We hoped that it had been he who 
 should have redeemed Israel, and besides all this, 
 to-day is the third day since these things were 
 done,' — and yet, when did an event ever take place 
 so favourable to the interests of true rehgion, and 
 when were poor heart-broken saints so near the pe- 
 riod of their comfort ?" 
 
 Rev. Mr. Ennis, who has recently travelled in 
 the Batta country, was informed at Tappanody 
 that, " had the people who committed the deed 
 known in what character the brethren came, they 
 would not have been murdered; but, being- en- 
 gaged in disturbances with a neighbouring village, 
 and agitated with anger and fear, and seeing two 
 strangers of unusual appearance approach ; in the 
 blind, tumultuous passions of war, they acted with- 
 out knowing what they did." It must be regarded, 
 therefore, as accidental, and not as an occurrence 
 which is to be expected in traveUing in the Batta 
 country. In 1824, Messrs. Ward and Burton pass- 
 ed through the same route, without seeing any 
 danger. 
 
 " When it became known from natives on the 
 coast, and from others on the road, that the brethren 
 were good men, and had come to do the Batta 
 nation good, all the villages around leagued together 
 for vengeance against the village where the outrage 
 was perpetrated, and to require blood for blood. 
 The unhappy village was named Sacca. In an 
 
MTJNSON AND LYMAN. 191 
 
 unsuspected hour the surrounding population came 
 upon it ; set the houses on fire, killed as many of 
 the inhabitants as they could, and destroyed their 
 gardens and fields. Those who escaped were dis- 
 persed, some in one direction, and some in another ; 
 so that their community was dissolved. In their 
 fields, and the place where their village stood, a 
 thick jungle or swamp is now growing up, and the 
 name of Sacca is no more heard." 
 
 No such retahation as this was meditated by the 
 relatives and Christian friends of the murdered 
 missionaries. When the widowed mother of Mr. 
 Lyman received the tidings of his death, she re- 
 marked, with flowing tears : " I am so far from 
 sorry that T parted with Henry as a missionary to 
 the heathen, that I never felt so strong a desire that 
 some of my other children should engage in the 
 same cause. O, how much do those poor creatures 
 who murdered my son, need the gospel." So also 
 judged the churches and the Missionary Board ; 
 for, without delay, others were sent forth to preach 
 the gospel to the islands of the East, " beginning 
 at " the Batta country. 
 
 It has been frequently asserted that the mission- 
 aries were imprudent in attempting to enter the 
 region where they fell. The remarks of Mr. Mod- 
 hurst given above, go far towards setting the alle- 
 gation aside. It should also be considered that, a 
 short time before their death, they visited the island 
 
/ 
 
 192 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 of Neas, and state expressly that they " did not pene- 
 trate far into the interior, because it is unsafe travel- 
 ing into the interior of that island." Would they 
 not, for the same reason, have refrained from the 
 fatal expedition to the Battas, if they had possessed 
 sufficient evidence that it could be attempted only 
 at the hazard of life ? 
 
 There is no certain proof that the Post-holder or 
 others at Tappanooly attempted to dissuade them 
 from undertaking the journey, on the ground that 
 they would be liable to be cut off by the hands of 
 men. Their warnings had respect to other dangers 
 and difficulties. 
 
 Some one at Tappanooly having reported that 
 the Battas would murder any white man who 
 should go among them, the Post-holder, being in- 
 formed of it by Mr. Munson, announced that he 
 would severely punish any person who should 
 spread such a report. It is impossible to determine 
 what credit was due to the rumours which they 
 heard after setting forth on the journey. It rested 
 with the bretliren themselves to decide. They 
 judged it best to proceed. That they judged rashly 
 no one should affirm, without a more particular ac- 
 quaintance with the circumstances of the case than 
 it is possible at present to obtain. 
 
 To some it has appeared unaccountable, not to 
 say censurable, that the missionaries furnished 
 themselves with fire-arms before commencing their 
 
MUNSON AND LYMAN. 193 
 
 tour. Upon this point it must suffice to say, that it 
 was with extreme reluctance they consented to in- 
 clude these articles in their outfitj and did so only 
 upon the urgent advice of persons accustomed to 
 travel in Sumatra, who assured them that the 
 country abounds with beasts of prey, which infest 
 the districts between the villages. To protect them- 
 selves from these animals, and to procure food in 
 the forests, were the chief reason why they travelled 
 with muskets. It is certain that they had no in- 
 tention of using them to the injury of their fellow 
 men. "When threatened with violence, instead of 
 "resisting evil," they at once surrendered their 
 arms. 
 
 But their work was finished. Neither their rare 
 endowments, nor their benevolent designs, nor the 
 hopes and prayers of the church, could turn aside 
 the appointed blow. For the love they bore to 
 Christ and their fellow-men, '•' they jeoparded their 
 lives unto the death in the high places of the field." 
 
 In their poor triumph over these devoted men, 
 little thought the miserable Battas what love, and 
 what comprehensive plans of benevolence were 
 treasured up in those hearts which they pierced. 
 Nor did these Cannibals once dream that in the ago- 
 nies of a cruel death, their victims prayed, " Father 
 forgive them ! " 
 
 It was often remarked by persons well acquaint- 
 ed with each of the brethren, that their respective 
 17 
 
194 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 characteristics happily fitted them to labour as asso- 
 ciates. Munson was placid, deliberate, and firm. 
 Lyman was ardent, fearless and active ; Munson sur- 
 veyed an enterprise more in relation to its difficul- 
 ties and dangers ; Lyman looked at the means of 
 success, and kindled in view of the good to be 
 achieved ; neither was pertinacious ; both dehghted 
 to ask counsel of the Lord. In their views of 
 Christian doctrine, there was entire agreement ; both 
 adopting the system taught by Edwards, Bellamy, 
 and Dwight. They stood aloof from those recent 
 theological speculations in New England, w^hich 
 Evarts, Cornelius, and Porter viewed with grief and 
 alarm. Against commissioning to labour among 
 the heathen, such teachers as embrace the dogmas 
 referred to, not a few of the early-tried and liberal 
 friends of missions most solemnly protest. Should 
 they know of such persons being appointed to prose- 
 cute the enterprize commenced by Mills, Hall, and 
 their associates, they w^ould regard it as ominous of 
 far greater evil than an exhausted treasury at home, 
 or the severest embarrassments abroad. Beheving, 
 as do thousands of Zion's best friends, that these 
 boasted improvements in theology have greatly im- 
 paired the prosperity of spiritual leligion in the 
 churches planted and watered by the Puritans, they 
 can not but deprecate tlie same influence where the 
 truth has just taken root. 
 
 In the higher stages of their education, when their 
 
MUNSON AND LYMAN. 195 
 
 characters underwent an important change, Messrs. 
 Munson and Lyman daily met for fraternal inter- 
 course and common suppUcation. Like tlie two 
 duintilhan brothers, " they never admitted the idea 
 of a separate interest." Their studies and their oc- 
 cupations, their pursuits and their pleasures, were still 
 the same." They were " lovely and'pleasant in their 
 lives, and in their death they were undivided." 
 
 The friends of missions in Northampton have 
 erected, near the tomb of David Brainard, a neat 
 cenotaph to the memory of Mr. Lyman, with the 
 inscription, " We are more than conquerors." These 
 words of scripture in the " daily food" are allotted 
 to the very day on which he fell ; and according to 
 an agreement between him and his wife, she has 
 no reason to doubt that he read them at that time. 
 
 " And he said unto me it is done." — " He that 
 overcometh shall inherit all things." — " And he said 
 unto me these are they which came not of great tri- 
 bulation, and have washed their robes and made 
 them white in the blood of the Lamb." — " These are 
 they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he 
 goeth." 
 
 Of all who have gone from this country to preach 
 the gospel among the heathen, Munson and Lyman 
 only have been removed by violence. At the time 
 of this appalling occurrence, candidates for mission- 
 ary service, the patrons of the cause and those who 
 managed its concerns were confessedly in great dan_ 
 
196 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 ger of yielding to human instruments a portion of 
 that confidence which is due exclusively to Him 
 who " worketh all in all." Cheering success has 
 crowned our efforts to evangelize the nations, and 
 multitudes supposed that the work would go smooth- 
 ly on if a given amount of money could be raised, 
 and the requisite number of men sent forth. Know- 
 ing that mild expedients would not suffice to check 
 a growing self-complacency among his people, a 
 jealous God sent this sharp rebuke to admonish them 
 of their entire dependence on Him. "Cease ye 
 from man." — " The race is not to the swift, nor the 
 battle to the strong." — " The Lord alone shall be 
 exalted in that day." 
 
 Such events as that now under review, need not 
 fill the heart of any believer with anxious forebo- 
 dings. The promises are yea and amen, in Christ 
 Jesus. " Glorious things are spoken of Zion. God 
 is in the midst of her. He will help her and that 
 right early." 
 
 If far greater sacrifices and disappointments await 
 the church, still let her show that she " abates not a 
 jot of heart or hope, but presses right onward " in the 
 footsteps of her gracious and immutable Saviour. 
 
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 orders entrusted to their care on the most reasonable terms.