1858.] Notes oftlie Karen Language. 133 



ber oftlie Morning Star, is an article from the peu of a native as- 

 sistant on this subject. He says, — " Brethren, I wish to speak to 

 you plainly concerning one thing. It is not true that the Karen 

 nation had no books. The elders of past ages said, one generation 

 to another, — 'Children and grandchildren, the Karens had books, 

 perfect like other nations.'* But they did not take care of their 

 books, and therefore lost them. When they lost their books, they 

 lost their knowledge of God ; and when they lost their knowledge 

 of God, they could no longer live in peace with each other. The 

 younger brother became an enemy, the elder brother a foe. The 

 more they lived in hostility, the more degraded they became ; 

 the more degraded they became, the shorter the period of life ; 

 the shorter the period of life, the more they did evil ; 

 the more they did evil, the more severe were the judgments 

 of God, afflicting them the more with sickness and death. 

 But the elders left one promise. They said, — ' Though the Karen 

 nation has deteriorated and increased in wickedness, yet love and 

 compassion will come to them again ; when love and compassion 

 come to them again, if they observe and do, they will fraternize 

 again into populous communities • when they fraternize again into 

 populous communities, they will love each other and improve phy- 

 sically and morally.' Again, the elders said : ■ Children and grand- 

 children, if you are enticed towards that which is black, follow not 5 

 if you are enticed towards that which is red, follow not. They are 

 not the words and commands of your God. Before the word of 

 your God returns to you, many will come, saying they are your 

 God ; but they are not your God. Look towards the ocean. The 

 great bird shall ascend and spread forth its white wings. That is 

 the white foreigners bringing you the words of your great eternal 

 God.' The elders added : * If you observe the words of your great 

 God, which the white foreigners bring to you, you shall become 

 acquainted with the righteousness of your God, and be able to dis- 

 criminate between right and wrong ; and when you are able to 

 discriminate between right and wrong, you will dwell together 

 again in prosperous communities as in the olden time; but if you 

 neglect to observe, then will you remain in the same degraded state 

 you are now in.' 



