1 26 
JOURNAL OF AN EMBASSY 
years, attempted the propagation of Christianity 
amongst the Barmans ; and although they brought 
to their task a share of zeal, information, and sound 
judgment, which has rarely been equalled in such 
undertakings, and from which better hopes might 
have been entertained, their project failed of suc¬ 
cess. The result of this experiment, however, 
would seem satisfactorily to show, that bigotry, on 
the part of the lower orders, seems to afford little 
obstacle to their adoption of a new religion. Mr. 
Judson and his companions have now established 
themselves within the British possessions at Mar¬ 
taban, where a fair field is open to them for be¬ 
stowing moral and religious instruction upon a 
people who certainly stand much in need of both, 
and are not without capacity to receive them. 
all, and was one occasion of our visit to Ava. Soon after Mya- 
day-men assumed the Government of this province, all the priests 
and officers of the village where Moung Shway-gnong lives, en¬ 
tered into a conspiracy to destroy him. They held daily con¬ 
sultations, and assumed a tone of triumph, while poor Moung 
Shway-gnong’s courage began to flag; and though he does not 
like to own it, he thought he must fly for his life. At length, 
one of the conspiracy, a member of the Supreme Court, went 
into the presence of the Viceroy, and in order to sound his dis¬ 
position, complained that the teacher Moung Shway-gnong was 
making every endeavour to turn the priests’ rice-pot bottom up¬ 
wards, “ What consequence ?” said the Viceroy ; “ Let the 
priests turn it back again .” This sentence was enough ; the 
hopes of the conspiracy were blasted, and all the disciples felt 
that they were sure of toleration under Mya-day-men. But this 
administration will not continue probably many months.” 
