Of course they had to employ, as teachers of these schools, natives, who needed constant supervision and superintendence.  Some of these teachers were exceedingly interesting persons.  Of the death of one of them she writes, “Thah-oung continued in his school till two days before his death, although for a long time he had been very ill.  He felt, then, that he must die, and said to his scholars, ’I can do no more—­God is calling me away from you,—­I go into His presence—­be not dismayed.’  He was then carried to the house of his father, a few miles distant, and there he continued exhorting and praying to the very last moment.  His widow, who is not yet fifteen, is one of the loveliest of our desert blossoms.”  And afterwards in alluding to the same event, she says, “One of our best Karen teachers came to see us, and through him we heard that the disciples were well; that they were living in love, in the enjoyment of religion, and had nothing to distress them, but the death of their beloved teacher.  Poor Moung Quay was obliged to turn away his face to weep several times while answering my inquiries.  Oh how they feel the stroke that has fallen upon them.  And well they may, for he was to them a father and a guide.”

“The superintendence of the food and clothing of both the boarding schools,” she afterwards writes, “together with the care of five day-schools under native teachers, devolves wholly on me.  Our day-schools are growing every week more and more interesting.  We cannot, it is true, expect to see among them so much progress, especially in Christianity, as our boarders make; but they are constantly gaining religious knowledge, and will grow up with comparatively correct ideas.  They with their teachers attend worship regularly on Lord’s-day.  The day-schools are entirely supported at present by the Honorable Company’s allowance, and the civil commissioner, Mr. Maingy appears much interested in their success.”

CHAPTER XIII.

CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN MRS. BOARDMAN AND THE SUPERINTENDENT.—­HER TOURS AMONG THE KARENS.—­HER PERSONAL APPEARANCE.—­HER ACQUAINTANCE WITH THE BURMAN LANGUAGE.—­DR. JUDSON’S TRANSLATION OF THE BIBLE.

An interesting letter from the gentleman mentioned at the close of the last chapter, with Mrs. Boardman’s reply, we will give entire, as they exhibit at once her firmness of principle, and the high respect she commanded from the European residents in the country.

“Tavoy, Aug. 24, 1833.

         “My dear Sir,

“Mr. Mason has handed me for perusal, the extract from your letter to Government, which you kindly sent him.  I apprehend I have hitherto had wrong impressions in reference to the ground on which the Honorable Company patronize schools in their territories; and I hope you will allow me to say, that it would not accord with my feelings and sentiments, to banish religious instruction from the schools under my care.