* The measure called yu za ná is variously estimated at from 7 to 12 English miles. By accurate calculation, however, it is found to be 9 miles. In this article, for convenience,

the base is also represented by some centre diminishing in five successive to be equal to its height, its waist or encircling gradations.

[Mount Meru.]

are no difficulty to a Budhist.] Whatever the shape of the continent, that of the faces of the men who inhabit it, and of the five hundred islands which surround it, is the same. Thus the western continent being shaped like a half moon, the faces of the men there must be semilunar, and all the islands that surround it must be semilunar.

The base of the mountain is guarded by innumerable gigantic monsters of various races, some of whom are represented as resembling birds with men's heads; others are serpents of enormous magnitude, possessing many of the attributes of man, but exceeding him in knowledge, strength and power of locomotion, having the faculty of traversing the air, &c. Behind this These continents are so remote from mountain the sun goes every day, or each other that no human being has rather every night, to hide himself, ever passed from one to another. All and this causes day and night to man- the knowledge, therefore, which is atkind. tainable respecting them, except that The great Western continent is call-on which we live, is purely matter of ed Amera khó yá na—is shaped like the revelation. moon in her quarters, and is 7000 yu za ná or 70,000 miles long and broad. [How the semidiameter can equal the diameter, it never troubles a Budhist's head to consider!] The great Eastern continent is called Bup pa wi tê, and is shaped like the full moon, with length and breadth the same as the former. The Northern continent, called U ta ra kha ro, is said by some authorities to be square, by others triangular, and to be 80,000 miles broad and long. Chham bu or Tsam bu, the Southern continent, is said to be shaped like a cart body-i. e. a quadrangular parallelogram, 100,000 miles long and broad. [Here again the two equal diameters of a parallelogram

The celestial region on the summit of Mt. Meru is of the same length and breadth as the southern continent; so also are some of the infernal regions.

The continent called Chham bu is so called because it contains a tree so named, and that tree is its distinguishing characteristic. Its circumference is 16 yu za ná or 160 miles; its height before you reach the branches is 500 miles; after reaching the branches, to the top is 500 miles more; its four (some copies say five) branches also spread out 500 miles; its fruit is the size of the spire of a palace-eaten sometimes by land animals, sometimes it falls into the sea and is eaten by

* About 12,000,000 of miles in diameter-the central figure representing Mount Meru, &c., as in the second plate, and the adjoining clusters the four continents, each with a few of its 500 islands;the whole enclosed by a circular wall 840,000 miles high from the surface of the water, and extending the same distance beneath.

Note. The proportions in this plate could not well be preserved, the diameter of the Meru Mount, (the small space in the centre,) being 840,000 miles, while that of the continents is about 100,000.

1000, 100,000 years, until it reaches an ason'g kai again. This gradual diminution and increase takes place 64 times, and then the world will be destroyed. This destruction extends simultaneously to 100,000 times ten millions of systems of worlds. It takes place sixty four times in succession, which completes one series of changes, in the following order, viz: the first seven times by fire; then the eighth time by water; then seven times by fire, and once by water. It goes on in this way till it has been destroyed fifty six times; then seven times more it is destroyed by fire, and the sixty fourth and last time by wind.

Budhists regard the sun and moon as planets, and reckon eight planets, viz: Sun, Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupi ter, Venus, Saturn and Ráhú. The latter is not discoverable to human vision, but is said to be the residence of the mighty monster, also called Ráhú, who occasions eclipses by taking the sun or moon and gambolling with them, sometimes thrusting them into his nos trils, sometimes into his mouth or ears. Whenever this event occurs, and the sun or moon is seen to be obscured, the inhabitants of Budhist countries have recourse to gongs, tin kettles, musical instruments, Chinese crackers, guns, and every thing that can produce noise, and make the most furious clangor imaginable, to frighten the monster, as they say, and make him give up his grasp. Still, in consequence of tables and rules derived from the Hindus, the Budhists can calculate eclipses with tolerable accuracy. The rationale of their calculations they can never explain.

The account of the destruction of the world by fire is this. In consequence of the wickedness of men, rain ceases to fall, and all the fruits of the earth are dried up. After a lapse of 100 years,-1,000 years,-10,000,-or 100,000 years,-there bursts forth another sun. From that time there is no longer night and day, but perpetual day. When one sun sets, another rises. Such is a brief and hasty outline of The sun also increases in magnitude the views taught in the sacred books so as to fill the whole range of vision of Budhism. The books which teach on looking upward. Nor is the sun these views stand upon the same founobscured by any cloud or even mist. dation as those which teach their reliAfter a long time all the streams drygion-indeed, these views are found up, except the five great rivers. Then commingled in all their sacred wria third sun appears in the sky, and the tings. No violation of the fundamental five great rivers all dry up. Of these principles of science, right reason or three suns, one rises, one sets, and the sound sense, is too gross for the accepthird remains stationary in mid heav-tance of a Budhist. He may be taught ens. After the lapse of many years, a the fallacy and the folly of such ideas fourth sun appears and dries up the of cosmogony and astronomy, and perseven great lakes. At that time the suaded to renounce them; but it does water of the ocean, which is 840,000 not follow that he will consequently miles deep, evaporates so that it is not renounce his religion and embrace a deeper than the height of seven palm better. There requires something hightrees-then to the height of one palmer and mightier to touch the heart. tree to the height of seven men-then only ancle deep. When the fifth sun bursts forth, the water of the ocean is completely exhausted. On the appearance of the sixth sun, there arises a smoke which spreads and diffuses itself throughout 100,000 times ten millions of chak ra wála systems. Then bursts forth the seventh sun, and the flames are kindled throughout 100,000 times ten millions of systems. Now there are seven classes of great fish,-some 8, some 9, and some 10,000 miles long. Their bodies being exposed by the drying up of the ocean, the oil is fried out of them, and penetrates the whole earth, and furnishes fuel to the flames, which rage till every thing combustible is consumed, and then expire for want of material to act upon.

Barens.

EXTRACT FROM A LETTER OF MR. MA

SON, DATED TAVOY, NOV. 5, 1839.

Karen Translation of the New Testament.

I have the pleasure of informing you that I have completed the translation of the New Testament into Karen, and have commenced the Psalms, of which I am making a double translation, one into prose, and the other into poetry, for which the Karen language is specially well adapted. In saying I have completed the New Testament, I do not, of course, have any reference to

those epistles which my brethren are ex- | scarcely give me a patient hearing. pected to furnish. Mr. Wade will trans- Three or four years ago they promised late Corinthians, Mr. Abbott Timothy, me to abandon their wicked practices, and Mr. Vinton Hebrews, James, Peter, and they have, I believe, been faithful Jude, and the last two epistles of John. to their promise. Though neither of Br. Vinton has just sent me his portion them has been baptized, yet they both of the_work, excepting Hebrews, say- give increasing evidence of conversion. ing, "I have ventured to send it, leav- The old man accompanied us to the ing it at your entire disposal, to make houses of some unbelievers, and when any corrections you choose, and print one of them observed carelessly, "I do it at once, or send me your suggestions not understand these things," he reand let me look it over again." I have marked, "We never understand if we concluded on the latter course, and am do not believe; but when we believe, now engaged with that labor and with then by little and little we understand." revising an original work on geogra- The observation was so spontaneous phy, in Karen, by Mrs. Mason, very and appropriate, as to show that light much needed in our schools. The dry was progressing in his own mind far season is now opening upon us, and I more conclusively than any direct statemust, at least, visit the southern Ka- ment could have done, however clear. rens. I have usually gone into the On Saturday evening the old woman Burman villages, but in consideration showed me a pile of fuel gathered for of the Board's circular on retrenchment the following day, and pointing to it at in travelling expenses, I have aban- the foot of the steps, said, "Will it be doned the idea of doing any thing in right to take it up as we want it tothat way this season. morrow, or ought I to bring it up into the room?" Such inquiries, if they do not show much knowledge, at least show a sincere desire to know, and, what is better, to do what the precepts of religion require.

Excursion to Pyaung Pyet Creek-Conversion of drunkards-Interesting fe

male convert.

19. I have just returned from a visit with br. Wade to the head waters of Pyaung Pyet Creek, where there are ten or a dozen Karen houses scattered over an extent of half a day's walk from one extreme to the other. Though the inhabitants are few and scattered, yet the region is full of intensely interesting associations, connected with the first promulgation of the gospel to the Karens. Here was the scene of some of br. Boardman's earliest efforts, and here it has been my privilege to enter into his labors. Repeatedly have I gone down with the joyful converts into the transparent streams, in obedience to the Savior's command; but many of the Christians have moved away to other neighborhoods. The number of baptisms is however but a poor index to the missionary's feelings. The little evidences he obtains of truth taking deeper and deeper root in the hearts of Christians or inquirers, that might pass unnoticed by a casual observer, are more cheering to his spirits, and afford far more satisfactory evidence that the Lord is with him, than "the numbering of the people," which is so popular with the public. A few years ago, the heads of the family in whose house we spent the Sabbath, were regarded as hopeless drunkards, and when I went that way they would

Though there are about fifteen Christians here, few of them can read intelligently, and a young married woman, who was in Mrs. Wade's school, is, it appears, both the principal reader and expounder of the scriptures, when they assemble on the Sabbath for religious worship. She certainly manifests a most laudable desire to understand the scriptures, and far excels any of the other sex in her neighborhood. At every favorable opportunity she was at my side, with her babe on one arm and her book in the other hand, to make some pertinent inquiry in relation to one passage or another. Sometimes the question was, "Is this verse to be understood literally?”—and at others, "What is meant by this figure?" I thought of Mary, who sat at Jesus' feet; and it appeared to me, that to give the gospels-all that she had of the bible— to one such inquiring mind, was worth all the money that Christians in America have subscribed to support the Burman mission; as I felt sure the privilege of preparing these gospels for such inquirers, and then expounding them, was worth all the sacrifices required of missionaries, and that it is a work inferior only to that of the angel who shall proclaim, "The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of the Lord and of his Christ."