13. Indo-China comprises the kingdoms between In- dia and China. The whole district may be divided into four parts: the British territories, Burmah, Siam, and Co- chin China, including Cambodia and Tonquin. Buddh- ism is the leading religion. The missionary societies are the American Baptist, American Presbyterian, American Missionary Association, and Gossner's Evangelical. The Bible versions in use are the Burmese, Bghai-Karen, Sgau-Karen, Pwo-Karen, and Siamese. The Baptists have achieved great success in these regions. Heathen customs are loosened, prejudices are dissolved. The king of Burmah sends his son to the mission school. The late king of Siam sought his most congenial associates among European Christians. Evangelization is going on with great vigor among the Karens of Burmah. Though poor, they support their own pastors. See Mrs. Wylie, Gospel in Burmah ; Mrs. Judson, A merican Bap- tist Mission to the Burman Emph-e; Life of Judson; Malcom, Travels; Gutzlaff, Notices of Siam, Corea, and Loo Choo ; Gammell, Baptist Missions.
14. The Indian Archipelago, — This vast exteat of islands forms a bridge as it were to Australia, and from thence northward to China. The outer crescent begins with the Nicobar and Andaman Islands, followed by Sumatra and Java, and then by the Lesser Sunda Isl- ands. Northward of these are the IMohiccas, which are followed by the Philippines, and lastly by Formosa. The superficiar area is estimated at 170,000 square miles. The population is 20,000,000. The most ancient inhab- itants were the Papoos; they were supplanted by the Malays; these in turn are threatened with the same fate by the Chinese coolies. The religions are numerous: Hindus, Buddhists, and Moliamraedans form the larger
MISSIONS
374
MISSIONS
proportion of the populations. The missionary societies | arc tlic Xetherland Society of Rotterdam (1797), Java Siicicty (if Anistpnlam. Separatist Reformed Church, I'trcilit. Nctlicrland Society of Rotterdam (1850), Neth- erlaiul lidonncd, t'hurcli of Eiifflanii, and Rhenish. The Bible versions in use are the Malay, Javanese, Dajak, and Sundanese. Considerable good has been accom- plished among the Saribas tribes and the Land Dyaks of Borneo. Both their moral and social state testify to the civili/.ing power of Ciiristianity. See Wigger, J/igt. of Jlissidiix; Memoirs of Munson and Lyman; Hist, of the Missions of the American Board.
15. China. — This is an extensive country of Eastern Asia. Its superficial area is equal to about one third that of Europe, and its population is estimated at 400,000,000. The empire is divided into eigliteen jirov- inces. The religions of China are chiefly Buddhism and Confucianism. The first Protestant mission in China was that of the London Missionary Society, founded by Dr. ISIorrison in the year 1807. 'I'he missionary socie- ties now in the field are twenty-two in all, a few of which are the following : London, American Board of Comnlis^ioners, American Bajitist, American Methodist Eiiis(n|i;d, American Eiiiscopal, American Presbyterian, Ba|iiisi, Weslevan, and Presbyterian. The Bible versions in use are the Chinese, Jlandarin, NingjK), Canton, llakka, and other local dialects of China. For several years there was little or no visible fruit of tlie missionary's labor, but at length the tide of success set in, and a large in- gathering of converts took place. All the open jiorts are occupied by mission stations, and some places that are not open by treaty stipulations are occupied on suf- ferance. There are now one hundred ordained mission- aries, and one hundred and eighty native catechists and teachers. The result of their united labors is encour- aging as to the past and full of promise for the future. A review of the results which have been accom]ilished in India (see above), and of the spiritual revolution ■which is in progress there, is in a high degree encour- aging to those who are laboring for the conversion of the still more populous empire of China. Missions in China have been established only about half the period that they have in India, and there have been only about half as many laborers. When they shall have been continued for as long a time, and with as many mis- sionaries, the prospect is that there will be an etiual or greater number of converts, and the prospect for the utter overthrow of the religious systems of China will be ecpially bright. The obstacles to the conversion of the Chinese people are many and great, but tliey are not more numerous or formidable than those wbicli are now successfully eiHM.iiniered in India. If the Chinese are a more maini.ili-iic p(ii|ile than the Hindus, and their leading men \\\u\-v sceptically inclined, there is, on the other hand, an absence of the immense obstacle of caste: nor is there any set of men in China that are looked up to with such awe and reverence, and wield such immense power, as the Brahmins of India. IMore- over, there is not the same diversity of races in the Chi- nese empire, and the number of languages is but about half the inimber of those in India. Tiiere is, too, this advantage in China, that, whatever the mother-tongue may be, all who have received a good education can read books understandingly, wliich are in the general written (unspoken) language. The Chinese also are becoming a ubiquitous people, and of the multitudes who come to our own and other Christian lands, we have good reason to believe that not a few will return to China i)re]iared in heart and mind to aid in spreading the (iospcl of Christ. The number of Chinese converts at the pres- ent time is nine thousand, which is about tlic number there were in India thirty years ago, and the stage of progress of the missions in other respects is al)ont the same as it was in the latter country at tliat ))eriod; but the outlook in Cliina now is much more encouraging than it was in India then, and all those who are seek- ing the spiritual conquest of the most ancient and most