Moung Zah, the former minister, recognized Judson kindly, and after a time the King took notice of him: “You in black, what are you, a medical man too?”
“Not a medical man, but a teacher of religion, your Majesty.”
After a few questions about his religion the King proceeded to ask whether any Burmese had embraced it.
“Not here,” diplomatically said Judson.
“Are there any in Rangoon?”
“There are a few.”
“Are they foreigners?”
Mr. Judson says he trembled for the consequences of an answer, but the truth must be spoken at all risks, and he replied, “Some foreigners and some Burmese.”
The King showed no displeasure, but asked questions on religion, geography, and astronomy, as though his temper was quite changed. His brother, a fine young man of twenty-eight, who suffered from paralysis, became a patient of Dr. Price, and had much conversation with Judson, showing great eagerness for instruction. He assured the missionaries that under the present reign there was no danger to the native Christians, and after a successful operation for cataract, performed by Dr. Price, the missionaries were so much in favour that while Price remained at Ava and there married a native lady, Judson was desired only to go back to Rangoon to meet his wife on her return, and bring her to reside at Ava.
Their good and tolerant friend, the Viceroy, was dead, and his successor was a severe and unjust man, so that the people had fled in numbers from the place, and few Christians remained except at Moung Shwaygnong’s village. There was thus the less