In the following extract of a letter from Mr. Bruckner, dated Samarang,
November 12, 1834, our readers will observe an affecting allusion to the
massacre of two missionaries from the American board, who lately fell
victims to the revenge or the suspicions of the Battas, in the northern
parts of Sumatra. When our late friend, Mr. Burton, resided, for many
months, among the same people, he felt quite secure, and made long
journeys into the interior of the country. But the power is now wielded
by other than British hands; and we greatly fear the change will operate
as a very serious obstruction to the cause of the gospel in these
beautiful islands for many years to come. But we rejoice in the
assurance that every obstacle must in the end be surmounted; and in the
belief that events, in different parts of the world, are concurring to
hasten onward that blessed event.
Since I wrote you last, I have drawn up another tract in Javanese,
under the title, "The Son of God in the World." 1500 copies have
been printed of it, as we had no more paper for a larger edition. A
translation of this tract has been sent to the committee of the
Tract Society. It is true the prohibitions, as to a free
circulation of tracts among the native inhabitants of this island,
have not yet fully been removed, although several applications have
been made on this subject to the men in power. And this is rather a
disappointment and an impediment to a more extensive communication
of the principles of the gospel at large; yet a goodly number of
tracts have found their way, notwithstanding, among the people. The
power of darkness in this country appears so great, that it would
quite dishearten me, were it not for Him who is with and in us, who
is more powerful than he that is in the world. When I shall have
the pleasure to see that this general darkness of ignorance as to
divine things, and of superstition and sinful lusts, shall give way
to the light of truth and godliness, is not for me to say; under
present circumstances, this period seems to be still afar off. It
would seem, however, as if the truth of the gospel was gaining
ground: now and then instances appear of this. Last Sunday, when I
went out among the natives, to take a New Testament to one who had
asked me for it,--and when I had preached the gospel to two small
companies of people, and was still walking about for some more,--I
came to a house in which I saw several persons sitting together. I
entered, and began a conversation on religion. One of them
expressed soon his Mussulman sentiments, on the power and glory of
Mahomed; that he was the person to whom we had to look, as he bore
all things. I asked him, in return, if Mahomed were so powerful,
how it came that he, even at this moment, was still lying in the
dust? from which it was evident, added I, that he was no more than
any common man. A young man who was present, and who had read some
of the tracts, then took up the subject with him, and told him that
Jesus was the All-powerful, which was evident from his having left
the grave, and ascended to heaven, and would come again at the last
day to raise all the dead from their graves. I wanted to apply the
subject further to the consciences of the hearers, particularly to
that of the first man, by proving that all men are in a most
lamentable condition on account of their sins, and needed therefore
an Almighty Saviour to save them. But this man had so much to tell,
like one of old, of his own goodness, that all further reasoning
with him on the subject seemed to be in vain.
With all the weakening effects of the climate on my constitution,
and which I have particularly felt already for some time on my
lungs, God has enabled me to go out four or five times every week
into the native villages; and although my endeavours do not produce
the desired effects, yet I cannot persuade my mind that all the
precious seed sown in this way will be lost.
You will perhaps have heard of the dreadful event, before this,
which has happened to two American missionaries, Messrs. Manson and
Lyman, in Sumatra, among the Battas, now about two months ago.
These good men went thither to explore the country. They fell in
with a troop of wild Battas, on one of their excursions, who fired
at them, and over-powered them. Mr. Lyman was wounded by a shot.
They then began to cut off his arms and his legs, and ate him up.
While they were doing this, he petitioned the cannibals to spare
his brother Manson alive; but the following day he was cut to
pieces and eaten, as also the interpreter whom they had brought
with them. Their wives were still at Batavia when the news of their
husbands arrived.
Sumatra is still in a state of war; yet Padang, where Mr. Ward
lives, seems to have been always safe. I have not had any letters
from Mr. Ward for a considerable time: as far as I can hear, he is
still well.
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