PRISONERS OF WAR.
When Mrs. Judson reached Calcutta on her return voyage to Rangoon, she
was informed that war might break out at any time between England and
Burmah, and was strongly advised not to attempt to go on. But she was
determined to rejoin her husband at once, and finding that a vessel
would start for Rangoon in a few days, she took a passage in it. She was
not to stay long in Rangoon, however, for the Emperor had ordered Dr.
Price and Mr. Judson to take up their residence in Ava. Dr. Price was
already there, and Mr. Judson had only stayed at Rangoon to meet his
wife, on the understanding that he should set out for the capital as
soon as possible.
The missionaries attempted to carry on their work at Ava in the same way
as they had previously done at Rangoon, but the public mind was in too
excited a state just then to permit of much progress being made. The
Emperor had for some time treated the English Government with open
disdain, and had collected an army together for the avowed purpose of
invading Bengal. He even caused a pair of golden fetters to be made, to
bind the Governor-General of India when he should be led as captive to
Ava. But before the Emperor could carry out his plan, the English took
the initiative and invaded his country. He was confident of victory, but
information was soon brought to him that the English had captured
Rangoon, and this was followed by news of various other English
victories.
The foreign residents at Ava naturally felt that their position there
was somewhat precarious. At first the Emperor assured them that "as they
had nothing to do with the war, they should not be molested;" but when
tidings of English triumphs followed one another in rapid succession,
the attitude of the natives grew more and more menacing.
Some Englishmen formerly in the employ of the Court were seized, and
their belongings examined. In the account book of one of them were
items recording certain sums having been paid to Mr. Judson. This money
had been given to him in exchange for circular bankers' orders, sent
from America; but the Emperor did not understand this. He concluded that
Judson had been paid to be an English spy, and at once gave orders for
the arrest of both the missionaries.
The scene can best be described in Mrs. Judson's own words. "On the 8th
of June, just as we were preparing for dinner, in rushed an officer
holding a black book, with a dozen Burmans, accompanied by one whom,
from his spotted face, we knew to be an executioner, and a 'son of the
prison.' 'Where is the teacher?' was the first inquiry. Mr. Judson
presented himself. 'You are called by the King,' said the officer--a
form of speech always used when about to arrest a criminal. The spotted
man instantly seized Mr. Judson, threw him on the floor, and produced
the small cord, the instrument of torture. I caught hold of his arm.
'Stay,' said I, 'I will give you money.' 'Take her too,' said the
officer, 'she also is a foreigner.' Mr. Judson, with an imploring look,
begged they would let me remain till further orders. The hardened
executioner drew tight the cords, bound Mr. Judson fast, and dragged him
off I knew not whither. In vain I entreated the spotted face to take the
silver, and loosen the ropes; but he spurned my offers and immediately
departed."
Mr. Judson was hurried away to the death prison, and his wife found
herself a captive in her own house. She was exposed to many insults from
the guard of soldiers set over her, and for three days she was unable to
go out. Then, by a judicious bribe, she obtained a certain measure of
liberty. She at once went to the governor of the city and sought to
obtain the release of her husband. This could not be gained, but she
purchased permission to see him. He crawled to the door of the prison,
as fast as his trebly-bound limbs would allow, and spoke for a minute to
her; but before they could exchange many words Mrs. Judson was
peremptorily ordered away by the jailer.
The Government officials came again to the mission-house and seized all
the silver they could find in it; but Mrs. Judson had received warning
of their visit, and before they arrived had hid as much money as she
could. Had she not done this, she and her husband must inevitably have
starved during the following months. As it was, she had something now
with which to mollify the officials, and she succeeded in getting her
husband and Dr. Price taken out of the common prison for a time, and
placed in an open shed.
Day by day she worked incessantly, petitioning every one of influence,
from the Queen downwards, for her husband's release. Many sympathised
with her, but one and all declared themselves unable to do anything. The
governor of the city, who had chief control of the prison, happily
became their friend, and did all he dared for them. Three times he was
informed by a near relative of the Emperor, that if he would cause all
the white prisoners to be privately put to death it would be pleasing to
the monarch; but every time he managed to avoid doing it.
For seven months Mrs. Judson strove daily on her husband's behalf, and
spent what time she could with him in the gaol. "Sometimes," she said,
"I could not go into the prison till after dark, when I had two miles to
walk in returning to the house. Oh, how many times have I returned from
that dreary prison at nine o'clock at night, solitary and worn out with
fatigue and anxiety, and endeavoured to invent some new scheme for the
release of the prisoners."
After her husband had been in prison for some months, she gave birth to
a little daughter, and for a few weeks was unable to get about to look
after the captives as before. During this time news came to Ava of
further great defeats of the Burmese troops, and the treatment of the
captives was at once made harsher. They were again shut in the inner
prison, among all the common malefactors of the place, and were each
bound with five pairs of fetters. The hottest season of the year had now
arrived, and the situation of the prisoners was far more terrible than
any words can describe. The room in which they were confined was
occupied by about a hundred native criminals; there was no ventilation
beyond that afforded by the cracks in the walls, and the continual
stench and heat were almost unbearable. As soon as she could get about,
Mrs. Judson built herself a small bamboo hut by the gate of the prison,
and lived there, to be as near as possible to her husband. After he had
been a month in this black hole Mr. Judson was taken ill with fever, and
after much entreaty she was permitted to move him to a little bamboo
cell by himself, and to go in daily to feed him and to give
him medicine.