ns PRICE 10 CE NTS, Missionary Cameralogs Assam AMERICAN BAPTIST FOREIGN MISSION SOCIETY BOSTON, MASS. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT HE photographs from which the illustrations in this sketch were made were supplied by Rev. G. G. Crozier, M. D., of Tura, Rev. Walter C. Mason of Tura, Rev. P. E. Moore of Tika and Rev. C. H. Tilden, of Jorhat. Grateful ac- knowledgement is also made of the editorial assistance rendered by Dr. Crozier and Mr. Tilden. = Pie Oi | Cos er N Dye P EG EO RAs Sie ieleh's ASSAM Il. IIL. IV. A PEEP THROUGH THE LENS-- showing at a glance the people and country. Time. ExposuRE— being a more minute consideration of the land and people. DEVELOPING— giving a resumé of the beginnings of missions in Assam. FINISHING ToUCHES— showing the present missionary work. PeATR Lae A PEEP THROUGH THE Ube Native Village in the Hills of Assam @) Assam is one of the provinces of British India. ©) Ii lies south of Tibet, the Gibraltar of the non- Christian world, between Burma and Bengal. ©) Its position is strategic; it is one of the pathways of civilization into central Asia. ©) The country has an area a little smaller than New England and a population half a million larger. pee eb Pe RIO UG Hy st HE SLE N's BVAS Re taal Foreign Residences among the Hills © The people of Assam converse in 167 different languages. ©) There are no cities in the province, only six towns of 10,000 and some 27,000 villages. Etghty-five per cent of the population are engaged in agriculture. ©) There is little extreme poverty in Assam; the people are well off on twelve to twenty cents a day. © Cherapunji in Assam has the largest known rainfall in the world. (SS) ReAGR Staal A PEEP THROUGH LEE ees A River among the Mountains I. A Peep Through the Lens THE unknown is always alluring; so should the study ot a country be that is seldom read about, seldom visited, infrequently mentioned. Assam is sucha country. Lying off the highway of trade and travel, almost exclusive in its retirement beyond the hills, it has received less at- tention and publicity than other Oriental countries but it is, nevertheless, a land of interest and importance. It is a small country in the extreme northeast of India, locked in by mountains, having its chief outlet through the great Brahmaputra valley to Calcutta, the second city of the empire. The country may best be described in two words—mountains and plains; mountains to the north, east and south peopled by savage and sturdy tribes: and between the ranges an expanse of flat, fertile land, extend- ing 450 miles, watered by the Brahmaputra and many 4 Ae Po obo ROUGH TA E~VEN.S PA Rete smaller streams. The mountains are filled with wild men whose hearts are accessible and responsive. They number over one million in our Baptist territory. The plains are more densely populated with proud Hindus, bigoted and faithful Mohammedans and despised outcastes, who ag- eregate three million in the Baptist field. The position of the country is strategic. At the very door of Tibet, the last land to be opened to Chris- tianity, and close to western China, it is one of the pathways of civilization toward Cemtiarmisia. 9 Lhe pass of the Hima- layas through which the people of Asia early entered India and which is sup- posed to be the most practicable pass of the whole range is 1n the northern corner of the province; and communication with western China may soon be made easy One Type of Native by the building of a proposed railroad which will run through Assam and upper Burma. Large sections of the population of Assam are of mixed origin though there can be found a few tribes of pure Mongolian descent. Centuries ago through the north- 5 PeATRe ae A -—PEEP THROUGH# TH EXE eastern and northwestern mountain passes came crowds of people from the borders of China and Burma en route to India proper and many of them stopped in the attractive valleys of Assam and became merged with the original inhabi- tants, Selene thirteenth cen- tury, by these same routes, the Ahoms_ entered and dominated the country for 500 years, giving to the province its name.) ihe more recent im- migrationaG: coolies from cen- tral . India; secs casioned by the extensive tea 1n- dustry, is adding still another type to the already diversified popu- lation. The, people number Jovem seven million, six million in the plains and approximately one in the hill districts. The valley dwellers are engaged almost entirely in agriculture and working in the tea gardens and, unlike the natives of many other parts of India, are fairly well off though they average only from twelve to twenty cents a 6 r a - —— — > — ~ ———— A Girl of the Valleys Pee bre re Pee ebeR OU G Hee. HE SL ENS PAR Tait day in wages. In civilization they range from the highest culture to the basest ignorance but superstition, the fruit of the most common religions, Hinduism, Mohammedan- ism and Animism, holds all classes in a pitifully strong grip. The country in climate is tropical though it lies very largely in the temperate zone and the excessive vegetation and decay, due to the abundant rainfall during six months of the year, breed mos- quitos which cause much malaria and fever. After October the rain gives way to steady sunshine interrupted only by the early morning fogs over the rivers. The largest known rainfall in the world occurs at a village in the Assam hills. Dense jun- gles, sheltering tigers, leopards, monkeys, wild elephants and other ani- mals, cover the sloping hills while fields of tea and rice stretch for miles in the plains. The mixed origin of the people and the exclusive- ness of the tribes have re- sulted in the growth of 167 different languages. Fre- quently in the hills neigh- In the Jungles boring villagers cannot converse. The hardest eee of foreigners is to master a reasonable number of tongues and reduce the spoken dialects to written vernacular that will be intelligible to many. PA Ra? I TIME EXP OS URE Native Homes ©) The motto of Assam is, “Never do today what you can do tomorrow.” ©) The people fall into three classes—(1) the savage tribes of the hills; (2) the coolies and ex-coolies of the tea gardens and other outcastes; (3) the Hindus and Mohammedans of the plains. © Less than 5% of the people can read and write; of women, one in every 380. @) The country, drained by the Brahmaputra and its tributaries, 1s the bed of more rivers than any other section of its size in the world. ©) The hill tribes were savage head-hunters before mis- stonartes entered their territoy. 8 TIME EXPOSURE DIASRVLae Ut Rapid Transit in Assam ©) Sick and dying people are often treated most cruelly because of superstition and ignorance of scientific medical methods. ©) Three religions are common in the country— Hin- duism, “the most degrading religion in the world,” Mohammedanism, and Animism or spirit-worship. ©) Tea estates cover 1820 square miles—larger than Rhode Island. Working on them are 170,234 coolies (equal to the population of New Hampshire and Vermont). ©) 175,000,000 pounds of tea are shipped annually from Assam; a “‘small” tea garden employs 1000 coolies. PART I TIME EXPOSURE CK Guat Vw S. NS MQWag KK FE SRARWY AQ SV Map of the Province Showing Baptist Stations ES TOMBE IoD, CONS AO NS a) The outline of Assam, including the Surma as well as the Brahmaputra valley and the vast hill regions, is somewhat similar to that of India as the accompanying map shows. The province covers 61,471 square miles besides containing much territory not under government control. The Surma or southern valley is separated from the northern river bed by a spur of the Himalayas, called the Assam range. The Brahmaputra river, flowing along the entire northern stretch is navigable the whole year for large steamers and makes a natural highway for the extensive commerce of the province. With its sixty tributaries it forms a network of more rivers than are found in any other section of its size in the world. The entire valley with a large 10 alsin en exe >) OFS sUn ROE, BeAS Rated portion of the hill tracts north and south is exclusively Baptist ground. The Surma valley is occupied by several other denominations. Assam has been a battle ground of religions as of races, and the result is a conglomerate photograph. Before the introduction of Christianity, Hinduism, Mohammedanism and Animism, with a shght sprinkling of Buddhism, held sway with Hinduism controlling fifty per cent. of the popu- lation. Hinduism is said to be ‘the most degrading religion in the world. The Saktist doctrine which some of the Assamese Hindus follow with notorious zeal teaches “that the lusts of the flesh prevent communion with God and that the best way to overcome them is to 1n- dulge them to satiety.” Frequently the “holy men’’ are the vilest men inthe district. Under such an immoral code it is little wonder that much of the living is on a low plane. A few lines from a Hindu catechism show the condition of the women who live in the atmosphere of such beliefs. Ques. — What is the chief gate of hell? Ans. —A woman. Ques.—Who is the wisest of : : the wise? Ans.—He who has not been deceived by a woman. Ques.—What are fetters tomen? Ans——Women. Many of the Hindus, however, donot subscribe to this creed. Mohammedanism is faithfully followed among one Hindu ‘‘Holy Men” (not priests) 11 PART Teel TIME EXP OSURe quarter of the population and the vices so characteristic of the followers of the prophet are indulged in extensively. Animism is the religion of the hill tribes and holds the people in a bondage of fear for it teaches that evil spirits lurk everywhere and need constant conciliation. The people of the plains are distressingly indolent. They are satisfied if their bullock carts make two miles an hour and all labor which can be postponed is laid over till the next day— or the next. Less than five per cent. of the pop- ulation can read or write; of women, only one in o00, There is at) present in all India an intellectual movement, the product of Christian mission schools and government educa- tion, which is vastin changing this proportion of illiteracy. Superstition is prevalent among all classes and religions. The Hindu will not use the Christian’s implements in work for fear of his gods; the spirit-worshipers will not plant a certain fruit tree, believing that death will follow. The tribes of the hills are very crude and in many cases savage. In fear of the spirits and in ignorance of physiological facts they commit all sorts of cruelties and absurdities. In one tribe when a person A Gentleman of the Hills 12 feu Me bee bx OSU RE 12 fd Jee 40 JD Naga House Decorations dies the family of the deceased is turned out of the doomed house and all the property is destroyed to ap- pease the angry spirit who was responsible for the death. In another, dying people are yelled at and shaken violently; the bodies of sick babies are cut by anxious mothers who try in this way to release the spirit that is causing the illness; among the Ao Nagas the dead are not buried but are suspended over fires in the houses for weeks before being placed in rude sheds just outside the village. The final resting places are decorated with human skulls procured for the occasion. Christians among these people now bury their dead. In color and physique the people differ as widely as do Americans, due to the mixture of races. There are black skins and light, bodies stocky and slender, apparel ranging from nothing at all to up-to-date European garb. No distinct type is found as is the case in other Oriental countries. PrA Rela DEVELOP ENG Permanent ss SSS One Method of Travel in Assam © The Assam Mission was the second mission estab- lished by the Baptists of America. ©) The first missionaries to Assam entered an almost unknown, unvisited territory; only a few government officers had preceded them. © The first mission station was opened in the extreme northeastern corner of the province, the farthest possible point from familiar ground. ©) Some of the stations were started in response to ap- peals or suggestions from the government. 14 DEVELOPING IPP AG Ra Uae LLL A Mission Bungalow © The pioneer missionary to the Naga Hills went among the wild men without government protection and im the face of official warning. ©) Of the 70,234 coolies on the tea estates, approxi- mately 4000 are Baptist Christians. © The once wild tribes of the hills now supply a large proportion of the converts. ©) The spirit-worshipers are very responsive to the Christian teaching. The Hindus and Mohammedans are more inaccessible. 15 PART Il DEVELOPING Native Crafts and Modern Steamships III. DEVELOPING To these people who peculiarly blended refinement and barbarism, culture and superstition, two Baptist mis- sionaries of Burma, Mr. O. T. Cutter and Rev. Nathan Brown journeyed in 1836. In their frequent explorations from Burma they had come upon the hill people of Assam to the north and west and had been greatly attracted to them. Inquiries brought from the government officers the strongest appeal to undertake a missionamong them so Mr. Cutter and Mr. Brown determined to make the attempt. With their families they went to Calcutta and began the long journey up the Brahmaputra river in frail native crafts, passing through schools of crocodiles and turtles ‘n the treacherous currents of the river and reaching their destination, Sadiya, six months after starting. It is worth noting that they did not venture just over the border in their first visit but traveled boldly to a point in the extreme northeastern part of the province, a region that is now visited daily by steamers making the trip in two weeks. 16 DEVELOPING ID AUT A 10 A school was opened almost immediately and within a week had enrolled twenty boys, five of whom were learning English with ‘eagerness truly astonishing.’”’ Other schools were started in villages near by and zayats were built along the roadside for preaching. A printing press was set up and in less than two years time, eleven books and parts of the gospel of Matthew had been prepared and printed in Assamese. The Board and home churches followed the new mis- sionaries with interest and in 1837 Rev. Jacob Thomas and Rev. Miles Bronson, D.D., with their wives, left America to join the pioneers. They started on the journey up the Brahmaputra at an unfavorable time when malaria was rife and rain was too abundant. Dr. Bronson was taken seriously ill en route and Mr. Thomas, hoping to obtain medical aid at Sadiya, pushed on alone when his boatmen refused to continue the journey. Within sight of the A School Compound 17 PeACR cae DEVELOPING mission house his boat was sunk by a falling tree and Mr. Thomas was drowned. So the remaining new mis- sionaries who were safely escorted to Sadiya after the accident began their work under the shadow of a tragedy. In the following spring, Dr. and Mrs. Bronson left Sadiya to open a station at Jaipur, the seat of the new tea industry, and in less than a year the other missionaries followed them. Work at \ 3 . Sadiya had become impos- sible, for rumors of war and ie meme) assacres had _ frightened the natives from the sec- tion. With this removal to the new station another chapter of the history was begun. These first efforts had been made among the peo- ple of the plains. The hill tribes, notoriously savage and defiant, were untouched until 1839when Dr. Bronson made a trip to the Naga Hills. Here, he was given a reluctant welcome and was kept waiting three days out- side a village gate. The next year, with his wife and Rev.and Mrs.Cyrus Barker and Miss Bronson, he set- ‘| tled in the strange village Goabets but soon after, because of the death of Miss Bronson and because of much sickness among them all, he and his companions returned to Jaipur. Thirty years elapsed after this brief sojourn before Rev. 18 * «9 Seah : wat gy TIME EXPOSURE PeAGRelew iil E. W. Clark, D.D., of Sibsagor in the plains, determined to settle in the distant hills, though he must do so without government protection and in the face of warnings from the Assamese Christians. Godhula, Dr. Clark’s native teacher, catching his master’s enthusiasm, volunteered to make the first venture and tactfully and slowly ap- proached a savage village. Here, after months of risky experiences, he won the partial confidence of the people and made it possible for Dr. Clark to take up permanent abode there, the first white man to do this. Those who have seen what the dwelling of a naked, unwashed Naga savage is like can best pic- ture what must have been the inconvenience suffered by Dr. Clark during the seven and a half months he shared the house of some Naga bachelors. In spite of repeated outbursts against him and _ threat- ened death he remained until he had gained a band of faithful followers who left their native village and set up a Christian com- munity. In this way Molung village, a com- munity of converts, was established in the Naga Hills and Mrs. Clark was A Naga Warrior carried up the precipitous mountain slopes to join her husband in the work. Her account of their twenty-five years of service in the wilds, found in ‘‘A Corner In India,’ reads like a romance. 19 DE AG Ra hae LV) FINISHING 7. O UM IES A Christian Association ©) Baptists are responsible for three fifths of the area of Assam and four sevenths of the population plus the uncounted tribes on the northeastern frontier. © The population of the Baptist territory is about four and a half million; the religions met are five in number; the missionaries use fifteen languages. © There are thirteen Baptist stations, sixty-seven missionaries and 428 native workers. ©) There are only four physicians in this number. 20 PeleNe lo pdeliNeGel OhU) CHES JO INTE AR IN Kindergarten at Nowgong © Industrial schools and workshops have been es- tablished as well as regular schools, hospitals, dis- pensaries and churches. ©) Eigty two of the 161 churches are self-supporting and some have evangelists on the freld. ©) Baptist endeavor has met with marked success since the beginning. ©) Still, among four and a half million people, two hos- pitals, three dispensaries, four doctors and sixty seven missionaries (counting the wives), are inadequate. © 78,861 hill people and 377,000 plains people are quite untouched. 21 PEAY Relay, FINISHING TOUMHEe IVa EINIS HEN GaOU GHES Baptists are responsible for more than three-fifths of the area of Assam besides some territory beyond the boundary, and for over four-sevenths of its population — or four and a half million people. To meet this opportunity we have thirteen stations: Goalpara, Gauhati, Nowgong, Gola- ghat, Jorhat, Sibsagor, North Lakhimpur and Sadiya in the plains; and Tura, Tika, Kohi- ma, Impur and Ukhrul in the hills (see map page 10). Sixty- seven missionaries, counting the twenty-eight wives of missionaries, are in charge. The work falls under two heads, namely :—for the people of the plains and for the people of the hills. The people of the plains are Hindus, Mohammedans or out- castes. Work among the first two classes has never been entirely successful for several reasons. Hinduism with its caste rules of iron, with its over-bearing and_ enslaving priesthood and its weak con- ception of sin makes progress difficult in the winning of its votaries to a better faith. Mohammedanism, though not HevgLonstans am Eveneoust so wide-spread, possesses faith- ful and bigoted adherents who are almost unapproachable. In addition to this the small number of missionaries, and the lack of training in thenative helpers have crippled aggressive work. The efforts for these 22 FINISHING TOUCHES PART IV people have naturally been more or less overshadowed by the very fruitful work among the outcastes, or the coolies and ex-coolies of the tea gardens, who are much more re- sponsive and have therefore received greater attention. These coolies are almost entirely immigrants from central India who have been recruited in large numbers for the extensive and prosperous tea industry of Assam. Having, in many cases, received some Christian instruction before leaving India, they are eager to hear more of the gospel; and in the strain of adjustment to new ways they are very grateful for the advice and aid which the mission- aries offer. Work for them was begun in Sibsagor in 1871 and is now carried on from Sibsagor, North Lakhimpur, Golaghat, and Nowgong. These people, coming in great num- bers to remain as permanent residents, will have a powerful influence on upper Assam. The Christians of the plains have formed six associations which employ evangelists and meet regularly for mutual en- couragement and aid. The majority of the members are outcastes. The tribes in the hills are so distinct from each other in language and customs that work undertaken for one tribe cannot be applied to another, and numerous and separate fields are therefore necessary. This work is now School Cul carried on among the Garos from Tura and Gauhati; among the Rabhas from Goalpara; the Mikirs from Tika and Golaghat; the Nagas from Impur, Kohima, and Ukhrul 23 — DeAGR Ss Dammely) EENIS HUNG? ft OUI HSS Men of the Mikir Tribe and among the Abor, Miri, Mishmi, Kampti, and Singphos tribes from Sadiya. To make the situation clear it is neces- sary to give separate accounts of these distinct enterprises. The Garo work, which is the largest in Assam, was initiated by two Garo men, rather than by missionaries. As early as 1847 a young Garo student in the government school, named Ramkhe, found a tract and became in- terested in Christianity. It was not until 1863, however, that he and a companion, Omed, sought instruction from an evangelist and upon conversion became messengers to their people. The first Garo church was organized in 1867 by Dr. Bronson and a permanent station was established at Goalpara with Rev. I. J. Stoddard and Mrs. Stoddard in charge. But this endeavor was made for the few Garos scattered in the plains near Goalpara. Nothing so far had been done for the wild Garos of the hills who, because of their persistent head-hunting propensities, had been brought under government control. The government 24 Me Nelomt.t NiGe lOU CHES PIA RSLaS LV: officers, after several vain attempts to subdue their unruly and altogether uncontrollable subjects, appealed to the missionaries for cooperation. In response Rev. M. C. Mason, D.D., and Rev. E. G. Phillips, D.D., went into the Garo Hills and began the work at Tura that has resulted in such wide-spread success. Tura is the seat of government for the Garo Hill District. The district’s population includes 140,000 Garos who are savages for the most part and Animists, but quite inde- pendent in spirit. When converted, they are eager to take initiative in church work and responsibility for evangeliz- ing their own and other tribes. The Rabhas are a partially Hinduized, animistic tribe living in the plains at the foot of the Garo Hills. Goalpara was reopened in 1898 for work among these people and though several schools have been started and a number of Burning Sacrifices 25 PARSE FINISHING TOUGH converts baptized, progress is impossible at present for no missionary has been able to give his time to them for several years. *| The Mikirs, an animistic tribe of 100,000, inhabit a hilly tract near our long occupied station, Nowgong. Work was begun for them in 1859 / .-3| but because Vor eee «sickness and sine: A Village Church quent necessary change of mission- aries the work was inadequately sustained and the mission lost the confidence of the natives. In the early nineties, however, Rev. P. E. Moore.and Rev. J. M. Carvell located at Tika for work among the Mikirs alone and they won back the people and established a successful church. Later Mr. Carvell removed to Golaghat to conduct work for Mikirs of that section. Among the Nagas in upper Assam the division into many tribes and the diversity of languages have made work difficult but, like the other animistic people, these are welcoming the gospel. Abundant results are being achieved. The work is being conducted from three different stations —Impur, the successor of the first station of the hill country, Molung village; Kohima, the seat of government for the Naga District; and Ukhrul, in the nominally independent state of Manipur. The first permanent station among these people was opened by Dr. E. W. Clark, as before mentioned. Kohima was also opened largely through his influence and financial help. Impur reaches the Aos, Lhotas, Semas and other sur- rounding tribes; Kohima, the Angami, which is the 26 uN HUNG TOUCHES BPA Ryle strongest of the thirty Naga tribes of upper Assam, and others; and Ukhrul reaches the Tangkhuls and Kukis. Work for the Manipuris who rule over the Tangkhuls and Kukis has so far been impossible because of the hostility of the officials of Manipur state. This state won notoriety in 1891 by treach- erously massacring the chief commissioner of Assam and several other British officers and it was this act that led Rev. William Pettigrew and two English missionaries to locate on. the border of the state preparatory to opening a station. Mr. Pettigrew’s school, later taken out of his ‘hands, was largely attended at first, and his educational system was adopted by the Manipur Government. He, however, for some years has not been allowed to work nor to live in the Manipur state and has had to confine his efforts to the Tangkhul Nagas in the surrounding hill districts. The isolation of Ukhrul from medical assistance makes it necessary for him to reside, temporarily at least, in Kohima. The Abors and Miris, being independent of British con- trol, are not included in the census and their numbers are therefore not known; but there are many of them and they are very inviting for mission work. The Abors are pure spirit worshipers, but the Miris in the plains have become 27 An Evangelist of the Hills PTA ReleeLy: FINISHING 1OU CHES Hinduized. Their station is Sadiya which was reopened about 1900 by Mr. Arthington, an English independent missionary worker. The mission was transferred to the American Baptist Society 1n 1905 and Rev. L. W. B. Jack- man and Rev. H. W. Kirby, M.D., were stationed there. They reach also the people of other tribes in that section. Situated as it is, near the best pass into Tibet and not far from West China, this station offers unbounded possi- bilities for the regions beyond. EVANGELISM Proclaiming and imparting the gospel is the great aim of all departments of the work. Whether the missionaries preach in the market place, teach school or develop in- dustrial plants, the aim is always the same — to evangelize and teach others to evangelize. The converts in the mission are organized into churches which on the older fields to a good degree have pastors and are self-supporting. Churches are grouped in seven associa- tions, four in the hills and three in the plains, which meet annually for inspiration and encouragement and the discussion of plans. Through these “associations the churches engage and support evangelists and give funds for the educational work of the field. Many evangelists are maintained but a far greater number should be trained. More than 78,000 hills people and 370,000 plains people are still untouched by Christian activities. Hope for their evangelization lies in the Christian natives. EDUCATION Educational work has been conducted from the first. The missionaries look upon it as a great opportunity offered them by the circumstances and needs of the situation. The hillmen were found without even a written language and the immigrant peoples are almost equally 28 Pio HiNG TOUCHES PA ReTetv A Mission Launch at Sadiya illiterate. Not only must facilities be supplied but the people must be stimulated to use them when supplied and the missionary has proven to be well qualified to administer this stimulant. Thus education is emphati- cally and efficiently evangelistic; the Christian school taught by the Christian teacher is often the nucleus around which the Christian community and church develop. In the Assam Educational Policy, we read, “‘It 1s a legiti- mate use of mission resources to expend them in educating those who are neglected in the public school system if, in establishing mission schools for these neglected people, the two-fold aim of leading the pupils to Christ and of the formation of Christian character predominates together with a third and subordinate aim of diffusing Christian ideals throughout the community.”’ Most of the education is primary, aiming 1n the villages to give, besides religious instruction, a workable knowledge of reading, writing and arithmetic. In addition to these lower grade schools there are five of higher grade at Tura, Kohima, Ukhrul, Impur and Jorhat. The last is the Jorhat Christian Schools, for boys only, 29 PaAL Realy, FINISHING TOUCHES Gauhati School Babies consisting of a School of Bible Instruction, to produce a trained Christian ministry, the School of Academic Instruction and School of Work, to produce trained Chris- tianlaymen. These are all of high school grade and receive pupils from the primary mission schools. At Nowgong, half way between the most eastern and most western of our stations, a high grade school is con- ducted which serves the whole Assam Mission with the exception of the Garos. It isa girl’s school with a normal department and a kindergarten. Boarding schools are operated at North Lakhimpur and Sadiya, Golaghat and Gauhati, the latter being supported by the Woman’s Society. The Gauhati school for girls is conducted on the dormitory plan with girls of all ages, from kindergartners to young women, living in small cottages that are grouped about the chapel and teachers’ residence. The discipline is in the hands of the students and with their regular studies they receive training in homework which proves of wide-spread value when the girls return to their com- munities. Rev.W.E. Witter,D.D.,and Mrs. Witter carry ona unique work at Gauhati among the students of Cotton College, a government institution drawing men from all Assam. They 30 MouNio HIN G LOUCHES PAL Re bee Ly have made of their home a social center where the students come in large numbers to read and to talk over matters of spiritual interest. This particular work, reaching as it does the prospective leaders of the country, is one of the most hopeful endeavors in Assam. Plans for a large and well-equipped hostel where personal work can be done among the Christian students and others who are housed in it are being considered. MEDICAL WORK Medical work is indispensable on such a field, especially among the spirit-worshipers who have been used to sacrificing in order to escape illness and after conversion still look to their religious teachers in times of sickness. The people in both plains and hills are ignorant of the first principles of cleanliness and care of the body and most of the prevalent ill-health is due to unsanitary habits. Ina climate that is favorable to tropical diseases ignorance is eo In the Jorhat Industrial Department 3l PrA ROP AALV FINISHING TOUCHES fatal and the medical missionary performs an invaluable service. There is a physician at each of the following stations: Tura; Sadiya, Impur and Kohima.” RevaGaGs Crozier, M.D., at Tura has succeeded in making his medical work self-supporting and has a good hospital and a trained nurse as assistant. Dr. Kirby’s hospital at Sadiya is also self-supporting. Rev. J. R. Bailey, M.D., conducts medical work at Impur and Rev. 5. W. Rivenburg, M.D., at Kohima. INDUSTRIAL TRAINING Industrial work has been undertaken at all the station schools though the department at Jorhat is by far the most comprehensive. The industrial training not only educates the boys for usefulness but gives them, as pupils, the opportunity to earn their support while pursuing their studies. It is believed that a young man who earns his way through school is better qualified to become an efficient helper among his people than one who has been carried through by outside help. Every phase of industry is taught, from carpentering to gardening. LITERATURE An obligation to furnish Christian literature rests upon the missionaries, for the people, as soon as they learn to read, read voraciously and there is an abundance of evil literature in some dialects. In spite of the diff- culties presented by the diversity of languages in Assam and the lack of time for such work, a goodly supply of Christian literature has been produced. The Bible has been translated and published in Assamese and parts of the New Testament in six other languages. Text-books have been printed in all of these languages and Sunday school literature, hymnals and periodicals are distributed. But much more needs to be done in producing a whole- some, stimulating, elevating literature for these people just emerging from heathenism. 32 BENT SHING TOUCHES IPFAS Rs Tae) Vi The work of the entire field, in all its departments, is planned and carried out by a conference of which all the missionaries are members. The conference meets an- nually for fellowship and discussion of plans and between the sessions appointed committees supervise and conduct the activities. The general feeling among the missionaries is that, with the present small force of workers, they can- not adequately cover the territory to which the Society has committed itself by assuming the responsibility for it. They are praying constantly for reenforcements. At the same time the work that is being undertaken is moving on toward success as it has from the first in Assam. The people of the hills are proving faithful and willing Chris- tians and large numbers of them are accepting the gospel yearly. The conversion of the outcastes of the plains goes on with steady progress and the Hindus and Moham- medans, though much more inaccessible, are loyal and influential Christians when they do accept Christianity. Baptism in Manipur ahs) STATIONS THE THIRTEEN STATIONS Gauhati (Gou-hat’-ti). Opened 1848; fourth largest town in Assam proper; situated on Brahmaputra river; population 12,481; seat of Cotton College, a government institution; work conducted chiefly for Assamese and Garos; boarding and day school for girls; important personal work for students of the college carried on. Goalpara (Go-al-pa’-ra). Opened 1867; unoccupied for a long period; reopened in 1893; Assamese, Bengalis, Rabhas and Garos represented; on Brahmaputra river, west of Gauhati. Golaghat (Go-la-ghat’). Opened 1898; located in region possessing some of finest tea plantations in the world; nearly all the churches with their own pastors and supporting evangelistic and educational work through their associations; primary boarding school; part of the Mikir work also conducted from this station. Impur (Impdor’). Opened 1893; located in Naga Hills, an un- administered tract occupied by savages between Assam and Burma; elevation 4000 feet; considerable medical work; training school of six year course with 100 boys and one girl enrolled. Jorhat (Jor-hat’). Opened 1903; in the plains on the Jorhat State Railway; home of Jorhat Christian Schools, the highest grade in- stitution under American Baptists in Assam. Kohima (K6-hé’-ma). Opened 1879; on motor road between the plains and Manipur, extended by bridle path to Burma; seat of government for entire Naga Hills District and place of considerable importance; station school; medical work. North Lakhimpur (Lak-im-pddr’). Opened 1895; north of the Bramaputra river, extending to foothills of the Himalayas; tea garden country; station school; residence of missionary conducting work in Darrang field 100 miles distant. Nowgong (Now-gong’). Opened 1841; situated about half way between the most eastern and most western stations; its field lying in the plains but extending into the Mikir Hills and Khasi Hills; large central school for girls with normal department and kinder- garten, which draws pupils from the whole Assam Mission except the Garos. Sadiya (Sa’-dé-ya). Opened 1906; first station of the Assam Mis- sion, opened in 1836 but abandoned soon after for many years; in the extreme northeast of the province on the road to one of the leading passes into Tibet; work for Abors and Miris, Mishmis, Kamptis, Singphos, Assamese and outcastes. 34 SiieAL DEL ORNS Sibsagor (Sib-saw’-gor). Opened 1841; includes Dibrugarh, the largest town in the plains; tea garden section and hence the residence of many Europeans. Tika (Tée-ka). Opened 1896; in the Jaintia Hills south of Now- gong; work for a part of Mikir tribe; small station school. Tura (T6d’-ra). Opened 1876; in the hills, some thirty miles back from the landing place on the river; seat of government for Garo Hill District; population of entire district, 140,000 Garos; large mixed Garo school enrolling 300 pupils and giving some industrial training; hospital, out station and dispensaries. Ukhrul (Oo-kr6dl’). Opened 1896; in southeast corner of Assam in nominally independent state of Manipur; Tangkhuls, Kukis and other tribes in the hills, Manipuris in the plains; missionary obliged by government to live outside the state and works only among two tribes of hills people; station school. BIBLIOGRAPHY A Corner in India By Mary MEAD CLARK. An intensely interesting tale of pioneer work among the savages of the Naga Hills, written by the wife of the first mis- sionary to them. Book. Under the Roof of the World By Rev. SAMUEL A. PERRINE. A brief, comprehensive review of the country, customs of the people, etc. Pamphlet. Victory of the Cross in the Jungles of Assam spy Mrs. WALTER C. Mason. An illustrated booklet dealing exclusively with the Garo tribes. The Gospel Among the Garos. A shorter account of Garo work. Leaflet. A Night in a Jungle Village ny G. G. Crozirr, M.D. Number three of the Missionary Episodes. Pamphlet. Assam Conference Reports. Complete review of the year’s work in the whole field with articles of general interest from the missionaries, and statistics. Published annually. Annual Report of the Society. Containing a section devoted to Assam. Handbook of the Society. Containing a review of the stations of every field, names of all missionaries, etc. MISSIONARIES MISSIONARIES TO ASSAM Complete to May 1, 1917 Abbreviations: m., married; * deceased while in service; + retired from the mission and still living (1917); ft retired from the mission and since deceased; ** under appointment. NAME DATE OF ARRIVAL *Amy, Miss Laura A. (m. Rev. J M. Ne oie » 4 a 2 LS OO Bailey, Rev. James Riley . . eo. 2s LOND *Barker, Rev: Cyrus’) 2 . A cee Se eS LO) tBarker, Mrs. Jane Weston 97. 5.2 0 2 1) 2 ees Os Boggs, ‘Rev cose Dee b yet sys ae oF tan Seo) ee rr Soe Boggs, Mrs. Isadore Whitney Tren const: 5 | GY Bondy Macs Bilas Care Mr are TSE Bowers, Rey. A. ©: Lo ed 3 SOU Bowers, Mts. Florence G. Hull. . we ow ae oO {Brandt, Miss Anna V. (m. Rev. R. Maplesden, of South India) 1881 *Bronson, Rev. Miles (m. Mrs. F. A. S. Danforth; Miss Mary 1D), Rankin) a: ete 2 2 » 2 S37 *Bronson, Mrs. Ruth M. Lucas... YON en il LOO *Bronson, Miss Rhoda Mist ns-%. 2 = othe Vn LO *Bronson, Miss Marta, 2. 8ers. ne te, A *Brown, Rev. Nathan... 5 ioe Wome oo abe LS oO tBrown, Mrs. Eliza W. Ballard . . . kn SES O {Burdette, Rev. C. E. (m. Miss Miriam Russell) |. ee eeeeLSS3 Carter, Miss Omie Eleanore . . . a A el OSE Carvell, Rev. J. M. (m. Miss Laura iN Amy) on ek SOE Carvell, Mrs. Alice M. Parker . . . Yo = ES SS “Chana, Rev. E. W. . se ky ee ee ES nc +Clark, Mrs. Mary Mead “i 0.14 ee {Comfort; Reva M. Bie 2 <8 ee eS Ot tComfort, Mrs. Jennie E. 1866 tCraighead, Rev. James (m. Miss Ida M. Kushmore, of Burma) 1893 ees Mire lca Vee he ae! ee a ESOS Crisenberry, Miss Edith Estélla o.oo Crozier, ReverGs GM ere i ee LE Crozier, Mrs. Mabel Bosworth .. 4) 2. asa pS tCutter, "Mr. O. T. ; oe 6 bon avehe 5 eee tCutter, Mrs. Harriet Bi LOW a, 1s ate 1836 = Dantortaievar Ace sae 1847 *Danforth, Mrs. Frances A. Studley (m. Rev. Miles s Bronson) 1847 + Daniels, Miss Lolie (m. Rev. A. J. Parker) . . 1896 *Dauble, Rev. G. (m. Miss M. S. tae . Gos 3 SRS oO +Dickson, IRews dil, 1B, 4 ‘ een. SI 36 MISSIONARIES NAME {Dickson, Mrs. Eleanor A. McAfee Doe, Miss Florence Helen Dowd, Ie Wo 1S Dowd, Mrs. Muriel A. “Massey Dring, Rev. William Lown s Dring, Mrs. Esther Stannard ici Weve |Ohny. . Firth, Mrs. Ida L. W ebster Fox, Rev. Url Morris . : Fox, Mrs. Nellie F. Hollis . . +Gaylord, Ella M. (m. W. H. H. For! yes) . eaimevemiNe var Na Kom nc ’ ; tGurney, Mrs. Mary F. Laurence tHaggard, Rev. Fred P. ; jHaggard, Mrs. Fannie L. Snow tHallam, Rev. A. A.. . tHallam, Mrs. Rachel T hompson arcdine Rev. EW. . ; Harding, Mrs. Nellie N. Hurd . Hay, Miss Elizabeth Ellen Holbrook, Miss Linnie M. Holmes, Miss Ella Marie Jackman, Rev. L. W. B. Te Jackman, Mrs. Susie D. Ransom . Kampfer, Rev. George Richard Kampfer, Mrs. Emma E. Kose DATE OF ARRIVAL *Keeler, Miss Orrell C. (m. Rev. M. Ce Mason) ). {Keith, Rev. T. Ae Keith, Mrs. Pollie A. . . jKing, Rev. C. D. (m. Miss ‘Anna M. Sweet) . Kirby, H. W., M.D. (transferred from Africa) Kirby, Mrs. Mary E. Reeves TKlein, Rev. F. W. . : jtKlein, Mrs. Jennie J. Lounsbury ; Long, Miss Anna BE. . . ‘ Longwell, Rev. R. B. . Longwell, Mrs. Bernie Ballentine . Loops, W. A., M.D. (m. Miss E. Viney | Preston, of So. India) {Loops, Mrs. E. Vincy Preston . Mason, Rev. M. C. (m. Miss Orrell C. ‘Keeler; Purssell) . *Mason, Mrs. Fidelia Howes : *Mason, Mrs. Clara M. Arthur . IMS ONEINe WAI Wis Gat 2 5) < F (se) ~I Miss Nettie 1901 1911 1900 1900 1890 1890 1893 1898 1911 1911 1874 1874 1877 1893 1893 1891 1891 1907 1907 1914 1906 1910 1904 1904. 1910 1910 1875 1872 1872 1878 1907 1907 1890 1890 1900 1906 1906 1905 1906 1874 1874 1884 1902 MISSIONARIES NAME DATE OF ARRIVAL Mason, Mrs. Florence N. Smith +Mason, Miss Stella H. Mather, Asher King. Mather, Mrs. Ruth E. Delzell Miller, Miss EllaG. . . iby Sites AF oe: Moore, Rev. P. E. (m. Miss C. E. Purssell) *Moore, Rev. P. H. . one ane: Moore, Mrs. Jessie Traver : ; +Morgan, Miss Henrietta (m. Mr. Gwylym Herbert) 7 Mianigver, Rev. Ie. *Munger, Mrs. Helen W. Ankeney Neighbor, Rev. R. E. . tNeighbor, Mrs. Anna M. ‘Beale 2 eee ater Rev. A. J. a Miss Lolie Daniels: Miss Alberta Sumner) . . re eee Ot Paul, Rev. Joseph . ; aul, Mrs. Clara E. Cox +Perrine, Reve SAL: {Perrine, Mrs. Rosie L. jeetick Reva Cara *Petrick, Mrs. Clara Stengel Pettigrew, Rev. William Pettigrew, Mrs. Alice Goreham Phillips, Reva Coe : Phillips, Mrs. Ella V. Howey 2 6G eee ee Protzman, Miss Helen M. (m. S. W. Rivenburg) . Purssell, Miss Nettie (m. Rev. M. C. Mason) *Purssell, Miss Charlotte E. (m. Rev. P. E. Moore) *Rankin, Miss Mary D. (m. Rev. Miles Bronson) . Rivenburg, INGA 74 So WWicg MILID, Tir trnes? ¢ *Rivenburg, Mrs. Hattie E. Tiffany . TRobb, Miss N. Agnes . tRood, Miss Alice J. . tRussell, Miss Miriam (m. Rev. C ‘E. Burdette) *Scott, Rev. E. P. +Scott, Mrs. Anna H. Kay, ‘M.D. (appointed to China in 1889) tShaw, Miss M. S. (m. Rev. G. Daul ae 4 jomuth, Rey, Wa] : : Smith, Mrs. Enid Severy, Ss Sugolagim, INGW, Ne IB. Stephen, Mrs. Maggie Sutherland | tStoddard, Rev. I. J. Pa iSreddard. Mrs. Drusilla Allen NO Pha Bot “Sumner, Miss Alberta (m. Rev. A. J. Parker) 38 =P MISSIONARIES NAME DATE OF ARRIVAL Swanson, Rev.O. L. . eh eee aa ee SOS Swanson, Mrs. Emelia H. Wenberg . ; 6 Eg eee cee, ESOS jSweet, Miss Anna M. (Gal, IRE, TC AD King) eS eae ee bab ‘(Panacithisin, INGWe Wedoe e ; fae oe a yt, LE Tanquist, Mrs. Mabel C eWicboon. 5 o4 eee ee se teeOTo *Thomas, Rev. Jacob . safc o on. SEIS tThomas, Mrs. Sarah M. Willsey (mn. “Rev. S. M. Osgood, of Burma) . ; es Oe ater S30 Tilden, Rev. Charles H. . Oe ee es re aap eee ee O09 **Tilden, Mrs. Grace B. Darling. riage a +Tolman, IRews Ee IBS SS ag Re ee Re Sh ee Che cose Paltetinsy tTolman, Mrs. Mary R. Bronco tere ote ocak hcter, Wir eae 858 stile: Reva An |. = Aa ee eee OL Tuttle, Mrs. Frances Ke Dav Taconiats Lee ae Meee 901 Vickland, Miss Bilen Elizabeth, 2. 4. 9. 7 1. eee OL *Ward, Rev. William . . on SR ee » - » LEO *Ward, Mrs. Cordelia S. Hee Oren bane et ape Oe eet 850 “WieumGl, IMIS, COubisehal IRS ISS 4 5 6 5 ob ue an oo 5 a Hecke’) +Wherrett, Mist Gertrudege aes emis ee he) ee ee 900 tWhiting, Rev.S. M. . ee UN oe 8k EL OOU tWhiting, Mrs. Elizabeth iti cap Da pe ee O50) NViticonm Vinsstlsabellagnumw ages shel ons = ee eee SOS Witter, Reva rely el) ORE ae el awe ah ee LOR: INN Gamer, IMiS, Milekaye JN, DRIES Ga 8 oe 6 5 5 6 8 o pe of plete! Witter, Mrs. Mary F. Barss . . . ee an. O12 TYates, "Miss Nora M. (aa, Ihe, IP, Ge Turner) We Bee os AUeeRe 39 IN DEX Index Part I. GENERAL SURVEY Location Topography . Position F Origin of people Population Industry Climate . Languages Part II. THE Lanne AND THE Area . . é Physical features Religions . . Habits of people Appearance 'Peopen IP INE Hr ercen OF EN irccrone First missionaries First station . An early tragedy . . Beginnings in the hills First hill missionary Part IV. PRESENT WorRK Baptist stations . . Work in the plains . Hindus and Mohammedans 5 Outcastes . . : Work in the hills Garosiae Rabhas . Mikirs Nagas. ‘ Abors, Miris and others Evangelism Education . Medical work Industrial training Literature . Summary . List OF STATIONS BIBLIOGRAPHY E List oF MISSIONARIES 40 WIM OO A” OR additional literature or other informatton regarding the work of the American Baptist Foreign Mission Society, write to any of the following: The District Secretary of your district. Department of Missionary Educa- tion, 23 East 26th Street, New York City. Literature Department, Box 41, Boston, Mass. Price of this book, 10 cents 70-3 M -5-1-1917.