KOTHABYU

[s. 398] : The first convert to Christianity from the Karens, a people among whom the labors of the Baptist mi ionaries in Burma have met with remarkable succe . He was a robber and murderer in early life, and was the slave of a Buddhist Burman at Rangun, when he was redeemed and became a servant in the family of Adoniram Judson. He was converted after some time and was baptized by Rev. George Dana Boardman at Tavoy on May 16, 1828. He very soon began to manifest a wonderful zeal and power in winning his own people to Christ, and was constantly bringing them to the mi ionaries for conversation and instruction. He traveled to remote portions of the country preaching the Gospel. More than one you sand persons, it is estimated, were converted as a result of his labors. He was not highly educated and his preaching was not sought by the more intelligent Christian Karens, yet he had a power second to none of his race over a congregation of untaught Karens. He died in 1840 in Arakan, whither he had gone with the mi ionaries Abbott and Kincaid to provide a place of refuge for the persecuted Karens of Burma. He was certainly one of the most remarkable native evangelists that Burma has produced. 398