Rev A Brandram No.138
Mérida, Yucatán 1st December1843
My dear Friend,
On the 25th of October I went on board a vessel at Vera Cruz, bound for Yucatan, but unfavourable winds prevented our sailing that day. Early next morning we started with light winds, and scarcely favourable. We half wished for a Norther—the name by which the periodical winds in the Gulf of Mexico at this season are known—and we half feared the same. If moderate, being tolerably fair, it would have brought us quickly to our port; but if violent, as these winds most generally are, we should have been in troubles and dangers. No Norther came on all our voyage. We had North Easterly and unfavourable winds, and irregular weather all the time. Our voyage was hence rather long; but we had no dangers. We were bound for Sisal; but Campeche was the same to us as a port of disembarkation, and having attained it first, we landed, after a voyage of eleven days.
On the day after my arrival in Campeche, the 6th November, I wrote to Mrs. Thomson, through New Orleans, hoping that my letter might get safe to Boston, and thence by the Halifax packet to England. In that letter I desired her to say to you, that our Books had got safely through the Customs house, and had there been pronounced good Books. Their safe passage through the Customs house (the places where we stuck in the city of Mexico), was a great point. I rejoiced in this, and gave thanks to God; and I prayed that no adverse winds might arise, but that his holy life giving word might have free course in this Peninsula, and be glorified in giving life to many.
Forthwith our sale was begun, and notice of the same was given privately, and from friend to friend. I did not wish to make a more public stir, because I had not many books to dispose of, having only half the quantity I intended to bring, owing to one case having been sent to Tabasco, as mentioned in my last. The Books went off as well as I could expect, and I disposed of all I wished to dispose of in Campeche.
Mérida, the capital, was the next place where I had meditated to make sales. But at this season there is a great fair about midway between Campeche and Mérida, and I made arrangements to go to the fair. I think a fair the most favourable place, in the countries I am travelling through, for the sale of our books; because in this way they get at once a wide circulation, through persons buying who come from great distances, and out-of-the-way places, and who carry our books into the same on their returning. I accordingly allotted a certain portion of my stock for the fair at Halachó, as the place is called, and packed up the rest to go by sea and land to Mérida, by way of Sisal. I reached Halachó on the 23rd ult., and remained there till the end of the fair on the 26th. I sold all my books, except one 12mo New Testament, and could have sold more Bibles than I had with me. Besides other Priests there, who were neuter, I met with two who spoke unhesitatingly and fully of the good to be expected through the diffusion and use of the Sacred Scriptures. I shall not trouble you with a description of the fair, except in one point, and that the most pleasant and favourable one. Nine-tenths of the people there, or rather 99 in the 100, were Indians. The whole mass, say 20,000, presented a fair and beautiful sight; they were all clothed in white raiment. I need not tell you what this reminded me of. I had a great desire to put crowns on their heads, that finally they might have palms of triumph in their hands, and sing salvation to God and the Lamb for ever and ever. All I could do for this, I tried to do: I gave them the word of God, I prayed for them, and, as I had opportunity, showed them Christ, our full and only righteousness. May the Spirit of God work upon these people speedily and powerfully!
On the 27th, very early in the morning, I started from Halachó, and on the evening of the same day reached Mérida, 18 leagues distant[1]. Here I have found several friends, some of whom accompanied me from Veracruz; and to some others I have been introduced, including the Governor, or President, and the Bishop. I mentioned to you soon after my arrival in Mexico, that I had written to the Bishop of Yucatan. From the casualties of war my letter did not reach him till very recently, and his answer, which was all ready, and waiting for an opportunity to be forwarded, he himself put into my hands. He has shown me much attention, and yesterday I had the pleasure of dining with him.
The New Testament unsold at the fair I sold on the way, to the first person I showed it to, when we stopped to rest on our journey in the heat of the day; and I was sorry I had not another, or rather a Bible, for a Priest who afterwards called upon me. I told him of our sale at Mérida, and advised him to send there for a Bible. I should have mentioned, also, that one of the Priests I met with at Halachó was disappointed in not getting a Bible, and intended writing to Mérida, that one might be purchased for him there.
My Books are just come to hand. I am arranging for sales, and hope to dispose of them all before long.
A vessel is expected every day at Sisal from the Havana, and with the same I expect my English letters agreeable to my arrangements with Mr. Crawford. I am anxious to see what you will say about the translation of the Scriptures into the Yucatán or Mayo language in answer to my special notice on the subject in my letter No. 134. I have already...
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[1] Note (BM): = 54 miles or 87 kms.