The author of these pages, Rev. H. Malcolm, a native of Boston, was sent on a missionary tour by one of the American Societies, with special directions to report on the progress and prospect of missions. Along with it he took it upon himself to analyse the bearing that the political and economic conditions had on his cause. His work, the journal of his travels from September 1835 upto March 1838, contains much information on the history, arts, produce, economics, customs, manners and rituals of the counties that he visited. The 2 volume book is divided into 4 parts. The first details his travels in Burma, Chittagong and Arracan; the second detailed notes on the Burman empire; and, the third parts is about his travels in India, Malasia, Siam and China. The last part deals with his observations on the state and future of missionary activities and missions.