He could not speak English, and had neither grammar nor dictionary, so that the difficulties were great; but the eager spirit of the students overcame all, and they ventured to remove into town and keep house themselves.
Mrs.Judson was taken to visit the wives of the Myowoon, or Viceroy of Rangoon, by a French lady who had been admitted before.

On their first arrival the principal wife was not up, and the ladies waited, while the inferior wives examined all they wore, and tried on their gloves and bonnets; but when the great lady appeared, they all crouched together at a distance.

She came in richly attired, and smoking a silver pipe, and sat down on a mat by Mrs.Judson, whom she viewed with much curiosity, asking if she were her husband's first wife.

The Myowoon came in looking wild and savage, and carrying a huge spear in his hand; but he was very polite to Mrs.Judson, though he took very little notice of her husband.
In fact the government was violent and barbarous.

There were perpetual murders and robberies, and these were punished by horrid executions, accompanied by torture; yet the Burmese regarded themselves as superior to all other nations, and were far from understanding how greatly they fell short even of the requirements of Buddhism.
Felix Carey, meantime, had been requested by the king to vaccinate the royal children; but he had to return to Calcutta to procure matter for the purpose.