I see my error in trusting to my own reason, and I now believe the Crucifixion of Christ, because it is contained in the Scripture." The profession of Christianity had become more perilous since the Judsons' arrival in Burmah.

The old Emperor had died in 1819, and had been succeeded by his grandson, who was far more zealous for Buddhism than he had been, and who had appointed a viceroy at Rangoon, very minute in exacting observances--so much so, as to put forth an edict forbidding any person with hat, shoes, umbrella, or horse, to pass through the grounds belonging to the great pagoda, Shwaay Dagon, which extended half a mile from the building, and were crossed by all the chief roads.

At the same time, he was new gilding the pagoda, a specially sacred one, as containing some bits of hair of Gautama.
It was plain that the mission had little chance of succeeding, unless some sanction could be obtained from royalty; and Mr.Judson therefore determined to go to Ava and petition the Emperor to grant him permission to teach at Rangoon.

So he obtained a pass from the Viceroy "to go up to the golden feet, and lift up our eyes to the golden face," and hired a boat to take him and Mr.Colman, with ten oarsmen, a headman, a steersman, a washerman, and two cooks, of whom Moung Nau was one.

They had invited Shwaygnong to accompany them, but he refused, though he appeared waving his hand to them on the bank as they pushed off from the land.