It is not that they are stronger than the Burmese, for the Burmese are very strong men; but only that men who are trained to act together must, necessarily, possess a great advantage over those who have had no such training--who simply take up arms for the occasion and, when the trouble is over, return to their homes and lay them by, until called out to fight again.
"Besides, their weapons are better than yours; and they have many cannon which, by practice, they can load and fire very quickly; and each of which, when the armies are near each other, can fire fifty or sixty bullets at once." "I have heard a strange story that the barbarians have a ship without sails, with a great chimney that pours out quantities of black smoke, and a wheel on each side and, as the wheels move round, the vessel can go straight up the river against the tide, even if the wind is blowing strongly down." "It is true, father, there are many such ships; but only two or three that have made the long voyage across stormy seas to India." "It is wonderful how these men can force fire to be their servant, and how it can make the wheels of the ship to move round." "That I cannot tell you, father.

I have never seen one of these vessels, though I have heard of them." The priest said no more, but evidently fell into a profound meditation; and Stanley, getting quietly up, returned to his work.
The priest came in, just as he had completed his bed.
"That is well," he said, looking at it approvingly.

"I myself, although I know that, until my time has come, no creature can harm me, cannot resist a shudder when I hear one rustling amid the leaves of my bed; for they come in, although some of my friends have had a door placed to exclude their entry at night.

I wander but little from my cell, and always close the door after me; but they enter, sometimes, when I am meditating, and forgetful of earthly matters, and the first I know of their presence is the rustling of the leaves in the bed, at night.

Were I as strong in faith as I should be, I would heed it not.