A Chinese priest frightened at the dangers to which the newly wedded brides were exposed, separated himself from M. Core's party in the hope of finding a Chinese vessel. But hardly had he started out when he was attacked by a gang of Burmese bandits and those who tried to defend themselves were slain promptly. He endeavoured to take shelter in the depths of the forests with four of his disciples but they were pursued and robbed. They were obliged to wander without a guide in the trackless jungle that offered no sustenance, and were forced to eat grass like the beasts of the field. Afterwards they were found by a Christian who offered his services as a guide.
The Burmese captain, who was in charge of the French, sent an interpreter with an armed force to compel them to rejoin, and above all, to bring back the newly married women. They were carried off with violence. This deputy was by no means so gentle as his superior, and in executing the order he had received, he exceeded his powers.
Hardly had they marched a league, when a gang of Siamese dacoits appeared on the bank of the river and captured his spoils.
When the leader of the gang recognised his daughter, he wept and embraced her, and asked by what turn of fortune she had appeared in so sorry a plight. The daughter explained that she had become a Christian and gave the reasons for her marriage. The recital of their woes spurred on the dacoits and falling upon the Burmese, they cut off their heads.
They wished to retain the women, but all refused the assistance that would have delivered them from slavery and preferred to share the horrible fate of their husbands, rather than to break the sacred marriage bond. The father, unable to dissuade his daughter from her purpose, gave her a supply of food for herself and her friends, and all went to join M. Core at a spot lower down the river.
After the meeting the zealous missionary, fearing to see them exposed to such dangers, conducted them towards the sea which was only a few days' march further on. For the space of a month this colony lived upon shell-fish, leaves and roots, and waited in the hope that a ship might appear to take them to Kancao on the Cochin Chinese coast.