The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-05-24
Eli0t's Indian Bible.

/
The sale of copy of this very rare and curioua
book at auction in New York, for s1l30, deserves
more than the brief notice which has appeared of
| It IN our columns. The work is q remarkable one
hrst IN being translation of the whole Bible and
| the New Testament into the language speken bv
| the Massachusetts Indians. and all accomplished
| by one man, known as the Apostle John Eliot who
labored as missionary among the Indians for q
| long period.
He was many years engaged in the labor OF
translation. 1t is at all times task of great diff.
Guilty to render the Bible into foreign language
even II the language is written one but in such
language as that OF the Indians, which was
never before written, the labor was gigantic.
None but religious enthusiast, such as Eliot
would ever have attempted it.
Tnls BLDG has also value as Typographical
curiosity. In the year 1868 New England was
still wilderness teeming with O great Indian
population, and the struggle for existence was by
no no means an easy one. To print pamphlet was
commonwealth the whole Bible was printed at
cambridge In this strange language, q monument
OF aboriginal philology which has never been
equalled, notwithstanding all the efforts of our
missionary societies to Chrisanize and ciyize the
Indians for the last two hundred years.
Inc printing OF this Bible was begun In 1860,
and finished in September, 1868, thus occupying
three years. The edition was one thousand
copies, Of which not more than fifteen are known
to be preserved in the United States. Twenty
copies were sent to England, in which there was
dedication to Charles the Second
But this is not all that is remarkable about this
Bible. second edition was called for, and tho
whole work was reprinted at Cambridge, BY Sam
ueI Greene, the printer Of the first edition. in
aSoo. Inc art OF printing was still in its infancy.
The proposition for printing this edition was sub
mitted to the commissioners of the United Colo
nes Of New England for their consideration. in
I67S-'79, by Mr.. Eliot, who, among his several
appeals, SAID that King Philip had sent to him for
books to read.
The work, which was commenced the following
year, proceeded but slowly, as there was but one
man, the Indian printer who was able to COM
pose the sheets and correct the proof. In 1884
Mr.. Eliot, writing to the Hon. Robert Boyle saws:
I'VE have but few hands, one Englishman and a
boy, and one Indian" 1t was completed the fol.
lowing year, and 1000 copies printed.
The Indian title reads as follows:
MdnuSSe ,lrunnetupdnGtdnlCe up-Bibl,um God
ndneeslce Nukkone Testament kdt ,ooak ,oasEzs
Testament, etc.
The following is the full English title:
The Holy Bible: containing the Old Testa-
ment and the New. Translated into the Indian
language and ordered TO be printed by the COM
missioners of the United Colonies in England. At
the charge and with tAe consent of the oorpora-
ton in England for the propagation of the gospel
among the Indians, in New England. Cambridge:
Printed by Samuel Greene and Marmaduke John
son, MDCLXl1P' l563,l 4to., 424 leaves. The
New Testament contains I29 leaves.
IL is well known that there is no Indian living
who can read this bible or even speak the Ian
guage in which It Is written. The Hon. J. Ham
mond Trumbull, Of Hartford, late secretary of
son living who understands the language and ia
able to read this Bible. He has made it a study
fer many years, and has composed dictionary Of
several thousand words from il.
We are glad 30 learn that fine cad perfect copies
OF both editions of Eliot's Bible and New Testa-
ment are in o private library IN Providence, in
which is also little volume in the same Indian
language, called " The Practice of Pety,r and
Grammar of the Indian language printed at
Cambridge IN 1865, both the work of the indie fatg
able Eliot The grammar 10 far more rare than
the Bible, as not more thaIithree copies known
in the United States.
We cannot close our notice Of these remarka-
bic books without adding the following letter, a
manuscripts copy OF which is appended to the
ManitoWomp8 PonIaatamoonk, or Practice
OF Pisty," from John Eliot TO the Hon. Robert
Boyle;
RoxBURY, AUGUST 80, 1866, I -
Third month Of our overthrow.
Rgat Honorsoe uoEearbIe And nursing father RObeTk
have nothing new to write bat lamentations,
and am lostk to grisye your loving and noble
soul.
Our In dian work yet liTeth praised be God the
Bible is come forth, many hundreds beand up and
dispersed among the Indians, whose thoughtful
ness | initiate and testify 10 your honor. The
Prar ce Of Piety Is also finished and beginneth to
De pound up, and my humble request TO your
h0Jor is that We may again reimpose the Primer
ar d Catechism; for though the last impression be
OF quite spent, yet quickly they will and I, old
and ready 10 be gone, desire 10 leave as many
books as / can. ] know not what 10 add in this
distressing day of our overthrow so / commit
your honor to the Lord, and rest. Your honora
TO serve In Jesus Christ. JOHN ELIOT.