Koran of Ancient Vintage

Manawatu Times, Volume 64, Issue 153, 1 July 1939, Page 5

Koran of Ancient Vintage

TWO REMARKABLE BIBLES Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, Juno 30. Two ancient and interesting Bibles have been added to the remarkable collection of the New Zealand headquarters of the British and Foreign Bible Society. They arc a manuscript copy of tho Koran, the holy book of Islam, believed to date back to the twelfth century, and a first edition of the Irish Bible in Erse script and tongue of about 16S1. The copy of tho Koran, presented by Mrs. E. F. Denton Leech (Dunedin), has been in the possession of her family siticc ISS7 when a major iu the Punjab Regiment found it wrapped in a green cloth bag in a deserted hut ou the North-West Frontier during a rising of hill tribes. It is hand written on yellow paper or papyrus brittle with age, patched and repatched, and is bound in a curious fashion with leather. Like all books in Arabic in reads from the back forward according to western notions of book format. Its original green bag with shoulder cord of stitched rag, is still with it. Recently it was examined by Rev. Father Michel Bardaouil, secretary to the metropolitan of Beyrouth. lie said it was a beautiful example of old Arabic script probably of the 12th century.

The other book is a more orthodox seventeenth century Irish Bible. The Bible was printed in English in 1534-39 but it was not translated into Erse until 1642 nor printed in that language until forty years after. This copy is one of the original edition of five hundred printed with Erse type. Presented by Hon. R. Boyle, eighty copies were sent to Scotland for Gaelic speaking Highlanders but owing to hazards of communication at that time, few reached their destinations. The translation of the Old Testament is by the Rt. Rev. Dr. William Bedel, Bishop of Kilmorc, and the New Testament rendering is by the most Rev. William Daniel, Archbishop of Tuain. Tho volume is a gift to New Zealand headquarters from the London Committee of the Bible Society.