NEWS BY THE SUEZ MAIL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXII, Issue 7404, 12 August 1885, Page 5

NEWS BY THE SUEZ MAIL.

From our London files received via Suez aud Sydney we extract the following interesting

items :—

IMPORTANT BIBIG'A L DISCOVERY.

Tho Vienna correspondent of the Times sends the following fuller particulars respectthe .discovery of the fragments of an old Gospel in Archduke Keoior's manuscripts : — "Professor Karabacek has been good enough to show mo tho papyrus which has lately been discovered among the El Fayum manuscripts, aud which is alleged to be the fragment of a Gospel older than those of St. Matthew and St. Mark. It is a very small fragment, measuring three and a half centimetres in length and four and one-third in width, and contains seven lines, having 105 words. Of these 96 can be plainly deciphered, but nine are indistinct. Some lines are mutilated at the beginning and end, and it is supposed that from 91 to OS letters are missing. The number of deficient letters can be reckoned by comparing Jiues three, four, and seven with the others. The seventh contains but four lettere. The writing is in Greek, and Dr. G. Bickell, of the University of Innsbruck, who discovered and deciphered the fragments, concludes, from tho form of the letters and the abbreviations, that it was written in the third century ; but from the style of the composition lie infers that it dates originally from the first century ; and this is also the opinion of Dr. Edward Uarnark, editor of the Theologische Literatur Zeituug, of Leipzig. Here is the translation of the fragment, line for line. As already reported, its parallel is to be fouud in Matthew xxvi., verses 30 to 34, aud Mark xiv., verses to 30:-

" 1. ' But after supper, as they went out. "2. ' You will all take offenc?, this night,

"3. ' According to the Scriptures, "I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered."

"4. 'Then Peter spake, "5. ' And if all, not I. "6. ' He said to him,

"7. ' The cock will crow twice, and before that thou shalt deny Me thrice.'

"The omission of the words, to be found both in Matthew and Mark, 'But after I am risen again I will go before you into Galilee,' is noticeable. Dr. Bickell, reviewing the fragment in the Zaitschrijt tur Catholiecho Theologie—a periodical printed at Innsbruck for private circulation—lays stress upon the importance of the raanucript, as being the earliest fragment of a written Gospel; not canonical, iudeed, but yet no pseudograph or heretical composition. Dr. Bickell's views are set forth and approvingly commented upon in an article by Dr. Harnak, which appears in the last number of the Thcologiache Literatur Zeitung of Leipzig. Dr. Harnak, who is a fervent Roman Catholic, distinguished for his Greek scholarship, remarks that, so far as he can judge, Dr. Bickell has taken no liberties with the text, having only added five letters, which it could be plainly guessed were the missing ones, but which simply mended broken words, without altering the sensn of a line. The antiquity and genuineness of the fragment are, lie argues, beyond dispute.

THE CHOLERA IN SPAIN—SHOCKING SCENES IN

MUKCIA,

The Madrid correspondent of the Standard states that the abandonment of King Alphonso's visit to Murcia has caused deep disappointment to the inhabitants :— " From this cholera-stricken city of 86,000 inhabitants, where 1400 deaths out of 3000 cases of cholera have occurred in 20 days, almost alt the wealthier inhabitants tied at the first outbreak. They were soon followed by about 30,('00 persons of all ranks, who spread the epidemic to many villagOKin thebeantiful Huerta, a very garden of tropical vegetation. Among this unhappy population so terrible is the epidemic that during the last three days ulOcases and 230 deaths have occurred. Some rain fell on Sunday, which increased the torrid heat, and created a strange bluish mist at nightfall over this interesting and afflicted country. Awful tales are told of whole families having been swept off before the devoted village doctors and the priests could bring relief. Yet still the sturdy, wiry peasants are at work in tho fields. The aspect of the town of Murcia is very dull. Many of the shops are closed, and many houses untenanted. A few people gather in the cafes or casinos. Processions from the churches pass along the streets with unwonted frequency, the priests carrying the host to the dying ; and as the acolytes tinkle their silver bell the people kneel in the streets, uncover their heads, and cross themselves. Other processions twice a day parade the infected streets, and carry about the relies and images of saints. The Bishop has maintained solemn service in the cathedral and the churches to implord the Divine assistance. The Bishop and the Governor are also unceasing in their visits to persons attacked, and in the distribution of rations and medicines to the poor. A picturesque camp of sheds and tents has been formed on El Malecon Esplanade, commanding a view of the river and Huerta, and close to the gipsy quarter, where splendid types of the Gitano race abound, living in filthy dens. Da and night the dreaded ' dead cars' pass to and fro along the streets, and often take bodies away without uotlius within an hour after the decease. In the city of Murcia and the Huerta, during the last 24 hours, there were 260 cases and 115 deaths, which is a heavier proportion than that in Naples in 1834."