Farfel leaf 688: Algonquin Bible, United States, 1685

• Other Authors: Eliot, John, 1604-1690, Farfel, Gilbert; Farfel, Ursula
• Format: Text
• Language: unknown
• Published: Green, Samuel, 1615-1702 1685
• Subjects: Indian; algonquin
• Online Access: http://media.library.ohio.edu/cdm/ref/collection/p15808coll19/id/4383

Columns (layout features) 14.6 cm x 18.2 cm LEAF FROM AN Eliot Indian Bible 1685 A. D. S. Green, Cambridge A leaf from the second edition of Eliot's Bible, revised by the editor, with the assistance of John Cotton. The Indian Bible (first issued in 1663) was the first scripture printed in North America, and also the first version prepared for a pagan people in their own language. John Eliot performed the Herculean task of learning the difficult Algonquin tongue, of translating, unaided, the entire Bible in this unknown and unwritten language, of overcoming many technical difficulties, and of then teaching the Indians to read their own tongue. Samuel Green, the printer, was aided greatly by James Printer, an Indian compositor and corrector of the press. "Wohkukquohsinwog Quo- shod tumwaenuog" (The prophets are ended) is a specimen of the difficulties encountered. The language is now extinct. (Darlow and Moule 6737)