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OULD the readers of the ANNUAL have been introduced about mid-day on Wednesday, October 28th of last year, into the Committee-room of the London Missionary Society, which forms part of the great block of College buildings that are now such a conspicuous object on the Fàravóhitra hill, in Antanánarívo, they would have seen, seated round a long office table, seven European missionaries and two native pastors. At the head of the table is seated the chairman, the writer of the present paper; on his right are the Rev. L. Dahle, superintendent of the Norwegian Mission, Mr. H. E. Clark, of the Friends' Mission, and the Rev. T. T. Matthews, of the London Mission; on his left are seated the Revs. W. Montgomery and R. Baron, F.L.S., of the London Mission, and Bishop Kestell-Cornish, of the Anglican, Mission; while opposite the chairman are Joseph Andrianaivoravélona and Andrianony, both of them college-trained men of good ability and large experience. On the table are scattered books and papers, such as Polyglot Bibles, concordances, dictionaries, commentaries, and printers' proofs. The Committee met at half-past eight, and after a short prayer for help began its morning's work-viz. the Book of Malachi. The work has gone on steadily for nearly four hours, and now the solemn and awe-inspiring words that form the last paragraph of the Old Testament are reached, and the first revision of the Malagasy Bible is complete. Books are closed with a sigh of relief, and all faces are brightened by the consciousness that a great work has been accomplished. Twelve years before this the Revision Committee began its work; but of the original members* who took part in the work of the first session, only three are present this morning-viz. the chairman, the Rev. L. Dahle, and Pastor Joseph Andrianaivoravelona. At the suggestion of Mr. Dahle, all kneel round the table, and, with the revised version lying before them, unite in a few words of earnest and joyful thanks to God, and commend to Him the work upon which the labour of so many years has been spent, beseeching Him to make this new translation a stream of life and blessing to the Malagasy people.

But why has such a laborious task been undertaken? Did not David Jones and David Griffiths complete the translation of the Scriptures into the Malagasy language before the outbreak of the persecution? And did not their version, read in secret and at risk of liberty or life, sustain the faith of the little flock in Madagascar during quarter of a century of repression and persecution? Yes, to the eternal honour of these two missionaries, and their colleagues, Johns and Freeman, who helped in the later stages of the work, be it said that, notwithstanding the multifarious duties devolving upon them, they did succeed in thus laying the foundation of Bible translation in the Malagasy language. David Jones

Present at first Session, December 1st-19th, 1873: Dr. Mullens, Rev. J. Pillans, visitors on behalf of B. and F.B.S.; Rev. W. E. Cousins, Principal Reviser, B. & F.B.S.; Revs. R. Toy, J. Sibree, and G. Cousins, L.M.S.; Revs. L. Dahle and M. Borgen, N.M.S.; Mr. J. S. Sewell, F.F.M.A.; Rainimànga, Andrianaivoravèlona, and Andríambèlo, native helpers.

reached Antananarivo in October, 1820, and David Griffiths in May of the following year. By the year 1824 they had made a fair start with their translation work, and by March, 1830, an edition of 3,000 copies of the New Testament was issued. Five years later (June, 1835) the Old Testament was completed, and the first edition was printed at the Mission Press in Antananarivo. All honour, then, to the two Welshmen who, by their noble work, have laid all future generations of Malagasy under the deepest obligation. But our work of revision was none the less necessary, because we delight to think of the good foundation laid by our honoured predecessors. The experience of Madagascar has been in no sense exceptional. The work of even such men as William Carey and Henry Martyn has not met all the wants of those for whose benefit it was undertaken. And so, in Madagascar, experience showed that much might be done to render the translation more accurate and idiomatic. Indeed, in all translation work, even success is but an approximation to perfection, and no translators, or bodies of translators, can claim finality for their versions. The present Revision Committee in Madagascar, though they hope, as the result of thirteen or fourteen years' work, to present to the Malagasy Christians a translation which all will acknowledge to be a great advance on what has gone before it, quite anticipate that some future generation of foreign or, perhaps, native scholars, may be able still further to revise and improve their present work. Without entering into minute and wearisome details as to earlier movements in the direction of Bible revision, let me state briefly the origin, constitution, and work of the present Committee of Revisers. In the early part of the year 1872 it happened that there were present in Antananarivo representatives of all the Protestant societies having agencies in Madagascar, and the need of some united action was felt. The Bible would be used in all these Missions alike, and naturally all felt a desire to see the work of revision undertaken by a board that would fully and fairly represent the different interests involved. A conference was held on April 3rd, 1872, and, as a result of its deliberations, a formal application was made to the British and Foreign Bible Society to grant its sanction and help to the important work contemplated. The main features of the plan suggested to the Bible Society were: (1) the appointment of the present writer to the post of 'Principal Reviser,' to prepare a preliminary version, to preside at the meetings of the Committee, and to superintend the printing of its version; (2) the appointment of a representative committee composed of missionaries of all the Protestant societies in the following proportions: the London Missionary Society, three; the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel, one; the Church Missionary Society, one; the Norwegian Missionary Society, two; the Friends' Foreign Mission Association, one.

The British and Foreign Bible Society promptly and generously agreed to this joint proposal, and undertook the whole pecuniary responsibility involved that is to say: (1) the payment of the salary of the principal reviser; (2) travelling expenses of the delegates; (3) the cost of native assistance; (4) the purchase of critical books and stationery; and (5) the printing of the proofs.

The consent of the Bible Society having been obtained, the next step was the appointment of delegates. As soon as these had been appointed, a preliminary meeting was held on July 24th, 1873, at the house of Mr. W. Johnson, of the F.F.M.A., who had acted as secretary to the conference. At this meeting several preliminary questions were discussed, and it was resolved that, instead of entering at once upon the general work, a tentative revision of a few selected chapters (viz. Gen. i.-iv.; Ex. i., ii., xx.; Psa. i.-v.; Matt. v.-vii.) should be made by the principal reviser, and that a session should be held for the purpose of discussing these portions and of ascertaining more in detail than could be done in general conversation how far the delegates were united in judgment as to the extent and character of the changes required. This plan, it was hoped, would simplify the work of the principal reviser, and give to his future labours greater definiteness and precision. This first session was held in December, 1873. Daily sittings of five or six hours were held for about three weeks, and the following portions were revised: Gen. i.—iii.; Ex. xx. 1-17; Psa. i., ii.; Mat. v. 1-22; vi. 9-13 (in all, 142 verses, or on an average about twelve verses per day).

The general work of revision on the lines laid down was now proceeded with, and, as will be seen from the foregoing description, comprised two distinct departments-viz. (1) the preparation of the preliminary version which was to form the basis of the work, and (2) the revision and improvement of this version by the united action of the Committee.

Of the preparation of the preliminary version the following is a brief description written soon after its completion on September 12th, 1884"The last proof (Old Testament, No. 220, containing Zech. xi. 9 -- Mal. iii. 24) was finished on September 12th. This work of preliminary revision was begun in October, 1873, and has thus stretched over a space of eleven years. It did not, however, take the whole of this time; but deducting my absence on furlough (1876–1878), and the time spent in 1880 and 1881 in preparing 'copy' of the unrevised portions for use in the 'Interim Edition,' I think about eight years was the time actually spent on it. But it should be remembered that during the whole of this time about two days a week were taken up with the ordinary work of the Revision Committee.

"This tentative version has been prepared in a series of 'Principal Reviser's Proofs.' These proofs were octavo in size, printed in clear type, with a wide margin for notes. Most of them contained eight pages, but a few extended to ten or twelve. The average number of verses in a proof was about 110. Two hundred and eighty-four proofs have been printed - viz. 64 of the New Testament and 220 of the Old Testament. The original arrangement was that three Old Testament proofs should be prepared for each one of the New Testament, and, at first, this plan was in the main followed. But after a time it was deemed desirable to proceed at once with the remaining books of the New Testament, and from July, 1880, to November, 1881, the Old Testament work was suspended, and the revision of the remaining books of the New Testament-viz. Acts to Revelation was completed.

"My plan of working in preparing these proofs was to take a page of the Malagasy Bible pasted on a sheet of paper for notes, and compare this word for word with the original, using the best critical aids in my possession, and endeavouring, in the first instance, to make the translation as literal as possible. Every point that appeared doubtful I marked with a (?), and at the end of the week I went through these doubtful passages with my native

helper, Ralaiàrivòny. At the beginning, I had two natives to help me in this kind of work-viz., Ralaiarivony and Andriamamanga. Both of these belonged to the caste of andriana (or nobles). They had not enjoyed any special training, but were men of good general ability, and of very correct taste in matters affecting their own language; and as I wanted help chiefly in questions of idiom and taste, I do not think I could have made a better choice. During my absence in England Andriamamanga died, but Ralaiarivony has continued to work with me week by week to the end, and great praise is due to him for his patient care and good taste. In the earlier part of the work, it usually took us several hours to go through the passages I had marked thus (?); but as we advanced, and more points had been settled, and as I myself grew more accustomed to the work, this time was gradually lessened, until in the last portions we spent not more than an hour, or an hour and a half, in discussing the doubtful points that had arisen out of a week's work. Friday morning has for some years been the time usually devoted to this work, and the remaining hours of the day were generally spent in preparing clean copy for the printer.

"In looking back over the eleven years that have slipped away since I put my hand to this revision work. I have great reason to thank God for the enjoyment of health and strength. With very slight interruptions, I have been able to keep steadily at my work from week to week. During the middle portion of the work I often felt weary, and almost afraid I could not keep on till the end; but, on the whole, what I have done has been a labour of love and a source of much delight and instruction to myself. The work has grown upon us all, and we have found the Malagasy language much richer than we had imagined it to be, and capable of expressing many distinctions and shades of meaning we had supposed to lie beyond its range. Many more changes have been made than I originally thought would be necessary; but we have felt unwilling to leave anything that could by pains and care be brought nearer the original. My version has been very largely modified and greatly improved by the Committee; but I think it may be considered to have formed a useful basis for the united work, and to have facilitated the progress of the revision."

The work of the Committee has been from these preliminary proofs to build up what we earnestly hope will become a 'standard version,' which shall be received with confidence by all Protestants in Madagascar, and round which, as the years pass, shall gather sacred associations and loving reverence. At first the Committee held continuous sessions of several

weeks each twice a year. But at the close of the third session a change of plan was introduced, and instead of holding sessions of several weeks' duration, the Committee agreed to sit one day per week, with an occasional session of a week or a fortnight, when arrears of work should render this necessary. These weekly meetings were begun February 2nd, 1875, and were continued without serious interruption till March 7th, 1876, by which time the Committee had revised as far as Exodus in the Old Testament, and to the end of Matthew in the New Testament. Owing to the fact that the principal reviser was about to leave for England on furlough, the work was then suspended.

As soon as possible after his return in 1878, the weekly meetings were resumed, and from November 14th, 1878, to October 28th, 1885, they ! were continued with a reasonable amount of regularity, and occasional continuous sessions were held at not unfrequent intervals. The rate of progress naturally varied much according to the character of the portion

under revision. In some of the earlier meetings of the Committee not more than ten or twelve verses were revised in a whole day. The largest quantity revised in a single day was 309 verses, but this is easily accounted for by the character of the portion revised (2 Kings xxv. 2—1 Chron. vi. 66). From sixty to a hundred verses was an average day's work.

Our plan was to meet at 8.30 a.m., and work three hours in the morning and three in the afternoon. The day's meeting was opened with a brief prayer, and we then proceeded to revise the portion for consideration verse by verse. We had with us usually three native helpers. The Committee sat on 433 days, and held in all 771 sittings, chiefly of three hours each. The work has been laborious and has been a heavy tax on our patience; but I think I may truly say we have attained a fair standard of exactness and thoroughness. The Rev. L. Dahle, of the Norwegian Mission, has been able to render the Committee most valuable help, especially from his full and exact knowledge of Hebrew and the cognate languages. In this department he has been facile princeps, and the translation owes very much to his untiring care and keenness of critical insight. But every member of the Committee has in his own order contributed to the final result, and the actual language employed is not the choice of any individual, but is the result of combined thought and discussion. Many of the happiest and most apt phrases the version contains have sprung unexpectedly to light in the midst of our discussions, and have at once commended themselves to our judgment. As a rule the wishes of the native helpers (within certain well-defined limits, which as faithful translators we felt bound to maintain have been followed as to the actual form of the sentences, and even as to the choice of words; and hundreds of small changes have been made, which no foreigner would have thought necessary, and of which few would see the reason, purely out of deference to native opinion. I think every member of the Committee would heartily confess our obligations to our native brethren. We ourselves have learned much, especially as to the possibility of misunderstanding phrases that seemed to us quite clear, and as to undesirable associations lurking in unsuspected quarters. We have again and again been taught the danger of undue literalism, and have found what numberless pitfalls lie in the path of one who is dealing with a language not his own. Certainly a greater humility in estimating our own proficiency in the language should be one of the fruits of our long-continued work. No amount of familiarity with it seems to give us quite the instinct and taste of a native; and we have been saved from many an ambiguity and from not a few absurdities by the keener perceptions of our native co-workers. Malagasy translations of the Bible contain certain often-cited instances of the absurdities into which a translator may, alas! too easily fall. We have, for instance, a translation of Gen. iii. 13, which at any rate suggests the thought that the woman swallowed the serpent. So, too, from taking the common preposition amy to mean with, which in some combinations it may do, we have a translation of Gen. xxiv. 15, which says that Rachel came forth from her pitcher. In John ix. 1, one translation speaks of a man who had been blind from the time of his begetting a child niteráhany