letters-第10节
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ight easily improve at Kiachta； half of the inhabitants of which town are Chinamen。 I am therefore not altogether unqualified for such an adventure。 Were the attempt to be made； the winter of the ensuing year would be the proper time for starting； because the book will not be ready before next spring； and the expenses of a summer journey would be enormous。
A few days since； upon taking leave of Prince Abbas Khoulgi； who has departed from this place to his patrimonial territories； near the Caucasus； I presented him with a Testament in the Russian… Tartar language； which is his native tongue。 He is without one exception the most interesting man I have ever met。 Though by religion a Mahometan he is totally divested of the blind bigotry which so peculiarly characterises the followers of the Camel… driver…warrior…pseudo…prophet； but on the contrary is possessed of a mind ever restless in the pursuit of truth； and which will doubtless eventually lead him to the narrow path which leadeth unto salvation。 The Testament which he received from me was the very last； in the Tartar language； which remained in the shop at which are sold the publications of what was once the Russian Bible Society。 It is a sad fact that though there are upwards of three thousand Tartars in St。 Petersburg； most of whom can read and write the Turkish dialect which they speak； not one Testament is at hand suited to their understandings。 I have formed many acquaintances among these most singular people； whose language I have acquired； during my residence in the Russian capital； chiefly from conversing with my servant Mahomet Djaffier； a native of Bucharia； son of the Iman or Mahometan priest of this place。 Notwithstanding the superstition and fanaticism of these men I am much attached to them； for their conscientiousness； honesty； and fidelity are beyond all praise。 They stand in strong contrast with the lower orders of the Russians； a good…natured； lowly…vicious； wavering race； easily excited； easily soothed； whilst the former are sedate； sober； temperate beings； with minds like Egyptian granite； from which it is no easy matter to efface an impression； once made。 How lamentable that such people should in the all…important matter of religion have embraced error instead of truth； what ornaments they would prove at the present day to Christianity； if； instead of Mahometanism； Christianity had originally come in their way！ Of a surety they would reflect much more lustre on the religion of Christ than millions whose deeds and behaviour are more worthy of the followers of the impostor than of Him 'in whose mouth was found no craft or subtlety。'
I have much more to write and wish so to do； but I have really no time。 It is probable that you will not hear from me again before Christmas （old style）； but I entreat YOU to inform me as soon as possible whether my proceedings give satisfaction or not； but I must here take the liberty of stating that if I were moved one inch from my own course； the consequences might prove disastrous to the work； as I should instantly lose all power of exertion。 I want no assistance but that of God； and will accept of none。 Pray； I beseech you； that THAT be granted。
You would； my dear Sir； be conferring a great favour upon me； if you would so far trouble yourself as to write a few lines to my venerated friend Mr。 Cunningham of Lowestoft； informing him that I am tolerably well； and that the work is going on most prosperously。
I remain； Reverend and dear Sir；
Your most humble and obliged servant；
GEORGE BORROW。
P。S。 … Baron Schilling wishes to have a Chinese Testament of the large edition： pray； send one if possible； and direct it to me at the Sarepta House。 Be particular to remember that it must be of the large edition； for he has one of the small already in his possession。 He wishes likewise to have Gutzlaff and Lindsay's Voyages。
ENCLOSED IN THE LETTER IS THE FOLLOWING CERTIFICATE。
Testifico …
Dominum Burro ab initio usque ad hoc tempus summa cum deligentia et studio in re Mantshurica laborasse。
LIPOVZOFF。
LETTER： 15/27 December； 1834
To J。 Tarn； Esq。 ST。 PETERSBURG； DECR。 15/27； 1834。
ON the other side I send an account of the money disbursed since the period of my last writing to you until the present moment。 In respect to the 75 roubles charged for the reprinting of three sheets of St。 Matthew； I beg leave to observe； that after several sheets of that Gospel had been printed； after the same manner as that adopted in the first edition； Mr。 Lipoftsoff； the Censor； gave me notice that he had determined that the position of the vowel… points should be altered； and I did not think proper to make any opposition。 But as common…sense informed me that it was by no means expedient to exhibit two systems of pointing in the same work； I subsequently caused the first sheets to be reprinted。 I think it necessary to offer this short explanation to prevent any misunderstanding； for this superfluous expense must be attributed to the Censor's not knowing originally his own mind； and not to any negligence on my part。 I am so pressed for time that I have not been able to refer to my last account； which lies buried amongst the ocean of my papers； and in stating that I retained in hand 123 roubles； I have merely trusted to memory and calculation； but I am sure the Committee and yourself will excuse my little inaccuracy； when I state my situation。 My two compositors； whom I had instructed in all the mysteries of Mandchou composition； are in the hospital down with the brain fever； for every kind of sickness is at present raging in this place； and during the last three days I have been running about in all directions in quest of people to fill their situation； until they recover。
Thanks be to the Lord； I have discovered and engaged the person who composed the first Mandchou Gospel of St。 Matthew； ten years since； and as next week I shall again station myself in the printing office for the purpose of assisting and instructing； the great work will not be delayed； and in a fortnight or ten days I trust to be able； provided an opportunity occurs； to transmit to England copies of the four Gospels。 With my best rewards to Mr。 Brandram and Mr。 Jowett （whose last letter I have received）； I remain； etc。；
GEORGE BORROW。
LETTER： 1st February； 1835
To J。 Tarn； Esq。 ST。 PETERSBURG； FEB。 1； 1835。
THE last account which I had the honour of transmitting to you detailed expenses in the editing of the Mandchou Testament as far as the first two sheets of St。 John。 That Gospel having by the blessing of the Almighty passed through the press； and a copy of it bound； and also copies of the three other Gospels； having been forwarded to London； I snatch a moment from my occupation to give an account of my late outgoings； the sums drawn for having been considerable on account of my having many and large bills to discharge。 When I last wrote； I retained in hand 75 roubles 50 copecks； of the sum of 3500 drawn for； since which sum I have drawn for the separate sums of 5000 and 500 according to the books of the Sarepta House。 I had advanced to the printer in consequence of the illness of his compositors the sum of 250； which being deducted from the 5000 I shall； in order to prevent confusion； take no notice of； and proceed to give an account of the disbursement of
R。 C。
5575 50
11 Jany。 1835； paid Mr。 Pluchard for one hundred and sixty…five reams of paper at 25R。 per ream； 4125
27 Dec。 1834； paid Mr。 Lauffert for the binding of St。 Matthew； 450 Do。 for 2 chests to contain St。 Matthew； 10 Jan。 2； 1835； to printer for 3； 4； 5； 6； 7； 8； 9； 10 of St。 John； 200 Do。 for printing 6000 titles； being sufft。 for 6 of the 8 parts of the Test。； 60 Jany。 9； from 10 to 16 of St。 John； 150 Do。 for the casting of 6 large type； for titles； not in Baron Schilling's colln。； the rest being furnished by him； 4 Do。 16。 From 16 to 22 of St。 John； 150 Do。 22。 To Mr。 Lauffert for bindg。 St。 Mark's Gospel； 450 Chests； 10 Do。 22；。 22 to 26 and a half of St。 John； 112 50 5721 50
The Society are therefore at the present moment further indebted to me 146R。 0C。
Should you discover at any time any inaccuracy in the accounts which I transmit； you will much oblige me by instantly making me acquainted with the same； in order that a satisfactory explanation may be given。 The sacrifice of time to the correction of the manuscript and proof…sheets scarcely allows me a moment's leisure； and I am moreover compelled to superintend the printers and book… binders； for everything goes wrong without a strict surveillance。
By the time these lines reach you the Acts of the Apostles （the Lord willing） will have passed through the press。 Next week I hope to write to the Revd。 J。 Jowe
