Кыргыз / قىرعىز تىلى / Kirghiz Bible History (3)

**List: Kirghiz Ministry the Bible ( the Bible ) Kirghiz... ORENBURG-TARTAR. "THIS version is written in the dialect of the Kirghisian-Tartars, and was especially designed for the use of members of that nation residing in the Russian government of Orenburg.   The dialect is spoken not only in Orenburg, but also in the vast tracts of country extending from the Caspian and Lake of Aral to the frontiers of China.   It is the vernacular tongue of two distinct people, namely, of the true or Kara-Kirghis, who inhabit the banks of certain rivers in Southern Siberia, and of the Kazak-Kirghis, the present occupants of the Kirghis Steppe.   The latter are divided into three hordes, called the Great horde, Little horde, and Middle horde.   The Great horde is reckoned among the tributaries of China, but the dependence is merely nominal.   The other hordes, though in some degree subject to Russia, also preserve a sort of independence of their own.   According to Russian authorities, the probable number of individuals composing the three hordes is from 2,000,000 to 2,400,000.    This version is not an original translation, but merely an accommodation of Mr. Brunton’s Karass version to the peculiar idioms and orthography of the Kirghisian Tartars.   Mr. Charles Frazer, one of the Scottish mies. at Astrakhan, was employed in the preparation of the work.   An edition of 2000 copies of the Gospel of St. Matthew was printed in 1818, and two years afterwards 5000 copies of the entire Testament were completed at the mission press of Astrakhan, at the expense of the Russian Bible Society.   The Kirghisians are all Moh_mm_dans, and, though once a civilised and literary people, are now in a state of semi-barbarism.   Since the suspension of the Russian Bible Society there have been few opportunities of ascertaining what results have been wrought among this nation by means of the perusal of their vernacular Scriptures."--The Bible of Every Land. (1860, Second Edition)   Samuel Bagster   [Info only] ORENBURG-TARTAR.--1860   S. Bagster   [Info only: Arabic Character   n.d. John 1:1-14 unknown.]

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