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Motu Version of the Scriptures

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Mott, William F.

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Motzer, Daniel

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The Motu is a dialect spoken by the natives round Port Moresby, New Guinea, hence it is also called the Port Moresby or New Guinea dialect. The Reverend J. Chalmers translated the first three gospels, and of these the gospel of Mark has been carefully revised by the Reverend W.G. Lawes, and an edition of five hundred copies was printed at Sydney during the year 1881 by the New South Wales Auxiliary to the British and Foreign Bible Society. Mr. Lawes, who is preparing other portions for the press, says concerning the gospel of Mark: "This is the first portion of the Scriptures translated into any language of south-east New Guinea. The Dutch missionaries at Doreby, at the extreme north-west of the island, I think, translated a portion into the language spoken there, but, with that possible exception, this is the beginning of the work of translation on New Guinea." From the report of the British and Foreign Bible Society for 1883, we learn that the gospel of Mark, which has been circulated, is more widely read than was expected. The gospels of Matthew and Luke were also revised by Mr. Lawes, and printed at Sydney in 1882, while the gospel of John, which he translated himself, was published in 1884. (B.P.)