Secondly the translations of Benjamin Schultze should be mentioned. He devoted most of his time in Tranquebar and in Chennai for translation work. He attempted to translate the Old Testament (TAM 42-48, 50. 53-56). Apocryphal books (23-31.33.51-52). He sent the palm leaf manuscripts to Halle because he wanted to revise his Tamil translations of the Bible. Fortunately his wish remained as a dream only. Wherever his translation. agrees fully with Tamil diction it was because of the help he received from his Tamil helpers such as Peter Malaiappa. Malaiappan was fluent in German and in English. He had accompanied Ziegenbalg on his voyage to Denmark, Germany and England (1714-1716). Even after his return he was helping the German missionaries in their translation works. Schultze translated many German songs into Tamil (TAM 92, 101-102). He wrote polemic works against the Roman Catholics (TAM 82, 83). He also composed a conversation with a Telugu person (TAM 91). He was probably the first person to translate the Anglican Book of Common Prayer (TAM 69, 99) into Tamil. His contribution to Tamil language could be seen in his translations of the works of John Arndt (1555-1621) and Thomas à Kempis (1380-1471). Arndt's famous German devotional literature True Christianity contained four parts. Schultze translated them around 1740 into Tamil (TAM 1-4, 57-60), just before he left Chennai and went to Halle/Saale. It was a monumental achievement. Moreover he printed the first two parts of this book in 1750 in Halle/Saale. Schultze translated Paradise Garden, the second important work of Arndt
William Germann (died 1903), the historian of the Tranquebar Mission who had direct access to analysed the scientific contributions of the Germans to Tamil studies. In one of his articles he articulted that without the help of Peter Malaiappan the Tamil translation works of the missionaries would have been poor. Cf. Germann, W.: Die wissenschaftliche Arbeit unserer alten Tamulen-Missionare mit Berücksichtigung neuerer Leistungen. In: Missionsnachrichten der ostindischen Missionsanstalt zu Halle. Halle. 1865, pp. 1-27, 53-81 and, 85-119, hier quoted pp. 66 and 99.
5
It is impossible to ascertain which German text Schultze used for his translation. One of the texts could have been the following one: Arndt, Johann: Fünff Geistreiche Bücher vom Wahren Christenthum. Leipzig, Joh. Herbord Kloß und Joh. Heinrichens Wittb. 1696. (Main library of the Francke Foundation, Call No. 51 F 4). After Schultze inaŭ returned to Halle/Saaic he may have consuited the following edition by Rambach, which was one of the authoritative texts for the Halle pietists: Rambach, Johann Jacob [Ed] Johann Arnds Gesammelte Kleme Schriften, welche gröstentheils bishero rar und nicht mehr zu bekommen, viele aber noch gar nicht übersetzet gewesen [...] mit einer Historischen Vorrede Herrn Johann Jacob Rambachs. Leipzig und Görlitz., In der Marcheschen Buchhandlung, 1736 (Main library of the Francke Foundation, Call No. A 148).
6
The main libarary (Call No. 32 M 12) and the mission library (Call No. C-70) of the Francke Foundation have copies of the printed books
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Amdt. Johann: Paradies-Garilem, voller Christlichen Tugenden, wie solche Durch geistreiche Gebete in die Seele zu pflantzen. Magdeburg, Druckts Christian Lebrecht Faber, 1727 (Main library of the Francke Foundation, Call No. 85 G 12).
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காகிதச்சுவடி ஆய்வுகள்
