Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-12-12
A CURIOUS MoHAMMEDAN LEGEND
REGARDING HER.
Her visit to King soiomon-"hss
He Discovered Through the Agency
of n n,rd and Its CIeverness-schn-
rabcrs Demand.
New York Evening Post.)

neycd 10 Jerusatein sihPiS ~ 49,
mon with hard questions. And King
Solomon gave to the Queen OF snepa al
her desire. whatsoever she asked. oeside
that which she brought unto the hihs'
So snc Turned away untJ ner own iahu'
she and her serv~n.s'' verse -. But
who was TINS wonaerfui and dazzling
OueenY Where uiu Der kingoOm iieE Ana
what became of her Afterwards! we
search the book OF Chronicles In vain f0t
answers to these and countless othei
questions that might suggest themselves
And Vet the ceieDration OF TINS sdiue
visit mas been a favorite theme In tne
poetry and song of many nations ever
since. Surely, therefore, the bipiicai yer
SION has failed - preserve the oi'sn'ai
story in its entirely, or else The event
has come TO be unuuis msgniheu ny sue
ceeding generations
However this may be, II will be inte-
resting tc giance at tne picturesque ana
highly coiored legend of the Mohamme-
dams. which, T. say the least, VIII De
found 10 contain wide variety OF hh-
formation that is lacking In the Bibie.
1t seems that Solomon had just accom-
plished q pilgrimage 10 Mecca, ACCORDING
10 the Injunction of Abraham. VINO APP
peared to the King in dream ana
told hun TO visit the city OF Mecca as the
destined birthplace OF the greatest OF
prophets. Now, Solomon was enabled 10
converse with all the birds of the air and
beasts of the field at will, and he had
chosen for his intimate companions the
peewit and the eagle. The former acted as
a sort of confidential body-servant 10 the
mighty King himself, while the monarch
OF the feathered tribe was responsible
for the safe Keeping of the vast concourse
of animals that accompanied this expedi-
ton
When Solomon prepared to return 10
Jerusalem he was greatly annoyed TO
d scoysr wha. his Indispensable attendant
was missing SO he babe the eagle soa-
aloft to seek the runaway. that l may
strip him of his feathers and send him
naked forth into the sun. TO become the
prey of insects" The eagle finally spied
the peewit coming from the South, and
speedily brought the trembling truant
before the august presence.
How canst thou excuse thy absence
without my consent?" asked Solomon.
Sire. I bring thee news of land and
a Queen of which thou hast not heard
the names the land of Sheba. the Queen,
Balkis."
The Kings curiosity was aroused at
this, and he forthwith babe the peewit
relate the strange tale Of his wanderings
The substance Of the birds recital was
to the effect that he had met lapwing
in his course. who had told him Of the
marvels Of. a realm called Sheba, whose
Queen commanded an army generated
by 1900 officers. Finally the lapwing
beguiied the peewit into accompanying
him back to this wondrous land. and on
the way thi her recounted to him the
history of its Queen.
Sheba was also the name of the remote
founder OF the kingdom. who was a wor-
shipper Of the sun. The last OF the
Kings dynasty was Scharabel, disso-
lutte tyrant who was feared by all his
subiec S. He had a vizier of such singu-
lar beauty that a damsel OF the Jinne
Che Jinns were supposed TO be Il off
| spring of Lilith by her union with Satan
| and were reputed TO possess supernatural
| powers), Umera by name. fell in love
with the high official and induced him TO
fly with her to an island in the midst ~
the ocean. In the course OF tlme she
gave birth TO daughter. whom ~
named BsllSis One day the Vizier forgot
4 promise which he had made. and asked
he beau Gus Jim TO what race she be
longed No sooner had he uttered the
fatal question than with wall OF sorrow
l'meria vanished for ever from his sight
The Vizier then returned to his native
country. dweit with his child in a Sc
Guided vale far from the capital.
As Balkls grew up she developed into
a maiden of such superhuman beauty that
her father was obliged to guard her care
fully, and never allowed her TO appear in
pubic without being closely yelled Now
the wicked Scharabel was in the habit OF
travelling about his empire I'm disguise
In order, the better to prosecute his un.
l.s.ll rnd Il
on one occasion, while dressed az a men.
dicant, he knocked at the door Of the ex.
Vizier for aims. and thus obtained q
glimpse OF Balkis, then 13 years of age
The father rushed out. and the two msr
recognized each other. The result wa.
that soon afterwards the ex-Vizier found
himself re-established I'm his cd office
Nevertheless. he was full of vague dis
quletude. and warned his daughter thai
dreadful fate might be In store for her
Balkis, however. kept her own counse.
and said nothing.
Within a few days scharabe sent 2
demand for the hand of the Vizier'l
daughter. The maiden. strange to say
complied without hesitation, end rogue 10
that the wedding be celebrated as soon o:
possible, and with becoming pomp. Aftsi
alone with the King who was already
drunken with wine. The astute Balki.
piled him with still more, until her roya
bridegroom fell prone upon the floor, anC
| tncn sue stdDDeu MIN 10 the nedrt. Sn
at once communicated with her father
and told him TO issue orders that he fair
est daughters of every citizen must b
brought before the King. Wild commo
| Ion and reyo Immediately ensued anon.
the populace. when suddenly Ba'kis ap
peared at a window and showed the ty
rants head, which she had cut of A or,
Of icy ran throughout the length an
mously elected Queen of the realm, whic
SIC had governed wis ~ ever slnce.
The peewt to- all these things I
Solomon. and omitted not - rvnrti 10 q
, the splendors Of the city and the beautie
? If the Queen, which he mad witnesse
with his own eyes Solomon istened 1
the narration attentively throughout; the
ne wrote letter, and sealed II with hi
| ring. and directed the bird 10 carry IN
missive to the Queen of Sheba. Havin
done this. he returned 10 Jerusalem wit
his company
The next day the Queen received III
: letter from the beak OF the peewit. an
| read this message: Solomon, son
: David, and servant Of the Most High Coo
| 70 Balkis. Queen of Sheba, sendeth gree
ting. In the name OF the merciful an
Gracious God neace be to thore who vol
In His ways. Do what bid thee; subm
Immediately to my zceptre.
The Queen was ON wiai s art ed =
/ this peremptory summons and called
h council of her ministers. They urged ns
; TO 70 low her own devices. Final 81
, decided 10 dispatch messenger 10 u
stern monar h and propiliate him wit
gifts. 'If he accepts them" she wisel
e remarked, "hs is not above other king
: II he rejects them, he is "a prophet. an
& we must yield 10 his sway"
, The Queen then commanded shat .
/ boys be dressed as CIR s, ana 500 girls
\ boys. She collected for presents tho
s sand carpets Of gold and silver tissu
crown studded with pearls and dit
monds. and an immense quantity o. r.
fumes. She also placed a pearl. di
nd ont ~ ID
tai goblet I'm a box. and handed II to h,