The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-11-24

their Queen, but Solomon told them It's con-
tents without opening It. They offered the
tanned a pearl, a diamond and a goblet.
Servants next brought in silver ewers that
the ambassadors and their train might wash
their hands. Solomon, watching intently,
easily picked out the boys from the girls:
for the boys dipped their hands only in the
water, while the girls were careful TO wash
arms as well as hands. The box was opened
and the pearl produced. Solomon drilled a
hole through this by means of his magic
stone schamir. Then he took the diamond
pierced with the zigzag passage. Placing a
piece Of silk in the mouth of a silkworm,
he inserted Il In the opening, and Dehold.
In a few seconds the worm appeared at the
other end still bearing its freight This so
pleased Solomon that he bestowed the null
berry tree upon the useful little creature
as its food forever.
crystal goblet, while his guests looked on
with overconident smiles, being sure that
his sagacity would fall him here. solomon
however, simply called a huge negro slave,
and babe him gallop over the plains on a
wild horse, until its bodv steamed with
sweat. Thus ii came TO pass that the mon
arch was enabled 10 fill the vessel with
water that came from neither earth nor
soLoMoN'S MESSAGE.
Solomon having accomplished these tasks
satisfactorily (not without some friendly
suggestions from the peewit. however,. dis
missed the ambassadors with these words:
TAX back your presents; ! DO not want
them. Tell the Queen what you have seen,
and bid her submit to my rule" Balkis
heard the report OF her messengers. and
realized that it was incumbent upon her to
pay homage TO such a mighty King. WHO
was also a great prophet. Accordingly she
made preparations for a stately journey TO
Jerusalem, and went forth from the gates
OF Sheba at the head OF her 1900 generals
and all the armies they commanded.
oS Ses1mo an;pr Deans 6 pregare adPp to Welcome on i his
royal visitor by showing her a convincing
proof of his own transcendent powers. Sum-
moning a .nimble-footed Jim, he babe him
transport Immediately from Sheba the mis-
sive golden throne of the Queen. and set
it by his side. The demon replied that he
could not bring il that distance before
noon, which would be too late; .whereupon
Asaph, the devout Vizier, said: Raise
thine eyes, sire, TO heaven, and before thou
canst lower them the throne of Balkis
the Queen arrived she was becomingly i'm
pressed. and forgot not to express her
thanks for the graceful attention.
Solomon became deeply enamored of this
~beauteous Queen Of Sheba the moment he
her seated by his side. And ere long SOL
omon took Balkis to be his wife, and she
worshiped the true God. She gave him
all her realm, but he returned il to her;
and when she went into her own land,
she bore with her the fruit of her union
with Solomon, and in the course of time
DIOuElL lOEIn a SOL VINO Is the ancestor
of the Kings OF A~byssinia" (Sheba)
The greater portion of the foregoing ac-
count has been derived from the Chronicle
Of Abou-djafar Mohammed Tabari, who con-
spicuously mentions the following grotesque
and absurd incident in connection with
Solomon'S reception of the Queen. The
same is also referred TO with slight varia-
tons in ID. G.. Wells Bibliche Legende der
M~uselmanner.
1t is recorded that the Jinns great num-
bers of which half-demoniac race had been
enlisted by Solomon in his service) became
jealous of Balkis as she advanced in their
cheaper her attractions, they gravely in
formed the King that she had hairy legs.
Instead OF chastising the Jinns for their
indecent libel, Solomon proceeded TO satisfy
his curiosity on this important point with
out delay. Over a crystal pavement one
hundred cubitS square. he ordered water
poured so that it might appear to be of
considerable depth. Now Queen Balkis was
obliged to cross this pavement in order TO
reach her throne, and in so doing, as was
anticipated. raised her petticoats rather
higher than was necessary. On discovering
the shallowness Of the water she quickly
dropped them again. but not before the
great King had seen that the Jinns had
grossly maligned her legs, and that the only
blemish thereon was three goats hairs; and
these he was enabled to remove by a COM
position OF arsenic and lime, which was also
the first depilatory preparation ever en-
ployed-"