The Savannah morning news., 1901-04-25
THE BOOK OF MANACHEK.
By William Taylor Williams.

BY William Taylor Williams
About a year ago l bought from an
Oriental peddler a number of articles of
curiosity, among them small slab of
some peculiar kind of stone The slab
or tablet was about six by eight inches,
and perhaps three-quarters of an inch
thick; it was used on my desk as a pa
per-weight.
short time afterward it accidentally
fell to the floor, and the jar was suf-
ficient to reveal the Circumstance that the
tablet was formed by a number Of thin
plates very skillfully stuck together. The
result was half dozen plates with very
smooth. surface, save for the fact that
they had been scratched by fine point
SO as to be covered with curious look
ing writing.
My former familiarity with ancient
oriental languages soon enabled me to
find that the writing was in Chaldee, but
OF such very ancient dialect that its
ueclphering, with the experience at my
command was matter of extreme DIFF
hcuity | went to work, however, and by
resolute perseverance nnally succeeded in
ment; and l now lay before the public
the results of my labors
i conclude that the MS. is frag-
ment of ante-diiuvisn history, partly from
the circumstance that no alusion is made
10 diversity of languages, but more es-
peclally from the characteristic chronol-
ogy. ! may say here that by this dis
covery, I feel confirmed in the conviction
l have long held namely that the Scrip
turaI ahte-deluvian chronology speaks of
months as years"
OF course, l am unable to claim that
my MS is an original one; but if it is a
copy it is certainly an extremely old
copy w r w
THE BOOK OF MANACHEK.
Chapter l.
Now, in the three hundred and four
teenth year of the reign of King Mana
chek, the King called together his chief
priests and his sooth-sayers and his wise
men and his captains
ANA when they were gathered togeth-
er IN the Council Chamber Of the King.
the King opened his mouth and spake
unto them, saying:
Behold, wherefore have called YOU to-
Stlhef 10 take counsel with me-
i"ere hath come to my ear from the
couiitry OF the Aiamites, even beyond the
lafther corner of the earth. the fame OF
mat country and of the riches and glory
of its King.
Ana the fame has come to me of their
vessels of gold and of silver and of their
precious stones; of their dancing men and
Haielhs MAIDS; likewise of their savory
fruits which differ from our fruits in
SAVIOR. III
Wherefore, the desire Of nv soul is n
know of these things of my own knowI-
euee' ana to see them with my own ewes.
dIso 10 taste of their fruits which differ
from our fruits in SAVIOR.
ana When the King had made an end
Oh speaking, there arose the chief can
tam and he opened his mouth and snake
SAYING, . King, live forever
behold, my Lord the King, knoweth
. mat ne hath armies like unto the sands
OF the seashore; likewise ships like urto
the trees of the forest
Wherefore, if it be the Kings desira e.
see and know of all these things Int nc
hlhg send his armies and his shins 10
me country of these Alamites and nr~.
vail over them. ''N ~
1heh shall his ships bring back again
10 the King their dancing men and their
dahclng women for his slaves Ana th.,,
ShaIi bring also of their gold and their
slVer ana OF their fruits that the King
may taste of them and have his desire.
Ihen spake the King again. saving Go
10; thou speakest as a foolish man for
am a man of peace and not of blood
moreover, If l send my armies and nv,
shlps 10 prevail against this people and
despolI them, who shall warrant me that
they shall not prevail over me? For what
Know we of their strength or Of Their
armies? VI '"eIi
Ana when they hearkened unto those
words they marveled greatly ar the
wisdom of the King and held their ncaco
lhen spake the King again SAYING. MAJ
Tor have weighed the matter and tbis
shall We do: anu 'ii9
lie snail choose among you them that
are wise and prudent and gifted of
speech, and you shall take a shin ana
go unto this far country.
ANA We shall see the King of that conn
try, and speak kindly unto him and hear
unto MIN greetings from me even as from
a brother.
And behold We shall take unto him nres-
eIts or me raiment and curious carvings.
also OF nuts, dates and pomegranates and
of strong wine
Ana when We have sojourned in thas
country for a season We shall return again
10 me, and shall tell me by word re-
mouth that / may know for myself.
Ana as the King commanded SO was ~
cone; and they prepared and made ready
the snip as it We're for a long journey.
CHAPTER II.
Now when the ship was ready. thew took
presents for the King of the Alamites as
o6,nIy L