The Virginian

CURIOUS PIECE OF MECHANISM.

The following account of a curious piece of mechanism, is taken from a Persian manuscript, entitled 'The History of Jerusalem.' It is an account of the throne of King Solomon, and we think, surpasses any piece of mechanism produced in modern times, notwithstanding the wonderful inventions and improvements which have lately taken place in every branch of science.

The famous throne was the work of the Demon Sakhr; it was called Kou-kubat Jinna. The beauty of this throne has never been sufficiently described; the following are therefore the particulars:

The sides of it were pure gold: the feet of emerald and rubies, intermixed with pearls, each of which was as big as an ostrich egg. The throne had seven steps; on each side were delineated orchards full of trees, the branches of which were composed of precious stones representing fruit, ripe or unripe; on the tops of the trees were to be seen figures of beautiful plumed birds, particularly the peacock, the estrich, and the kurges. All these birds were hollowed within artificially, so as occasionally to utter a thousand melodious notes, such as the ear of mortal never heard. On the first step were delineated vine branches, having bunches of grapes, composed of various sorts of precious stones, fashioned in such a manner as to represent the different colours of purple, violet, green and red, so as to render the appearance of real fruit. On the second step, on each side of the throne, were two lions, of terrible aspect, as large as life, and formed of cast gold. The nature of this remarkable throne was such, that when the prophet Solomon placed his foot upon the first step, all the birds spread forth their wings, and made a fluttering noise in the air. On his touching the second step, the two lions expanded their claws. On reaching the third step, the whole assembly of demons, and fairies, and men, repeated the praises of the Deity. When he arrived at the fourth step, voices were heard addressing him in the following manner: 'Son of David, be thankful for the blessings the Almighty has bestowed upon you,'—The same was repeated on his reaching the fifth step. On his touching the sixth, all the throne birds and animals became in motion, and ceased not until he had placed himself on the royal seat, when the birds, lions and other animals, by secret springs, discharged a shower of the most precious perfume on the prophet; after which two of the kurgeses, descending, placed a golden crown upon his head. 'Before the throne, was a column of burnished gold, on the top of which was a golden dove, which held in its beak a volume bound in silver. In this book were written the Psalms of David; and the dove having presented the book to the king, he read aloud a portion of it to the children of Israel. It is further related, that on the approach of wicked persons to this throne, the lions were wont to set up a terrible roaring, and to lash their tails with violence; the birds also began to bristle up their feathers, and the assembly also of demons and genii to utter horrid cries; so that for fear of them no person dared be guilty of falsehood, but confessed their crime.

Such was the throne of Solomon, the son of David.