iven by Weil in his _Biblische
Legenden der Muselmaenner_. Weil, however, represents it as a cluster of
stones, possessing different virtues, and not as a single stone. The
symbol called the Seal of Solomon by the Freemasons, &c., consists of
two equilateral triangles intersecting each other within a circle, and
is regarded by mystics of every class as one of the most sacred of all
symbols. In Eastern legends the mystical name of God is said to have
been inscribed on the Seal. Arabian writers say that the embalmed body
of Solomon, with the ring on his finger, sits enthroned on one of the
islands of the Circumambient Ocean. Cf. the story "Bulookiya" (_Thousand
and One Nights_), and Kirby's poem of _Ed-Dimiryaht_.

[Footnote 66: There has been some discussion as to the right meaning to
be put upon the words, _Mana tark_ (Death-magician), but it appears to
me that necromancer is simply a literal rendering.]

[Footnote 67: This serpent-gathering so much resembles those described
in the first book of the _Maha-Bharata_, and in the story of Hasib (or
Jamasp) in the _Thousand and One Nights_, that I have referred the
present story to the class of tales of Oriental origin.]

[Footnote 68: In Finland and Esthonia they use dried birch-twigs with
the leaves attached to whisk themselves with when bathing.]

[Footnote 69: See vol. i. p. 13.]

THE NORTHERN FROG[70].

(KREUTZWALD).

Once upon a time, as old people relate, there existed a horrible monster
which came from the north. It exterminated men and animals from large
districts, and if nobody had been able to arrest its progress, it might
gradually have swept all living things from the earth.

It had a body like an ox and legs like a frog; that is to say, two short
ones in front, and two long ones behind. Its tail was ten fathoms long.
It moved like a frog, but cleared two miles at every bound. Fortunately
it used to remain on the spot where it had once alighted for several
years, and did not advance farther till it had eaten the whole
neighbourhood bare. Its body was entirely encased in scales harder than
stone or bronze, so that nothing could injure it. Its two large eyes
shone like the brightest tapers both by day and night, and whoever had
the misfortune to meet their glare became as one bewitched, and was
forced to throw himself into the jaws of the monster. So it happened
that men and animals offered themselves to be devoured, without any
necessity for it t