Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1835, by SAMUEL L. KNAPP, in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the Southern District of New-York.

JAS. VAN NORDEN, PRINTER,

49 WILLIAM STREET.

INTRODUCTION.

ANCIENT history informs us that Osapho, a Lybian king, was anxious to have divine honours paid to him by his subjects, being surfeited by such as were merely human. This wish of his heart occupied his attention night and day; at last, he hit upon a stratagem to secure the homage due the gods for himself. He established an extensive aviary of those numerous talking birds found in warm climates. His slaves, in secret, taught these birds, whenever they were fed, or wanted food, to cry aloud, "Osapho is a god!" When all his birds were thoroughly instructed in this language, the whole flock were allowed to fly from their cages to the thickest groves, and when the shepherds and hinds came to repose in the shade, in the heat of the day, the whole Sylvan train were astonished to hear the birds pronounce distinctly the words

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Osapho is a god." The inspired birds were tame, and had no fears of inen; this incréased their credit with their audience. The words were repeated from tree to tree, until the whole grove was vocal with the sound. The wonder-strock listeners hurried from the groves to the palace of the king, and fell down and worshipped him. The language of the birds was taken as oracular, when it only arose from a trick to gull the Lybians.