Part-8 THE FIRST VOYAGE OF SINBAD THE SAILOR : Magic tales for kids

My father left me a considerable estate, the best part of which I
spent in riotous living during my youth; but I perceived my error,
and reflected that riches were perishable, and quickly consumed by
such ill managers as myself. I further considered that by my
irregular way of living I had wretchedly misspent my time which is
the most valuable thing in the world. Struck with those
reflections, I collected the remains of my furniture, and sold all
my patrimony by public auction to the highest bidder. Then I
entered into a contract with some merchants, who traded by sea: I
took the advice of such as I thought most capable to give it me;
and resolving to improve what money I had, I went to Balsora and
embarked with several merchants on board a ship which we jointly
fitted out.

We set sail, and steered our course towards the East Indies,
through the Persian Gulf, which is formed by the coasts of Arabia
Felix on the right, and by those of Persia on the left, and,
according to common opinion, is seventy leagues across at the
broadest part. The eastern sea, as well as that of the Indies, is
very spacious: it is bounded on one side by the coasts of
Abyssinia, and is 4,500 leagues in length to the isles of Vakvak.
At first I was troubled with sea-sickness, but speedily recovered
my health, and was not afterwards troubled with that disease.

In our voyage we touched at several islands, where we sold or
exchanged our goods. One day, whilst under sail, we were becalmed
near a little island, almost even with the surface of the water,
which resembled a green meadow. The captain ordered his sails to be
furled, and permitted such persons as had a mind to do so to land
upon the island, amongst whom I was one.

But while we were diverting ourselves with eating and drinking, and
recovering ourselves from the fatigue of the sea, the island on a
sudden trembled, and shook us terribly.

They perceived the trembling of the island on board the ship, and
called us to re-embark speedily, or we should all be lost, for what
we took for an island was only the back of a whale. The nimblest
got into the sloop, others betook themselves to swimming; but for
my part I was still upon the back of the whale when he dived into
the sea, and had time only to catch hold of a piece of wood that we
had brought out of the ship to make a fire. Meanwhile, the captain,
having received those on board who were in the sloop, and taken up
some of those that swam, resolved to use the favourable gale that
had just risen, and hoisting his sails, pursued his voyage, so that
it was impossible for me to regain the ship.

Thus was I exposed to the mercy of the waves, and struggled for my
life all the rest of the day and the following night. Next morning
I found my strength gone, and despaired of saving my life, when
happily a wave threw me against an island. The bank was high and
rugged, so that I could scarcely have got up had it not been for
some roots of trees, which fortune seemed to have preserved in this
place for my safety. Being got up, I lay down upon the ground half
dead until the sun appeared; then, though I was very feeble, both
by reason of my hard labour and want of food, I crept along to look
for some herbs fit to eat, and had the good luck not only to find
some, but likewise a spring of excellent water, which contributed
much to restore me. After this I advanced farther into the island,
and came at last into a fine plain, where I perceived a horse
feeding at a great distance. I went towards him, between hope and
fear, not knowing whether I was going to lose my life or save it.
Presently I heard the voice of a man from under ground, who
immediately appeared to me, and asked who I was. I gave him an
account of my adventure; after which, taking me by the hand, he led
me into a cave, where there were several other people, no less
amazed to see me than I was to see them.

I ate some victuals which they offered me, and then asked them what
they did in such a desert place. They answered that they were
grooms belonging to King Mihrage, sovereign of the island, and that
every year they brought thither the king's horses. They added that
they were to get home to-morrow, and had I been one day later I
must have perished, because the inhabited part of the island was at
a great distance, and it would have been impossible for me to have
got thither without a guide.

Next morning they returned with their horses to the capital of the
island, took me with them, and presented me to King Mihrage. He
asked me who I was, and by what adventure I came into his
dominions? And, after I had satisfied him he told me he was much
concerned for my misfortune, and at the same time ordered that I
should want for nothing, which his officers were so generous and
careful as to see exactly fulfilled.

Being a merchant, I frequented the society of men of my own
profession, and particularly inquired for those who were strangers,
if perhaps I might hear any news from Bagdad, or find an
opportunity to return thither, for King Mihrage's capital was
situated on the edge of the sea, and had a fine harbour, where
ships arrived daily from the different quarters of the world. I
frequented also the society of the learned Indians, and took
delight in hearing them discourse; but withal I took care to make
my court regularly to the king, and conversed with the governors
and petty kings, his tributaries, that were about him. They asked
me a thousand questions about my country, and I, being willing to
inform myself as to their laws and customs, asked them everything
which I thought worth knowing.

There belonged to this king an island named Cassel. They assured me
that every night a noise of drums was heard there, whence the
mariners fancied that it was the residence of Degial. I had a great
mind to see this wonderful place, and on my way thither saw fishes
of one hundred and two hundred cubits long, that occasion more fear
than hurt, for they are so timid that they will fly at the rattling
of two sticks or boards. I saw likewise other fishes, about a cubit
in length, that had heads like owls.

As I was one day at the port after my return, a ship arrived, and
as soon as she cast anchor, they began to unload her, and the
merchants on board ordered their goods to be carried into the
warehouse. As I cast my eye upon some bales, and looked at the
name, I found my own, and perceived the bales to be the same that I
had embarked at Balsora. I also knew the captain; but being
persuaded that he believed me to be drowned, I went and asked him
whose bales they were. He replied: 'They belonged to a merchant of
Bagdad, called Sinbad, who came to sea with us; but one day, being
near an island, as we thought, he went ashore with several other
passengers upon this supposed island, which was only a monstrous
whale that lay asleep upon the surface of the water; but as soon as
he felt the heat of the fire they had kindled on his back to dress
some victuals he began to move, and dived under water: most of the
persons who were upon him perished, and among them unfortunate
Sinbad. Those bales belonged to him, and I am resolved to trade
with them until I meet with some of his family, to whom I may
return the profit.'

'Captain,' said I, 'I am that Sinbad whom you thought to be dead,
and those bales are mine.'

When the captain heard me speak thus, 'O heaven,' said he, 'whom
can we ever trust now-a-days? There is no faith left among men. I
saw Sinbad perish with my own eyes, and the passengers on board saw
it as well as I, and yet you tell me you are that Sinbad. What
impudence is this! To look at you, one would take you to be a man
of honesty, and yet you tell a horrible falsehood, in order to
possess yourself of what does not belong to you.'

'Have patience, captain,' replied I; 'do me the favour to hear what
I have to say.'

'Very well,' said he, 'speak; I am ready to hear you.' Then I told
him how I escaped, and by what adventure I met with the grooms of
King Mihrage, who brought me to his court.

He was soon persuaded that I was no cheat, for there came people
from his ship who knew me, paid me great compliments, and expressed
much joy to see me alive. At last he knew me himself, and embracing
me, 'Heaven be praised,' said he, 'for your happy escape; I cannot
enough express my joy for it: there are your goods; take and do
with them what you will.' I thanked him, acknowledged his honesty,
and in return offered him part of my goods as a present, which he
generously refused.

I took out what was most valuable in my bales, and presented it to
King Mihrage, who, knowing my misfortune, asked me how I came by
such rarities. I acquainted him with the whole story. He was
mightily pleased at my good luck, accepted my present, and gave me
one much more considerable in return. Upon this I took leave of
him, and went aboard the same ship, after I had exchanged my goods
for the commodities of that country. I carried with me wood of
aloes, sandal, camphor, nutmegs, cloves, pepper, and ginger. We
passed by several islands, and at last arrived at Balsora, from
whence I came to this city, with the value of one hundred thousand
sequins. My family and I received one another with transports of
sincere friendship. I bought slaves and fine lands, and built me a
great house. And thus I settled myself, resolving to forget the
miseries I had suffered, and to enjoy the pleasures of life.