Part 14: THE SEVENTH AND LAST VOYAGE OF SINBAD THE SAILOR | Arabian Nights | Grandma's Stories

THE SEVENTH AND LAST VOYAGE OF SINBAD THE SAILOR.



Being returned from my sixth voyage, I absolutely laid aside all
thoughts of travelling any farther; for, besides that my years now
required rest, I was resolved no more to expose myself to such risk
as I had run; so that I thought of nothing but to pass the rest of
my days in quiet. One day, as I was treating some of my friends,
one of my servants came and told me that an officer of the caliph
asked for me. I rose from the table, and went to him. 'The caliph,'
said he, 'has sent me to tell you that he must speak with you.' I
followed the officer to the palace, where, being presented to the
caliph, I saluted him by prostrating myself at his feet. 'Sinbad,'
said he to me, 'I stand in need of you; you must do me the service
to carry my answer and present to the King of Serendib. It is but
just I should return his civility.'

This command of the caliph to me was like a clap of thunder.
'Commander of the Faithful,' replied I, 'I am ready to do whatever
your majesty shall think fit to command me; but I beseech you most
humbly to consider what I have undergone. I have also made a vow
never to go out of Bagdad.' Here I took occasion to give him a
large and particular account of all my adventures, which he had the
patience to hear out.

As soon as I had finished, 'I confess,' said he, 'that the things
you tell me are very extraordinary, yet you must for my sake
undertake this voyage which I propose to you. You have nothing to
do but to go to the Isle of Serendib, and deliver the commission
which I give you. After that you are at liberty to return. But you
must go; for you know it would be indecent, and not suitable to my
dignity, to be indebted to the king of that island.' Perceiving
that the caliph insisted upon it, I submitted, and told him that I
was willing to obey. He was very well pleased at it, and ordered me
a thousand sequins for the expense of my journey.

I prepared for my departure in a few days, and as soon as the
caliph's letter and present were delivered to me, I went to
Balsora, where I embarked, and had a very happy voyage. I arrived
at the Isle of Serendib, where I acquainted the king's ministers
with my commission, and prayed them to get me speedy audience. They
did so, and I was conducted to the palace in an honourable manner,
where I saluted the king by prostration, according to custom. That
prince knew me immediately, and testified very great joy to see me.
'O Sinbad,' said he, 'you are welcome; I swear to you I have many
times thought of you since you went hence; I bless the day upon
which we see one another once more.' I made my compliment to him,
and after having thanked him for his kindness to me, I delivered
the caliph's letter and present, which he received with all
imaginable satisfaction.

The caliph's present was a complete set of cloth of gold, valued at
one thousand sequins; fifty robes of rich stuff, a hundred others
of white cloth, the finest of Cairo, Suez, Cusa, and Alexandria; a
royal crimson bed, and a second of another fashion; a vessel of
agate broader than deep, an inch thick, and half a foot wide, the
bottom of which represented in bas-relief a man with one knee on
the ground, who held a bow and an arrow, ready to let fly at a
lion. He sent him also a rich table, which, according to tradition,
belonged to the great Solomon. The caliph's letter was as follows:

'Greeting in the name of the Sovereign Guide of the Right Way, to
the potent and happy Sultan, from Abdallah Haroun Alraschid, whom
God hath set in the place of honour, after his ancestors of happy
memory:

'We received your letter with joy, and send you this from the
council of our port, the garden of superior wits. We hope, when you
look upon it, you will find our good intention, and be pleased with
it. Farewell.'

The King of Serendib was highly pleased that the caliph returned
his friendship. A little time after this audience, I solicited
leave to depart, and had much difficulty to obtain it. I obtained
it, however, at last, and the king, when he dismissed me, made me a
very considerable present. I embarked immediately to return to
Bagdad, but had not the good fortune to arrive there as I hoped.
God ordered it otherwise.

Three or four days after my departure, we were attacked by pirates,
who easily seized upon our ship. Some of the crew offered
resistance, which cost them their lives. But as for me and the
rest, who were not so imprudent, the pirates saved us on purpose to
make slaves of us.

We were all stripped, and instead of our own clothes they gave us
sorry rags, and carried us into a remote island, where they sold
us.

I fell into the hands of a rich merchant, who, as soon as he bought
me, carried me to his house, treated me well, and clad me
handsomely for a slave. Some days after, not knowing who I was, he
asked me if I understood any trade. I answered that I was no
mechanic, but a merchant, and that the pirates who sold me had
robbed me of all I had.

'But tell me,' replied he, 'can you shoot with a bow?'

I answered that the bow was one of my exercises in my youth, and I
had not yet forgotten it. Then he gave me a bow and arrows, and,
taking me behind him upon an elephant, carried me to a vast forest
some leagues from the town. We went a great way into the forest,
and where he thought fit to stop he bade me alight; then showing me
a great tree, 'Climb up that tree,' said he, 'and shoot at the
elephants as you see them pass by, for there is a prodigious number
of them in this forest, and, if any of them fall, come and give me
notice of it.' Having spoken thus, he left me victuals, and
returned to the town, and I continued upon the tree all night.

I saw no elephant during that time, but next morning, as soon as
the sun was up, I saw a great number: I shot several arrows among
them, and at last one of the elephants fell; the rest retired
immediately, and left me at liberty to go and acquaint my patron
with my booty. When I had told him the news, he gave me a good
meal, commended my dexterity, and caressed me highly. We afterwards
went together to the forest, where we dug a hole for the elephant;
my patron intending to return when it was rotten, and to take the
teeth, etc., to trade with.

I continued this game for two months, and killed an elephant every
day, getting sometimes upon one tree, and sometimes upon another.
One morning, as I looked for the elephants, I perceived with an
extreme amazement that, instead of passing by me across the forest
as usual, they stopped, and came to me with a horrible noise, in
such a number that the earth was covered with them, and shook under
them. They encompassed the tree where I was with their trunks
extended and their eyes all fixed upon me. At this frightful
spectacle I remained immoveable, and was so much frightened that my
bow and arrows fell out of my hand.

My fears were not in vain; for after the elephants had stared upon
me for some time, one of the largest of them put his trunk round
the root of the tree, and pulled so strong that he plucked it up
and threw it on the ground; I fell with the tree, and the elephant
taking me up with his trunk, laid me on his back, where I sat more
like one dead than alive, with my quiver on my shoulder: then he
put himself at the head of the rest, who followed him in troops,
and carried me to a place where he laid me down on the ground, and
retired with all his companions. Conceive, if you can, the
condition I was in: I thought myself to be in a dream; at last,
after having lain some time, and seeing the elephants gone, I got
up, and found I was upon a long and broad hill, covered all over
with the bones and teeth of elephants. I confess to you that this
furnished me with abundance of reflections. I admired the instinct
of those animals; I doubted not but that this was their burying
place, and that they carried me thither on purpose to tell me that
I should forbear to persecute them, since I did it only for their
teeth. I did not stay on the hill, but turned towards the city,
and, after having travelled a day and a night, I came to my patron;
I met no elephant on my way, which made me think they had retired
farther into the forest, to leave me at liberty to come back to the
hill without any hindrance.

As soon as my patron saw me: 'Ah, poor Sinbad,' said he, I was in
great trouble to know what had become of you. I have been at the
forest, where I found a tree newly pulled up, and a bow and arrows
on the ground, and after having sought for you in vain I despaired
of ever seeing you more. Pray tell me what befell you, and by what
good hap you are still alive.'

I satisfied his curiosity, and going both of us next morning to the
hill, he found to his great joy that what I had told him was true.
We loaded the elephant upon which we came with as many teeth as he
could carry; and when we had returned, 'Brother,' said my patron--
'for I will treat you no more as my slave--after having made such a
discovery as will enrich me, God bless you with all happiness and
prosperity. I declare before Him that I give you your liberty. I
concealed from you what I am now going to tell you.

'The elephants of our forest have every year killed a great many
slaves, whom we sent to seek ivory. Notwithstanding all the
cautions we could give them, those crafty animals killed them one
time or other. God has delivered you from their fury, and has
bestowed that favour upon you only. It is a sign that He loves you,
and has use for your service in the world. You have procured me
incredible gain. We could not have ivory formerly but by exposing
the lives of our slaves, and now our whole city is enriched by your
means. Do not think I pretend to have rewarded you by giving you
your liberty; I will also give you considerable riches. I could
engage all our city to contribute towards making your fortune, but
I will have the glory of doing it myself.'

To this obliging discourse I replied, 'Patron, God preserve you.
Your giving me my liberty is enough to discharge what you owe me,
and I desire no other reward for the service I had the good fortune
to do to you and your city, than leave to return to my own
country.'

'Very well,' said he, 'the monsoon will in a little time bring
ships for ivory. I will send you home then, and give you wherewith
to pay your expenses.' I thanked him again for my liberty, and his
good intentions towards me. I stayed with him until the monsoon;
and during that time we made so many journeys to the hill that we
filled all our warehouses with ivory. The other merchants who
traded in it did the same thing, for it could not be long concealed
from them.

The ships arrived at last, and my patron himself having made choice
of the ship wherein I was to embark, he loaded half of it with ivory
on my account, laid in provisions in abundance for my passage, and
obliged me besides to accept as a present, curiosities of the
country of great value. After I had returned him a thousand thanks
for all his favours, I went on board. We set sail, and as the
adventure which procured me this liberty was very extraordinary, I
had it continually in my thoughts.

We stopped at some islands to take in fresh provisions. Our vessel
being come to a port on the main land in the Indies, we touched
there, and not being willing to venture by sea to Balsora, I landed
my proportion of the ivory, resolving to proceed on my journey by
land. I made vast sums by my ivory, I bought several rarities,
which I intended for presents, and when my equipage was ready, I
set out in the company of a large caravan of merchants. I was a
long time on the way, and suffered very much, but endured all with
patience, when I considered that I had nothing to fear from the
seas, from pirates, from serpents, nor from the other perils I had
undergone.

All these fatigues ended at last, and I came safe to Bagdad. I went
immediately to wait upon the caliph, and gave him an account of my
embassy. That prince told me he had been uneasy, by reason that I
was so long in returning, but that he always hoped God would
preserve me. When I told him the adventure of the elephants, he
seemed to be much surprised at it, and would never have given any
credit to it had he not known my sincerity. He reckoned this story,
and the other narratives I had given him, to be so curious that he
ordered one of his secretaries to write them in characters of gold,
and lay them up in his treasury. I retired very well satisfied with
the honours I received and the presents which he gave me; and after
that I gave myself up wholly to my, family, kindred and friends.


End of Fairy Tales from the Arabian Nights

Part13THE SIXTH VOYAGE OF SINBAD THE SAILOR | Arabian Nights| World famous Stories for kids| Kids literature

THE SIXTH VOYAGE OF SINBAD THE SAILOR.



After being shipwrecked five times, and escaping so many dangers,
could I resolve again to try my fortune, and expose myself to new
hardships? I am astonished at it myself when I think of it, and
must certainly have been induced to it by my stars. But be that as
it will, after a year's rest I prepared for a sixth voyage,
notwithstanding the entreaties of my kindred and friends, who did
all that was possible to prevent me. Instead of taking my way by
the Persian Gulf, I travelled once more through several provinces
of Persia and the Indies, and arrived at a sea-port, where I
embarked on board a ship, the captain of which was resolved on a
long voyage.

It was very long indeed, but at the same time so unfortunate that
the captain and pilot lost their course, and knew not where they
were. They found it at last, but we had no reason to rejoice at it.
We were all seized with extraordinary fear when we saw the captain
quit his post, and cry out. He threw off his turban, pulled his
beard, and beat his head like a madman. We asked him the reason,
and he answered that he was in the most dangerous place in all the
sea. 'A rapid current carries the ship along with it,' he said,
'and we shall all of us perish in less than a quarter of an hour.
Pray to God to deliver us from this danger; we cannot escape it if
He does not take pity on us.' At these words he ordered the sails
to be changed; but all the ropes broke and the ship, without its
being possible to help it, was carried by the current to the foot
of an inaccessible mountain, where she ran ashore, and was broken
to pieces, yet so that we saved our lives, our provisions, and the
best of our goods.

This being over, the captain said to us, 'God has done what pleased
Him; we may every man dig our grave here, and bid the world adieu,
for we are all in so fatal a place that none shipwrecked here have
ever returned to their homes again.' His discourse afflicted us
sorely, and we embraced each other with tears in our eyes,
bewailing our deplorable lot.

The mountain at the foot of which we were cast was the coast of a
very long and large island. This coast was covered all over with
wrecks, and from the vast number of men's bones we saw everywhere,
and which filled us with horror, we concluded that abundance of
people had died there. It is also impossible to tell what a
quantity of goods and riches we found cast ashore there. All these
objects served only to augment our grief. Whereas in all other
places rivers run from their channels into the sea, here a great
river of fresh water runs out of the sea into a dark cave, whose
entrance is very high and large. What is most remarkable in this
place is that the stones of the mountain are of crystal, rubies, or
other precious stones. Here is also a sort of fountain of pitch or
bitumen, that runs into the sea, which the fishes swallow, and then
vomit up again, turned into ambergris; and this the waves throw up
on the beach in great quantities. Here also grow trees, most of
which are wood of aloes, equal in goodness to those of Comari.

To finish the description of this place, which may well be called a
gulf, since nothing ever returns from it--it is not possible for
ships to get away again when once they come near it. If they are
driven thither by a wind from the sea, the wind and the current
ruin them; and if they come into it when a land-wind blows, which
might seem to favour their getting out again, the height of the
mountain stops the wind, and occasions a calm, so that the force of
the current runs them ashore, where they are broken to pieces, as
ours was; and that which completes the misfortune is that there is
no possibility to get to the top of the mountain, or to get out any
manner of way.

We continued upon the shore, like men out of their senses, and
expected death every day. At first we divided our provisions as
equally as we could, and thus everyone lived a longer or shorter
time, according to their temperance, and the use they made of their
provisions.

Those who died first were interred by the rest; and, for my part, I
paid the last duty to all my companions. Nor are you to wonder at
this; for besides that I husbanded the provision that fell to my
share better than they, I had provision of my own, which I did not
share with my comrades; yet when I buried the last, I had so little
remaining that I thought I could not hold out long: so I dug a
grave, resolving to lie down in it, because there was none left to
inter me. I must confess to you at the same time that while I was
thus employed I could not but reflect upon myself as the cause of
my own ruin, and repented that I had ever undertaken this last
voyage; nor did I stop at reflections only, but had well nigh
hastened my own death, and began to tear my hands with my teeth.

But it pleased God once more to take compassion on me, and put it
in my mind to go to the bank of the river which ran into the great
cave; where, considering the river with great attention, I said to
myself, 'This river, which runs thus under ground, must come out
somewhere or other. If I make a raft, and leave myself to the
current, it will bring me to some inhabited country, or drown me.
If I be drowned I lose nothing, but only change one kind of death
for another; and if I get out of this fatal place, I shall not only
avoid the sad fate of my comrades, but perhaps find some new
occasion of enriching myself. Who knows but fortune waits, upon my
getting off this dangerous shelf, to compensate my shipwreck with
interest?'

I immediately went to work on a raft. I made it of large pieces of
timber and cables, for I had choice of them, and tied them together
so strongly that I had made a very solid little raft. When I had
finished it I loaded it with some bales of rubies, emeralds,
ambergris, rock-crystal, and rich stuffs. Having balanced all my
cargo exactly and fastened it well to the raft, I went on board it
with two little oars that I had made, and, leaving it to the course
of the river, I resigned myself to the will of God.

As soon as I came into the cave I lost all light, and the stream
carried me I knew not whither. Thus I floated for some days in
perfect darkness, and once found the arch so low that it well nigh
broke my head, which made me very cautious afterwards to avoid the
like danger. All this while I ate nothing but what was just
necessary to support nature; yet, notwithstanding this frugality,
all my provisions were spent. Then a pleasing sleep fell upon me. I
cannot tell how long it continued; but when I awoke, I was
surprised to find myself in the middle of a vast country, at the
bank of a river, where my raft was tied, amidst a great number of
negroes. I got up as soon as I saw them and saluted them. They
spoke to me, but I did not understand their language. I was so
transported with joy that I knew not whether I was asleep or awake;
but being persuaded that I was not asleep, I recited the following
words in Arabic aloud: 'Call upon the Almighty, he will help thee;
thou needest not perplex thyself about anything else; shut thy
eyes, and while thou art asleep, God will change thy bad fortune
into good.'

One of the blacks, who understood Arabic, hearing me speak thus,
came towards me and said, 'Brother, be not surprised to see us; we
are inhabitants of this country, and came hither to-day to water
our fields, by digging little canals from this river, which comes
out of the neighbouring mountain. We saw something floating upon
the water, went speedily to find out what it was, and perceiving
your raft, one of us swam into the river, and brought it hither,
where we fastened it, as you see, until you should awake. Pray tell
us your history, for it must be extraordinary; how did you venture
into this river, and whence did you come?'

I begged of them first to give me something to eat, and then I
would satisfy their curiosity. They gave me several sorts of food;
and when I had satisfied my hunger, I gave them a true account of
all that had befallen me, which they listened to with wonder. As
soon as I had finished my discourse, they told me, by the person
who spoke Arabic and interpreted to them what I said, that it was
one of the most surprising stories they ever heard, and that I must
go along with them, and tell it to their king myself; the story was
too extraordinary to be told by any other than the person to whom
it happened. I told them I was ready to do whatever they pleased.

They immediately sent for a horse, which was brought in a little
time; and having made me get upon him, some of them walked before
me to show me the way, and the rest took my raft and cargo, and
followed me.

We marched thus altogether, till we came to the city of Serendib,
for it was in that island I landed. The blacks presented me to
their king; I approached his throne, and saluted him as I used to
do the kings of the Indies; that is to say, I prostrated myself at
his feet, and kissed the earth. The prince ordered me to rise up,
received me with an obliging air, and made me come up, and sit down
near him. He first asked me my name, and I answered, 'They call me
Sinbad the sailor, because of the many voyages I have undertaken,
and I am a citizen of Baghdad.'

'But,' replied he, 'how came you into my dominions, and from whence
came you last?'

I concealed nothing from the king; I told him all that I have now
told you, and his majesty was so surprised and charmed with it,
that he commanded my adventure to be written in letters of gold,
and laid up in the archives of his kingdom. At last my raft was
brought in, and the bales opened in his presence: he admired the
quantity of wood of aloes and ambergris; but, above all, the rubies
and emeralds, for he had none in his treasury that came near them.

Observing that he looked on my jewels with pleasure, and viewed the
most remarkable among them one after another, I fell prostrate at
his feet, and took the liberty to say to him, 'Sir, not only my
person is at your majesty's service, but the cargo of the raft, and
I would beg of you to dispose of it as your own.'

He answered me with a smile, 'Sinbad, I will take care not to covet
anything of yours, nor to take anything from you that God has given
you; far from lessening your wealth, I design to augment it, and
will not let you go out of my dominions without marks of my
liberality.'

All the answer I returned was prayers for the prosperity of this
prince, and commendations of his generosity and bounty. He charged
one of his officers to take care of me, and ordered people to serve
me at his own charge. The officer was very faithful in the
execution of his orders, and caused all the goods to be carried to
the lodgings provided for me. I went every day at a set hour to pay
court to the king, and spent the rest of my time in seeing the
city, and what was most worthy of notice.

The Isle of Serendib is situated just under the equinoctial line,
so that the days and nights there are always of twelve hours each,
and the island is eighty parasangs in length, and as many in
breadth.

The capital city stands at the end of a fine valley formed by a
mountain in the middle of the island, which is the highest in the
world. I made, by way of devotion, a pilgrimage to the place where
Adam was confined after his banishment from Paradise, and had the
curiosity to go to the top of it.

When I came back to the city, I prayed the king to allow me to
return to my country, which he granted me in the most obliging and
honourable manner. He would needs force a rich present upon me, and
when I went to take my leave of him, he gave me one much more
valuable, and at the same time charged me with a letter for the
Commander of the Faithful, our sovereign, saying to me, 'I pray you
give this present from me and this letter to Caliph Haroun
Alraschid, and assure him of my friendship.' I took the present and
letter in a very respectful manner, and promised his majesty
punctually to execute the commission with which he was pleased to
honour me. Before I embarked, this prince sent for the captain and
the merchants who were to go with me, and ordered them to treat me
with all possible respect.

The letter from the King of Serendib was written on the skin of a
certain animal of great value, because of its being so scarce, and
of a yellowish colour. The writing was azure, and the contents as
follows:--

'The king of the Indies, before whom march a hundred elephants,
who lives in a palace that shines with a hundred thousand rubies,
and who has in his treasury twenty thousand crowns enriched with
diamonds, to Caliph Haroun Alraschid:

'Though the present we send you be inconsiderable, receive it as a
brother and a friend, in consideration of the hearty friendship
which we bear to you, and of which we are willing to give you
proof. We desire the same part in your friendship, considering that
we believe it to be our merit, being of the same dignity with
yourself. We conjure you this in the rank of a brother. Farewell.'

The present consisted first, of one single ruby made into a cup,
about half a foot high, an inch thick, and filled with round
pearls. Secondly, the skin of a serpent, whose scales were as large
as an ordinary piece of gold, and had the virtue to preserve from
sickness those who lay upon it. Thirdly, fifty thousand drachms of
the best wood of aloes, with thirty grains of camphor as big as
pistachios. And fourthly, a she-slave of ravishing beauty, whose
apparel was covered all over with jewels.

The ship set sail, and after a very long and successful voyage, we
landed at Balsora; from thence I went to Bagdad, where the first
thing I did was to acquit myself of my commission.

I took the King of Serendib's letter, and went to present myself at
the gate of the Commander of the Faithful, followed by the
beautiful slave and such of my own family as carried the presents.
I gave an account of the reason of my coming, and was immediately
conducted to the throne of the caliph. I made my reverence, and
after a short speech gave him the letter and present. When he had
read what the King of Serendib wrote to him, he asked me if that
prince were really so rich and potent as he had said in this
letter. I prostrated myself a second time, and rising again,
'Commander of the Faithful,' said I, 'I can assure your majesty he
doth not exceed the truth on that head: I am witness of it. There
is nothing more capable of raising a man's admiration than the
magnificence of his palace. When the prince appears in public, he
has a throne fixed on the back of an elephant, and marches betwixt
two ranks of his ministers, favourites, and other people of his
court; before him, upon the same elephant, an officer carries a
golden lance in his hand, and behind the throne there is another,
who stands upright with a column of gold, on the top of which there
is an emerald half a foot long and an inch thick; before him march
a guard of a thousand men, clad in cloth of gold and silk, and
mounted on elephants richly caparisoned.

'While the king is on his march, the officer who is before him on
the same elephant cries from time to time, with a loud voice,
"Behold the great monarch, the potent and redoubtable Sultan of the
Indies, whose palace is covered with a hundred thousand rubies, and
who possesses twenty thousand crowns of diamonds." After he has
pronounced these words, the officer behind the throne cries in his
turn, "This monarch so great and so powerful, must die, must die,
must die." And the officer in front replies, "Praise be to Him who
lives for ever."

'Further, the King of Serendib is so just that there are no judges
in his dominions. His people have no need of them. They understand
and observe justice of themselves.'

The caliph was much pleased with my discourse. 'The wisdom of this
king,' said he, 'appears in his letter, and after what you tell me
I must confess that his wisdom is worthy of his people, and his
people deserve so wise a prince.' Having spoken thus he dismissed
me, and sent me home with a rich present.

Part 12 :THE FIFTH VOYAGE OF SINBAD THE SAILOR | arabian nights | Bed time stories for children

THE FIFTH VOYAGE OF SINBAD THE SAILOR.



The pleasures I enjoyed again had charm enough to make me forget
all the troubles and calamities I had undergone, without curing me
of my inclination to make new voyages. Therefore I bought goods,
ordered them to be packed up and loaded, and set out with them for
the best seaport; and there, that I might not be obliged to depend
upon a captain, but have a ship at my own command, I waited till
one was built on purpose at my own expense. When the ship was
ready, I went on board with my goods; but not having enough to load
her, I took on board with me several merchants of different
nations, with their merchandise.

We sailed with the first fair wind, and after a long voyage, the
first place we touched at was a desert island, where we found an
egg of a roc, equal in size to that I formerly mentioned. There was
a young roc in it just ready to be hatched, and the bill of it
began to appear.

The merchants whom I had taken on board my ship, and who landed
with me, broke the egg with hatchets, and made a hole in it, from
whence they pulled out the young roc piece by piece, and roasted
it. I had earnestly persuaded them not to meddle with the egg, but
they would not listen to me.

Scarcely had they made an end of their feast, when there appeared
in the air, at a considerable distance from us, two great clouds.
The captain whom I hired to manage my ship, knowing by experience
what it meant, cried that it was the cock and hen roc that belonged
to the young one, and pressed us to re-embark with all speed, to
prevent the misfortune which he saw would otherwise befall us. We
made haste to do so, and set sail with all possible diligence.

In the meantime the two rocs approached with a frightful noise,
which they redoubled when they saw the egg broken, and their young
one gone. But having a mind to avenge themselves, they flew back
towards the place from whence they came, and disappeared for some
time, while we made all the sail we could to prevent that which
unhappily befell us.

They returned, and we observed that each of them carried between
their talons stones, or rather rocks, of a monstrous size. When
they came directly over my ship, they hovered, and one of them let
fall a stone; but by the dexterity of the steersman, who turned the
ship with the rudder, it missed us, and falling by the side of the
ship into the sea, divided the water so that we could see almost to
the bottom. The other roc, to our misfortune, threw the stone so
exactly upon the middle of the ship that it split into a thousand
pieces. The mariners and passengers were all killed by the stone,
or sunk. I myself had the last fate; but as I came up again I
fortunately caught hold of a piece of the wreck, and swimming
sometimes with one hand and sometimes with the other, but always
holding fast to my board, the wind and the tide favouring me, I
came to an island, where the beach was very steep. I overcame that
difficulty however, and got ashore.

I sat down upon the grass, to recover myself a little from my
fatigue, after which I got up, and went into the island to view it.
It seemed to be a delicious garden. I found trees everywhere, some
of them bearing green and others ripe fruits, and streams of fresh
pure water, with pleasant windings and turnings. I ate of the
fruits, which I found excellent, and drank of the water, which was
very pleasant.

Night being come, I lay down upon the grass in a convenient place
enough, but I could not sleep for an hour at a time, my mind was so
disturbed with the fear of being alone in so desert a place. Thus I
spent the best part of the night in fretting, and reproached myself
for my imprudence in not staying at home, rather than undertaking
this last voyage. These reflections carried me so far, that I began
to form a design against my own life, but daylight dispersed these
melancholy thoughts, and I got up, and walked among the trees, but
not without apprehensions of danger.

When I was a little advanced into the island, I saw an old man who
appeared very weak and feeble. He sat upon the bank of a stream,
and at first I took him to be one who had been shipwrecked like
myself. I went towards him and saluted him, but he only bowed his
head a little. I asked him what he did there, but instead of
answering he made a sign for me to take him upon my back and carry
him over the brook, signifying that it was to gather fruit.

I believed him really to stand in need of my help, so took him upon
my back, and having carried him over, bade him get down, and for
that end stooped that he might get off with ease: but instead of
that (which I laugh at every time I think of it), the old man, who
to me had appeared very decrepit, clasped his legs nimbly about my
neck, and then I perceived his skin to resemble that of a cow. He
sat astride upon my shoulders, and held my throat so tight that I
thought he would have strangled me, the fright of which made me
faint away and fall down.

Notwithstanding my fainting, the ill-natured old fellow kept fast
about my neck, but opened his legs a little to give me time to
recover my breath. When I had done so, he thrust one of his feet
against my stomach, and struck me so rudely on the side with the
other, that he forced me to rise up against my will. Having got up,
he made me walk under the trees, and forced me now and then to
stop, to gather and eat fruit such as we found. He never left me
all day, and when I lay down to rest by night, he laid himself down
with me, always holding fast about my neck. Every morning he pushed
me to make me wake, and afterwards obliged me to get up and walk,
and pressed me with his feet. You may judge then what trouble I was
in, to be loaded with such a burden as I could by no means rid
myself of.

One day I found in my way several dry calabashes that had fallen
from a tree; I took a large one, and, after cleaning it, pressed
into it some juice of grapes, which abounded in the island. Having
filled the calabash, I set it in a convenient place; and coming
hither again some days after, I took up my calabash, and setting it
to my mouth found the wine to be so good that it presently made me
not only forget my sorrow, but grow vigorous, and so light-hearted
that I began to sing and dance as I walked along.

The old man, perceiving the effect which this drink had upon me,
and that I carried him with more ease than I did before, made a
sign for me to give him some of it. I gave him the calabash, and
the liquor pleasing his palate, he drank it all off. He became
drunk immediately, and the fumes getting up into his head he began
to sing after his manner, and to dance upon my shoulders. His
jolting about made him sick, and he loosened his legs from about me
by degrees; so finding that he did not press me as before, I threw
him upon the ground, where he lay without motion, and then I took
up a great stone, with which I crushed his head to pieces.

I was extremely rejoiced to be freed thus for ever from this cursed
old fellow, and walked along the shore of the sea, where I met the
crew of a ship that had cast anchor to take in water to refresh
themselves. They were extremely surprised to see me, and to hear
the particulars of my adventures. 'You fell,' said they, 'into the
hands of the old man of the sea, and are the first that has ever
escaped strangling by him. He never left those he had once made
himself master of till he destroyed them, and he has made this
island famous for the number of men he has slain; so that the
merchants and mariners who landed upon it dared not advance into
the island but in numbers together.'

After having informed me of these things they carried me with them
to the ship; the captain received me with great satisfaction when
they told him what had befallen me. He put out again to sea, and
after some days' sail we arrived at the harbour of a great city,
where the houses were built of good stone.

One of the merchants of the ship, who had taken me into his
friendship, asked me to go along with him, and took me to a place
appointed as a retreat for foreign merchants. He gave me a great
bag, and having recommended me to some people of the town, who were
used to gather cocoa-nuts, he desired them to take me with them to
do the like: 'Go,' said he, 'follow them, and do as you see them
do, and do not separate from them, otherwise you endanger your
life.' Having thus spoken, he gave me provisions for the journey,
and I went with them.

We came to a great forest of trees, extremely straight and tall,
their trunks so smooth that it was not possible for any man to
climb up to the branches that bore the fruit. All the trees were
cocoa-nut trees, and when we entered the forest we saw a great
number of apes of all sizes, that fled as soon as they perceived
us, and climbed up to the top of the trees with surprising
swiftness.

The merchants with whom I was gathered stones, and threw them at
the apes on the top of the trees. I did the same, and the apes, out
of revenge, threw cocoa-nuts at us as fast and with such gestures
as sufficiently testified their anger and resentment: we gathered
up the cocoa-nuts, and from time to time threw stones to provoke
the apes; so that by this stratagem we filled our bags with cocoa-
nuts, which it had been impossible for us to do otherwise.

When we had gathered our number, we returned to the city, where the
merchant who sent me to the forest gave me the value of the cocoa-
nuts I had brought; 'Go on,' said he, 'and do the like every day,
until you have money enough to carry you home.' I thanked him for
his good advice, and gathered together as many cocoa-nuts as
amounted to a considerable sum.

The vessel in which I came sailed with merchants who loaded her
with cocoa-nuts. I expected the arrival of another, whose merchants
landed speedily for the like loading. I embarked on board the same
all the cocoa-nuts that belonged to me, and when she was ready to
sail I went and took leave of the merchant who had been so kind to
me; but he could not embark with me because he had not finished his
business.

We set sail towards the islands where pepper grows in great plenty.
From thence we went to the Isle of Comari, where the best sort of
wood of aloes grows, and whose inhabitants have made it an
inviolable law to drink no wine themselves, nor to suffer any kind
of improper conduct. I exchanged my cocoa-nuts in those two islands
for pepper and wood of aloes, and went with other merchants pearl-
fishing. I hired divers, who fetched me up those that were very
large and pure. Then I embarked joyfully in a vessel that happily
arrived at Balsora; from thence I returned to Bagdad, where I made
vast sums by my pepper, wood of aloes, and pearls. I gave the tenth
of my gains in alms, as I had done upon my return from other
voyages, and endeavoured to ease myself from my fatigue by
diversions of all sorts.

Part 11 :THE FOURTH VOYAGE OF SINBAD THE SAILOR | Arabian Nights| Fairy tales for kids|

THE FOURTH VOYAGE OF SINBAD THE SAILOR.



The pleasures I took after my third voyage had not charms enough to
divert me from another. I was again prevailed upon by my passion
for traffic and curiosity to see new things. I therefore settled my
affairs, and having provided a stock of goods fit for the places
where I designed to trade, I set out on my journey. I took the way
of Persia, of which I travelled over several provinces, and then
arrived at a port, where I embarked. We set sail, and having
touched at several ports of the mainland and some of the eastern
islands, we put out to sea, and were overtaken by a sudden gust of
wind that obliged the captain to furl his sails, and to take all
other necessary precautions to prevent the danger that threatened
us. But all was in vain; our endeavours had no effect, the sails
were torn into a thousand pieces, and the ship was stranded; so
that a great many of the merchants and seamen were drowned, and the
cargo lost.

I had the good fortune, with several of the merchants and mariners,
to get a plank, and we were carried by the current to an island
which lay before us: there we found fruit and spring water, which
preserved our lives. We stayed all night near the place where the
sea cast us ashore, without consulting what we should do, our
misfortune had dispirited us so much.

Next morning, as soon as the sun was up, we walked from the shore,
and advancing into the island, saw some houses, to which we went;
and as soon as we came thither we were encompassed by a great
number of black men, who seized us, shared us among them, and
carried us to their respective habitations.

I and five of my comrades were carried to one place; they made us
sit down immediately, and gave us a certain herb, which they made
signs to us to eat. My comrades, not taking notice that the black
men ate none of it themselves, consulted only the satisfying of
their own hunger, and fell to eating with greediness: but I,
suspecting some trick, would not so much as taste it, which
happened well for me; for in a little time I perceived my
companions had lost their senses, and that when they spoke to me
they knew not what they said.

The black men fed us afterwards with rice, prepared with oil of
cocoanuts, and my comrades, who had lost their reason, ate of it
greedily. I ate of it also, but very sparingly. The black men gave
us that herb at first on purpose to deprive us of our senses, that
we might not be aware of the sad destiny prepared for us; and they
gave us rice on purpose to fatten us, for, being cannibals, their
design was to eat us as soon as we grew fat. They did accordingly
eat my comrades, who were not aware of their condition; but my
senses being entire, you may easily guess that instead of growing
fat, as the rest did, I grew leaner every day. The fear of death
under which I laboured turned all my food into poison. I fell into
a languishing illness which proved my safety, for the black men
having killed and eaten up my companions, seeing me to be withered,
lean, and sick, deferred my death till another time.

Meanwhile, I had a great deal of liberty, so that there was
scarcely any notice taken of what I did, and this gave me an
opportunity one day to get at a distance from the houses, and to
make my escape. An old man who saw me, and suspected my design,
called to me as loud as he could to return, but instead of obeying
him, I redoubled my pace, and quickly got out of sight. At that
time there was none but the old man about the houses, the rest
being away, and not to come home till night, which was pretty usual
with them; therefore, being sure that they could not come in time
to pursue me, I went on till night, when I stopped to rest a
little, and to eat some of the provisions I had taken care to
bring; but I speedily set forward again, and travelled seven days,
avoiding those places which seemed to be inhabited, and living for
the most part upon cocoanuts, which served me for both meat and
drink. On the eighth day I came near the sea, and all of a sudden
saw white people like myself, gathering pepper, of which there was
great plenty in that place. This I took to be a good omen, and went
to them without any scruple.

The people who gathered pepper came to meet me as soon as they saw
me, and asked me in Arabic who I was, and whence I came. I was
overjoyed to hear them speak in my own language, and satisfied
their curiosity by giving them an account of my shipwreck, and how
I fell into the hands of the black men. 'Those black men,' replied
they, 'are cannibals, and by what miracle did you escape their
cruelty?' I told them the same story I now tell you, at which they
were wonderfully surprised.

I stayed with them till they had gathered their quantity of pepper,
and then sailed with them to the island from whence they came. They
presented me to their king, who was a good prince. He had the
patience to hear the relation of my adventures, which surprised
him, and he afterwards gave me clothes, and commanded care to be
taken of me.

The island was very well peopled, plentiful in everything, and the
capital was a place of great trade. This agreeable retreat was very
comfortable to me after my misfortune, and the kindness of this
generous prince towards me completed my satisfaction. In a word,
there was not a person more in favour with him than myself; and, in
consequence, every man in court and city sought to oblige me, so
that in a very little time I was looked upon rather as a native
than a stranger.

I observed one thing which to me appeared very extraordinary. All
the people, the king himself not excepted, rode their horses
without bridle or stirrups. This made me one day take the liberty
to ask the king how that came to pass. His majesty answered, that I
talked to him of things which nobody knew the use of in his
dominions. I went immediately to a workman, and gave him a model
for making the stock of a saddle. When that was done, I covered it
myself with velvet and leather, and embroidered it with gold. I
afterwards went to a locksmith, who made me a bridle according to
the pattern I showed him, and then he made me also some stirrups.
When I had all things completed, I presented them to the king, and
put them upon one of his horses. His majesty mounted immediately,
and was so pleased with them, that he testified his satisfaction by
large presents to me. I could not avoid making several others for
his ministers and the principal officers of his household, who all
of them made me presents that enriched me in a little time. I also
made some for the people of best quality in the city, which gained
me great reputation and regard.

As I paid court very constantly to the king, he said to me one day,
'Sinbad, I love thee; and all my subjects who know thee treat thee
according to my example. I have one thing to demand of thee, which
thou must grant.'

'Sir,' answered I, 'there is nothing but I will do, as a mark of my
obedience to your majesty, whose power over me is absolute.'

'I have a mind thou shouldst marry,' replied he, 'that so thou
mayst stay in my dominion, and think no more of thy own country.'

I dared not resist the prince's will, and so he gave me one of the
ladies of his court, a noble, beautiful, and rich lady. The
ceremonies of marriage being over, I went and dwelt with the lady,
and for some time we lived together in perfect harmony. I was not,
however, very well satisfied with my condition, and therefore
designed to make my escape on the first occasion, and to return to
Bagdad, which my present settlement, how advantageous soever, could
not make me forget.

While I was thinking on this, the wife of one of my neighbours,
with whom I had contracted a very close friendship, fell sick and
died. I went to see and comfort him in his affliction, and finding
him swallowed up with sorrow, I said to him as soon as I saw him,
'God preserve you and grant you a long life.'

'Alas!' replied he, 'how do you think I should obtain that favour
you wish me? I have not above an hour to live.'

'Pray,' said I, 'do not entertain such a melancholy thought; I hope
it will not be so, but that I shall enjoy your company for many
years.'

'I wish you,' said he, 'a long life; but for me my days are at an
end, for I must be buried this day with my wife. This is a law
which our ancestors established in this island, and always observed
inviolably. The living husband is interred with the dead wife, and
the living wife with the dead husband. Nothing can save me; every
one must submit to this law.'

While he was entertaining me with an account of this barbarous
custom, the very hearing of which frightened me cruelly, his
kindred, friends and neighbours came in a body to assist at the
funerals. They put on the corpse the woman's richest apparel, as if
it had been her wedding-day, and dressed her with all her jewels;
then they put her into an open coffin, and lifting it up, began
their march to the place of burial. The husband walked at the head
of the company, and followed the corpse. They went up to a high
mountain, and when they came thither, took up a great stone, which
covered the mouth of a very deep pit, and let down the corpse, with
all its apparel and jewels. Then the husband, embracing his kindred
and friends, suffered himself to be put into another open coffin
without resistance, with a pot of water, and seven little loaves,
and was let down in the same manner as they let down his wife. The
mountain was pretty long, and reached to the sea. The ceremony
being over, they covered the hole again with the stone, and
returned.

It is needless to say that I was the only melancholy spectator of
this funeral, whereas the rest were scarcely moved at it, the
practice was so customary to them. I could not forbear speaking my
thoughts on this matter to the king. 'Sir,' said I, 'I cannot but
wonder at the strange custom in this country of burying the living
with the dead. I have been a great traveller, and seen many
countries, but never heard of so cruel a law.'

'What do you mean, Sinbad?' said the king; 'it is a common law. I
shall be interred with the queen, my wife, if she die first.'

'But, sir,' said I, 'may I presume to ask your majesty if strangers
be obliged to observe this law?'

'Without doubt,' replied the king, smiling at my question; 'they
are not exempted, if they are married in this island.'

I went home very melancholy at this answer, for the fear of my wife
dying first, and my being interred alive with her, occasioned me
very mortifying reflections. But there was no remedy: I must have
patience, and submit to the will of God. I trembled, however, at
every little indisposition of my wife; but alas! in a little time
my fears came upon me all at once, for she fell ill, and died in a
few days.

You may judge of my sorrow; to be interred alive seemed to me as
deplorable an end as to be devoured by cannibals. But I must
submit; the king and all his court would honour the funeral with
their presence, and the most considerable people of the city would
do the like. When all was ready for the ceremony, the corpse was
put into a coffin, with all her jewels and magnificent apparel. The
cavalcade began, and, as second actor in this doleful tragedy, I
went next to the corpse, with my eyes full of tears, bewailing my
deplorable fate. Before I came to the mountain, I addressed myself
to the king, in the first place, and then to all those who were
round me, and bowing before them to the earth to kiss the border of
their garments, I prayed them to have compassion upon me.
'Consider,' said I, 'that I am a stranger, and ought not to be
subject to this rigorous law, and that I have another wife and
child in my own country.' It was to no purpose for me to speak
thus, no soul was moved at it; on the contrary, they made haste to
let down my wife's corpse into the pit, and put me down the next
moment in an open coffin, with a vessel full of water and seven
loaves. In short, the fatal ceremony being performed, they covered
up the mouth of the pit, notwithstanding the excess of my grief and
my lamentable cries.

As I came near the bottom, I discovered, by help of the little
light that came from above, the nature of this subterranean place;
it was a vast long cave, and might be about fifty fathoms deep. I
immediately smelt an insufferable stench proceeding from the
multitude of corpses which I saw on the right and left; nay, I
fancied that I heard some of them sigh out their last. However,
when I got down, I immediately left my coffin, and, getting at a
distance from the corpses, lay down upon the ground, where I stayed
a long time, bathed in tears. Then reflecting on my sad lot, 'It is
true,' said I, 'that God disposes all things according to the
decrees of His providence; but, poor Sinbad, art not thou thyself
the cause of thy being brought to die so strange a death? Would to
God thou hadst perished in some of those tempests which thou hast
escaped! Then thy death had not been so lingering and terrible in
all its circumstances. But thou hast drawn all this upon thyself by
thy cursed avarice. Ah! unfortunate wretch, shouldst thou not
rather have stayed at home, and quietly enjoyed the fruits of thy
labour?'

Such were the vain complaints with which I made the cave echo,
beating my head and breast out of rage and despair, and abandoning
myself to the most afflicting thoughts. Nevertheless, I must tell
you that, instead of calling death to my assistance in that
miserable condition, I felt still an inclination to live, and to do
all I could to prolong my days. I went groping about, with my nose
stopped, for the bread and water that was in my coffin, and took
some of it. Though the darkness of the cave was so great that I
could not distinguish day and night, yet I always found my coffin
again, and the cave seemed to be more spacious and fuller of
corpses than it appeared to me at first. I lived for some days upon
my bread and water, which being all used up at last I prepared for
death.

As I was thinking of death, I heard something walking, and blowing
or panting as it walked. I advanced towards that side from whence I
heard the noise, and upon my approach the thing puffed and blew
harder, as if it had been running away from me. I followed the
noise, and the thing seemed to stop sometimes, but always fled and
blew as I approached. I followed it so long and so far that at last
I perceived a light resembling a star; I went on towards that
light, and sometimes lost sight of it, but always found it again,
and at last discovered that it came through a hole in the rock
large enough for a man to get out at.

Upon this I stopped some time to rest myself, being much fatigued
with pursuing this discovery so fast. Afterwards coming up to the
hole I went out at it, and found myself upon the shore of the sea.
I leave you to guess the excess of my joy; it was such that I could
scarce persuade myself of its being real.

But when I had recovered from my surprise, and was convinced of the
truth of the matter, I found that the thing which I had followed
and heard puff and blow was a creature which came out of the sea,
and was accustomed to enter at that hole to feed upon the dead
carcasses.

I examined the mountain, and perceived it to be situated betwixt
the sea and the town, but without any passage or way to communicate
with the latter, the rocks on the side of the sea were so rugged
and steep. I fell down upon the shore to thank God for this mercy,
and afterwards entered the cave again to fetch bread and water,
which I did by daylight, with a better appetite than I had done
since my interment in the dark hole.

I returned thither again, and groped about among the biers for all
the diamonds, rubies, pearls, gold bracelets, and rich stuffs I
could find. These I brought to the shore, and, tying them up neatly
into bales with the cords that let down the coffins, I laid them
together upon the bank to wait till some ship passed by, without
fear of rain, for it was not then the season.

After two or three days I perceived a ship that had but just come
out of the harbour and passed near the place where I was. I made a
sign with the linen of my turban, and called to them as loud as I
could. They heard me, and sent a boat to bring me on board, when
the mariners asked by what misfortune I came thither. I told them
that I had suffered shipwreck two days ago, and made shift to get
ashore with the goods they saw. It was happy for me that those
people did not consider the place where I was, nor inquire into the
probability of what I told them; but without any more ado took me
on board with my goods. When I came to the ship, the captain was so
well pleased to have saved me, and so much taken up with his own
affairs, that he also took the story of my pretended shipwreck upon
trust, and generously refused some jewels which I offered him.

We passed with a regular wind by several islands, among others the
one called the Isle of Bells, about ten days' sail from Serendib,
and six from that of Kela, where we landed. This island produces
lead from its mines, Indian canes, and excellent camphor.

The king of the Isle of Kela is very rich and potent, and the Isle
of Bells, which is about two days' journey in extent, is also
subject to him. The inhabitants are so barbarous that they still
eat human flesh. After we had finished our commerce in that island
we put to sea again, and touched at several other ports. At last I
arrived happily at Bagdad with infinite riches, of which it is
needless to trouble you with the detail. Out of thankfulness to God
for His mercies, I gave great alms for the support of several
mosques, and for the subsistence of the poor, and employed myself
wholly in enjoying the society of my kindred and friends, and in
making merry with them.

Part 10 : THE THIRD VOYAGE OF SINBAD THE SAILOR magical Stories From Arab for Bed Time

The pleasures of the life which I then led soon made me forget the
risks I had run in my two former voyages; but, being then in the
flower of my age I grew weary of living without business; and
hardening myself against the thought of any danger I might incur, I
went from Bagdad, with the richest commodities of the country, to
Balsora: there I embarked again with the merchants. We made a long
voyage, and touched at several ports, where we drove a considerable
trade. One day, being out in the main ocean, we were attacked by a
horrible tempest, which made us lose our course. The tempest
continued several days, and brought us before the port of an
island, where the captain was very unwilling to enter; but we were
obliged to cast anchor there. When we had furled our sails the
captain told us that this and some other neighbouring islands were
inhabited by hairy savages, who would speedily attack us; and
though they were but dwarfs, yet our misfortune was that we must
make no resistance, for they were more in number than the locusts;
and if we happened to kill one of them they would all fall upon us
and destroy us.

This discourse of the captain put the whole company into a great
consternation; and we found very soon, to our cost, that what he
had told us was but too true; an innumerable multitude of frightful
savages, covered all over with red hair, and about two feet high,
came swimming towards us, and in a little time encompassed our
ship. They spoke to us as they came near, but we understood not
their language; they climbed up the sides of the ship with an
agility that surprised us. We beheld all this with mortal fear,
without daring to offer to defend ourselves, or to speak one word
to divert them from their mischievous design. In short, they took
down our sails, cut the cable, and, hauling to the shore, made us
all get out, and afterwards carried the ship into another island,
from whence they had come. All travellers carefully avoided that
island where they left us, it being very dangerous to stay there,
for a reason you shall hear anon; but we were forced to bear our
affliction with patience.

We went forward into the island, where we found some fruits and
herbs to prolong our lives as long as we could; but we expected
nothing but death. As we went on we perceived at a distance a great
pile of building, and made towards it. We found it to be a palace,
well built, and very lofty, with a gate of ebony with double doors,
which we thrust open. We entered the court, where we saw before us
a vast apartment with a porch, having on one side a heap of men's
bones, and on the other a vast number of roasting spits. We
trembled at this spectacle, and, being weary with travelling, our
legs failed under us: we fell to the ground, seized with deadly
fear, and lay a long time motionless.

The sun had set, and whilst we were in the lamentable condition
just mentioned, the gate of the apartment opened with a great
noise, and there came out the horrible figure of a black man, as
high as a tall palm tree. He had but one eye, and that in the
middle of his forehead, where it looked as red as a burning coal.
His fore-teeth were very long and sharp, and stood out of his
mouth, which was as deep as that of a horse; his upper lip hung
down upon his breast; his ears resembled those of an elephant, and
covered his shoulders; and his nails were as long and crooked as
the talons of the greatest birds. At the sight of so frightful a
giant we lost all our senses, and lay like men dead.

At last we came to ourselves, and saw him sitting in the porch,
looking at us. When he had considered us well, he advanced towards
us, and laying his hand upon me, he took me up by the nape of my
neck, and turned me round as a butcher would do a sheep's head.
After having viewed me well, and perceiving me to be so lean that I
had nothing but skin and bone, he let me go. He took up all the
rest, one by one, and viewed them in the same manner; and the
captain being the fattest, he held him with one hand, as I might a
sparrow, and thrusting a spit through him, kindled a great fire,
roasted, and ate him in his apartment for his supper. This being
done, he returned to his porch, where he lay and fell asleep,
snoring louder than thunder. He slept thus till morning. For our
parts, it was not possible for us to enjoy any rest; so that we
passed the night in the most cruel fear that can be imagined. Day
being come, the giant awoke, got up, went out, and left us in the
palace.

When we thought him at a distance, we broke the melancholy silence
we had kept all night, and every one grieving more than another, we
made the palace resound with our complaints and groans. Though
there were a great many of us, and we had but one enemy, we had not
at first the presence of mind to think of delivering ourselves from
him by his death.

We thought of several other things, but determined nothing; so
that, submitting to what it should please God to order concerning
us, we spent the day in running about the island for fruit and
herbs to sustain our lives. When evening came, we sought for a
place to lie down in, but found none; so that we were forced,
whether we would or not, to return to the palace.

The giant failed not to come back, and supped once more upon one of
our companions; after which he slept, and snored till day, and then
went out and left us as formerly. Our condition was so very
terrible that several of my comrades designed to throw themselves
into the sea, rather than die so strange a death. Those who were of
this mind argued with the rest to follow their example; upon which
one of the company answered that we were forbidden to destroy
ourselves; but even if it were lawful, it was more reasonable to
think of a way to rid ourselves of the barbarous tyrant who
designed so cruel a death for us.

Having thought of a project for that end, I communicated the same
to my comrades, who approved it. 'Brethren,' said I, 'you know
there is a great deal of timber floating upon the coast; if you
will be advised by me, let us make several rafts that may carry us,
and when they are done, leave them there till we think fit to make
use of them. In the meantime we will execute the design to deliver
ourselves from the giant, and if it succeed, we may stay here with
patience till some ship pass by to carry us out of this fatal
island; but if it happen to miscarry, we will speedily get to our
rafts, and put to sea. I confess, that by exposing ourselves to the
fury of the waves, we run a risk of losing our lives; but if we do,
is it not better to be buried in the sea than in the entrails of
this monster, who has already devoured two of us?' My advice was
relished, and we made rafts capable of carrying three persons each.

We returned to the palace towards evening, and the giant arrived a
little while after. We were forced to see another of our comrades
roasted. But at last we revenged ourselves on the brutish giant
thus. After he had made an end of his cursed supper, he lay down on
his back, and fell asleep. As soon as we heard him snore, according
to his custom, nine of the boldest among us, and myself, took each
of us a spit, and putting the points of them into the fire till
they were burning hot, we thrust them into his eye all at once, and
blinded him. The pain occasioned him to make a frightful cry, and
to get up and stretch out his hands in order to sacrifice some of
us to his rage, but we ran to places where he could not find us;
and after having sought for us in vain, he groped for the gate, and
went out, howling dreadfully.

We went out of the palace after the giant, and came to the shore,
where we had left our rafts, and put them immediately into the sea.
We waited till day in order to get upon them, in case the giant
came towards us with any guide of his own species; but we hoped
that if he did not appear by sunrise, and gave over his howling,
which we still heard, he would die; and if that happened to be the
case, we resolved to stay in the island, and not to risk our lives
upon the rafts. But day had scarcely appeared when we perceived our
cruel enemy, accompanied by two others almost of the same size
leading him, and a great number more coming before him with a very
quick pace.

When we saw this, we made no delay, but got immediately upon our
rafts, and rowed off from the shore. The giants, who perceived
this, took up great stones, and running to the shore entered the
water up to their waists, and threw so exactly that they sank all
the rafts but that I was upon, and all my companions, except the
two with me, were drowned. We rowed with all our might, and got out
of the reach of the giants; but when we got out to sea, we were
exposed to the mercy of the waves and winds, and tossed about,
sometimes on one side, and sometimes on another, and spent that
night and the following day under a cruel uncertainty as to our
fate; but next morning we had the good luck to be thrown upon an
island, where we landed with much joy. We found excellent fruit
there, that gave us great relief, so that we pretty well recovered
our strength.

In the evening we fell asleep on the bank of the sea, but were
awaked by the noise of a serpent as long as a palm tree, whose
scales made a rustling as he crept along. He swallowed up one of my
comrades, notwithstanding his loud cries and the efforts he made to
rid himself from the serpent, which shook him several times against
the ground, and crushed him; and we could hear him gnaw and tear
the poor wretch's bones, when we had fled a great distance from
him. Next day we saw the serpent again, to our great terror, and I
cried out, 'O heaven, to what dangers are we exposed! We rejoiced
yesterday at having escaped from the cruelty of a giant and the
rage of the waves, and now are we fallen into another danger
altogether as terrible.'

As we walked about we saw a large tall tree, upon which we designed
to pass the following night, for our security; and having satisfied
our hunger with fruit, we mounted it accordingly. A little while
after, the serpent came hissing to the root of the tree, raised
itself up against the trunk of it, and meeting with my comrade, who
sat lower than I, swallowed him at once, and went off.

I staid upon the tree till it was day, and then came down, more
like a dead man than one alive, expecting the same fate as my two
companions. This filled me with horror, so that I was going to
throw myself into the sea; but nature prompting us to a desire to
live as long as we can, I withstood this temptation to despair, and
submitted myself to the will of God, who disposes of our lives at
His pleasure.

In the meantime I gathered together a great quantity of small wood,
brambles, and dry thorns, and making them up into faggots made a
great circle with them round the tree, and also tied some of them
to the branches over my head. Having done thus, when the evening
came I shut myself up within this circle, with this melancholy
piece of satisfaction, that I had neglected nothing which could
preserve me from the cruel destiny with which I was threatened. The
serpent failed not to come at the usual hour, and went round the
tree, seeking for an opportunity to devour me, but was prevented by
the rampart I had made, so that he lay till day, like a cat
watching in vain for a mouse that has retreated to a place of
safety. When day appeared he retired, but I dared not to leave my
fort until the sun arose.

I was fatigued with the toil he had put me to, and suffered so much
from his poisonous breath that, death seeming preferable to me than
the horror of such a condition. I came down from the tree, and not
thinking on the resignation I had made to the will of God the
preceding day, I ran towards the sea, with a design to throw myself
into it headlong.

God took compassion on my desperate state, for just as I was going
to throw myself into the sea, I perceived a ship at a considerable
distance. I called as loud as I could, and taking the linen from my
turban, displayed it that they might observe me. This had the
desired effect; all the crew perceived me, and the captain sent his
boat for me. As soon as I came aboard, the merchants and seamen
flocked about me to know how I came to that desert island; and
after I had told them of all that befell me, the oldest among them
said they had several times heard of the giants that dwelt in that
island, that they were cannibals and ate men raw as well as
roasted; and as to the serpents, he added, there were abundance in
the isle that hid themselves by day and came abroad by night. After
having testified their joy at my escaping so many dangers, they
brought me the best of what they had to eat; and the captain,
seeing that I was all in rags, was so generous as to give me one of
his own suits.

We were at sea for some time, touched at several islands, and at
last landed at that of Salabat, where there grows sanders, a wood
of great use in physic. We entered the port, and came to anchor.
The merchants began to unload their goods, in order to sell or
exchange them. In the meantime the captain came to me, and said,
'Brother, I have here a parcel of goods that belonged to a merchant
who sailed some time on board this ship; and he being dead, I
intend to dispose of them for the benefit of his heirs, when I know
them.' The bales he spoke of lay on the deck, and showing them to
me, he said, 'There are the goods; I hope you will take care to
sell them, and you shall have a commission.' I thanked him that he
gave me an opportunity to employ myself, because I hated to be
idle.

The clerk of the ship took an account of all the bales, with the
names of the merchants to whom they belonged; and when he asked the
captain in whose name he should enter those he gave me the charge
of, 'Enter them,' said the captain, 'in the name of Sinbad the
sailor.' I could not hear myself named without some emotion, and
looking steadfastly on the captain, I knew him to be the person
who, in my second voyage, had left me in the island where I fell
asleep by a brook, and set sail without me, and without sending to
look for me. But I could not remember him at first, he was so much
altered since I saw him.

And as for him, who believed me to be dead, I could not wonder at
his not knowing me. 'But, captain,' said I, 'was the merchant's
name to whom those goods belonged Sinbad?'

'Yes,' replied he, 'that was his name; he came from Bagdad, and
embarked on board my ship at Balsora. One day, when we landed at an
island to take in water and other refreshments, I know not by what
mistake I set sail without observing that he did not re-embark with
us; neither I nor the merchants perceived it till four hours after.
We had the wind in our stern and so fresh a gale that it was not
then possible for us to tack about for him.'

'You believe him then to be dead?' said I.

'Certainly,' answered he.

'No, captain,' said I; 'look upon me, and you may know that I am
Sinbad, whom you left in that desert island. I fell asleep by a
brook, and when I awoke I found all the company gone.'

The captain, having considered me attentively, knew me at last
embraced me, and said, 'God be praised that fortune has supplied my
defect. There are your goods, which I always took care to preserve
and to make the best of at every port where I touched. I restore
them to you, with the profit I have made on them.' I took them from
him, and at the same time acknowledged how much I owed to him.

From the Isle of Salabat we went to another, where I furnished
myself with cloves, cinnamon, and other spices. As we sailed from
that island we saw a tortoise that was twenty cubits in length and
breadth. We observed also a fish which looked like a cow, and gave
milk, and its skin is so hard that they usually make bucklers of
it. I saw another which had the shape and colour of a camel. In
short, after a long voyage, I arrived at Balsora, and from thence
returned to this city of Bagdad, with so much riches that I knew
not what I had. I gave a great deal to the poor, and bought another
great estate in addition to what I had already.

Part-9 THE SECOND VOYAGE OF SINBAD THE SAILOR : story for children

I designed, after my first voyage, to spend the rest of my days at
Bagdad; but it was not long ere I grew weary of a quiet life. My
inclination to trade revived. I bought goods suited to the commerce
I intended, and put to sea a second time, with merchants of known
probity. We embarked on board a good ship, and after recommending
ourselves to God, set sail. We traded from island to island, and
exchanged commodities with great profit. One day we landed on an
island covered with several sorts of fruit trees, but so unpeopled,
that we could see neither man nor beast upon it. We went to take a
little fresh air in the meadows, and along the streams that watered
them. Whilst some diverted themselves with gathering flowers, and
others with gathering fruits, I took my wine and provisions, and
sat down by a stream betwixt two great trees, which formed a
curious shape. I made a very good meal, and afterwards fell asleep.
I cannot tell how long I slept, but when I awoke the ship was gone.

I was very much surprised to find the ship gone. I got up and
looked about everywhere, and could not see one of the merchants who
landed with me. At last I perceived the ship under sail, but at
such a distance that I lost sight of her in a very little time.

I leave you to guess at my melancholy reflections in this sad
condition. I was ready to die with grief: I cried out sadly, beat
my head and breast, and threw myself down upon the ground, where I
lay some time in a terrible agony. I upbraided myself a hundred
times for not being content with the produce of my first voyage,
that might well have served me all my life. But all this was in
vain, and my repentance out of season.

At last I resigned myself to the will of God; and not knowing what
to do, I climbed up to the top of a great tree, from whence I
looked about on all sides to see if there was anything that could
give me hope. When I looked towards the sea, I could see nothing
but sky and water, but looking towards the land I saw something
white; and, coming down from the tree, I took up what provision I
had left and went towards it, the distance being so great that I
could not distinguish what it was.

When I came nearer, I thought it to be a white bowl of a prodigious
height and bigness; and when I came up to it I touched it, and
found it to be very smooth. I went round to see if it was open on
any side, but saw it was not, and that there was no climbing up to
the top of it, it was so smooth. It was at least fifty paces round.

By this time the sun was ready to set, and all of a sudden the sky
became as dark as if it had been covered with a thick cloud. I was
much astonished at this sudden darkness, but much more when I found
it was occasioned by a bird, of a monstrous size, that came flying
toward me. I remembered a fowl, called roc, that I had often heard
mariners speak of, and conceived that the great bowl, which I so
much admired, must needs be its egg. In short, the bird lighted,
and sat over the egg to hatch it. As I perceived her coming, I
crept close to the egg, so that I had before me one of the legs of
the bird, which was as big as the trunk of a tree. I tied myself
strongly to it with the cloth that went round my turban, in hopes
that when the roc flew away next morning she would carry me with
her out of this desert island. And after having passed the night in
this condition, the bird really flew away next morning, as soon as
it was day, and carried me so high that I could not see the earth.
Then she descended all of a sudden, with so much rapidity that I
lost my senses; but when the roc was settled, and I found myself
upon the ground, I speedily untied the knot, and had scarcely done
so when the bird, having taken up a serpent of a monstrous length
in her bill, flew away.

The place where she left me was a very deep valley, encompassed on
all sides with mountains, so high that they seemed to reach above
the clouds, and so full of steep rocks that there was no
possibility of getting out of the valley. This was a new
perplexity, so that when I compared this place with the desert
island from which the roc brought me, I found that I had gained
nothing by the change.

As I walked through this valley I perceived it was strewn with
diamonds, some of which were of surprising bigness. I took a great
deal of pleasure in looking at them; but speedily I saw at a
distance such objects as very much diminished my satisfaction, and
which I could not look upon without terror; they were a great
number of serpents, so big and so long that the least of them was
capable of swallowing an elephant. They retired in the day-time to
their dens, where they hid themselves from the roc, their enemy,
and did not come out but in the night-time.

I spent the day in walking about the valley, resting myself at
times in such places as I thought most suitable. When night came on
I went into a cave, where I thought I might be in safety. I stopped
the mouth of it, which was low and straight, with a great stone, to
preserve me from the serpents, but not so exactly fitted as to
hinder light from coming in. I supped on part of my provisions, but
the serpents, which began to appear, hissing about in the meantime,
put me into such extreme fear that you may easily imagine I did not
sleep. When day appeared the serpents retired, and I came out of
the cave trembling. I can justly say that I walked a long time upon
diamonds without feeling an inclination to touch any of them. At
last I sat down, and notwithstanding my uneasiness, not having shut
my eyes during the night, I fell asleep, after having eaten a
little more of my provisions; but I had scarcely shut my eyes when
something that fell by me with great noise awakened me. This was a
great piece of fresh meat, and at the same time I saw several
others fall down from the rocks in different places.

I had always looked upon it as a fable when I heard mariners and
others discourse of the valley of diamonds, and of the stratagems
made use of by some merchants to get jewels from thence; but now I
found it to be true. For, in reality, those merchants come to the
neighbourhood of this valley when the eagles have young ones, and
throwing great joints of meat into the valley, the diamonds, upon
whose points they fall, stick to them; the eagles, which are
stronger in this country than anywhere else, pounce with great
force upon those pieces of meat, and carry them to their nests upon
the top of the rocks to feed their young with, at which time the
merchants, running to their nests, frighten the eagles by their
noise, and take away the diamonds that stick to the meat. And this
stratagem they make use of to get the diamonds out of the valley,
which is surrounded with such precipices that nobody can enter it.

I believed till then that it was not possible for me to get out of
this abyss, which I looked upon as my grave; but now I changed my
mind, for the falling in of those pieces of meat put me in hopes of
a way of saving my life.

I began to gather together the largest diamonds that I could see,
and put them into the leathern bag in which I used to carry my
provisions. I afterwards took the largest piece of meat I could
find, tied it close round me with the cloth of my turban, and then
laid myself upon the ground, with my face downward, the bag of
diamonds being tied fast to my girdle, so that it could not
possibly drop off.

I had scarcely laid me down before the eagles came. Each of them
seized a piece of meat, and one of the strongest having taken me
up, with a piece of meat on my back, carried me to his nest on the
top of the mountain. The merchants fell straightway to shouting, to
frighten the eagles; and when they had obliged them to quit their
prey, one of them came to the nest where I was. He was very much
afraid when he saw me, but recovering himself, instead of inquiring
how I came thither, he began to quarrel with me, and asked why I
stole his goods. 'You will treat me,' replied I, 'with more
civility when you know me better. Do not trouble yourself; I have
diamonds enough for you and myself too, more than all the other
merchants together. If they have any, it is by chance; but I chose
myself in the bottom of the valley all those which you see in this
bag'; and having spoken those words, I showed them to him. I had
scarcely done speaking, when the other merchants came trooping
about us, much astonished to see me; but they were much more
surprised when I told them my story. Yet they did not so much
admire my stratagem to save myself as my courage to attempt it.

They took me to the place where they were staying all together, and
there having opened my bag, they were surprised at the largeness of
my diamonds, and confessed that in all the courts where they had
been they had never seen any that came near them. I prayed the
merchant to whom the nest belonged (for every merchant had his
own), to take as many for his share as he pleased. He contented
himself with one, and that too the least of them; and when I
pressed him to take more, without fear of doing me any injury,
'No,' said he, 'I am very well satisfied with this, which is
valuable enough to save me the trouble of making any more voyages
to raise as great a fortune as I desire.'

I spent the night with those merchants, to whom I told my story a
second time, for the satisfaction of those who had not heard it. I
could not moderate my joy when I found myself delivered from the
danger I have mentioned. I thought I was in a dream, and could
scarcely believe myself to be out of danger.

The merchants had thrown their pieces of meat into the valley for
several days, and each of them being satisfied with the diamonds
that had fallen to his lot, we left the place next morning all
together, and travelled near high mountains, where there were
serpents of a prodigious length, which we had the good fortune to
escape. We took ship at the nearest port and came to the Isle of
Roha, where the trees grow that yield camphor. This tree is so
large, and its branches so thick, that a hundred men may easily sit
under its shade. The juice of which the camphor is made runs out
from a hole bored in the upper part of the tree, is received in a
vessel, where it grows thick, and becomes what we call camphor; and
the juice thus drawn out the tree withers and dies.

There is in this island the rhinoceros, a creature less than the
elephant, but greater than the buffalo; it has a horn upon its nose
about a cubit long; this horn is solid, and cleft in the middle
from one end to the other, and there are upon it white lines,
representing the figure of a man. The rhinoceros fights with the
elephant, runs his horn into him, and carries him off upon his
head; but the blood of the elephant running into his eyes and
making him blind, he falls to the ground, and then, strange to
relate, the roc comes and carries them both away in her claws to be
food for her young ones.

Here I exchanged some of my diamonds for good merchandise. From
thence we went to other isles, and at last, having touched at
several trading towns of the main land, we landed at Balsora, from
whence I went to Bagdad. There I immediately gave great alms to the
poor, and lived honourably upon the vast riches I had gained with
so much fatigue.

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.