Life Stories - Part 27
*The Story of Sindbad the Sailor*
In the reign of the same caliph, Haroun al Raschid, of whom we have
already heard, there lived at Bagdad a poor porter, called Hindbad.
One day, when the weather was excessively hot, he was employed to
carry a heavy burden from one end of the town to the other. Being much
fatigued, he took off his load, and sat upon it, near a large mansion.
He was much pleased that he stopped at this place, for the agreeable
smell of wood of aloes and of pastils, that came from the house,
mixing with the scent of the rose water, completely perfumed and
embalmed the air. Besides, he heard from within a concert of
instrumental music, accompanied with the harmonious notes of
nightingales and other birds. This charming melody, and the smell of
several sorts of savory dishes, made the porter conclude there wasa
feast, with great rejoicings within. His business seldom leading him
that way, he knew not to whom the mansion belonged; but he went to
some of the servants, whom he saw standing at the gate in magnificent
apparel, and asked the name of the proprietor.
"How," replied one of them, "do you live in Bagdad, and know not that
this is the house of Sindbad the sailor, that famous voyager, who has
sailed round the world?"
[Footnote 50: These voyages of Sindbad are among the most curious of
the tales contained in the Arabian Nights. They deserve a passing word
of remark. Mr. Richard Hole of Exeter, about a century since, wrotea
treatise upon them. He shows that while they must be regarded in many
respects as fabulous, yet that they illustrate the early stories
prevalent about strange countries. The earlier writers, as Plutarch,
Aelian, Diodorus Siculus, and Pliny, mention the incidents related in
these tales, as also do the earliest modern travelers, the Venetian
Marco Polo, and the English Sir John Mandeville.]
The porter lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, loud enough to be
heard, "Almighty Creator of all things, consider the difference
between Sindbad and me! I am every day exposed to fatigues and
calamities, and can scarcely get coarse barley bread for myself and my
family, while happy Sindbad profusely expends immense riches, and
leads a life of continual pleasure. What has he done to obtain from
Thee a lot so agreeable? And what have I done to deserve one so
wretched?"
While the porter was thus indulging his melancholy, a servant came out
of the house, and taking him by the arm, bade him follow him, for
Sindbad, his master, wanted to speak to him.
The servant brought him into a great hall, where a number of people
sat round a table covered with all sorts of savory dishes. At the
upper end sat a comely, venerable gentleman, with a long white beard,
and behind him stood a number of officers and domestics, all ready to
attend his pleasure. This person was Sindbad. Hindbad, whose fear was
increased at the sight of so many people, and of a banquet so
sumptuous, saluted the company, trembling. Sindbad bade him draw near,
and seating him at his right hand, served him himself, and gave him
excellent wine, of which there was abundance upon the sideboard.
Now Sindbad had himself heard the porter complain through the window,
and this it was that induced him to have him brought in. When the
repast was over, Sindbad addressed his conversation to Hindbad, and
inquired his name and employment, and said, "I wish to hear from your
own mouth what it was you lately said in the street."
At this request, Hindbad hung down his head in confusion, and replied,
"My lord, I confess that my fatigue put me out of humor and occasioned
me to utter some indiscreet words, which I beg you to pardon."
"Do not think I am so unjust," resumed Sindbad, "as to resent sucha
complaint. But I must rectify your error concerning myself. You think,
no doubt, that I have acquired without labor and trouble the ease and
indulgence which I now enjoy. But do not mistake; I did not attain to
this happy condition without enduring for several years more trouble
of body and mind than can well be imagined. Yes, gentlemen," he added,
speaking to the whole company, "I assure you that my sufferings have
been of a nature so extraordinary as would deprive the greatest miser
of his love of riches; and as an opportunity now offers, I will, with
your leave, relate the dangers I have encountered, which I think will
not be uninteresting to you."
THE FIRST VOYAGE OF SINDBAD THE SAILOR
My father was a wealthy merchant of much repute. He bequeathed mea
large estate, which I wasted in riotous living. I quickly perceived my
error, and that I was misspending my time, which is of all things the
most valuable. I remembered the saying of the great Solomon, whichI
had frequently heard from my father, "A good name is better than
precious ointment," and again, "Wisdom is good with an inheritance."
Struck with these reflections, I resolved to walk in my father's ways,
and I entered into a contract with some merchants, and embarked with
them on board a ship we had jointly fitted out.
We set sail, and steered our course toward the 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. At first I was troubled
with seasickness, but speedily recovered my health, and was not
afterward subject to that complaint.
In our voyage we touched at several islands, where we sold or
exchanged our goods. One day, while under sail, we were becalmed near
a small island, but little elevated above the level of the water, and
resembling a green meadow. The captain ordered his sails to be furled,
and permitted such persons as were so inclined to land; of this number
I was one.
But while we were enjoying ourselves in eating and drinking, and
recovering ourselves from the fatigue of the sea, the island ona
sudden trembled, and shook us terribly.
The trembling of the island was perceived on board the ship, and we
were called upon to reembark speedily, or we should all be lost; for
what we took for an island proved to be the back[51] of a sea monster.
The nimblest got into the sloop, others betook themselves to swimming;
but as for myself, I was still upon the island when it disappeared
into the sea, and I had only time 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 improve the favorable
gale that had just risen, and hoisting his sails pursued his voyage,
so that it was impossible for me to recover the ship.
[Footnote 51: Milton thus describes the Leviathan:
"How haply slumbering on the Norway foam,
The pilot of some small night-founder'd skiff,
Deeming some island, oft as seamen tell,
With fixed anchor in his scally rind
Moors by his side."]
Thus was I exposed to the mercy of the waves all the rest of the day
and the following night. By this time 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 I found within
reach. When the sun arose, though I was very feeble, both from hard
labor and want of food, I crept along to find some herbs fit to eat,
and had the good luck not only to procure some, but likewise to
discover a spring of excellent water, which contributed much to
recover me. After this I advanced farther into the island, and at last
reached a fine plain, where I perceived some horses feeding. I went
toward them, when I heard the voice of a man, who immediately
appeared, and asked me who I was. I related to him 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 partook of some provisions which they offered me. I then asked them
what they did in such a desert place; to which they answered that they
were grooms belonging to the maharaja, sovereign of the island, and
that every year they brought thither the king's horses for pasturage.
They added that they were to return home on the morrow, and had I been
one day later I must have perished, because the inhabited part of the
island was a great distance off, and it would have been impossible for
me to have got thither without a guide.
Next morning they returned to the capital of the island, took me with
them, and presented me to the maharaja. He asked me who I was, and by
what adventure I had come into his dominions. 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 commands his
officers were so generous and careful as to see exactly fulfilled.
Being a merchant, I frequented men of my own profession, and
particularly inquired for those who were strangers, that perchanceI
might hear news from Bagdad, or find an opportunity to return. For the
maharaja's capital is situated on the seacoast, and has a fine harbor,
where ships arrive daily from the different quarters of the world.I
frequented also the society of the learned Indians, and took delight
to hear them converse; but withal, I took care to make my court
regularly to the maharaja, and conversed with the governors and petty
kings, his tributaries, that were about him. They put a thousand
questions respecting my country; and I, being willing to inform myself
as to their laws and customs, asked them concerning everything whichI
thought worth knowing.
There belongs 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 Gegial. I determined to visit
this wonderful place, and in my way thither saw fishes of one hundred
and two hundred cubits long, that occasion more fear than hurt; for
they are so timorous that they will fly upon the rattling of two
sticks or boards. I saw likewise other fish, about a cubit in length,
that had heads like owls.
As I was one day at the port after my return, the ship arrived in
which I had embarked at Bussorah. I at once knew the captain, andI
went and asked him for my bales. "I am Sindbad," said I, "and those
bales marked with his name are mine."
When the captain heard me speak thus, "Heavens!" he exclaimed, "whom
can we trust in these times! I saw Sindbad perish with my own eyes, as
did also the passengers on board, and yet you tell me you are that
Sindbad. What impudence is this! And what a false tale to tell, in
order to possess yourself of what does not belong to you!"
"Have patience," replied I. "Do me the favor to hear what I have to
say."
The captain was at length persuaded that I was no cheat; for there
came people from his ship who knew me, paid me great compliments, and
expressed much joy at seeing me alive. At last he recollected me
himself, and embracing me, "Heaven be praised," said he, "for your
happy escape! I cannot express the joy it affords me. There are your
goods; take and do with them as you please."
I took out what was most valuable in my bales, and presented them to
the maharaja, who, knowing my misfortune, asked me how I came by such
rarities. I acquainted him with the circumstance of their recovery. He
was pleased at my good luck, accepted my present, and in return gave
me one much more considerable. 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, sandals,
camphor, nutmegs, cloves, pepper, and ginger. We passed by several
islands, and at last arrived at Bussorah, from whence I came to this
city, with the value of one hundred thousand sequins.
* * * **
Sindbad stopped here, and ordered the musicians to proceed with their
concert, which the story had interrupted. When it was evening, Sindbad
sent for a purse of one hundred sequins, and giving it to the porter,
said, "Take this, Hindbad, return to your home, and come back
to-morrow to hear more of my adventures." The porter went away,
astonished at the honor done him, and the present made him. The
account of this adventure proved very agreeable to his wife and
children, who did not fail to return thanks for what Providence had
sent them by the hand of Sindbad.
Hindbad put on his best robe next day, and returned to the bountiful
traveler, who received him with a pleasant air, and welcomed him
heartily. When all the guests had arrived, dinner was served, and
continued a long time. When it was ended, Sindbad, addressing himself
to the company, said, "Gentlemen, be pleased to listen to the
adventures of my second voyage. They deserve your attention even more
than those of the first."
Upon which every one held his peace, and Sindbad proceeded.
THE SECOND VOYAGE OF SINDBAD THE SAILOR
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 an indolent life, and
I 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 we could see neither man nor
animal. We walked in the meadows, along the streams that watered them.
While some diverted themselves with gathering flowers, and others
fruits, I took my wine and provisions, and sat down near a stream
betwixt two high trees, which formed a thick shade. I made a good
meal, and afterward fell sleep. I cannot tell how long I slept, but
when I awoke the ship was gone.
In this sad condition I was ready to die with grief. I cried out in
agony, beat my head and breast, and threw myself upon the ground,
where I lay some time in despair. I upbraided myself a hundred times
for not being content with the produce of my first voyage, that might
have sufficed me all my life. But all this was in vain, and my
repentance came too late. At last I resigned myself to the will of
God. Not knowing what to do, I climbed to the top of a lofty tree,
from whence I looked about on all sides, to see if I could discover
anything that could give me hope. When I gazed toward the sea I could
see nothing but sky and water; but looking over the land, I beheld
something white; and coming down, I took what provision I had left and
went toward it, the distance being so great that I could not
distinguish what it was.
As I approached, I thought it to be a white dome, of a prodigious
height and extent; 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, as
it was so smooth. It was at least fifty paces round.
By this time the sun was about 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 that I had often heard mariners speak of a miraculous
bird called the roc,[52] and conceived that the great dome which I so
much admired must be its egg. In short, the bird alighted, and sat
over the egg. 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 my turban, in
hopes that the roc next morning would carry me with her out of this
desert island. After having passed the night in this condition, the
bird flew away as soon as it was daylight, and carried me so high that
I could not discern the earth; she afterward descended with so much
rapidity that I lost my senses. But when I found myself on the ground,
I speedily untied the knot, and had scarcely done so, when the roc,
having taken up a serpent of a monstrous length in her bill, flew
away.
The spot where it left me was encompassed on all sides by mountains,
that seemed to reach above the clouds, and so steep 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 had brought me, I found that I had gained nothing by the
change.
[Footnote 52: Mr. More, in his account of these voyages, says that
Marco Polo, in his _Travels_, and Father Martini, in his _History of
China_, speak of this bird, called _ruch_, and say it will take up an
elephant and a rhinoceros. It is as fabulous as the dodo, the
salamander, or the phoenix.]
As I walked through this valley, I perceived it was strewn with
diamonds, some of which were of surprising bigness. I took pleasure in
looking upon them; but shortly I saw at a distance such objects as
greatly diminished my satisfaction, and which I could not view without
terror, namely, a great number of serpents, so monstrous that the
least of them was capable of swallowing an elephant. They retired in
the daytime to their dens, where they hid themselves from the roc,
their enemy, and came out only in the night.
I spent the day in walking about in the valley, resting myself at
times in such places as I thought most convenient. When night came on
I went into a cave, where I thought I might repose in safety.I
secured the entrance, which was low and narrow, with a great stone, to
preserve me from the serpents; but not so far as to exclude the light.
I supped on part of my provisions, but the serpents, which began
hissing round me, put me into such extreme fear that 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 upon diamonds without
feeling any inclination to touch them. At last I sat down, and
notwithstanding my apprehensions, not having closed my eyes during the
night, fell asleep, after having eaten a little more of my provisions.
But I had scarcely shut my eyes when something that fell by me witha
great noise awakened me. This was a large piece of raw meat; and at
the same time I saw several others fall down from the rocks in
different places.
I had always regarded as fabulous what I had heard sailors and others
relate of the valley of diamonds, and of the stratagems employed by
merchants to obtain jewels from thence; but now I found that they had
stated nothing but the truth. For the fact is, that the merchants come
to the neighborhood 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 on the precipices of the
rocks to feed their young: the merchants at this time run to their
nests, disturb and drive off the eagles by their shouts, and take away
the diamonds that stick to the meat.
I perceived in this device the means of my deliverance.
Having collected together the largest diamonds I could find, and put
them into the leather bag in which I used to carry my provisions,I
took the largest of the pieces of meat, 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 made fast to my girdle.
I had scarcely placed myself in this posture when one of the eagles,
having taken me up with the piece of meat to which I was fastened,
carried me to his nest on the top of the mountain. The merchants
immediately began their 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 much alarmed when he saw me; but recovering
himself, instead of inquiring how I came thither, 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 be uneasy; I have diamonds enough for you and myself,
more than all the other merchants together. Whatever they have they
owe to chance; but I selected for myself, in the bottom of the valley,
those which you see in this bag."
I had scarcely done speaking, when the other merchants came crowding
about us, much astonished to see me; but they were much more surprised
when I told them my story.
They conducted me to their encampment; and there, having opened my
bag, they were surprised at the largeness of my diamonds, and
confessed that they had never seen any of such size and perfection.I
prayed the merchant who owned the nest to which I had been carried
(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,
and will raise as great a fortune as I desire."
I spent the night with the merchants, to whom I related my storya
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 myself in a dream, and could
scarcely believe myself 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 the next morning, and
traveled near high mountains, where there were serpents ofa
prodigious length, which we had the good fortune to escape. We took
shipping at the first port we reached, and touched at the isle of
Roha, where the trees grow that yield camphor. This tree is so large,
and its branches so thick, that one hundred men may easily sit under
its shade. The juice, of which the camphor is made, exudes from a hole
bored in the upper part of the tree, and is received in a vessel,
where it thickens to a consistency, and becomes what we call camphor.
After the juice is thus drawn out, the tree withers and dies.
In this island is also found the rhinoceros, an animal less than the
elephant but larger than the buffalo. It has a horn upon its nose,
about a cubit in length; this horn is solid, and cleft through the
middle. The rhinoceros fights with the elephant, runs his horn into
his belly,[53] and carries him off upon his head; but the blood and
the fat 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, for food for her young ones.
I pass over many other things peculiar to this island, lest I should
weary you. Here I exchanged some of my diamonds for merchandise. From
hence we went to other islands, and at last, having touched at several
trading towns of the continent, we landed at Bussorah, from whenceI
proceeded to Bagdad. There I immediately gave large presents to the
poor, and lived honorably upon the vast riches I had brought, and
gained with so much fatigue.
[Footnote 53: Captain Marryat, in his _Bushboys_, gives an account of
this contest, in which the rhinoceros came off victorious. He also
gives, in the same amusing volume, an account of a bird taking upa
serpent into the air. The scene of the adventures of the _Bushboys_ is
South Africa.]
Thus Sindbad ended the relation of the second voyage, gave Hindbad
another hundred sequins, and invited him to come the next day to hear
the account of the third.
THE THIRD VOYAGE OF SINDBAD THE SAILOR
I soon again grew weary of living a life of idleness, and hardening
myself against the thought of any danger, I embarked with some
merchants on another long voyage. We touched at several ports, where
we traded. One day we were overtaken by a dreadful tempest, which
drove us from our course. The storm continued several days, and
brought us before the port of an island, which the captain was very
unwilling to enter; but we were obliged to cast anchor. When we had
furled our sails the captain told us that this and some other
neighboring islands were inhabited by hairy savages, who would
speedily attack us; and though they were but dwarfs we must make no
resistance, for they were more in number than the locusts; and if we
happened to kill one, they would all fall upon us and destroy us.
We soon found that what the captain had told us was but too true. An
innumerable multitude of frightful savages, about two feet high,
covered all over with red hair, came swimming toward us, and
encompassed our ship. They chattered as they came near, but we
understood not their language. They climbed up the sides of the ship
with such agility as surprised us. They took down our sails, cut the
cable, and hauling to the shore, made us all get out, and afterward
carried the ship into another island, from whence they had come.
As we advanced, we perceived at a distance a vast pile of building,
and made toward it. We found it to be a palace, elegantly built, and
very lofty, with a gate of ebony of two leaves, which we opened. We
saw before us a large apartment, with a porch, having on one sidea
heap of human bones, and on the other a vast number of roasting spits.
We trembled at this spectacle, and were seized with deadly
apprehension, when suddenly the gate of the apartment opened witha
loud crash, and there came out the horrible figure of a black man, as
tall as a lofty palm tree. He had but one eye, and that in the middle
of his forehead, where it blazed bright as a burning coal. His
foreteeth 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 genie we became
insensible, and lay like dead men.
At last we came to ourselves, and saw him sitting in the porch looking
at us. When he had considered us well, he advanced toward us, and
laying his hand upon me, took me up by the nape of my neck, and turned
me around, as a butcher would do a sheep's head. After having examined
me, and perceiving me to be so lean that I was 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. The captain being the fattest, he held him
with one hand, as I would do a sparrow, and thrust a spit through him;
he then kindled a great fire, roasted, and ate him in his apartment
for his supper. Having finished his repast, he returned to his porch,
where he lay and fell asleep, snoring louder than thunder. He slept
thus till morning. As for ourselves, it was not possible for us to
enjoy any rest, so that we passed the night in the most painful
apprehension that can be imagined. When day appeared the giant awoke,
got up, went out, and left us in the palace.
The next night we determined to revenge ourselves on the brutish
giant, and did so in the following manner. After he had again finished
his inhuman supper on another of our seamen, 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 usa
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[54]
him. The pain made him break out into a frightful yell: he started up,
and stretched out his hands in order to sacrifice some of us to his
rage, but we ran to such places as he could not reach; and after
having sought for us in vain, he groped for the gate, and went out,
howling in agony.
[Footnote 54: The youthful student will find in these references
passages which will remind in some degree of the incidents mentioned
in these tales: Homer's _Odyssey_, book iv, lines 350-410; _Iliad_,
book xx, line 220; book xiii, lines 20-35; Virgil, _Aeneid_, iii,
lines 356-542.]
We immediately left the palace, and came to the shore, where with some
timber that lay about in great quantities, we made some rafts, each
large enough to carry three men. We waited until day to get upon them,
for we hoped if the giant did not appear by sunrise, and give over his
howling, which we still heard, that he would prove to be dead; and if
that happened to be the case, we resolved to stay on that island, and
not to risk our lives upon the rafts. But day had scarcely appeared
when we perceived our cruel enemy, with two others, almost of the
same size, leading him; and a great number more coming before him ata
quick pace.
We did not hesitate to take to our rafts, but put to sea with all the
speed we could. The giants, who perceived this, took up great stones,
and running to the shore they entered the water up to the middle, 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
spent that day and the following night under the most painful
uncertainty as to our fate; but next morning we had the good fortune
to be thrown upon an island, where we landed with much joy. We found
excellent fruit, which afforded us great relief, and recruited our
strength.
At night we went to sleep on the seashore; but were awakened by the
noise of a serpent of surprising length and thickness, whose scales
made a rustling noise as he wound himself along. It swallowed up one
of my comrades, notwithstanding his loud cries and the efforts he made
to extricate himself from it. Dashing him several times against the
ground, it crushed him, and we could hear it gnaw and tear the poor
fellow's bones, though we had fled to a considerable distance. The
following day, to our great terror, we saw the serpent again, whenI
exclaimed, "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; now are we fallen into another danger equally dreadful."
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. Shortly after, the
serpent came hissing to the foot 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 remained upon the tree till it was day, and then came down, more
like a dead man than one alive, expecting the same fate as had
befallen my two companions. This filled me with horror, and I advanced
some steps to throw myself into the sea; but I withstood this dictate
of despair, and submitted myself to the will of God, who disposes of
our lives at His pleasure.
In the meantime I collected together a great quantity of small wood,
brambles, and dry thorns, and making them up into fagots, made a wide
circle with them round the tree, and also tied some of them to the
branches over my head. Having done this, when the evening came I shut
myself up within this circle, with the melancholy satisfaction thatI
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 fortunately
reached a place of safety. When day appeared, he retired, but I dared
not leave my fort until the sun arose.
God took compassion on my hopeless state; for just as I was going, in
a fit of desperation, to throw myself into the sea, I perceived a ship
in the distance. I called as loud as I could, and unfolding the linen
of my turban, displayed it, that they might observe me. This had the
desired effect. The crew perceived me, and the captain sent his boat
for me. As soon as I came on board, the merchants and seamen flocked
about me, to know how I came into that desert island; and after I had
related to them all that had befallen me, the oldest among them said
they had several times heard of the giants that dwelt on that island,
and that they were cannibals; and as to the serpents, they added that
there were abundant in the island; that they 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 their
provisions; and took me before the captain, who, seeing that I was in
rags, gave me one of his own suits. Looking steadfastly upon him,I
knew him to be the person who, on my second voyage, had left me in the
island where I fell asleep, and had sailed without me, or without
sending to seek for me.
I was not surprised that he, believing me to be dead, did not
recognize me.
"Captain," said I, "look at me, and you may know that I am Sindbad,
whom you left in that desert island."
The captain, having considered me attentively, recognized me.
"God be praised!" said he, embracing me; "I rejoice that fortune has
rectified my fault. There are your goods, which I always took care to
preserve."
I took them from him, and made him my acknowledgments for his care of
them.
We continued at sea for some time, touched at several islands, and at
last landed at that of Salabat,[55] where sandalwood is obtained,
which is much used in medicine.
[Footnote 55: Sandalwood. The wood of a low tree, the Santalum Album,
resembling the privet, and growing on the coast of Malabar, in the
Indian Archipelago, etc. The hard yellow wood in the center of the old
sandal tree is highly esteemed for its fragrant perfume and is much
used for cabinetwork, etc.]
From the isle of Salabat we went to another, where I furnished myself
with cloves, cinnamon, and other spices. As we sailed from this island
we saw a tortoise twenty cubits in length and breadth. We observed
also an amphibious animal like a cow, which gave milk;[56] its skin is
so hard, that they usually make bucklers of it. I saw another, which
had the shape and color of a camel.[57]
[Footnote 56: The hippopotamus.]
[Footnote 57: The giraffe.]
In short, after a long voyage I arrived at Bussorah, and from thence
returned to Bagdad with so much wealth that I knew not its extent.I
gave a great deal to the poor, and bought another considerable estate.
* * * **
Thus Sindbad finished the history of his third voyage. He gave another
hundred sequins to Hindbad, and invited him to dinner again the next
day, to hear
THE FOURTH VOYAGE OF SINDBAD THE SAILOR
After I had rested from the dangers of my third voyage, my passion for
trade and my love of novelty soon again prevailed. I therefore settled
my affairs, and provided a stock of goods fit for the trafficI
designed to engage in. I took the route to Persia, traveled over
several provinces, and then arrived at a port, where I embarked. On
putting out to sea, we were overtaken by such a sudden gust of wind as
obliged the captain to lower his yards, and take all other necessary
precautions to prevent the danger that threatened us. But all was in
vain; our endeavors had no effect. The sails were split in a thousand
pieces, and the ship was stranded, several of the merchants and seamen
were drowned, and the cargo was lost.
I had the good fortune, with several of the merchants and mariners, to
get upon some planks, 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 we had
been cast ashore.
Next morning, as soon as the sun was up, we explored the island, and
saw some houses, which we approached. As soon as we drew near we were
encompassed by a great number of negroes, 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; here they made us
sit down, and gave us a certain herb, which they made signs to us to
eat. My comrades, not taking notice that the blacks ate none of it
themselves, thought only of satisfying their hunger, and ate with
greediness. But I, suspecting some trick, would not so much as taste
it, which happened well for me; for in a little time after I perceived
my companions had lost their senses, and that when they spoke to me
they knew not what they said.
The negroes fed us afterward with rice, prepared with oil of coconuts;
and my comrades, who had lost their reason, ate of it greedily. I also
partook of it, but very sparingly. They 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 supplied us with rice to fatten
us; for, being cannibals, their design was to eat us as soon as we
grew fat. This accordingly happened, for they devoured my comrades,
who were not sensible 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 turned all my food into
poison. I fell into a languishing distemper, which proved my safety;
for the negroes, having killed and eaten my companions, seeing me to
be withered, lean, and sick, deferred my death.
Meanwhile I had much liberty, so that scarcely any notice was taken of
what I did, and this gave me an opportunity one day to get ata
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 speed, and quickly
got out of sight. At that time there was none but the old man about
the houses, the rest being abroad, and not to return till night, which
was usual with them. Therefore, being sure that they could not arrive
in time to pursue me, I went on till night, when I stopped to resta
little, and to eat some of the provisions I had secured; butI
speedily set forward again, and traveled seven days, avoiding those
places which seemed to be inhabited, and lived for the most part upon
coconuts, which served me both for meat and drink. On the eighth dayI
came near the sea, and saw some 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 I satisfied their curiosity
by giving them an account of my shipwreck, and how I fell into the
hands of the negroes.
"Those negroes," replied they, "eat men; and by what miracle did you
escape their cruelty?" I related to them the circumstances I have just
mentioned, 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 had come.
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 afterward gave me clothes, and commanded care to be taken of
me.
The island was very well peopled, plentiful in everything, and the
capital a place of great trade. This agreeable retreat was very
comfortable to me after my misfortunes, and the kindness of this
generous prince completed my satisfaction. In a word, there was nota
person more in favor with him than myself, and consequently every man
in court and city sought to oblige me; so that in a very little timeI
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. I went one day 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
afterward went to a smith, who made me a bit, according to the pattern
I showed him, and 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. I made several
others for the ministers and principal officers of his household,
which gained me great reputation and regard.
As I paid my court very constantly to the king, he said to me one day,
"Sindbad, I love thee. I have one thing to demand of thee, which thou
must grant. I have a mind thou shouldst marry, that so thou mayst stay
in my dominions, and think no more of thy own country."
I durst not resist the prince's will, and he gave me one of the ladies
of his court, noble, beautiful, and rich. The ceremonies of marriage
being over, I went and dwelt with my wife, and for some time we lived
together in perfect harmony. I was not, however, satisfied with my
banishment. Therefore I designed to make my escape at the first
opportunity, and to return to Bagdad, which my present settlement, how
advantageous soever, could not make me forget.
At this time the wife of one of my neighbors, with whom I had
contracted a very strict friendship, fell sick and died. I went to see
and comfort him in his affliction, and finding him absorbed in 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 the favor you
wish me? I have not above an hour to live, for I must be buried this
day with my wife. This is a law on this island. The living husband is
interred with the dead wife, and the living wife with the dead
husband."
While he was giving me an account of this barbarous custom, the very
relation of which chilled my blood, his kindred, friends, and
neighbors came to assist at the funeral. They dressed the corpse of
the woman in her richest apparel and all her jewels, as if it had been
her wedding day; then they placed her on an open bier, and began their
march to the place of burial. The husband walked first, next to the
dead body. They proceeded to a high mountain, and when they had
reached the place of their destination they took up a large stone
which formed the mouth of a deep pit, and let down the body with all
its apparel and jewels. Then the husband, embracing his kindred and
friends, without resistance suffered himself to be placed on another
bier, with a pot of water and seven small loaves, and was let down in
the same manner. The ceremony being over, the mouth of the pit was
again covered with the stone, and the company returned.
I mention this ceremony the more particularly because I was in a few
weeks' time to be the principal actor on a similar occasion. Alas! my
own wife fell sick and died. I made every remonstrance I could to the
king not to expose me, a foreigner, to this inhuman law. I appealed in
vain. The king and all his court, with the most considerable persons
of the city, sought to soften my sorrow by honoring the funeral
ceremony with their presence; and at the termination of the ceremonyI
was lowered into the pit with a vessel full of water, and seven
loaves. As I approached the bottom I discovered, by the aid of the
little light that came from above, the nature of this subterranean
place; it seemed an endless cavern, and might be about fifty fathoms
deep.
I lived for some time upon my bread and water, when, one day, just as
I was on the point of exhaustion, I heard something tread, and
breathing or panting as it moved. I followed the sound. The animal
seemed to stop sometimes, but always fled and breathed hard asI
approached. I pursued it for a considerable time, till at lastI
perceived a light, resembling a star; I went on, sometimes lost sight
of it, but always found it again, and at last discovered that it came
through a hole[58] in the rock, which I got through, and found myself
upon the seashore, at which I felt exceeding joy. I prostrated myself
on the shore to thank God for this mercy, and shortly afterwardI
perceived a ship making for the place where I was. I made a sign with
the linen of my turban, and called to the crew as loud as I could.
They heard me, and sent a boat to bring me on board. It was fortunate
for me that these people did not inspect the place where they found
me, but without hesitation took me on board.
[Footnote 58: "Aristomenes, the Messenian general, thus escaped froma
cave. He perceived a fox near him gnawing a dead body; with one hand
he caught it by the hind leg, and with the other held its jaws, when
it attempted to bite him. Following, as well as he could, his
struggling guide to the narrow crevice at which he entered, he there
let him go, and soon forced a passage through it to the welcome face
of day."--Hole, 141. Sancho's escape from the pit into which he
tumbled with Daffle is somewhat similar.]
We passed by several islands, and among others that called the Isle of
Bells, about ten days' sail from Serendib with a regular wind, and six
from that of Kela, where we landed. Lead mines are found in the
island; also Indian canes, and excellent camphor.
The King of the Isle of Kela is very rich and powerful, and the Isle
of Bells, which is about two days' journey away, is also subject to
him. The inhabitants are so barbarous that they still eat human flesh.
After we had finished our traffic in that island we put to sea again,
and touched at several other ports; at last I arrived happily at
Bagdad. Out of gratitude to God for His mercies, I contributed
liberally toward the support of several mosques and the subsistence of
the poor, and enjoyed myself with my friends in festivities and
amusements.
* * * **
Here Sindbad made a new present of one hundred sequins to Hindbad,
whom he requested to return with the rest next day at the same hour,
to dine with him and hear the story of his fifth voyage.
THE FIFTH VOYAGE OF SINDBAD THE SAILOR
All the troubles and calamities I had undergone could not cure me of
my inclination to make new voyages. I therefore bought goods, departed
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
remained till one was built on purpose, at my own charge. When the
ship was ready I went on board with my goods; but not having enough to
load her, I agreed to take with me several merchants of different
nations, with their merchandise.
We sailed with the first fair wind, and after a long navigation the
first place we touched at was a desert island, where we found the egg
of a roc, equal in size to that I formerly mentioned. There wasa
young roc in it, just ready to be hatched, and its beak had begun to
break the egg.
The merchants who landed with me broke the egg with hatchets, and
making a hole in it, pulled out the young roc piecemeal, and roasted
it. I had in vain entreated them not to meddle with the egg.
Scarcely had they finished their repast, when there appeared in the
air, at a considerable distance, two great clouds.[59] The captain of
my ship, knowing by experience what they meant, said they were the
male and female parents of the roc, and pressed us to reembark with
all speed, to prevent the misfortune which he saw would otherwise
befall us.
[Footnote 59: Mr. Marsden, in his notes to his translation of Marco
Polo's _Voyages_, supposes the roc to be a description of the
albatross or condor, under greatly exaggerated terms.]
The two rocs approached with a frightful noise, which they redoubled
when they saw the egg broken, and their young one gone. They flew back
in the direction they had come, and disappeared for some time, while
we made all the sail we could in the endeavor to prevent that which
unhappily befell us.
They soon returned, and we observed that each of them carried between
its talons an enormous rock. When they came directly over my ship,
they hovered, and one of them let go his rock; but by the dexterity of
the steersman it missed us and fell into the sea. The other so exactly
hit the middle of the ship as to split it into pieces. The mariners
and passengers were all crushed to death or fell into the sea.I
myself was of the number of the latter; 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 the plank, the wind and the tide favoring me, I came to
an island, and got safely ashore.
I sat down upon the grass, to recover myself from my fatigue, after
which I went into the island to explore it. It seemed to bea
delicious garden. I found trees everywhere, some of them bearing green
and others ripe fruits, and streams of fresh pure water. I ate of the
fruits, which I found excellent; and drank of the water, which was
very light and good.
When I was a little advanced into the island, I saw an old man, who
appeared very weak and infirm. He was sitting on the bank of a stream,
and at first I took him to be one who had been shipwrecked like
myself. I went toward him and saluted him, but he only slightly bowed
his head. I asked him why he sat so still; but instead of answering
me, he made a sign for me to take him upon my back, and carry him over
the brook.
I believed him really to stand in need of my assistance, 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 doing so
(which I laugh at every time I think of it), the old man, who to me
appeared quite decrepit, threw his legs nimbly about my neck. He sat
astride upon my shoulders, and held my throat so tight that I thought
he would have strangled me, and I fainted away.
Notwithstanding my fainting, the ill-natured old fellow still kept his
seat upon my neck. When I had recovered my breath, he thrust one of
his feet against my side, and struck me so rudely with the other that
he forced me to rise up, against my will. Having arisen, he made me
carry him under the trees, and forced me now and then to stop, that he
might gather and eat fruit. He never left his seat all day; and whenI
lay down to rest at night he laid himself down with me, still holding
fast about my neck. Every morning he pinched me to make me awake, and
afterward obliged me to get up and walk, and spurred me with his feet.
One day I found 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
put it by in a convenient place, and going thither again some days
after, I tasted it, and found the wine so good that it gave me new
vigor, and so exhilarated my spirits that I began to sing and dance as
I carried my burden.
The old man, perceiving the effect which this had upon me, and thatI
carried him with more ease than before, made me a sign to give him
some of it. I handed him the calabash, and the liquor pleasing his
palate, he drank it off. There being a considerable quantity of it, he
soon began to sing, and to move about from side to side in his seat
upon my shoulders, and by degrees to loosen his legs from about me.
Finding that he did not press me as before, I threw him upon the
ground, where he lay without motion. I then took up a great stone and
slew him.
I was extremely glad to be thus freed forever from this troublesome
fellow. I now walked toward the beach, where I met the crew of a ship
that had cast anchor, to take in water. They were surprised to see me,
but more so at hearing the particulars of my adventures.
"You fell," said they, "into the hands of the old man of the sea, and
are the first who ever escaped strangling by his malicious embraces.
He never quitted those he had once made himself master of, till he had
destroyed them, and he has made this island notorious by the number of
men he has slain."
They carried me with them to the captain, who received me with great
kindness. He put out again to sea, and after some days' sail we
arrived at the harbor of a great city, the houses of which overhung
the sea.
One of the merchants, who had taken me into his friendship, invited me
to go along with him. He gave me a large sack, and having recommended
me to some people of the town, who used to gather coconuts, desired
them to take me with them.
"Go," said he, "follow them, and act as you see them do; but do not
separate from them, otherwise you may endanger your life."
Having thus spoken, he gave me provisions for the journey, and I went
with them.
We came to a thick forest of coco palms,[60] very lofty, with trunks
so smooth that it was not possible to climb to the branches that bore
the fruit. When we entered the forest we saw a great number of apes of
several sizes, who fled as soon as they perceived us, and climbed to
the tops of the trees with amazing swiftness.
[Footnote 60: Coco palms bear their fruit at the top.]
The merchants with whom I was gathered stones, and threw them at the
apes on the trees. I did the same; and the apes, out of revenge, threw
coconuts at us so fast, and with such gestures, as sufficiently
testified their anger and resentment. We gathered up the coconuts, and
from time to time threw stones to provoke the apes; so that by this
stratagem we filled our bags with coconuts. I thus gradually collected
as many coconuts as produced me a considerable sum.
Having laden our vessel with coconuts, we set sail, and passed by the
islands where pepper grows in great plenty. From thence we went to the
Isle of Comari, where the best species of wood of aloes grows.I
exchanged my coconuts in those two islands for pepper and wood of
aloes, and went with other merchants pearl fishing.[61] I hired
divers, who brought me up some that were very large and pure.I
embarked in a vessel that happily arrived at Bussorah; from thenceI
returned to Bagdad, where I realized vast sums from my pepper, wood of
aloes, and pearls. I gave the tenth of my gains in alms, as I had done
upon my return from my other voyages, and rested from my fatigues.
[Footnote 61: Marco Polo, a famous voyager (1298), gives an account of
this pearl fishery.]
* * * **
Sindbad here ordered one hundred sequins to be given to Hindbad, and
requested him and the other guests to dine with him the next day, to
hear the account of his sixth voyage.
THE SIXTH VOYAGE OF SINDBAD THE SAILOR
I know, my friends, that you will wish to hear how, after having been
shipwrecked five times, and escaped so many dangers, I could resolve
again to tempt fortune, and expose myself to new hardships. I am
myself astonished at my conduct when I reflect upon it, and must
certainly have been actuated by my destiny, from which none can
escape. Be that as it may, after a year's rest I prepared for a sixth
voyage, notwithstanding the entreaties of my kindred and friends, who
did all in their power to dissuade me.
Instead of taking my way by the Persian Gulf I traveled once more
through several provinces of Persia and the Indies, and arrived ata
seaport. Here I embarked in a ship, the captain of which was bound on
a long voyage, in which he and the pilot lost their course. Suddenly
we saw the captain quit his rudder, uttering loud lamentations. He
threw off his turban, pulled his beard, and beat his head likea
madman. We asked him the reason; and he answered that we were in the
most dangerous place in all the ocean.
"A rapid current carries the ship along with it, and we shall all
perish in less than a quarter of an hour. Pray to God to deliver us
from this peril. We cannot escape, if He do not take pity on us."
At these words he ordered the sails to be lowered; but all the ropes
broke, and the ship was carried by the current to the foot of an
inaccessible mountain, where she struck and went to pieces; yet in
such a manner that we saved our lives, our provisions, and the best of
our goods.
The mountain at the foot of which we were was covered with wrecks,
with a vast number of human bones, and with an incredible quantity of
goods and riches of all kinds, These objects served only to augment
our despair. In all other places it is usual for rivers to run from
their channels into the sea; but here a river of fresh water[62] runs
from the sea into a dark cavern, whose entrance is very high and
spacious. 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,[63] that runs into the
sea, which the fish swallow, and evacuate soon afterward, turned into
ambergris[64]; and this the waves throw up on the beach in great
quantities. Trees also grow here, most of which are of wood of
aloes,[65] equal in goodness to those of Comari.
[Footnote 62: Mr. Ives mentions wells of fresh water under the sea in
the Persian Gulf, near the island of Barien.--Hole.]
[Footnote 63: "Such fountains are not unfrequent in India and in
Ceylon; and the Mohammedan travelers speak of ambergris swallowed by
whales, who are made sick and regorge it."--Hole.]
[Footnote 64: "Ambergris--a substance of animal origin, found
principally in warm climates floating on the sea, or thrown on the
coast. The best comes from Madagascar, Surinam, and Java. When it is
heated or rubbed, it exhales an agreeable odor."--Knight's _English
Cyclopadia_, Vol. I, p. 142.]
[Footnote 65: "Camphor is the produce of certain trees in Borneo,
Sumatra, and Japan. The camphor lies in perpendicular veins near the
center of the tree, or in its knots, and the same tree exudes a fluid
termed oil of camphor. The Venetians, and subsequently the Dutch,
monopolized the sale of camphor."--_Encyclopadia Metropolitana_, Vol.
III, p. 195. Gibbons, in his notes to the _Decline and Fall_, says:
"From the remote islands of the Indian Ocean a large provision of
camphor had been imported, which is employed, with a mixture of wax,
to illuminate the palaces of the East."]
To finish the description of this place, it is not possible for ships
to get off when once they approach within a certain distance. If they
be driven thither by a wind from the sea, the wind and the current
impel them; and if they come into it when a land wind blows, which
might seem to favor their getting out again, the height of the
mountain stops the wind, and occasions a calm, so that the force of
the current carries them ashore; and what completes the misfortune is,
that there is no possibility of ascending the mountain, or of escaping
by sea.
We continued upon the shore, at the foot of the mountain, in a state
of despair, and expected death every day. On our first landing we had
divided our provisions as equally as we could, and thus every one
lived a longer or a shorter time, according to his temperance, and
the use he made of his provisions.
[Illustration: _Having balanced my cargo exactly, and fastened it well
to the raft, I went on board with two oars I had made Page 281_]
I survived all my companions; and when I buried the last I had so
little provisions remaining that I thought I could not long survive,
and I dug a grave, resolving to lie down in it because there was no
one left to pay me the last offices of respect. 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 cavern. Considering its
probable course with great attention, I said to myself, "This river,
which runs thus underground, must somewhere have an issue. If I makea
raft, and leave myself to the current, it will convey me to some
inhabited country, or I shall perish. If I be drowned, I lose nothing,
but only change one kind of death for another."
I immediately went to work upon large pieces of timber and cables, for
I had a choice of them from the wrecks, and tied them together so
strongly that I soon made a very solid raft. When I had finished,I
loaded it with some chests of rubies, emeralds, ambergris,
rock-crystal, and bales of rich stuffs. Having balanced my cargo
exactly, and fastened it well to the raft, I went on board with two
oars that I had made, and leaving it to the course of the river,
resigned myself to the will of God.
As soon as I entered the cavern I lost all light, and the stream
carried me I knew not whither. Thus I floated on in perfect darkness,
and once found the arch so low, that it very nearly touched my head,
which made me cautious afterward to avoid the like danger. All this
while I ate nothing but what was just necessary to support nature;
yet, notwithstanding my frugality, all my provisions were spent. Then
I became insensible. I cannot tell how long I continued so; but whenI
revived, I was surprised to find myself on an extensive plain on the
brink 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 negroes, who understood Arabic, hearing me speak thus, came
toward me, and said, "Brother, be not surprised to see us; we are
inhabitants of this country, and water our fields from this river,
which comes out of the neighboring mountain. We saw your raft, and 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.
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 related all that had befallen me, which
they listened to with attentive surprise. As soon as I had finished,
they told me, by the person who spoke Arabic and interpreted to them
what I said, that I must go along with them, and tell my story to
their king myself, it being too extraordinary to be related by any
other than the person to whom the events had happened.
They immediately sent for a horse, and having helped me to mount, some
of them walked before to show the way, while the rest took my raft and
cargo and followed.
We marched till we came to the capital of Serendib, for it was on that
island I had landed. The negroes 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. The
prince ordered me to rise, received me with an obliging air, and made
me sit down near him.
I concealed nothing from the king, but related to him all that I have
told you. 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 equaled 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, "Sire, 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, "Sindbad, I will take nothing of yours;
far from lessening your wealth, I design to augment it, and will not
let you quit my dominions without marks of my liberality."
He then charged one of his officers to take care of me, and ordered
people to serve me at his own expense. The officer was very faithful
in the execution of his commission, and caused all the goods to be
carried to the lodgings provided for me.
I went every day at a set hour to make my court to the king, and spent
the rest of my time in viewing the city, and what was most worthy of
notice.
The capital of Serendib stands at the end of a fine valley, in the
middle of the island, encompassed by high mountains. They are seen
three days' sail off at sea. Rubies and several sorts of minerals
abound. All kinds of rare plants and trees grow there, especially
cedars and coconut. There is also a pearl fishery in the mouth of its
principal river, and in some of its valleys are found diamonds.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 the mountain.
When I returned to the city I prayed the king to allow me to return to
my own country, and he granted me permission in the most obliging and
honorable manner. He would force a rich present upon me; and at the
same time he 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 the Caliph Haroun al Raschid, and assure
him of my friendship."
The letter from the King of Serendib was written on the skin ofa
certain animal of great value, very scarce, and of a yellowish color.
The characters of this letter were of azure, and the contents as
f
