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[Illustration: لا لابرار كلّ شي تبر]
“TO THE PURE ALL THINGS ARE PURE.”
(Puris omnia pura)
—_Arab Proverb._
“Niuna corrotta mente intese mai sanamente parole.”
—“_Decameron_”—_conclusion_.
“Erubuit, posuitque meum Lucretia librum
Sed coram Bruto. Brute! recede, leget.”
—_Martial._
“Mieulx est de ris que de larmes escripre,
Pour ce que rire est le propre des hommes.”
—RABELAIS.
“The pleasure we derive from perusing the Thousand-and-One Stories makes
us regret that we possess only a comparatively small part of these truly
enchanting fictions.”
—CRICHTON’S “_History of Arabia_.”
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_A PLAIN AND LITERAL TRANSLATION OF THE ARABIAN NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS.
NOW ENTITULED_
_THE BOOK OF THE_
Thousand Nights and a Night
_WITH INTRODUCTION EXPLANATORY NOTES ON THE MANNERS AND CUSTOMS OF
MOSLEM MEN AND A TERMINAL ESSAY UPON THE HISTORY OF THE NIGHTS_
VOLUME VI.
BY
RICHARD F. BURTON
[Illustration]
PRINTED BY THE BURTON CLUB FOR PRIVATE SUBSCRIBERS ONLY
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Shammar Edition
Limited to one thousand numbered sets, of which this is
Number _547_
PRINTED IN U. S. A.
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I INSCRIBE THIS VOLUME
TO MY OLD AND VALUED CORRESPONDENT,
IN WHOSE DEBT I AM DEEP,
PROFESSOR ALOYS SPRENGER
(OF HEIDELBERG),
ARABIST, PHILOSOPHER AND FRIEND.
R. F. BURTON.
CONTENTS OF THE SIXTH VOLUME.
PAGE
SINDBAD THE SEAMAN AND SINDBAD THE LANDSMAN 1
(_Lane, Vol. III., Chapt. XXII., Story of Es Sindbad of the Sea and Es
Sindbad of the Land. pp. 1–78._)
_a._ THE FIRST VOYAGE OF SINDBAD THE SEAMAN 4
_b._ THE SECOND VOYAGE OF SINDBAD THE SEAMAN 14
_c._ THE THIRD VOYAGE OF SINDBAD THE SEAMAN 22
_d._ THE FOURTH VOYAGE OF SINDBAD THE SEAMAN 34
_e._ THE FIFTH VOYAGE OF SINDBAD THE SEAMAN 48
_f._ THE SIXTH VOYAGE OF SINDBAD THE SEAMAN 58
_g._ THE SEVENTH VOYAGE OF SINDBAD THE SEAMAN 68
THE SEVENTH VOYAGE OF SINDBAD THE SEAMAN (_according to 78
the version of the Calcutta Edition_)
THE CITY OF BRASS 83
(_Lane, Vol. III., Chapt. XXIII. Story of the City of Brass. pp.
118–152._)
THE CRAFT AND MALICE OF WOMAN 122
(_Lane, Vol. III., Chapt. XXI., Abstract of the Story of the King and
his Son and the Damsel and the Seven Wezeers. pp. 158–183._)
_a._ THE KING AND HIS WAZIR’S WIFE 129
_b._ THE CONFECTIONER, HIS WIFE, AND THE PARROT 132
_c._ THE FULLER AND HIS SON 134
_d._ THE RAKE’S TRICK AGAINST THE CHASTE WIFE 135
_e._ THE MISER AND THE LOAVES OF BREAD 137
_f._ THE LADY AND HER TWO LOVERS 138
_g._ THE KING’S SON AND THE OGRESS 139
_h._ THE DROP OF HONEY 142
_i._ THE WOMAN WHO MADE HER HUSBAND SIFT DUST 143
_j._ THE ENCHANTED SPRING 145
_k._ THE WAZIR’S SON AND THE HAMMAM-KEEPER’S WIFE 150
_l._ THE WIFE’S DEVICE TO CHEAT HER HUSBAND 152
_m._ THE GOLDSMITH AND THE CASHMERE SINGING-GIRL 156
_n._ THE MAN WHO NEVER LAUGHED DURING THE REST OF HIS DAYS 160
_o._ THE KING’S SON AND THE MERCHANT’S WIFE 167
_p._ THE PAGE WHO FEIGNED TO KNOW THE SPEECH OF BIRDS 169
_q._ THE LADY AND HER FIVE SUITORS 172
_r._ THE THREE WISHES, OR THE MAN WHO LONGED TO SEE THE NIGHT 180
OF POWER
_s._ THE STOLEN NECKLACE 182
_t._ THE TWO PIGEONS 183
_u._ PRINCE BEHRAM AND THE PRINCESS AL-DATMA 184
_v._ THE HOUSE WITH THE BELVEDERE 188
_w._ THE KING’S SON AND THE IFRIT’S MISTRESS 199
_x._ THE SANDAL-WOOD MERCHANT AND THE SHARPERS 202
_y._ THE DEBAUCHEE AND THE THREE-YEAR-OLD CHILD 208
_z._ THE STOLEN PURSE 209
_aa._ THE FOX AND THE FOLK 211
JUDAR AND HIS BRETHREN 213
(_Lane, Vol. III, Chapt. XXII., Story of Joodar. pp. 183–233._)
THE HISTORY OF GHARIB AND HIS BROTHER AJIB 257
SINDBAD THE SEAMAN[1] AND SINDBAD THE LANDSMAN.
There lived in the city of Baghdad, during the reign of the Commander of
the Faithful, Harun al-Rashid, a man named Sindbád the Hammál,[2] one in
poor case who bore burdens on his head for hire. It happened to him one
day of great heat that whilst he was carrying a heavy load, he became
exceeding weary and sweated profusely, the heat and the weight alike
oppressing him. Presently, as he was passing the gate of a merchant’s
house, before which the ground was swept and watered, and there the air
was temperate, he sighted a broad bench beside the door; so he set his
load thereon, to take rest and smell the air,——And Shahrazad perceived
the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say.
Now when it was the Five Hundred and Thirty-seventh Night,
She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the Hammal
set his load upon the bench to take rest and smell the air, there came
out upon him from the court-door a pleasant breeze and a delicious
fragrance. He sat down on the edge of the bench, and at once heard from
within the melodious sound of lutes and other stringed instruments, and
mirth-exciting voices singing and reciting, together with the song of
birds warbling and glorifying Almighty Allah in various tunes and
tongues; turtles, mocking-birds, merles, nightingales, cushats and
stone-curlews,[3] whereat he marvelled in himself and was moved to
mighty joy and solace. Then he went up to the gate and saw within a
great flower-garden wherein were pages and black slaves and such a train
of servants and attendants and so forth as is found only with Kings and
Sultans; and his nostrils were greeted with the savoury odours of all
manner meats rich and delicate, and delicious and generous wines. So he
raised his eyes heavenwards and said, “Glory to Thee, O Lord, O Creator
and Provider, who providest whomso Thou wilt without count or stint! O
mine Holy One, I cry Thee pardon for all sins and turn to Thee repenting
of all offences! O Lord, there is no gainsaying Thee in Thine ordinance
and Thy dominion, neither wilt Thou be questioned of that Thou dost, for
Thou indeed over all things art Almighty! Extolled be Thy perfection:
whom Thou wilt Thou makest poor and whom Thou wilt Thou makest rich!
Whom Thou wilt Thou exaltest and whom Thou wilt Thou abasest and there
is no god but Thou! How mighty is Thy majesty and how enduring Thy
dominion and how excellent Thy government! Verily, Thou favourest whom
Thou wilt of Thy servants, whereby the owner of this place abideth in
all joyance of life and delighteth himself with pleasant scents and
delicious meats and exquisite wines of all kinds. For indeed Thou
appointest unto Thy creatures that which Thou wilt and that which Thou
hast fore-ordained unto them; wherefore are some weary and others are at
rest and some enjoy fair fortune and affluence, whilst others suffer the
extreme of travail and misery, even as I do.” And he fell to reciting:—
How many by my labours, that evermore endure, ✿ All goods of life enjoy
and in cooly shade recline?
Each morn that dawns I wake in travail and in woe, ✿ And strange is my
condition and my burden gars me pine:
Many others are in luck and from miseries are free, ✿ And Fortune never
loads them with loads the like o’ mine:
They live their happy days in all solace and delight; ✿ Eat, drink and
dwell in honour ‘mid the noble and the digne:
All living things were made of a little drop of sperm, ✿ Thine origin is
mine and my provenance is thine;
Yet the difference and distance ‘twixt the twain of us are far ✿ As the
difference of savour ‘twixt vinegar and wine:
But at Thee, O God All-wise! I venture not to rail ✿ Whose ordinance is
just and whose justice cannot fail.
When Sindbad the Porter had made an end of reciting his verses, he bore
up his burden and was about to fare on, when there came forth to him
from the gate a little foot-page, fair of face and shapely of shape and
dainty of dress who caught him by the hand saying, “Come in and speak
with my lord, for he calleth for thee.” The Porter would have excused
himself to the page but the lad would take no refusal; so he left his
load with the doorkeeper in the vestibule and followed the boy into the
house, which he found to be a goodly mansion, radiant and full of
majesty, till he brought him to a grand sitting-room wherein he saw a
company of nobles and great lords, seated at tables garnished with all
manner of flowers and sweet-scented herbs, besides great plenty of
dainty viands and fruits dried and fresh and confections and wines of
the choicest vintages. There also were instruments of music and mirth
and lovely slave-girls playing and singing. All the company was ranged
according to rank; and in the highest place sat a man of worshipful and
noble aspect whose beard-sides hoariness had stricken; and he was
stately of stature and fair of favour, agreeable of aspect and full of
gravity and dignity and majesty. So Sindbad the Porter was confounded at
that which he beheld and said in himself, “By Allah, this must be either
a piece of Paradise or some King’s palace!” Then he saluted the company
with much respect praying for their prosperity, and kissing the ground
before them, stood with his head bowed down in humble attitude.——And
Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.
Now when it was the Five Hundred and Thirty-eighth Night,
She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Sindbad the
Porter, after kissing ground between their hands, stood with his head
bowed down in humble attitude. The master of the house bade him draw
near and be seated and bespoke him kindly, bidding him welcome. Then he
set before him various kinds of viands, rich and delicate and delicious,
and the Porter, after saying his Bismillah, fell to and ate his fill,
after which he exclaimed, “Praised be Allah whatso be our case![4]” and,
washing his hands, returned thanks to the company for his entertainment.
Quoth the host, “Thou art welcome and thy day is a blessed. But what is
thy name and calling?” Quoth the other, “O my lord, my name is Sindbad
the Hammal, and I carry folk’s goods on my head for hire.” The
house-master smiled and rejoined, “Know, O Porter that thy name is even
as mine, for I am Sindbad the Seaman; and now, O Porter, I would have
thee let me hear the couplets thou recitedst at the gate anon.” The
Porter was abashed and replied, “Allah upon thee! Excuse me, for toil
and travail and lack of luck when the hand is empty, teach a man ill
manners and boorish ways.” Said the host, “Be not ashamed; thou art
become my brother; but repeat to me the verses, for they pleased me
whenas I heard thee recite them at the gate.” Hereupon the Porter
repeated the couplets and they delighted the merchant, who said to
him:—Know, O Hammal, that my story is a wonderful one, and thou shalt
hear all that befel me and all I underwent ere I rose to this state of
prosperity and became the lord of this place wherein thou seest me; for
I came not to this high estate save after travail sore and perils
galore, and how much toil and trouble have I not suffered in days of
yore! I have made seven voyages, by each of which hangeth a marvellous
tale, such as confoundeth the reason, and all this came to pass by doom
of fortune and fate; for from what destiny doth write there is neither
refuge nor flight. Know, then, good my lords (continued he) that I am
about to relate the
_FIRST VOYAGE OF SINDBAD HIGHT THE SEAMAN._[5]
My father was a merchant, one of the notables of my native place, a
monied man and ample of means, who died whilst I was yet a child,
leaving me much wealth in money and lands and farmhouses. When I grew
up, I laid hands on the whole and ate of the best and drank freely and
wore rich clothes and lived lavishly, companioning and consorting with
youths of my own age, and considering that this course of life would
continue for ever and ken no change. Thus did I for a long time, but at
last I awoke from my heedlessness and, returning to my senses, I found
my wealth had become unwealth and my condition ill-conditioned and all I
once hent had left my hand. And recovering my reason I was stricken with
dismay and confusion and bethought me of a saying of our lord Solomon,
son of David (on whom be peace!), which I had heard aforetime from my
father, “Three things are better than other three; the day of death is
better than the day of birth, a live dog is better than a dead lion and
the grave is better than want.”[6] Then I got together my remains of
estates and property and sold all, even my clothes, for three thousand
dirhams, with which I resolved to travel to foreign parts, remembering
the saying of the poet:—
By means of toil man shall scale the height; ✿ Who to fame aspires
mustn’t sleep o’ night:
Who seeketh pearl in the deep must dive, ✿ Winning weal and wealth by
his main and might:
And who seeketh Fame without toil and strife ✿ Th’ impossible seeketh
and wasteth life.
So taking heart I bought me goods, merchandise and all needed for a
voyage and, impatient to be at sea, I embarked, with a company of
merchants, on board a ship bound for Bassorah. There we again embarked
and sailed many days and nights, and we passed from isle to isle and sea
to sea and shore to shore, buying and selling and bartering everywhere
the ship touched, and continued our course till we came to an island as
it were a garth of the gardens of Paradise. Here the captain cast anchor
and making fast to the shore, put out the landing planks. So all on
board landed and made furnaces[7] and lighting fires therein, busied
themselves in various ways, some cooking and some washing, whilst other
some walked about the island for solace, and the crew fell to eating and
drinking and playing and sporting. I was one of the walkers but, as we
were thus engaged, behold the master who was standing on the gunwale
cried out to us at the top of his voice, saying, “Ho there! passengers,
run for your lives and hasten back to the ship and leave your gear and
save yourselves from destruction, Allah preserve you! For this island
whereon ye stand is no true island, but a great fish stationary
a-middlemost of the sea, whereon the sand hath settled and trees have
sprung up of old time, so that it is become like unto an island;[8] but,
when ye lighted fires on it, it felt the heat and moved; and in a moment
it will sink with you into the sea and ye will all be drowned. So leave
your gear and seek your safety ere ye die!”——And Shahrazad perceived the
dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say.
Now when it was the Five Hundred and Thirty-ninth Night,
She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the
ship-master cried to the passengers, “Leave your gear and seek safety,
ere ye die;” all who heard him left gear and goods, clothes washed and
unwashed, fire pots and brass cooking-pots, and fled back to the ship
for their lives, and some reached it while others (amongst whom was I)
did not, for suddenly the island shook and sank into the abysses of the
deep, with all that were thereon, and the dashing sea surged over it
with clashing waves. I sank with the others down, down into the deep,
but Almighty Allah preserved me from drowning and threw in my way a
great wooden tub of those that had served the ship’s company for
tubbing. I gripped it for the sweetness of life and, bestriding it like
one riding, paddled with my feet like oars, whilst the waves tossed me
as in sport right and left. Meanwhile the captain made sail and departed
with those who had reached the ship, regardless of the drowning and the
drowned; and I ceased not following the vessel with my eyes, till she
was hid from sight and I made sure of death. Darkness closed in upon me
while in this plight and the winds and waves bore me on all that night
and the next day, till the tub brought to with me under the lee of a
lofty island, with trees overhanging the tide. I caught hold of a branch
and by its aid clambered up on to the land, after coming nigh upon
death; but when I reached the shore, I found my legs cramped and numbed
and my feet bore traces of the nibbling of fish upon their soles; withal
I had felt nothing for excess of anguish and fatigue. I threw myself
down on the island ground, like a dead man, and drowned in desolation
swooned away, nor did I return to my senses till next morning, when the
sun rose and revived me. But I found my feet swollen, so made shift to
move by shuffling on my breech and crawling on my knees, for in that
island were found store of fruits and springs of sweet water. I ate of
the fruits which strengthened me; and thus I abode days and nights, till
my life seemed to return and my spirits began to revive and I was better
able to move about. So, after due consideration, I fell to exploring the
island and diverting myself with gazing upon all things that Allah
Almighty had created there; and rested under the trees from one of which
I cut me a staff to lean upon. One day as I walked along the marge, I
caught sight of some object in the distance and thought it a wild beast
or one of the monster-creatures of the sea; but, as I drew near it,
looking hard the while, I saw that it was a noble mare, tethered on the
beach. Presently I went up to her, but she cried out against me with a
great cry, so that I trembled for fear and turned to go away, when there
came forth a man from under the earth and followed me, crying out and
saying, “Who and whence art thou, and what caused thee to come hither?”
“O my lord,” answered I, “I am in very sooth, a waif, a stranger, and
was left to drown with sundry others by the ship we voyaged in;[9] but
Allah graciously sent me a wooden tub; so I saved myself thereon and it
floated with me, till the waves cast me up on this island.” When he
heard this, he took my hand and saying, “Come with me,” carried me into
a great Sardáb, or underground chamber, which was spacious as a saloon.
He made me sit down at its upper end; then he brought me somewhat of
food and, being an-hungered, I ate till I was satisfied and refreshed;
and when he had put me at mine ease he questioned me of myself, and I
told him all that had befallen me from first to last; and, as he
wondered at my adventure, I said, “By Allah, O my lord, excuse me; I
have told thee the truth of my case and the accident which betided me;
and now I desire that thou tell me who thou art and why thou abidest
here under the earth and why thou hast tethered yonder mare on the brink
of the sea.” Answered he, “Know, that I am one of the several who are
stationed in different parts of this island, and we are of the grooms of
King Mihrján[10] and under our hand are all his horses. Every month,
about new-moon tide we bring hither our best mares which have never been
covered, and picket them on the sea-shore and hide ourselves in this
place under the ground, so that none may espy us. Presently, the
stallions of the sea scent the mares and come up out of the water and
seeing no one, leap the mares and do their will of them. When they have
covered them, they try to drag them away with them, but cannot, by
reason of the leg-ropes; so they cry out at them and butt at them and
kick them, which we hearing, know that the stallions have dismounted; so
we run out and shout at them, whereupon they are startled and return in
fear to the sea. Then the mares conceive by them and bear colts and
fillies worth a mint of money, nor is their like to be found on earth’s
face. This is the time of the coming forth of the sea-stallions; and
Inshallah! I will bear thee to King Mihrjan”——And Shahrazad perceived
the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.
Now when it was the Five Hundred and Fortieth Night,
She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Syce[11]
said to Sindbad the Seaman, “I will bear thee to King Mihrjan and show
thee our country. And know that hadst thou not happened on us thou hadst
perished miserably and none had known of thee: but I will be the means
of the saving of thy life and of thy return to thine own land.” I called
down blessings on him and thanked him for his kindness and courtesy;
and, while we were yet talking, behold, the stallion came up out of the
sea; and, giving a great cry, sprang upon the mare and covered her. When
he had done his will of her, he dismounted and would have carried her
away with him, but could not by reason of the tether. She kicked and
cried out at him, whereupon the groom took a sword and target[12] and
ran out of the underground saloon, smiting the buckler with the blade
and calling to his company, who came up shouting and brandishing spears;
and the stallion took fright at them and plunging into the sea, like a
buffalo, disappeared under the waves.[13] After this we sat awhile, till
the rest of the grooms came up, each leading a mare, and seeing me with
their fellow-Syce, questioned me of my case and I repeated my story to
them. Thereupon they drew near me and spreading the table, ate and
invited me to eat; so I ate with them, after which they took horse and
mounting me on one of the mares, set out with me and fared on without
ceasing, till we came to the capital city of King Mihrjan, and going in
to him acquainted him with my story. Then he sent for me, and when they
set me before him and salams had been exchanged, he gave me a cordial
welcome and wishing me long life bade me tell him my tale. So I related
to him all that I had seen and all that had befallen me from first to
last, whereat he marvelled and said to me, “By Allah, O my son, thou
hast indeed been miraculously preserved! Were not the term of thy life a
long one, thou hadst not escaped from these straits; but praised be
Allah for safety!” Then he spoke cheerily to me and entreated me with
kindness and consideration: moreover, he made me his agent for the port
and registrar of all ships that entered the harbour. I attended him
regularly, to receive his commandments, and he favoured me and did me
all manner of kindness and invested me with costly and splendid robes.
Indeed, I was high in credit with him, as an intercessor for the folk
and an intermediary between them and him, when they wanted aught of him.
I abode thus a great while and, as often as I passed through the city to
the port, I questioned the merchants and travellers and sailors of the
city of Baghdad; so haply I might hear of an occasion to return to my
native land, but could find none who knew it or knew any who resorted
thither. At this I was chagrined, for I was weary of long strangerhood;
and my disappointment endured for a time till one day, going in to King
Mihrjan, I found with him a company of Indians. I saluted them and they
returned my salam; and politely welcomed me and asked me of my
country.——And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her
permitted say.
Now when it was the Five Hundred and Forty-first Night,
She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Sindbad the
Seaman said:—When they asked me of my country I questioned them of
theirs and they told me that they were of various castes, some being
called Shakiriyah[14] who are the noblest of their castes and neither
oppress nor offer violence to any, and others Brahmans, a folk who
abstain from wine, but live in delight and solace and merriment and own
camels and horses and cattle. Moreover, they told me that the people of
India are divided into two-and-seventy castes, and I marvelled at this
with exceeding marvel. Amongst other things that I saw in King Mihrjan’s
dominions was an island called Kásil,[15] wherein all night is heard the
beating of drums and tabrets; but we were told by the neighbouring
islanders and by travellers that the inhabitants are people of diligence
and judgment.[16] In this sea I saw also a fish two hundred cubits long
and the fishermen fear it; so they strike together pieces of wood and
put it to flight.[17] I also saw another fish, with a head like that of
an owl, besides many other wonders and rarities, which it would be
tedious to recount. I occupied myself thus in visiting the islands till,
one day, as I stood in the port, with a staff in my hand, according to
my custom, behold, a great ship, wherein were many merchants, came
sailing for the harbour. When it reached the small inner port where
ships anchor under the city, the master furled his sails and making fast
to the shore, put out the landing-planks, whereupon the crew fell to
breaking bulk and landing cargo whilst I stood by, taking written note
of them. They were long in bringing the goods ashore so I asked the
master, “Is there aught left in thy ship?”; and he answered, “O my lord,
there are divers bales of merchandise in the hold, whose owner was
drowned from amongst us at one of the islands on our course; so his
goods remained in our charge by way of trust and we purpose to sell them
and note their price, that we may convey it to his people in the City of
Baghdad, the Home of Peace.” “What was the merchant’s name?” quoth I,
and quoth he, “Sindbad the Seaman;” whereupon I straitly considered him
and knowing him, cried out to him with a great cry, saying, “O captain,
I am that Sindbad the Seaman who travelled with other merchants; and
when the fish heaved and thou calledst to us some saved themselves and
others sank, I being one of them. But Allah Almighty threw in my way a
great tub of wood, of those the crew had used to wash withal, and the
winds and waves carried me to this island, where by Allah’s grace, I
fell in with King Mihrjan’s grooms and they brought me hither to the
King their master. When I told him my story, he entreated me with favour
and made me his harbour-master, and I have prospered in his service and
found acceptance with him. These bales, therefore are mine, the goods
which God hath given me.”——And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and
ceased to say her permitted say.
Now when it was the Five Hundred and Forty-second Night,
She continued, it hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Sindbad
the Seaman said to the captain, “These bales are mine, the goods which
Allah hath given me,” the other exclaimed, “There is no Majesty and
there is no Might save in Allah, the Glorious, the Great! Verily, there
is neither conscience nor good faith left among men!” said I, “O
Rais,[18] what mean these words, seeing that I have told thee my case?”
And he answered, “Because thou heardest me say that I had with me goods
whose owner was drowned, thou thinkest to take them without right; but
this is forbidden by law to thee, for we saw him drown before our eyes,
together with many other passengers, nor was one of them saved. So how
canst thou pretend that thou art the owner of the goods?” “O captain,”
said I, “listen to my story and give heed to my words, and my truth will
be manifest to thee; for lying and leasing are the letter-marks of the
hypocrites.” Then I recounted to him all that had befallen me since I
sailed from Baghdad with him to the time when we came to the fish-island
where we were nearly drowned; and I reminded him of certain matters
which had passed between us; whereupon both he and the merchants were
certified of the truth of my story and recognized me and gave me joy of
my deliverance, saying, “By Allah, we thought not that thou hadst
escaped drowning! But the Lord hath granted thee new life.” Then they
delivered my bales to me, and I found my name written thereon, nor was
aught thereof lacking. So I opened them and making up a present for King
Mihrjan of the finest and costliest of the contents, caused the sailors
carry it up to the palace, where I went in to the King and laid my
present at his feet, acquainting him with what had happened, especially
concerning the ship and my goods; whereat he wondered with exceeding
wonder and the truth of all that I had told him was made manifest to
him. His affection for me redoubled after that and he showed me
exceeding honour and bestowed on me a great present in return for mine.
Then I sold my bales and what other matters I owned making a great
profit on them, and bought me other goods and gear of the growth and
fashion of the island-city. When the merchants were about to start on
their homeward voyage, I embarked on board the ship all that I
possessed, and going in to the King, thanked him for all his favours and
friendship and craved his leave to return to my own land and friends. He
farewelled me and bestowed on me great store of the country-stuffs and
produce; and I took leave of him and embarked. Then we set sail and
fared on nights and days, by the permission of Allah Almighty; and
Fortune served us and Fate favoured us, so that we arrived in safety at
Bassorah-city where I landed rejoiced at my safe return to my natal
soil. After a short stay, I set out for Baghdad, the House of Peace,
with store of goods and commodities of great price. Reaching the city in
due time, I went straight to my own quarter and entered my house where
all my friends and kinsfolk came to greet me. Then I bought me eunuchs
and concubines, servants and negro slaves till I had a large
establishment, and I bought me houses, and lands and gardens, till I was
richer and in better case than before, and returned to enjoy the society
of my friends and familiars more assiduously than ever, forgetting all I
had suffered of fatigue and hardship and strangerhood and every peril of
travel; and I applied myself to all manner joys and solaces and
delights, eating the daintiest viands and drinking the deliciousest
wines; and my wealth allowed this state of things to endure. This, then,
is the story of my first voyage, and to-morrow, Inshallah! I will tell
you the tale of the second of my seven voyages. (Saith he who telleth
the tale), Then Sindbad the Seaman made Sindbad the Landsman sup with
him and bade him give an hundred gold pieces, saying, “Thou hast cheered
us with thy company this day.”[19] The Porter thanked him and, taking
the gift, went his way, pondering that which he had heard and marvelling
mightily at what things betide mankind. He passed the night in his own
place and with early morning repaired to the abode of Sindbad the
Seaman, who received him with honour and seated him by his side. As soon
as the rest of the company was assembled, he set meat and drink before
them and, when they had well eaten and drunken and were merry and in
cheerful case, he took up his discourse and recounted to them in these
words the narrative of
_THE SECOND VOYAGE OF SINDBAD THE SEAMAN._
Know, O my brother, that I was living a most comfortable and enjoyable
life, in all solace and delight, as I told you yesterday,——And Shahrazad
perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say.
Now when it was the Five Hundred and Forty-third Night,
She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Sindbad
the Seaman’s guests were all gathered together he thus bespake them:—I
was living a most enjoyable life until one day my mind became possessed
with the thought of travelling about the world of men and seeing their
cities and islands; and a longing seized me to traffic and to make money
by trade. Upon this resolve I took a great store of cash and, buying
goods and gear fit for travel, bound them up in bales. Then I went down
to the river-bank, where I found a noble ship and brand-new about to
sail, equipped with sails of fine cloth and well manned and provided; so
I took passage in her, with a number of other merchants, and after
embarking our goods we weighed anchor the same day. Right fair was our
voyage and we sailed from place to place and from isle to isle; and
whenever we anchored we met a crowd of merchants and notables and
customers, and we took to buying and selling and bartering. At last
Destiny brought us to an island, fair and verdant, in trees abundant,
with yellow-ripe fruits luxuriant, and flowers fragrant and birds
warbling soft descant; and streams crystalline and radiant; but no sign
of man showed to the descrier, no, not a blower of the fire.[20] The
captain made fast with us to this island, and the merchants and sailors
landed and walked about, enjoying the shade of the trees and the song of
the birds, that chanted the praises of the One, the Victorious, and
marvelling at the works of the Omnipotent King.[21] I landed with the
rest; and, sitting down by a spring of sweet water that welled up among
the trees, took out some vivers I had with me and ate of that which
Allah Almighty had allotted unto me. And so sweet was the zephyr and so
fragrant were the flowers, that presently I waxed drowsy and, lying down
in that place, was soon drowned in sleep. When I awoke, I found myself
alone, for the ship had sailed and left me behind, nor had one of the
merchants or sailors bethought himself of me. I searched the island
right and left, but found neither man nor Jinn, whereat I was beyond
measure troubled and my gall was like to burst for stress of chagrin and
anguish and concern, because I was left quite alone, without aught of
worldly gear or meat or drink, weary and heart-broken. So I gave myself
up for lost and said, “Not always doth the crock escape the shock.” I
was saved the first time by finding one who brought me from the desert
island to an inhabited place, but now there is no hope for me. Then I
fell to weeping and wailing and gave myself up to an access of rage,
blaming myself for having again ventured upon the perils and hardships
of voyage, whenas I was at my ease in mine own house in mine own land,
taking my pleasure with good meat and good drink and good clothes and
lacking nothing, neither money nor goods. And I repented me of having
left Baghdad, and this the more after all the travails and dangers I had
undergone in my first voyage, wherein I had so narrowly escaped
destruction, and exclaimed “Verily we are Allah’s and unto Him we are
returning!” I was indeed even as one mad and Jinn-struck and presently I
rose and walked about the island, right and left and every whither,
unable for trouble to sit or tarry in any one place. Then I climbed a
tall tree and looked in all directions, but saw nothing save sky and sea
and trees and birds and isles and sands. However, after a while my eager
glances fell upon some great white thing, afar off in the interior of
the island; so I came down from the tree and made for that which I had
seen; and behold, it was a huge white dome rising high in air and of
vast compass. I walked all around it, but found no door thereto, nor
could I muster strength or nimbleness by reason of its exceeding
smoothness and slipperiness. So I marked the spot where I stood and went
round about the dome to measure its circumference which I found fifty
good paces. And as I stood, casting about how to gain an entrance the
day being near its fall and the sun being near the horizon, behold, the
sun was suddenly hidden from me and the air became dull and dark.
Methought a cloud had come over the sun, but it was the season of
summer; so I marvelled at this and lifting my head looked steadfastly at
the sky, when I saw that the cloud was none other than an enormous bird,
of gigantic girth and inordinately wide of wing which, as it flew
through the air, veiled the sun and hid it from the island. At this
sight my wonder redoubled and I remembered a story——And Shahrazad
perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.
Now when it was the Five Hundred and Forty-fourth Night,
She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Sindbad the Seaman
continued in these words:—My wonder redoubled and I remembered a story I
had heard aforetime of pilgrims and travellers, how in a certain island
dwelleth a huge bird, called the “Rukh”[22] which feedeth its young on
elephants; and I was certified that the dome which caught my sight was
none other than a Rukh’s egg. As I looked and wondered at the marvellous
works of the Almighty, the bird alighted on the dome and brooded over it
with its wings covering it and its legs stretched out behind it on the
ground, and in this posture it fell asleep, glory be to Him who sleepeth
not! When I saw this, I arose and, unwinding my turband from my head,
doubled it and twisted it into a rope, with which I girt my middle and
bound my waist fast to the legs of the Rukh, saying in myself,
“Peradventure, this bird may carry me to a land of cities and
inhabitants, and that will be better than abiding in this desert
island.” I passed the night watching and fearing to sleep, lest the bird
should fly away with me unawares; and, as soon as the dawn broke and
morn shone, the Rukh rose off its egg and spreading its wings with a
great cry flew up into the air dragging me with it; nor ceased it to
soar and to tower till I thought it had reached the limit of the
firmament; after which it descended, earthwards, little by little, till
it lighted on the top of a high hill. As soon as I found myself on the
hard ground, I made haste to unbind myself, quaking for fear of the
bird, though it took no heed of me nor even felt me; and, loosing my
turband from its feet, I made off with my best speed. Presently, I saw
it catch up in its huge claws something from the earth and rise with it
high in air, and observing it narrowly I saw it to be a serpent big of
bulk and gigantic of girth, wherewith it flew away clean out of sight. I
marvelled at this and faring forwards found myself on a peak overlooking
a valley, exceeding great and wide and deep, and bounded by vast
mountains that spired high in air: none could descry their summits, for
the excess of their height, nor was any able to climb up thereto. When I
saw this, I blamed myself for that which I had done and said, “Would
Heaven I had tarried in the island! It was better than this wild desert;
for there I had at least fruits to eat and water to drink, and here are
neither trees nor fruits nor streams. But there is no Majesty and there
is no Might save in Allah, the Glorious, the Great! Verily, as often as
I am quit of one peril, I fall into a worse danger and a more grievous.”
However, I took courage and walking along the Wady found that its soil
was of diamond, the stone wherewith they pierce minerals and precious
stones and porcelain and the onyx, for that it is a dense stone and a
dure, whereon neither iron nor hardhead hath effect, neither can we cut
off aught therefrom nor break it, save by means of lead-stone.[23]
Moreover, the valley swarmed with snakes and vipers, each big as a palm
tree, that would have made but one gulp of an elephant; and they came
out by night, hiding during the day, lest the Rukhs and eagles pounce on
them and tear them to pieces, as was their wont, why I wot not. And I
repented of what I had done and said, “By Allah, I have made haste to
bring destruction upon myself!” The day began to wane as I went along
and I looked about for a place where I might pass the night, being in
fear of the serpents; and I took no thought of meat and drink in my
concern for my life. Presently, I caught sight of a cave nearhand, with
a narrow doorway; so I entered and seeing a great stone close to the
mouth. I rolled it up and stopped the entrance, saying to myself, “I am
safe here for the night; and as soon as it is day, I will go forth and
see what destiny will do.” Then I looked within the cave and saw at the
upper end a great serpent brooding on her eggs, at which my flesh quaked
and my hair stood on end; but I raised my eyes to Heaven and, committing
my case to fate and lot, abode all that night without sleep till
daybreak, when I rolled back the stone from the mouth of the cave and
went forth, staggering like a drunken man and giddy with watching and
fear and hunger. As in this sore case I walked along the valley, behold,
there fell down before me a slaughtered beast; but I saw no one, whereat
I marvelled with great marvel and presently remembered a story I had
heard aforetime of traders and pilgrims and travellers; how the
mountains where are the diamonds are full of perils and terrors, nor can
any fare through them; but the merchants who traffic in diamonds have a
device by which they obtain them, that is to say, they take a sheep and
slaughter and skin it and cut it in pieces and cast them down from the
mountain-tops into the valley-sole, where the meat being fresh and
sticky with blood, some of the gems cleave to it. There they leave it
till midday, when the eagles and vultures swoop down upon it and carry
it in their claws to the mountain-summits, whereupon the merchants come
and shout at them and scare them away from the meat. Then they come and,
taking the diamonds which they find sticking to it, go their ways with
them and leave the meat to the birds and beasts; nor can any come at the
diamonds but by this device——And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and
ceased saying her permitted say.
Now when it was the Five Hundred and Forty-fifth Night,
She said, it hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Sindbad the Seaman
continued his relation of what befel him in the Mountain of Diamonds,
and informed them that the merchants cannot come at the diamonds save by
the device aforesaid. So, when I saw the slaughtered beast fall (he
pursued) and bethought me of the story, I went up to it and filled my
pockets and shawl-girdle and turband and the folds of my clothes with
the choicest diamonds; and, as I was thus engaged, down fell before me
another great piece of meat. Then with my unrolled turband and lying on
my back, I set the bit on my breast so that I was hidden by the meat,
which was thus raised above the ground. Hardly had I gripped it, when an
eagle swooped down upon the flesh and, seizing it with his talons, flew
up with it high in air and me clinging thereto, and ceased not its
flight till it alighted on the head of one of the mountains where,
dropping the carcass he fell to rending it; but, behold, there arose
behind him a great noise of shouting and clattering of wood, whereat the
bird took fright and flew away. Then I loosed off myself the meat, with
clothes daubed with blood therefrom, and stood up by its side; whereupon
up came the merchant, who had cried out at the eagle, and seeing me
standing there, bespoke me not, but was affrighted at me and shook with
fear. However, he went up to the carcass and turning it over, found no
diamonds sticking to it, whereat he gave a great cry and exclaimed,
“Harrow, my disappointment! There is no Majesty and there is no Might
save in Allah with whom we seek refuge from Satan the stoned!” And he
bemoaned himself and beat hand upon hand, saying, “Alas, the pity of it!
How cometh this?” Then I went up to him and he said to me, “Who art thou
and what causeth thee to come hither?” And I, “Fear not, I am a man and
a good man and a merchant. My story is a wondrous and my adventures
marvellous and the manner of my coming hither is prodigious. So be of
good cheer, thou shalt receive of me what shall rejoice thee, for I have
with me great plenty of diamonds and I will give thee thereof what shall
suffice thee; for each is better than aught thou couldst get otherwise.
So fear nothing.” The man rejoiced thereat and thanked and blessed me;
then we talked together till the other merchants, hearing me in
discourse with their fellow, came up and saluted me; for each of them
had thrown down his piece of meat. And as I went off with them I told
them my whole story, how I had suffered hardships at sea and the fashion
of my reaching the valley. But I gave the owner of the meat a number of
the stones I had by me, so they all wished me joy of my escape, saying,
“By Allah a new life hath been decreed to thee, for none ever reached
yonder valley and came off thence alive before thee; but praised be
Allah for thy safety!” We passed the night together in a safe and
pleasant place, beyond measure rejoiced at my deliverance from the
Valley of Serpents and my arrival in an inhabited land; and on the
morrow we set out and journeyed over the mighty range of mountains,
seeing many serpents in the valley, till we came to a fair great island,
wherein was a garden of huge camphor trees under each of which an
hundred men might take shelter. When the folk have a mind to get
camphor, they bore into the upper part of the bole with a long iron;
whereupon the liquid camphor, which is the sap of the tree, floweth out
and they catch it in vessels, where it concreteth like gum; but, after
this, the tree dieth and becometh firewood.[24] Moreover, there is in
this island a kind of wild beast, called “Rhinoceros,”[25] that
pastureth as do steers and buffaloes with us; but it is a huge brute,
bigger of body than the camel and like it feedeth upon the leaves and
twigs of trees. It is a remarkable animal with a great and thick horn,
ten cubits long, amiddleward its head; wherein, when cleft in twain, is
the likeness of a man. Voyagers and pilgrims and travellers declare that
this beast called “Karkadan” will carry off a great elephant on its horn
and graze about the island and the sea-coast therewith and take no heed
of it, till the elephant dieth and its fat, melting in the sun, runneth
down into the rhinoceros’s eyes and blindeth him, so that he lieth down
on the shore. Then comes the bird Rukh and carrieth off both the
rhinoceros and that which is on its horn to feed its young withal.
Moreover, I saw in this island many kinds of oxen and buffaloes, whose
like are not found in our country. Here I sold some of the diamonds
which I had by me for gold dinars and silver dirhams and bartered others
for the produce of the country; and, loading them upon beasts of burden,
fared on with the merchants from valley to valley and town to town,
buying and selling and viewing foreign countries and the works and
creatures of Allah, till we came to Bassorah-city, where we abode a few
days, after which I continued my journey to Baghdad.——And Shahrazad
perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.
Now when it was the Five Hundred and Forty-sixth Night,
She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Sindbad the
Seaman returned from his travel to Baghdad, the House of Peace, he
arrived at home with great store of diamonds and money and goods.
(Continued he) “I foregathered with my friends and relations and gave
alms and largesse and bestowed curious gifts and made presents to all my
friends and companions. Then I betook myself to eating well and drinking
well and wearing fine clothes and making merry with my fellows, and
forgot all my sufferings in the pleasures of return to the solace and
delight of life, with light heart and broadened breast. And every one
who heard of my return came and questioned me of my adventures and of
foreign countries, and I related to them all that had befallen me, and
the much I had suffered, whereat they wondered and gave me joy of my
safe return. This, then, is the end of the story of my second voyage;
and to-morrow, Inshallah! I will tell you what befel me in my third
voyage.” The company marvelled at his story and supped with him; after
which he ordered an hundred dinars of gold to be given to the Porter,
who took the sum with many thanks and blessings (which he stinted not
even when he reached home) and went his way, wondering at what he had
heard. Next morning as soon as day came in its sheen and shone, he rose
and praying the dawn-prayer, repaired to the house of Sindbad the
Seaman, even as he had bidden him, and went in and gave him good-morrow.
The merchant welcomed him and made him sit with him, till the rest of
the company arrived; and when they had well eaten and drunken and were
merry with joy and jollity, their host began by saying:—Hearken, O my
brothers, to what I am about to tell you; for it is even more wondrous
than what you have already heard; but Allah alone kenneth what things
His Omniscience concealed from man! And listen to
_THE THIRD VOYAGE OF SINDBAD THE SEAMAN_.