My father was a wealthy merchant of much repute. He bequeathed me a
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, which I
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 on a
sudden trembled, and shook us terribly.
The trembling of the island was perceived on board the ship, and we
were called upon to reëmbark 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 perchance I
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 which I
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, and I
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.