On my return home from my sixth voyage I had entirely given up all
thoughts of again going to sea; for, besides that my age now required
rest, I was resolved no more to expose myself to such risks as I had
encountered, so that I thought of nothing but to pass the rest of my
days in tranquillity. One day, however, an officer of the caliph's
inquired for me.
"The caliph," said he, "has sent me to tell you that he must speak
with you."
I followed the officer to the palace, where, being presented to the
caliph, I saluted him by prostrating myself at his feet.
"Sindbad," said he to me, "I stand in need of your service; you must
carry my answer and present to the King of Serendib."
This command of the caliph was to me like a clap of thunder.
"Commander of the Faithful," I replied, "I am ready to do whatever
your majesty shall think fit to command; but I beseech you most humbly
to consider what I have undergone. I have also made a vow never to
leave Bagdad."
Perceiving that the caliph insisted upon my compliance, I submitted,
and told him that I was willing to obey. He was very well pleased, and
ordered me one thousand sequins for the expenses of my journey.
I prepared for my departure in a few days. As soon as the caliph's
letter and present were delivered to me, I went to Bussorah, where I
embarked, and had a very prosperous voyage. Having arrived at the Isle
of Serendib, I was conducted to the palace with much pomp, when I
prostrated myself on the ground before the king.
"Sindbad," said the king, "you are welcome. I have many times thought
of you; I bless the day on which I see you once more."
I made my compliments to him, and thanked him for his kindness, and
delivered the gifts from my august master.
The caliph's letter was as follows:
"Greeting, in the name of the Sovereign Guide of the Right
Way, from the servant of God, Haroun al Raschid, whom God
hath set in the place of vice-regent to His Prophet, after
his ancestors of happy memory, to the potent and esteemed
Raja of Serendib.
"We received your letter with joy, and send you this from
our imperial residence, the garden of superior wits. We
hope, when you look upon it, you will perceive our good
intention, and be pleased with it. Farewell."
The caliph's present was a complete suit of cloth of gold, valued at
one thousand sequins; fifty robes of rich stuff, a hundred of white
cloth, the finest of Cairo, Suez, and Alexandria; a vessel of agate,
more broad than deep, an inch thick, and half a foot wide, the bottom
of which represented in bas-relief a man with one knee on the ground,
who held a bow and an arrow, ready to discharge at a lion. He sent him
also a rich tablet, which, according to tradition, belonged to the
great Solomon.
The King of Serendib was highly gratified at the caliph's
acknowledgment of his friendship. A little time after this audience I
solicited leave to depart, and with much difficulty obtained it. The
king, when he dismissed me, made me a very considerable present. I
embarked immediately to return to Bagdad, but had not the good fortune
to arrive there so speedily as I had hoped. God ordered it otherwise.
Three or four days after my departure we were attacked by pirates, who
easily seized upon our ship because it was not a vessel of war. Some
of the crew offered resistance, which cost them their lives. But for
myself and the rest, who were not so imprudent, the pirates saved us,
and carried us into a remote island, where they sold us.
I fell into the hands of a rich merchant, who, as soon as he bought
me, took me to his house, treated me well, and clad me handsomely as a
slave. Some days after, he asked me if I understood any trade. I
answered that I was no mechanic, but a merchant, and that the pirates
who sold me had robbed me of all I possessed.
"Tell me," replied he, "can you shoot with a bow?"
I answered, that the bow was one of my exercises[70] in my youth. He
gave me a bow and arrows, and taking me behind him on an elephant,
carried me to a thick forest some leagues from the town. We penetrated
a great way into the wood, and when he thought fit to stop, he bade me
alight; then showing me a great tree, "Climb up that," said he, "and
shoot at the elephants as you see them pass by, for there is a
prodigious number of them in this forest, and if any of them fall come
and give me notice." Having spoken thus, he left me victuals, and
returned to the town, and I continued upon the tree all night.
[Footnote 70: "The use of a bow was a constituent part of an Eastern
education."--Notes to _Vathek_, p. 301. See the account of Cyrus's
education--Xenophon's _Cyclopædia._]
I saw no elephant during the night, but next morning, at break of day,
I perceived a great number. I shot several arrows among them; and at
last one of the elephants fell, when the rest retired immediately, and
left me at liberty to go and acquaint my patron with my success. When
I had informed him, he commended my dexterity, and caressed me highly.
We went afterward together to the forest, where we dug a hole for the
elephant, my patron designing to return when it was rotten, and take
his teeth to trade with.
I continued this employment for two months. One morning, as I looked
for the elephants, I perceived with extreme amazement that, instead of
passing by me across the forest as usual, they stopped, and came to me
with a horrible noise, and in such numbers that the plain was covered
and shook under them. They surrounded the tree in which I was
concealed, with their trunks uplifted, and all fixed their eyes upon
me. At this alarming spectacle I continued immovable, and was so much
terrified that my bow and arrows fell out of my hand.
My fears were not without cause; for after the elephants had stared
upon me some time, one of the largest of them put his trunk round the
foot of the tree, plucked it up, and threw it on the ground. I fell
with the tree, and the elephant, taking me up with his trunk, laid me
on his back, where I sat more like one dead than alive, with my
quiver on my shoulder. He put himself at the head of the rest, who
followed him in line one after the other, carried me a considerable
way, then laid me down on the ground, and retired with all his
companions. After having lain some time, and seeing the elephants
gone, I got up, and found I was upon a long and broad hill, almost
covered with the bones and teeth of elephants. I doubted not but that
this was the burial place of the elephants, and that they carried me
thither on purpose to tell me that I should forbear to kill them, as
now I knew where to get their teeth without inflicting injury on them.
I did not stay on the hill, but turned toward the city; and after
having traveled a day and a night, I came to my patron.
As soon as my patron saw me, "Ah, poor Sindbad," exclaimed he, "I was
in great trouble to know what was become of you. I have been to the
forest, where I found a tree newly pulled up, and your bow and arrows
on the ground, and I despaired of ever seeing you more. Pray tell me
what befell you."
I satisfied his curiosity, and we both of us set out next morning to
the hill. We loaded the elephant which had carried us with as many
teeth as he could bear; and when we were returned, my master thus
addressed me: "Hear now what I shall tell you. The elephants of our
forest have every year killed us a great many slaves, whom we sent to
seek ivory. For all the cautions we could give them, these crafty
animals destroyed them one time or other. God has delivered you from
their fury, and has bestowed that favor upon you only. It is a sign
that He loves you, and has some use for your service in the world. You
have procured me incredible wealth; and now our whole city is
enriched by your means, without any more exposing the lives of our
slaves. After such a discovery, I can treat you no more as a slave,
but as a brother. God bless you with all happiness and prosperity. I
henceforth give you your liberty; I will also give you riches."
To this I replied, "Master, God preserve you. I desire no other reward
for the service I had the good fortune to do to you and your city, but
leave to return to my own country."
"Very well," said he, "the monsoon[71] will in a little time bring
ships for ivory. I will then send you home."
[Footnote 71: Periodical winds blowing six months from the same
quarter or point of the compass, then changing, and blowing the same
time from the opposite quarter.]
I stayed with him while waiting for the monsoon; and during that time
we made so many journeys to the hill that we filled all our warehouses
with ivory. The other merchants who traded in it did the same; for my
master made them partakers of his good fortune.
The ships arrived at last, and my master himself having made choice of
the ship wherein I was to embark, loaded half of it with ivory on my
account, laid in provisions in abundance for my passage, and besides
obliged me to accept a present of some curiosities of the country of
great value. After I had returned him a thousand thanks for all his
favors, I went aboard.
We stopped at some islands to take in fresh provisions. Our vessel
being come to a port on the mainland in the Indies, we touched there,
and not being willing to venture by sea to Bussorah, I landed my
portion of the ivory, resolving to proceed on my journey by land. I
realized vast sums by my ivory, bought several rarities, which I
intended for presents, and when my equipage was ready, set out in
company with a large caravan of merchants. I was a long time on the
journey, and suffered much, but was happy in thinking that I had
nothing to fear from the seas, from pirates, from serpents, or from
the other perils to which I had been exposed.
I at last arrived safe at Bagdad, and immediately waited upon the
caliph, to give him an account of my embassy. He loaded me with honors
and rich presents, and I have ever since devoted myself to my family,
kindred, and friends.
* * * * *
Sindbad here finished the relation of his seventh and last voyage, and
then addressing himself to Hindbad, "Well, friend," said he, "did you
ever hear of any person that suffered so much as I have done? Is it
not reasonable that, after all this, I should enjoy a quiet and
pleasant life?"
As he said these words, Hindbad kissed his hand, and said, "Sir, my
afflictions are not to be compared with yours. You not only deserve a
quiet life but are worthy of all the riches you possess, since you
make so good a use of them. May you live happily for a long time."
Sindbad ordered him to be paid another hundred sequins, and told him
to give up carrying burdens as a porter, and to eat henceforth at his
table, for he wished that he should all his life have reason to
remember that he henceforth had a friend in Sindbad the sailor.
* * * * *