Sir, Sindbad pursued his story thus: They perceived the trembling of
the island on board the ship, and called us to re-embark speedily,
or we should all be lost; for what we took for an island was only
the back of a whale. The nimblest got into the sloop; others betook
themselves to swimming; but, for my part, I was still upon the back
of the whale when he dived into the sea, and had time only to catch
hold of a piece of wood that we had brought out of the ship to make
a fire. Meanwhile, the captain, having received those on board who
were in the sloop, and taken up some of those that swam, resolved to
improve the favourable gale that was just risen, and hoisting his
sails, pursued his voyage, so that it was impossible to recover the
ship.
Thus was I exposed to the mercy of the waves, and struggled for my
life all the rest of the day and the following night. Next morning I
found my strength gone, and despaired of saving my life, when
happily a wave threw me against an island. [7] The bank was high and
rugged, so that I could scarcely have got up, had it not been for
some roots of trees, which fortune seemed to have preserved in this
place for my safety. Being got up, I lay down upon the ground half
dead, until the sun appeared: then, though I was very feeble, both
by reason of my hard labour and want of food, I crept along to seek
some herbs fit to eat, and had not only the good luck to find some,
but likewise a spring of excellent water, which contributed much to
recover me. After this I advanced farther into the island, and came
at last into a fine plain, where I perceived a horse feeding at a
great distance. I went towards him, between hope and fear, not
knowing whether I was going to lose my life or save it. When I came
near, I perceived it to be a very fine mare, tied to a stake. Whilst
I looked upon her, I heard the voice of a man from under ground, who
immediately appeared to me, and asked who I was. I gave him an
account of my adventure; after which, taking me by the hand, he led
me into a cave, where there were several other people, no less
amazed to see me than I was to see them.
I eat some victuals which they offered me, and then, having asked
them what they did in such a desert place, they answered, that they
were grooms belonging to king Mihrage, sovereign of the island; and
that every year, at the same season, they brought thither the
king’s mares, and fastened them as I saw that mare, until they
were covered by a horse that came out of the sea, who, after he had
done so, endeavoured to destroy the mares; but they hindered him by
their noise, and obliged him to return to the sea; after which they
carried home the mares, whose foals were kept for the king’s use,
and called sea-horses. They added, that they were to get home
to-morrow, and had I been one day later, I must have perished,
because the inhabited part of the island was at a great distance,
and it would have been impossible for me to have got thither without
a guide.
Whilst they entertained me thus, the horse came out of the sea, as
they had told me, covered the mare, and afterwards would have
devoured her; but upon a great noise made by the grooms, he left
her, and went back to the sea.
Next morning, they returned with their mares to the capital of the
island, took me with them, and presented me to king Mihrage. [8] He
asked me who I was? By what adventure I came into his dominions?
And, after I had satisfied him, he told me he was much concerned for
my misfortune, and at the same time ordered that I should want
nothing; which his officers were so generous and careful as to see
exactly fulfilled.
Being a merchant, I frequented with men of my own profession, and
particularly inquired for those who were strangers, if perhaps I
might hear any news from Bagdad, or find an opportunity to return
thither: for king Mihrage’s capital is situated on the bank of the
sea, and has a fine harbour, 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 discourse; but
withal, I took care to make my court regularly to the king, and
conversed with the governors and petty kings, his tributaries, that
were about him. They asked me a thousand questions about my country;
and I being willing to inform myself as to their laws and customs,
asked them every thing that I thought worth knowing.
There belongs to this king an island named Cassel: they assured me,
that every night a noise of drums [9] was heard there, whence the
mariners fancied that it was the residence of Degial. [10] I had a
great mind to see this wonderful place, and in my way thither saw
fishes of 100 and 200 cubits long, [11] that occasion more fear than
hurt; for they are so fearful, that they will fly upon the rattling
of two sticks or boards. I saw likewise other fishes about a cubit
in length, that had heads like owls. [12]
As I was one day at the port, after my return, a ship arrived, and,
as soon as she cast anchor, they began to unload her, and the
merchants on board ordered their goods to be carried into the
magazine. As I cast my eye upon some bales, and looked to the name,
I found my own, and perceived the bales to be the same that I had
embarked at Balsora. I also knew the captain: but being persuaded
that he believed me to be drowned, I went and asked him whose bales
these were. He replied, that they belonged to a merchant of Bagdad,
called Sindbad, who came to sea with him; but one day, being near an
island, as we thought, he went ashore, with several other
passengers, upon this supposed island, which was only a monstrous
whale that lay asleep upon the surface of the water: but as soon as
he felt the heat of the fire they had kindled upon his back to dress
some victuals, he began to move, and dived under water: most of the
persons who were upon him perished, and among them unfortunate
Sindbad. Those bales belonged to him, and I am resolved to trade
with them until I meet with some of his family, to whom I may return
the profit. Captain, said I, I am that Sindbad whom you thought to
be dead, and those bales are mine. --Here Scheherazade stopt till
next morning, and went on as follows: