The captain, continued Sindbad, having considered me attentively,
knew me at last, embraced me, and said, God be praised that fortune
has supplied my defect. There are your goods, which I always took
care to preserve, and to make the best of them at every port where I
touched. I restore them to you, with the profit I have made of them.
I took them from him, and at the same time acknowledged how much I
owed to him.
From the isle of Salabat we went to another, where I furnished
myself with cloves, cinnamon, and other spices. As we sailed from
that island we saw a tortoise that was twenty cubits in length and
breadth. [23] We observed also a fish which looked like a cow, and
gave milk, [24] and its skin is so hard that they usually make
bucklers of it. I saw another which had the shape and colour of a
camel. [25] in short, after a long voyage, I arrived at Balsora, and
from thence returned to the city of Bagdad, with so much riches that
I knew not what I had. I gave a great deal to the poor, and bought
another great estate in addition to what I had already.
Thus Sindbad finished the history of his third voyage; gave another
hundred sequins to Hindbad, and invited him to dinner again next
day, to hear the story of his fourth voyage. Hindbad and the company
retired, and next day, when they returned, Sindbad, after dinner,
continued the story of his adventures.
Sindbad, the Sailor’s, fourth Voyage.
The pleasure, said he, and the divertisements I took after my third
voyage, had not charms enough to divert me from another. I was again
prevailed upon by my passion for traffic, and curiosity to see new
things. I therefore settled my affairs, and having provided a stock
of goods fit for the places where I designed to trade, I set out on
my journey. I took the way of Persia, of which I travelled over
several provinces, and then arrived at a port, where I embarked. We
set sail, and having touched at several ports of the main land, and
some of the eastern islands, we put out to sea, and were overtaken
by such a sudden gust of wind as obliged the captain to furl his
sails, and to take all other necessary precautions to prevent the
danger that threatened us: but all was in vain; our endeavours had
no effect, the sails were torn in a thousand pieces, and the ship
was stranded; so that a great many of the merchants and seaman were
drowned, and the cargo lost.
Scheherazade perceiving day, held her peace; but resumed her story
next night, as follows: