I dissipated the greatest part of my paternal inheritance in the
excesses of my youth; but at length seeing my folly, I became
convinced that riches were not of much use when applied to such
purposes as I had employed them in; and I, moreover, reflected that
the time I spent in dissipation was of still greater value than
gold; and that nothing could be more truly deplorable than poverty
in old age. I recollected the words of the wise Solomon, which my
father had often repeated to me, that it is better to be in the
grave than poor. Feeling the truth of all these reflections, I
resolved to collect the small remains of my patrimony, and to sell
my goods by auction. I then formed connections with some merchants
who had negotiations by sea, and consulted those who appeared best
able to give me advice. In short, I determined to employ to some
profit the small sum I had remaining, and no sooner was this
resolution formed, than I put it into execution. I repaired to
Balsora [3], where I embarked with several merchants in a vessel
which had been equipped at our united expence.
We set sail, and steered towards the East Indies by the Persian
gulf, which is formed by the coast of Arabia Felix on the right, and
by that of Persia on the left, and is commonly supposed to be
seventy leagues in breadth in the widest part; beyond this gulf, the
Western Sea, or Indian Ocean, is very spacious, and is bounded by
the coast of Abyssinia, extending in length four thousand five
hundred leagues to the island of Vakvak [4]. I was at first rather
incommoded with what is termed sea-sickness, but I soon recovered my
health, and from that period I have never been subject to that
malady. In the course of our voyage we touched at several islands,
and sold or exchanged our merchandize. One day, when in full sail,
we were unexpectedly becalmed before a small island appearing just
above the water, and which, from its verdure, resembled a beautiful
meadow. The captain ordered the sails to be lowered and gave
permission to those who wished it to go ashore, of which number I
formed one. But during the time that we were regaling ourselves with
eating and drinking, by way of relaxation from the fatigue we had
endured at sea, the island suddenly trembled and we felt a severe
shock.
They who were in the ship perceived the earth quake in the island,
and immediately called to us to re-embark as soon as possible, or we
should all perish, for that what we supposed to be an island was no
more than the back of a whale. The most active of the party jumped
into the boat, whilst others threw themselves into the water, to
swim to the ship; as for me I was still on the island, or, more
properly speaking, on the whale, when it plunged into the sea, and I
had only time to seize hold of a piece of wood which had been
brought to make a fire with. Meantime the captain, willing to avail
himself of a fair breeze which had sprung up, set sail with those
who had reached his vessel, and left me to the mercy of the waves. I
remained in this situation the whole of that day and the following
night; and on the return of morning I had neither strength nor hope
left when a breaker happily dashed me on an island. The shore was
high and steep, and I should have found great difficulty in landing
had not some roots of trees, which fortune seemed to have furnished
for my preservation, assisted me. I threw myself on the ground,
where I continued more than half dead till the sun arose.
Although I was extremely enfeebled by the fatigues I had undergone,
I tried to creep about in search of some herb or fruit that might
satisfy my hunger. I found some; and had also the good luck to meet
with a stream of excellent water, which contributed not a little to
my recovery. Having in a great measure regained my strength, I began
to explore the island, and entered a beautiful plain, where I
perceived, at some distance, a horse that was grazing. I bent my
steps that way, trembling between fear and joy, for I could not
ascertain whether I was advancing to safety or perdition. I
remarked, as I approached, that it was a mare tied to a stake; her
beauty attracted my attention; but whilst I was admiring her I heard
a voice, under ground, of a man, who shortly after appeared, and
coming to me, asked me who I was. I related my adventure to him;
after which he took me by the hand, and led me into a cave where
there were some other persons, who were not less astonished to see
me than I was to find them there.
I eat some food which they offered me; and having asked them what
they did in a place which appeared so barren, they replied that they
were grooms to king Mihragè, who was the sovereign of that isle;
and that they came every year about that time with some mares
belonging to the king, for the purpose of having a breed between
them and a sea-horse, which came on shore at that spot. They tied
the mares in that manner, because they were obliged almost
immediately by their cries to drive back the sea-horse, otherwise he
began to tear them in pieces. As soon as the mares were with foal,
they carried them back, and these colts were called sea-colts, and
set apart for the king’s use. To-morrow, they added, was the day
fixed for their departure, and if I had been one day later I must
certainly have perished; because they lived so far off that it was
impossible to reach their habitations without a guide.
Whilst they were talking to me, the horse rose out of the sea as
they had described, and immediately attacked the mares. He would
then have torn them to pieces, but the grooms began to make such a
noise that he let go his prey, and again plunged into the ocean.
The following day they returned to the capital of the island with
the mares, whither I accompanied them. On our arrival, king
Mihragè, to whom I was presented, asked me who I was, and by what
chance I had reached his dominions: and when I had satisfied his
curiosity, he expressed pity at my misfortune. At the same time, he
gave orders that I should be taken care of, and have every thing I
might want. These orders were executed in a manner that proved the
king’s generosity as well as the exactness of his officers.
As I was a merchant, I associated with persons of my own profession.
I sought, in particular, such as were foreigners, as much to hear
some intelligence of Bagdad, as with the hope of meeting with some
one whom I could return with; for the capital of king Mihragè is
situated on the sea-coast, and has a beautiful port, where vessels
from all parts of the world daily arrive. I also sought the society
of the Indian sages, and found great pleasure in their conversation;
this, however, did not prevent me from attending at court very
regularly, nor from conversing with the governors of provinces, and
some less powerful kings, tributaries of Mihragè, who were about
his person. They asked me a thousand questions about my country; and
I, on my part, was not less inquisitive about the laws and customs
of their different states, or whatever appeared to merit my
curiosity.
In the dominions of king Mihragè there is an island called Cassel.
I had been told that in that island there was heard every night the
sound of cymbals, which had given rise to the sailors’ opinion,
that Degial [5] had chosen that spot for his residences. I felt a
great desire to witness these wonders, and during my voyage I saw
some fish, of one and two hundred cubits in length, which occasion
much fear but do no harm; they are so timid, that they are
frightened away by beating on a board. I remarked also some other
fish, that were not above a cubit long, and whose heads resembled
that of an owl.
After I returned, as I was standing one day near the port, I saw a
ship come towards the land; when they had cast anchor they began to
unload its goods, and the merchants, to whom they belonged, took
them away to their warehouses. Happening to cast my eyes on some of
the packages I saw my name written, and having attentively examined
them, I concluded them to be those which I had embarked in the ship
in which I left Balsora. I also recollected the captain; but as I
was persuaded that he thought me dead, I went up to him, and asked
him to whom those parcels belonged. “I had on board with me,”
replied he, “a merchant of Bagdad, named Sindbad; one day when we
were near an island, at least such it appeared, he with some other
passengers went ashore on this supposed island, which was no other
than an enormous whale that had fallen asleep on the surface of the
water. The fish no sooner felt the heat of the fire they had lighted
on its back to cook their provisions, than it began to move and
flounce about in the sea. The greatest part of the persons who were
on it were drowned, and the unfortunate Sindbad was one of the
number. These parcels belonged to him, and I have resolved to sell
them, that if I meet with any of his family, I may be able to return
them the profit I shall have made of the principal.”
--“Captain,” said I then, “I am that Sindbad whom you supposed
dead, but who is still alive; and these parcels are my property and
merchandize.”
When the captain of the vessel heard me speak thus, he exclaimed,
“Great God, who shall I trust? There is no longer truth in man. I,
with my own eyes, saw Sindbad perish; the passengers I had on board
were also witnesses of it; and you have the assurance to say that
you are that same Sindbad? what audacity! At first sight you
appeared a man of probity and honour, yet you assert an impious
falsity to possess yourself of some merchandize which does not
belong to you.”--“Have patience,” replied I, “and have the
goodness to listen to what I have to say.”--“Well,” said he,
what can you have to say; speak, and I will attend.” I then
related in what manner I had been saved, and by what accident I had
met with king Mihragè’s grooms, who had brought me to his court.
He was rather staggered at my discourse, but was soon convinced that
I was not an impostor; for some people arriving from his ship knew
me, and began to congratulate me on my fortunate escape. At last he
recollected me himself, and embracing me, “Heaven be praised,”
said he, “that you have so happily avoided so great a danger; I
cannot express the pleasure I feel on the occasion. Here are your
goods, take them, for they are yours; and do with them what you
like.” I thanked him, and praised his honourable conduct, and by
way of recompense, I begged him to accept part of the merchandize,
but that he refused.
I selected the most precious and valuable things in my bales, as
presents for king Mihragè. As this prince had been informed of my
misfortunes, he asked me where I had gotten such rare curiosities. I
related to him the manner in which I had recovered my property, and
he had the complaisance to express his joy on the occasion; he
accepted my presents, and gave me others of far greater value. After
that, I took my leave of him, and re-embarked in the same vessel;
having first exchanged what merchandize remained with that of the
country, which consisted of aloes and sandal-wood, camphor, nutmegs,
cloves, pepper, and ginger. We touched at several islands, and at
last landed at Balsora, from whence I came here, having realized
about an hundred thousand sequins. I returned to my family, and was
received by them with the joy which a true and sincere friendship
inspires. I purchased slaves of each sex, and bought a magnificent
house and grounds. I thus established myself, determined to forget
the disagreeable things I had endured, and to enjoy the pleasures of
life.
Sindbad here ceased, and ordered the musicians to go on with their
concert, which he had interrupted by the recital of his history. The
company continued to eat and drink till night approached, and when
it was time to retire, Sindbad ordered a purse, containing a hundred
sequins, to be brought him, and giving it to the porter, “Take
this, Hindbad,” said he, “return to your home, and come again
to-morrow to hear the continuation of my adventures.” The porter
retired, quite confused with the honour conferred on him, and the
present he had received. The account he gave of this occurrence to
his wife and children rejoiced them very much, and they did not fail
to return thanks to Providence for the bounties bestowed by the
means of Sindbad.
Hindbad dressed himself in his best clothes on the following day,
and returned to the house of his liberal patron, who received him
with smiling looks, and a friendly air. As soon as the guests were
all arrived, the table was served, and they sat down to eat. When
the repast was finished, Sindbad thus addressed his guests:
“Gentlemen, I request you to have the complaisance to listen to
me, while I relate the adventures of my second voyage. They are more
worthy of your attention than were those of my first.” The company
was silent, and Sindbad began as follows.