The comfortable way of life in which I had settled myself, soon
obliterated the remembrance of the dangers I had experienced in my
two voyages; but as I was in the prime of life, I grew tired of
passing my days in a slothful repose; and banishing all thoughts of
the perils I might encounter, I set off from Bagdad, with some rich
merchandize of the country, which I conveyed to Balsora. There I
again embarked with other merchants; we made a long voyage, and
touched at several ports, and by these means made a very
advantageous commerce.
One day, when we were in the open sea, we were overtaken by a
violent tempest, which made us lose our reckoning. It continued for
several days, and drove us near an island, which the captain would
gladly have been excused from touching at, but we were under the
necessity of casting anchor there. When the sails were furled, the
captain told us, that this, as well as some of the neighbouring
isles, was inhabited by hairy savages, who would come to attack us.
That although they were only dwarfs, we must not attempt to make any
resistance; for as their number was inconceivable, if we should
happen to kill one, they would pour upon us like locusts, and
destroy us. This account put the whole crew in a terrible
consternation, and we were too soon convinced that the captain had
spoken the truth. We saw coming towards us an innumerable multitude
of hideous savages, entirely covered with red hair, and about two
feet high. They threw themselves into the sea, and swam to the ship,
which they soon completely encompassed. They spoke to us as they
approached, but we could not understand their language. They began
to climb the sides and ropes of the vessel with so much swiftness
and agility that their feet scarcely seemed to touch them, and soon
reached the deck.
You may imagine the situation we were in, not daring to defend
ourselves, nor even to speak to them, to endeavour to avert the
impending danger. They unfurled the sails, cut the cable from the
anchor, and after dragging the ship to shore, obliged us to
disembark: after this they conveyed us to another island, from
whence they had come. All voyagers carefully avoided this island,
for the dismal reason you are going to hear; but our misfortune had
led us there, and we were obliged to submit.
We left the shore, and advancing farther into the island, we found
some fruits and herbs, which we eat of, to prolong our lives as much
as possible, for we all expected to be sacrificed. As we walked, we
perceived at some distance a considerable edifice, towards which we
bent our way. It was a large and high palace, with a folding-door of
ebony, which opened as we pushed it. We entered the court-yard, and
facing us saw a vast apartment, with a vestibule, on one side of
which was a large heap of human bones, and on the opposite one a
number of spits for roasting. We trembled at this spectacle; and as
we were fatigued with walking, our legs failed us, and we fell on
the earth, where we remained a considerable time, unable to move
from fear.
The sun was setting; and while we were in the piteous state I have
described, the door of the apartment suddenly opened with a loud
noise, and the frightful figure of a black man, as tall as a large
palm-tree, came forward. In the middle of his forehead one eye, red
and fiery as a burning coal, stood alone: his front teeth were long
and sharp, and projected from his mouth, which was as wide as that
of a horse, with the under lip hanging on his breast: his ears
resembled those of an elephant, and covered his shoulders: and his
long and curved nails were like the talons of an immense bird. At
the sight of this hideous giant we all fainted, and remained a long
time like dead men.
At last, our senses returned, and we saw him seated under the
vestibule, examining us with his piercing eye. When he had viewed us
well, he advanced towards us, and having approached, he extended his
hand to me, and taking me up by the poll, turned me round all ways,
as a butcher would handle the head of a sheep. After having well
considered me, finding me so meagre, and little more than skin and
bone, he released me. He took up each of the others in their turn,
and examined them in the same manner, and as the captain was the
fattest of the party, he held him in one hand as I should a sparrow,
and with the other run a spit through his body: then kindling a
large fire he roasted him, and eat him for his supper in the
apartment whither he retired. Having finished his repast, he
returned to the vestibule, where he laid down to sleep, and snored
louder than thunder. He did not wake till the next morning, but we
passed the night in the most agonizing suspense; when day-light
returned the giant awoke, and went abroad, leaving us in the palace.
When we supposed him at some distance, we began to give vent to our
lamentations, for the fear of disturbing the giant had kept us
silent during the night. The palace resounded with groans. Although
we amounted to a considerable number, and had but one common enemy,
yet the idea of delivering ourselves by his death never occurred.
This enterprize, however difficult to accomplish, was, nevertheless,
the first we ought to have attempted.
We deliberated on various methods, but could not determine on any;
and submitting ourselves to the will of God, we passed the day in
walking over the island, and eating what plants and fruit we could
meet with, as on the preceding one. Towards evening we sought for
some shelter in which to pass the night, but finding none, were
obliged to return to the palace.
The giant did not fail to return to sup again on one of our
companions, after which he fell asleep and snored till day-break,
when he arose and went out as before. Our situation appeared to be
so helpless, that some of my comrades were on the point of throwing
themselves into the sea rather than be sacrificed in so dreadful a
manner, and advised the rest to follow their example; but one of the
company thus addressed them; “We are forbidden,” said he, “to
kill ourselves; and even were that permitted, would it not be more
rational to endeavour to destroy the barbarous monster, who has
destined us to such a cruel death?”
As I had already formed a project of that nature, I now communicated
it to my fellow-sufferers, who approved of it. “My friends,”
said I then, “you know that there is a great deal of wood on the
sea-shore: if you will take my advice, we can make some rafts, and
when they are finished we will leave them in a proper place, till we
can find an opportunity to make use of them. In the mean time we can
put in execution the design I proposed to you, to deliver ourselves
from the giant; if it succeeds, we may wait here with patience till
some vessel passes, by means of which we may quit this fatal isle;
if, on the contrary, we miss our aim, we shall have recourse to our
rafts, and put to sea. I own, that in exposing ourselves to the fury
of the waves on such fragile barks, we run a great hazard of losing
our lives; but if we are destined to perish, is it not preferable to
meet with a watery grave than to be buried in the entrails of that
monster who has already devoured two of our companions?” My advice
was approved by all, and we immediately built some rafts large
enough to contain three persons on each.
We returned to the palace towards evening, and the giant arrived a
short time after us. Again one of our party was sacrificed to his
inhuman appetite. But we were soon revenged of his cruelty: after he
had finished his horrible meal, he as usual laid himself down to
sleep; as soon as we heard him snore, nine of the most courageous
amongst us, and myself, took each a spit, and heating the points
red-hot, thrust them into his eye and blinded him.
The pain which the giant suffered made him groan hideously; he
suddenly raised himself, and extended his arms on all sides to seize
some one and sacrifice him to his rage; but fortunately we had time
to get at some distance from him and throw ourselves on the ground
in places where he could not set his feet on us. After having sought
us in vain, he at last found the door, and went out bellowing with
pain.
We quitted the palace immediately after the giant, and repaired to
the shore, in that part where our rafts lay. We set them afloat, and
waited till day-break to board them, in case we should see the giant
approach with some guide to lead him to us; but we hoped that if he
did not make his appearance by that time, and if his cries and
groans which resounded through the air were discontinued, we might
suppose him dead; and in that case we proposed remaining in the
island till some safer conveyance should offer. But the sun had
scarcely risen above the horizon when we perceived our cruel enemy,
accompanied by two giants of nearly his own size, who conducted him
and a great number of others, who walked before him at a
considerable rate.
At this sight we ran precipitately to our rafts, and rowed away as
fast as possible. The giants, seeing this, provided themselves with
large stones, hastened to the shore, and even ventured to their
middles into the sea, to throw them at us, which they did so
adroitly as to sink all the rafts excepting that I was upon, so that
myself and two companions were the only fortunate ones, the others
being all drowned.
As we rowed with all our strength, we soon got out of reach of the
stones.
When we were in the open sea, we became the sport of the winds and
waves, and we passed that day and night in the most cruel suspense;
but on the morrow we had the good fortune to be thrown on an island,
where we landed with great joy. We found some excellent fruits,
which served to re-establish our exhausted strength.
Towards night we went to sleep on the sea-shore; but were soon
awakened by the noise which the scales of an immense serpent, long
as a palm-tree, made on the ground. It was so near to us, that it
devoured one of my companions, notwithstanding the efforts he made
to extricate himself; for the serpent shook him several times, and
then crushing him on the earth, quickly swallowed him.
My other comrade and myself immediately took to flight; and although
we had reached some distance, we heard a noise, which made us
suppose that the serpent was vomiting the bones of the unhappy man
it had destroyed. On the following day we perceived our suspicions
to have been well founded. “O God,” I then exclaimed, “to what
are we exposed? Yesterday we were rejoicing at our escape from the
cruelty of a giant and the fury of the waves, and to-day we are
again terrified by a peril not less imminent.”
As we walked along, we remarked a large and high tree, on which we
proposed to pass the following night, to be in safety. We eat some
fruits as on the preceding day, and at the approach of night we
climbed the tree. We soon heard the serpent, who came hissing to the
foot of the tree; it raised itself against the trunk, and meeting
with my companion, who was lower than I was, it swallowed him and
retired.
I remained on the tree till day-break, when I descended, more dead
than alive; indeed, I could only expect to meet with the same fate.
This idea chilled me with horror, and I advanced some paces to throw
myself into the sea; but as life is desirable as long as it will
last, I resisted this impulse of despair, and submitted myself to
the will of God, who disposes of our lives as is best for us.
I collected a great quantity of small wood and furze, and tying it
in faggots, put it round the tree in a large circle, and tied some
across the top to cover my head. This being done, I enclosed myself
within this circle when the evening came on, having the dismal
consolation that I had done all in my power to preserve my life. The
serpent did not fail to return and try to devour me, but he could
not succeed, on account of the rampart I had formed. The whole night
he was besieging me as a cat would a mouse; at last day returned,
and he retired, but I did not venture out of my fortress till the
sun shone.
I was so fatigue with watching, as well as with the exertion of
forming my retreat; and had suffered so much from his pestilential
breath, that death appearing preferable to a repetition of such
horror, I again ran towards the sea with the intention of putting an
end to my existence, but God pitied my condition, and at the moment
that I was going to throw myself into the sea, I perceived a vessel
at a great distance. I cried with all my strength, and unfolded the
linen of my turban to attract the attention of those on board. This
had the desired effect; all the crew saw me, and the captain sent a
boat for me.
As soon as I was on board, the merchants and seamen were eager to
learn by what chance I had reached that desert island, and after I
had related to them all that had happened, the oldest of them told
me, that they had often heard of the giants who lived in that
island; that they were anthropophagi, and that they devoured men raw
as well as roasted. With regard to the serpents they added, that
there were many in that island, which hid themselves in the day, and
appeared at night.
After they had expressed their joy at my fortunate escape from so
many perils, as they supposed I must be in want of something to eat,
they pressed me to take whatever was best; and the captain,
observing that my dress was much torn, had the generosity to give me
one of his.
We remained a considerable time at sea, and touched at several
islands; at length we landed on that of Salahat, where the sandal
wood is cultivated, which is much used in medicine. We entered the
port, and cast anchor, and the merchants began to unload their
goods, to sell or exchange them. One day, the captain called me to
him, and said, “Brother, I have in my possession some goods, which
belonged to a merchant, who was for some time on board my ship. As
this merchant is dead, I am going to have them valued, that I may
render some account of them to his heirs, should I ever meet with
them. The bales he was speaking of, were already upon deck. He
showed them me, saying, “These are the goods in question; I wish
you to take the charge of them, and negociate them, on the condition
of receiving what is usually due for your trouble.” I consented,
and thanked him for the opportunity he afforded me of employing
myself.
The writer of the ship registered all the bales with the names of
the merchants to whom they belonged; when he asked the captain by
what name he should register those destined for my charge; the
captain replied, “By the name of Sindbad, the sailor.” I could
not hear my own name without emotion, and looking at the captain, I
recognized him to be the very same person, who in my second voyage
had left me on the island, where I had fallen asleep by the side of
a brook, and who had put to sea without waiting for me. I did not at
first recollect him, so much was he changed from the time I had seen
him. As he thought me dead, it is not to be wondered that he did not
recognize me. “Captain,” said I to him, “was the merchant to
whom these things belonged called Sindbad?”--“Yes,” returned
he, “that was his name; he was from Bagdad, and embarked on board
my vessel at Balsora. One day when we went ashore on an island for
fresh water, I know not by what mistake he was left behind; none of
the crew perceived it till four hours after, when the wind blew so
fresh against us, that it was impossible to return.” “You
believe him to be dead,” resumed I.--“Most assuredly,”
replied the captain.--“Well then,” said I, “open your eyes,
and know that the same Sindbad, whom you left in the desert island,
is now before you. I fell asleep on the banks of a little stream,
and when I awoke I perceived that the ship was gone.”
At these words, the captain fixed his eyes on me, and after having
examined me very attentively, at last recollected me. “God be
praised!” cried he, embracing me, “I am delighted, that fortune
has given me an opportunity of repairing my fault. Here are your
goods, which I have preserved with care, and always had valued at
every port I stopped at. I return them to you with the profit I have
made on them.” I received them with the gratitude which such an
action demanded.
From the island of Salahat, we went to another where I furnished
myself with cloves, cinnamon, and other spices. When we had sailed
some distance from it, we perceived an immense tortoise that was
twenty cubits in length and breadth. We also saw a fish that had
milk like a cow; its skin is so hard, that bucklers are frequently
made of it. I saw one that was of the make and colour of a camel. At
length, after a long voyage, we arrived at Balsora, from whence I
came to Bagdad with so much wealth, that I did not know the amount
of it. I gave a great deal to the poor, and made considerable
additions to my landed estates.
Sindbad thus finished the history of his third voyage, and again
gave Hindbad an hundred sequins, inviting him to the usual repast on
the morrow, when he should hear the account of the fourth voyage.
Hindbad and the other guests retired, and the following day returned
at the same hour. After the dinner was over, Sindbad continued the
relation of his adventures.