My father was a merchant, one of the notables of my native place, a
monied man and ample of means, who died whilst I was yet a child,
leaving me much wealth in money and lands and farmhouses. When I grew
up, I laid hands on the whole and ate of the best and drank freely and
wore rich clothes and lived lavishly, companioning and consorting with
youths of my own age, and considering that this course of life would
continue for ever and ken no change. Thus did I for a long time, but at
last I awoke from my heedlessness and, returning to my senses, I found
my wealth had become unwealth and my condition ill-conditioned and all
I once hent had left my hand. And recovering my reason I was stricken
with dismay and confusion and bethought me of a saying of our lord
Solomon, son of David (on whom be peace!), which I had heard aforetime
from my father, “Three things are better than other three; the day of
death is better than the day of birth, a live dog is better than a dead
lion and the grave is better than want.”[FN#6] Then I got together my
remains of estates and property and sold all, even my clothes, for
three thousand dirhams, with which I resolved to travel to foreign
parts, remembering the saying of the poet,
“By means of toil man shall scale the height; * Who to fame
aspires mustn’t sleep o’ night:
Who seeketh pearl in the deep must dive, * Winning weal and
wealth by his main and might:
And who seeketh Fame without toil and strife * Th’ impossible
seeketh and wasteth life.”
So taking heart I bought me goods, merchandise and all needed for a
voyage and, impatient to be at sea, I embarked, with a company of
merchants, on board a ship bound for Bassorah. There we again embarked
and sailed many days and nights, and we passed from isle to isle and
sea to sea and shore to shore, buying and selling and bartering
everywhere the ship touched, and continued our course till we came to
an island as it were a garth of the gardens of Paradise. Here the
captain cast anchor and making fast to the shore, put out the landing
planks. So all on board landed and made furnaces[FN#7] and lighting
fires therein, busied themselves in various ways, some cooking and some
washing, whilst other some walked about the island for solace, and the
crew fell to eating and drinking and playing and sporting. I was one of
the walkers but, as we were thus engaged, behold the master who was
standing on the gunwale cried out to us at the top of his voice,
saying, “Ho there! passengers, run for your lives and hasten back to
the ship and leave your gear and save yourselves from destruction,
Allah preserve you! For this island whereon ye stand is no true island,
but a great fish stationary a-middlemost of the sea, whereon the sand
hath settled and trees have sprung up of old time, so that it is become
like unto an island;[FN#8] but, when ye lighted fires on it, it felt
the heat and moved; and in a moment it will sink with you into the sea
and ye will all be drowned. So leave your gear and seek your safety ere
ye die!”— And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her
permitted say.
When it was the Five Hundred and Thirty-ninth Night,
She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the
ship-master cried to the passengers, “Leave your gear and seek safety,
ere ye die;” all who heard him left gear and goods, clothes washed and
unwashed, fire pots and brass cooking-pots, and fled back to the ship
for their lives, and some reached it while others (amongst whom was I)
did not, for suddenly the island shook and sank into the abysses of the
deep, with all that were thereon, and the dashing sea surged over it
with clashing waves. I sank with the others down, down into the deep,
but Almighty Allah preserved me from drowning and threw in my way a
great wooden tub of those that had served the ship’s company for
tubbing. I gripped it for the sweetness of life and, bestriding it like
one riding, paddled with my feet like oars, whilst the waves tossed me
as in sport right and left. Meanwhile the captain made sail and
departed with those who had reached the ship, regardless of the
drowning and the drowned; and I ceased not following the vessel with my
eyes, till she was hid from sight and I made sure of death. Darkness
closed in upon me while in this plight and the winds and waves bore me
on all that night and the next day, till the tub brought to with me
under the lee of a lofty island, with trees overhanging the tide. I
caught hold of a branch and by its aid clambered up on to the land,
after coming nigh upon death; but when I reached the shore, I found my
legs cramped and numbed and my feet bore traces of the nibbling of fish
upon their soles; withal I had felt nothing for excess of anguish and
fatigue. I threw myself down on the island ground, like a dead man, and
drowned in desolation swooned away, nor did I return to my senses till
next morning, when the sun rose and revived me. But I found my feet
swollen, so made shift to move by shuffling on my breech and crawling
on my knees, for in that island were found store of fruits and springs
of sweet water. I ate of the fruits which strengthened me; and thus I
abode days and nights, till my life seemed to return and my spirits
began to revive and I was better able to move about. So, after due
consideration, I fell to exploring the island and diverting myself with
gazing upon all things that Allah Almighty had created there; and
rested under the trees from one of which I cut me a staff to lean upon.
One day as I walked along the marge, I caught sight of some object in
the distance and thought it a wild beast or one of the
monster-creatures of the sea; but, as I drew near it, looking hard the
while, I saw that it was a noble mare, tethered on the beach. Presently
I went up to her, but she cried out against me with a great cry, so
that I trembled for fear and turned to go away, when there came forth a
man from under the earth and followed me, crying out and saying, “Who
and whence art thou, and what caused thee to come hither?” “O my lord,”
answered I, “I am in very sooth, a waif, a stranger, and was left to
drown with sundry others by the ship we voyaged in;[FN#9] but Allah
graciously sent me a wooden tub; so I saved myself thereon and it
floated with me, till the waves cast me up on this island.” When he
heard this, he took my hand and saying, “Come with me,” carried me into
a great Sardab, or underground chamber, which was spacious as a saloon.
He made me sit down at its upper end; then he brought me somewhat of
food and, being anhungered, I ate till I was satisfied and refreshed;
and when he had put me at mine ease he questioned me of myself, and I
told him all that had befallen me from first to last; and, as he
wondered at my adventure, I said, “By Allah, O my lord, excuse me; I
have told thee the truth of my case and the accident which betided me;
and now I desire that thou tell me who thou art and why thou abidest
here under the earth and why thou hast tethered yonder mare on the
brink of the sea.” Answered he, “Know, that I am one of the several who
are stationed in different parts of this island, and we are of the
grooms of King Mihrjan[FN#10] and under our hand are all his horses.
Every month, about new-moon tide we bring hither our best mares which
have never been covered, and picket them on the sea-shore and hide
ourselves in this place under the ground, so that none may espy us.
Presently, the stallions of the sea scent the mares and come up out of
the water and seeing no one, leap the mares and do their will of them.
When they have covered them, they try to drag them away with them, but
cannot, by reason of the leg-ropes; so they cry out at them and butt at
them and kick them, which we hearing, know that the stallions have
dismounted; so we run out and shout at them, whereupon they are
startled and return in fear to the sea. Then the mares conceive by them
and bear colts and fillies worth a mint of money, nor is their like to
be found on earth’s face. This is the time of the coming forth of the
sea-stallions; and Inshallah! I will bear thee to King Mihrjan”—And
Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted
say.
When it was the Five Hundred and Fortieth Night,
She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the
Syce[FN#11] said to Sindbad the Seaman, “I will bear thee to King
Mihrjan and show thee our country. And know that hadst thou not
happened on us thou hadst perished miserably and none had known of
thee: but I will be the means of the saving of thy life and of thy
return to thine own land.” I called down blessings on him and thanked
him for his kindness and courtesy; and, while we were yet talking,
behold, the stallion came up out of the sea; and, giving a great cry,
sprang upon the mare and covered her. When he had done his will of her,
he dismounted and would have carried her away with him, but could not
by reason of the tether. She kicked and cried out at him, whereupon the
groom took a sword and target[FN#12] and ran out of the underground
saloon, smiting the buckler with the blade and calling to his company,
who came up shouting and brandishing spears; and the stallion took
fright at them and plunging into the sea, like a buffalo, disappeared
under the waves.[FN#13] After this we sat awhile, till the rest of the
grooms came up, each leading a mare, and seeing me with their
fellow-Syce, questioned me of my case and I repeated my story to them.
Thereupon they drew near me and spreading the table, ate and invited me
to eat; so I ate with them, after which they took horse and mounting me
on one of the mares, set out with me and fared on without ceasing, till
we came to the capital city of King Mihrjan, and going in to him
acquainted him with my story. Then he sent for me, and when they set me
before him and salams had been exchanged, he gave me a cordial welcome
and wishing me long life bade me tell him my tale. So I related to him
all that I had seen and all that had befallen me from first to last,
whereat he marvelled and said to me, “By Allah, O my son, thou hast
indeed been miraculously preserved! Were not the term of thy life a
long one, thou hadst not escaped from these straits; but praised by
Allah for safety!” Then he spoke cheerily to me and entreated me with
kindness and consideration: moreover, he made me his agent for the port
and registrar of all ships that entered the harbour. I attended him
regularly, to receive his commandments, and he favoured me and did me
all manner of kindness and invested me with costly and splendid robes.
Indeed, I was high in credit with him, as an intercessor for the folk
and an intermediary between them and him, when they wanted aught of
him. I abode thus a great while and, as often as I passed through the
city to the port, I questioned the merchants and travellers and sailors
of the city of Baghdad; so haply I might hear of an occasion to return
to my native land, but could find none who knew it or knew any who
resorted thither. At this I was chagrined, for I was weary of long
strangerhood; and my disappointment endured for a time till one day,
going in to King Mihrjan, I found him with a company of Indians. I
saluted them and they returned my salam; and politely welcomed me and
asked me of my country.—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and
ceased saying her permitted say.
When it was the Five Hundred and Forty-first Night,
She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Sindbad the
Seaman said:—When they asked me of my country I questioned them of
theirs and they told me that they were of various castes, some being
called Shakiriyah[FN#14] who are the noblest of their castes and
neither oppress nor offer violence to any, and others Brahmans, a folk
who abstain from wine, but live in delight and solace and merriment and
own camels and horses and cattle. Moreover, they told me that the
people of India are divided into two-and-seventy castes, and I
marvelled at this with exceeding marvel. Amongst other things that I
saw in King Mihrjan’s dominions was an island called Kásil,[FN#15]
wherein all night is heard the beating of drums and tabrets; but we were
told by the neighbouring islanders and by travellers that the
inhabitants are people of diligence and judgment.[FN#16] In this sea I
saw also a fish two hundred cubits long and the fishermen fear it; so
they strike together pieces of wood and put it to flight.[FN#17] I also
saw another fish, with a head like that of an owl, besides many other
wonders and rarities, which it would be tedious to recount. I occupied
myself thus in visiting the islands till, one day, as I stood in the
port, with a staff in my hand, according to my custom, behold, a great
ship, wherein were many merchants, came sailing for the harbour. When
it reached the small inner port where ships anchor under the city, the
master furled his sails and making fast to the shore, put out the
landing-planks, whereupon the crew fell to breaking bulk and landing
cargo whilst I stood by, taking written note of them. They were long in
bringing the goods ashore so I asked the master, “Is there aught left
in thy ship?”; and he answered, “O my lord, there are divers bales of
merchandise in the hold, whose owner was drowned from amongst us at one
of the islands on our course; so his goods remained in our charge by
way of trust and we purpose to sell them and note their price, that we
may convey it to his people in the city of Baghdad, the Home of Peace.”
“What was the merchant’s name?” quoth I, and quoth he, “Sindbad the
Seaman;” whereupon I straitly considered him and knowing him, cried out
to him with a great cry, saying, “O captain, I am that Sindbad the
Seaman who travelled with other merchants; and when the fish heaved and
thou calledst to us some saved themselves and others sank, I being one
of them. But Allah Almighty threw in my way a great tub of wood, of
those the crew had used to wash withal, and the winds and waves carried
me to this island, where by Allah’s grace, I fell in with King
Mihrjan’s grooms and they brought me hither to the King their master.
When I told him my story, he entreated me with favour and made me his
harbour-master, and I have prospered in his service and found
acceptance with him. These bales, therefore are mine, the goods which
God hath given me.”—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased
to say her permitted say.
When it was the Five Hundred and Forty-second Night,
She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Sindbad
the Seaman said to the captain, “These bales are mine, the goods which
Allah hath given me,” the other exclaimed, “There is no Majesty and
there is no Might save in Allah, the Glorious, the Great! Verily, there
is neither conscience nor good faith left among men!” said I, “O
Rais,[FN#18] what mean these words, seeing that I have told thee my
case?” And he answered, “Because thou heardest me say that I had with
me goods whose owner was drowned, thou thinkest to take them without
right; but this is forbidden by law to thee, for we saw him drown
before our eyes, together with many other passengers, nor was one of
them saved. So how canst thou pretend that thou art the owner of the
goods?” “O captain,” said I, “listen to my story and give heed to my
words, and my truth will be manifest to thee; for lying and leasing are
the letter-marks of the hypocrites.” Then I recounted to him all that
had befallen me since I sailed from Baghdad with him to the time when
we came to the fish-island where we were nearly drowned; and I reminded
him of certain matters which had passed between us; whereupon both he
and the merchants were certified at the truth of my story and
recognized me and gave me joy of my deliverance, saying, “By Allah, we
thought not that thou hadst escaped drowning! But the Lord hath granted
thee new life.” Then they delivered my bales to me, and I found my name
written thereon, nor was aught thereof lacking. So I opened them and
making up a present for King Mihrjan of the finest and costliest of the
contents, caused the sailors carry it up to the palace, where I went in
to the King and laid my present at his feet, acquainting him with what
had happened, especially concerning the ship and my goods; whereat he
wondered with exceeding wonder and the truth of all that I had told him
was made manifest to him. His affection for me redoubled after that and
he showed me exceeding honour and bestowed on me a great present in
return for mine. Then I sold my bales and what other matters I owned
making a great profit on them, and bought me other goods and gear of
the growth and fashion of the island-city. When the merchants were
about to start on their homeward voyage, I embarked on board the ship
all that I possessed, and going in to the King, thanked him for all his
favours and friendship and craved his leave to return to my own land
and friends. He farewelled me and bestowed on me great store of the
country-stuffs and produce; and I took leave of him and embarked. Then
we set sail and fared on nights and days, by the permission of Allah
Almighty; and Fortune served us and Fate favoured us, so that we
arrived in safety at Bassorah-city where I landed rejoiced at my safe
return to my natal soil. After a short stay, I set out for Baghdad, the
House of Peace, with store of goods and commodities of great price.
Reaching the city in due time, I went straight to my own quarter and
entered my house where all my friends and kinsfolk came to greet me.
Then I bought me eunuchs and concubines, servants and negro slaves till
I had a large establishment, and I bought me houses, and lands and
gardens, till I was richer and in better case than before, and returned
to enjoy the society of my friends and familiars more assiduously than
ever, forgetting all I had suffered of fatigue and hardship and
strangerhood and every peril of travel; and I applied myself to all
manner joys and solaces and delights, eating the dantiest viands and
drinking the deliciousest wines; and my wealth allowed this state of
things to endure. “This, then, is the story of my first voyage, and
to-morrow, Inshallah! I will tell you the tale of the second of my
seven voyages.” (Saith he who telleth the tale), Then Sindbad the
Seaman made Sindbad the Landsman sup with him and bade give him an
hundred gold pieces, saying, “Thou hast cheered us with thy company
this day.”[FN#19] The Porter thanked him and, taking the gift, went his
way, pondering that which he had heard and marvelling mightily at what
things betide mankind. He passed the night in his own place and with
early morning repaired to the abode of Sindbad the Seaman, who received
him with honour and seated him by his side. As soon as the rest of the
company was assembled, he set meat and drink before them and, when they
had well eaten and drunken and were merry and in cheerful case, he took
up his discourse and recounted to them in these words the narrative of
The Second Voyage of Sindbad the Seaman.
Know, O my brother, that I was living a most comfortable and enjoyable
life, in all solace and delight, as I told you yesterday,—And Shahrazad
perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say.
When it was the Five Hundred and Forty-third Night,
She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Sindbad
the Seaman’s guests were all gathered together he thus bespake them:—I
was living a most enjoyable life until one day my mind became possessed
with the thought of travelling about the world of men and seeing their
cities and islands; and a longing seized me to traffic and to make
money by trade. Upon this resolve I took a great store of cash and,
buying goods and gear fit for travel, bound them up in bales. Then I
went down to the river-bank, where I found a noble ship and brand-new
about to sail, equipped with sails of fine cloth and well manned and
provided; so I took passage in her, with a number of other merchants,
and after embarking our goods we weighed anchor the same day. Right
fair was our voyage and we sailed from place to place and from isle to
isle; and whenever we anchored we met a crowd of merchants and notables
and customers, and we took to buying and selling and bartering. At last
Destiny brought us to an island, fair and verdant, in trees abundant,
with yellow-ripe fruits luxuriant, and flowers fragrant and birds
warbling soft descant; and streams crystalline and radiant; but no sign
of man showed to the descrier, no, not a blower of the fire.[FN#20] The
captain made fast with us to this island, and the merchants and sailors
landed and walked about, enjoying the shade of the trees and the song
of the birds, that chanted the praises of the One, the Victorious, and
marvelling at the works of the Omnipotent King.[FN#21] I landed with
the rest; and, sitting down by a spring of sweet water that welled up
among the trees, took out some vivers I had with me and ate of that
which Allah Almighty had allotted unto me. And so sweet was the zephyr
and so fragrant were the flowers, that presently I waxed drowsy and,
lying down in that place, was soon drowned in sleep. When I awoke, I
found myself alone, for the ship had sailed and left me behind, nor had
one of the merchants or sailors bethought himself of me. I seared the
island right and left, but found neither man nor Jinn, whereat I was
beyond measure troubled and my gall was like to burst for stress of
chagrin and anguish and concern, because I was left quite alone,
without aught of worldly gear or meat or drink, weary and heart-broken.
So I gave myself up for lost and said, “Not always doth the crock
escape the shock. I was saved the first time by finding one who brought
me from the desert island to an inhabited place, but now there is no
hope for me.” Then I fell to weeping and wailing and gave myself up to
an access of rage, blaming myself for having again ventured upon the
perils and hardships of voyage, whenas I was at my ease in mine own
house in mine own land, taking my pleasure with good meat and good
drink and good clothes and lacking nothing, neither money nor goods.
And I repented me of having left Baghdad, and this the more after all
the travails and dangers I had undergone in my first voyage, wherein I
had so narrowly escaped destruction, and exclaimed “Verily we are
Allah’s and unto Him we are returning!” I was indeed even as one mad
and Jinn-struck and presently I rose and walked about the island, right
and left and every whither, unable for trouble to sit or tarry in any
one place. Then I climbed a tall tree and looked in all directions, but
saw nothing save sky and sea and trees and birds and isles and sands.
However, after a while my eager glances fell upon some great white
thing, afar off in the interior of the island; so I came down from the
tree and made for that which I had seen; and behold, it was a huge
white dome rising high in air and of vast compass. I walked all around
it, but found no door thereto, nor could I muster strength or
nimbleness by reason of its exceeding smoothness and slipperiness. So I
marked the spot where I stood and went round about the dome to measure
its circumference which I found fifty good paces. And as I stood,
casting about how to gain an entrance the day being near its fall and
the sun being near the horizon, behold, the sun was suddenly hidden
from me and the air became dull and dark. Methought a cloud had come
over the sun, but it was the season of summer; so I marvelled at this
and lifting my head looked steadfastly at the sky, when I saw that the
cloud was none other than an enormous bird, of gigantic girth and
inordinately wide of wing which, as it flew through the air, veiled the
sun and hid it from the island. At this sight my wonder redoubled and I
remembered a story,—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased
to say her permitted say.
When it was the Five Hundred and Forty-fourth Night,
She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Sindbad the
Seaman continued in these words:—My wonder redoubled and I remembered a
story I had heard aforetime of pilgrims and travellers, how in a
certain island dwelleth a huge bird, called the “Rukh”[FN#22] which
feedeth its young on elephants; and I was certified that the dome which
caught my sight was none other than a Rukh’s egg. As I looked and
wondered at the marvellous works of the Almighty, the bird alighted on
the dome and brooded over it with its wings covering it and its legs
stretched out behind it on the ground, and in this posture it fell
asleep, glory be to Him who sleepeth not! When I saw this, I arose and,
unwinding my turband from my head, doubled it and twisted it into a
rope, with which I girt my middle and bound my waist fast to the legs
of the Rukh, saying in myself, “Peradventure, this bird may carry me to
a land of cities and inhabitants, and that will be better than abiding
in this desert island.” I passed the night watching and fearing to
sleep, lest the bird should fly away with me unawares; and, as soon as
the dawn broke and morn shone, the Rukh rose off its egg and spreading
its wings with a great cry flew up into the air dragging me with it;
nor ceased it to soar and to tower till I thought it had reached the
limit of the firmament; after which it descended, earthwards, little by
little, till it lighted on the top of a high hill. As soon as I found
myself on the hard ground, I made haste to unbind myself, quaking for
fear of the bird, though it took no heed of me nor even felt me; and,
loosing my turband from its feet, I made off with my best speed.
Presently, I saw it catch up in its huge claws something from the earth
and rise with it high in air, and observing it narrowly I saw it to be
a serpent big of bulk and gigantic of girth, wherewith it flew away
clean out of sight. I marvelled at this and faring forwards found
myself on a peak overlooking a valley, exceeding great and wide and
deep, and bounded by vast mountains that spired high in air: none could
descry their summits, for the excess of their height, nor was any able
to climb up thereto. When I saw this, I blamed myself for that which I
had done and said, “Would Heaven I had tarried in the island! It was
better than this wild desert; for there I had at least fruits to eat
and water to drink, and here are neither trees nor fruits nor streams.
But there is no Majesty and there is no Might save in Allah, the
Glorious, the Great! Verily, as often as I am quit of one peril, I fall
into a worse danger and a more grievous.” However, I took courage and
walking along the Wady found that its soil was of diamond, the stone
wherewith they pierce minerals and precious stones and porcelain and
the onyx, for that it is a dense stone and a dure, whereon neither iron
nor hardhead hath effect, neither can we cut off aught therefrom nor
break it, save by means of leadstone.[FN#23] Moreover, the valley
swarmed with snakes and vipers, each big as a palm tree, that would
have made but one gulp of an elephant; and they came out by night,
hiding during the day, lest the Rukhs and eagles pounce on them and
tear them to pieces, as was their wont, why I wot not. And I repented
of what I had done and said, “By Allah, I have made haste to bring
destruction upon myself!” The day began to wane as I went along and I
looked about for a place where I might pass the night, being in fear of
the serpents; and I took no thought of meat and drink in my concern for
my life. Presently, I caught sight of a cave nearhand, with a narrow
doorway; so I entered and seeing a great stone close to the mouth, I
rolled it up and stopped the entrance, saying to myself, “I am safe
here for the night; and as soon as it is day, I will go forth and see
what destiny will do.” Then I looked within the cave and saw to the
upper end a great serpent brooding on her eggs, at which my flesh
quaked and my hair stood on end; but I raised my eyes to Heaven and,
committing my case to fate and lot, abode all that night without sleep
till daybreak, when I rolled back the stone from the mouth of the cave
and went forth, staggering like a drunken man and giddy with watching
and fear and hunger. As in this sore case I walked along the valley,
behold, there fell down before me a slaughtered beast; but I saw no
one, whereat I marvelled with great marvel and presently remembered a
story I had heard aforetime of traders and pilgrims and travellers; how
the mountains where are the diamonds are full of perils and terrors,
nor can any fare through them; but the merchants who traffic in
diamonds have a device by which they obtain them, that is to say, they
take a sheep and slaughter and skin it and cut it in pieces and cast
them down from the mountain-tops into the valley-sole, where the meat
being fresh and sticky with blood, some of the gems cleave to it. There
they leave it till mid-day, when the eagles and vultures swoop down
upon it and carry it in their claws to the mountain-summits, whereupon
the merchants come and shout at them and scare them away from the meat.
Then they come and, taking the diamonds which they find sticking to it,
go their ways with them and leave the meat to the birds and beasts; nor
can any come at the diamonds but by this device,—And Shahrazad
perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say.
When it was the Five Hundred and Forty-fifth Night,
She said, it hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Sindbad the
Seaman continued his relation of what befel him in the Mountain of
Diamonds, and informed them that the merchants cannot come at the
diamonds save by the device aforesaid. So, when I saw the slaughtered
beast fall (he pursued) and bethought me of the story, I went up to it
and filled my pockets and shawl-girdle and turband and the folds of my
clothes with the choicest diamonds; and, as I was thus engaged, down
fell before me another great piece of meat. Then with my unrolled
turband and lying on my back, I set the bit on my breast so that I was
hidden by the meat, which was thus raised above the ground. Hardly had
I gripped it, when an eagle swooped down upon the flesh and, seizing it
with his talons, flew up with it high in air and me clinging thereto,
and ceased not its flight till it alighted on the head of one of the
mountains where, dropping the carcass he fell to rending it; but,
behold, there arose behind him a great noise of shouting and clattering
of wood, whereat the bird took fright and flew away. Then I loosed off
myself the meat, with clothes daubed with blood therefrom, and stood up
by its side; whereupon up came the merchant, who had cried out at the
eagle, and seeing me standing there, bespoke me not, but was affrighted
at me and shook with fear. However, he went up to the carcass and
turning it over, found no diamonds sticking to it, whereat he gave a
great cry and exclaimed, “Harrow, my disappointment! There is no
Majesty and there is no Might save in Allah with whom we seek refuge
from Satan the stoned!” And he bemoaned himself and beat hand upon
hand, saying, “Alas, the pity of it! How cometh this?” Then I went up
to him and he said to me, “Who art thou and what causeth thee to come
hither?” And I, “Fear not, I am a man and a good man and a merchant. My
story is a wondrous and my adventures marvellous and the manner of my
coming hither is prodigious. So be of good cheer, thou shalt receive of
me what shall rejoice thee, for I have with me great plenty of diamonds
and I will give thee thereof what shall suffice thee; for each is
better than aught thou couldst get otherwise. So fear nothing.” The man
rejoiced thereat and thanked and blessed me; then we talked together
till the other merchants, hearing me in discourse with their fellow,
came up and saluted me; for each of them had thrown down his piece of
meat. And as I went off with them I told them my whole story, how I had
suffered hardships at sea and the fashion of my reaching the valley.
But I gave the owner of the meat a number of the stones I had by me, so
they all wished me joy of my escape, saying, “By Allah a new life hath
been decreed to thee, for none ever reached yonder valley and came off
thence alive before thee; but praised be Allah for thy safety!” We
passed the night together in a safe and pleasant place, beyond measure
rejoiced at my deliverance from the Valley of Serpents and my arrival
in an inhabited land; and on the morrow we set out and journeyed over
the mighty range of mountains, seeing many serpents in the valley, till
we came to a fair great island, wherein was a garden of huge camphor
trees under each of which an hundred men might take shelter. When the
folk have a mind to get camphor, they bore into the upper part of the
bole with a long iron; whereupon the liquid camphor, which is the sap
of the tree, floweth out and they catch it in vessels, where it
concreteth like gum; but, after this, the tree dieth and becometh
firewood.[FN#24] Moreover, there is in this island a kind of wild
beast, called “Rhinoceros,”[FN#25] that pastureth as do steers and
buffalos with us; but it is a huge brute, bigger of body than the camel
and like it feedeth upon the leaves and twigs of trees. It is a
remarkable animal with a great and thick horn, ten cubits long,
amiddleward its head; wherein, when cleft in twain, is the likeness of
a man. Voyagers and pilgrims and travellers declare that this beast
called “Karkadan” will carry off a great elephant on its horn and graze
about the island and the sea-coast therewith and take no heed of it,
till the elephant dieth and its fat, melting in the sun, runneth down
into the rhinoceros’s eyes and blindeth him, so that he lieth down on
the shore. Then comes the bird Rukh and carrieth off both the
rhinoceros’s eyes and blindeth him, so that he lieth down on the shore.
Then comes the bird Rukh and carrieth off both the rhinoceros and that
which is on its horn to feed its young withal. Moreover, I saw in this
island many kinds of oxen and buffalos, whose like are not found in our
country. Here I sold some of the diamonds which I had by me for gold
dinars and silver dirhams and bartered others for the produce of the
country; and, loading them upon beasts of burden, fared on with the
merchants from valley to valley and town to town, buying and selling
and viewing foreign countries and the works and creatures of Allah,
till we came to Bassorah-city, where we abode a few days, after which I
continued my journey to Baghdad.—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of
day and ceased to say her permitted say.
When it was the Five Hundred and Forty-sixth Night,
She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when Sindbad the
Seaman returned from his travel to Baghdad, the House of Peace, he
arrived at home with great store of diamonds and money and goods.
(Continued he) I foregathered with my friends and relations and gave
alms and largesse and bestowed curious gifts and made presents to all
my friends and companions. Then I betook myself to eating well and
drinking well and wearing fine clothes and making merry with my
fellows, and forgot all my sufferings in the pleasures of return to the
solace and delight of life, with light heart and broadened breast. And
every one who heard of my return came and questioned me of my
adventures and of foreign countries, and I related to them all that had
befallen me, and the much I had suffered, whereat they wondered and
gave me joy of my safe return. “This, then is the end of the story of
my second voyage; and to-morrow, Inshallah! I will tell you what befel
me in my third voyage.” The company marvelled at his story and supped
with him; after which he ordered an hundred dinars of gold to be given
to the Porter, who took the sum with many thanks and blessings (which
he stinted not even when he reached home) and went his way, wondering
at what he had heard. Next morning as soon as day came in its sheen and
shone, he rose and praying the dawn-prayer, repaired to the house of
Sindbad the Seaman, even as he had bidden him, and went in and gave him
good-morrow. The merchant welcomed him and made him sit with him, till
the rest of the company arrived; and when they had well eaten and
drunken and were merry with joy and jollity, their host began by
saying, “Hearken, O my brothers, to what I am about to tell you; for it
is even more wondrous than what you have already heard; but Allah alone
kenneth what things His Omniscience concealed from man! And listen to
The Third Voyage of Sindbad the Seaman.
As I told you yesterday, I returned from my second voyage overjoyed at
my safety and with great increase of wealth, Allah having requited me
all that I had wasted and lost, and I abode awhile in Baghdad-city
savouring the utmost ease and prosperity and comfort and happiness,
till the carnal man was once more seized with longing for travel and
diversion and adventure, and yearned after traffic and lucre and
emolument, for that the human heart is naturally prone to evil. So
making up my mind I laid in great plenty of goods suitable for a
sea-voyage and repairing to Bassorah, went down to the shore and found
there a fine ship ready to sail, with a full crew and a numerous
company of merchants, men of worth and substance; faith, piety and
consideration. I embarked with them and we set sail on the blessing of
Allah Almighty and on His aidance and His favour to bring our voyage to
a safe and prosperous issue and already we congratulated one another on
our good fortune and boon voyage. We fared on from sea to sea and from
island to island and city to city, in all delight and contentment,
buying and selling wherever we touched, and taking our solace and our
pleasure, till one day when, as we sailed athwart the dashing sea,
swollen with clashing billows, behold, the master (who stood on the
gunwale examining the ocean in all directions) cried out with a great
cry, and buffeted his face and pluckt out his beard and rent his
raiment, and bade furl the sail and cast the anchors. So we said to
him, “O Rais, what is the matter?” “Know, O my brethren (Allah preserve
you!), that the wind hath gotten the better of us and hath driven us
out of our course into mid-ocean, and destiny, for our ill luck, hath
brought us to the Mountain of the Zughb, a hairy folk like apes,[FN#26]
among whom no man ever fell and came forth alive; and my heart
presageth that we all be dead men.” Hardly had the master made an end
of his speech when the apes were upon us. They surrounded the ship on
all sides swarming like locusts and crowding the shore. They were the
most frightful of wild creatures, covered with black hair like felt,
foul of favour and small of stature, being but four spans high,
yellow-eyed and black-faced; none knoweth their language nor what they
are, and they shun the company of men. We feared to slay them or strike
them or drive them away, because of their inconceivable multitude;
lest, if we hurt one, the rest fall on us and slay us, for numbers
prevail over courage; so we let them do their will, albeit we feared
they would plunder our goods and gear. They swarmed up the cables and
gnawed them asunder, and on like wise they did with all the ropes of
the ship, so that it fell off from the wind and stranded upon their
mountainous coast. Then they laid hands on all the merchants and crew,
and landing us on the island, made off with the ship and its cargo and
went their ways, we wot not whither. We were thus left on the island,
eating of its fruits and pot-herbs and drinking of its streams till,
one day, we espied in its midst what seemed an inhabited house. So we
made for it as fast as our feet could carry us and behold, it was a
castle strong and tall, compassed about with a lofty wall, and having a
two-leaved gate of ebony-wood both of which leaves open stood. We
entered and found within a space wide and bare like a great square,
round which stood many high doors open thrown, and at the farther end a
long bench of stone and brasiers, with cooking gear hanging thereon and
about it great plenty of bones; but we saw no one and marvelled thereat
with exceeding wonder. Then we sat down in the courtyard a little while
and presently falling asleep, slept from the forenoon till sundown,
when lo! the earth trembled under our feet and the air rumbled with a
terrible tone. Then there came down upon us, from the top of the
castle, a huge creature in the likeness of a man, black of colour, tall
and big of bulk, as he were a great date-tree, with eyes like coals of
fire and eye-teeth like boar’s tusks and a vast big gape like the mouth
of a well. Moreover, he had long loose lips like camel’s, hanging down
upon his breast and ears like two Jarms[FN#27] falling over his
shoulder-blades and the nails of his hands were like the claws of a
lion.[FN#28] When we saw this frightful giant, we were like to faint
and every moment increased our fear and terror; and we became as dead
men for excess of horror and affright.—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn
of day and ceased saying her permitted say.
When it was the Five Hundred and Forty-seventh Night,
She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Sindbad the
Seaman continued:—When we saw this frightful giant we were struck with
exceeding terror and horror. And after trampling upon the earth, he sat
awhile on the bench; then he arose and coming to us seized me by the
arm choosing me out from among my comrades the merchants. He took me up
in his hand and turning me over felt me, as a butcher feeleth a sheep
he is about to slaughter, and I but a little mouthful in his hands; but
finding me lean and fleshless for stress of toil and trouble and
weariness, let me go and took up another, whom in like manner he turned
over and felt and let go; nor did he cease to feel and turn over the
rest of us, one after another, till he came to the master of the ship.
Now he was a sturdy, stout, broad-shouldered wight, fat and in full
vigour; so he pleased the giant, who seized him, as a butcher seizeth a
beast, and throwing him down, set his foot on his neck and brake it;
after which he fetched a long spit and thrusting it up his backside,
brought it forth of the crown of his head. Then, lighting a fierce
fire, he set over it the spit with the Rais thereon, and turned it over
the coals, till the flesh was roasted, when he took the spit off the
fire and set it like a Kabáb-stick before him. Then he tare the body,
limb from limb, as one jointeth a chicken and, rending the flesh with
his nails, fell to eating of it and gnawing the bones, till there was
nothing left but some of these, which he threw on one side of the wall.
This done, he sat for a while; then he lay down on the stone-bench and
fell asleep, snarking and snoring like the gurgling of a lamb or a cow
with its throat cut; nor did he awake till morning, when he rose and
fared forth and went his ways. As soon as we were certified that he was
gone, we began to talk with one another, weeping and bemoaning
ourselves for the risk we ran, and saying, “Would Heaven we had been
drowned in the sea or that the apes had eaten us! That were better than
to be roasted over the coals; by Allah, this is a vile, foul death! But
whatso the Lord willeth must come to pass and there is no Majesty and
there is no Might, save in Him, the Glorious, the Great! We shall
assuredly perish miserably and none will know of us; as there is no
escape for us from this place.” Then we arose and roamed about the
island, hoping that haply we might find a place to hide us in or a
means of flight, for indeed death was a light matter to us, provided we
were not roasted over the fire[FN#29] and eaten. However, we could find
no hiding-place and the evening overtook us; so, of the excess of our
terror, we returned to the castle and sat down awhile. Presently, the
earth trembled under our feet and the black ogre came up to us and
turning us over, felt one after other, till he found a man to his
liking, whom he took and served as he had done the captain, killing and
roasting and eating him: after which he lay down on the bench[FN#30]
and slept all night, snarking and snoring like a beast with its throat
cut, till daybreak, when he arose and went out as before. Then we drew
together and conversed and said one to other, “By Allah, we had better
throw ourselves into the sea and be drowned than die roasted; for this
is an abominable death!” Quoth one of us, “Hear ye my words! let us
cast about to kill him, and be at peace from the grief of him and rid
the Moslems of his barbarity and tyranny.” Then said I, “Hear me, O my
brothers; if there is nothing for it but to slay him, let us carry some
of this firewood and planks down to the sea-shore and make us a boat
wherein, if we succeed in slaughtering him, we may either embark and
let the waters carry us whither Allah willeth, or else abide here till
some ship pass, when we will take passage in it. If we fail to kill
him, we will embark in the boat and put out to sea; and if we be
drowned, we shall at least escape being roasted over a kitchen fire
with sliced weasands; whilst, if we escape, we escape, and if we be
drowned, we die martyrs.” “By Allah,” said they all, “this rede is a
right;” and we agreed upon this, and set about carrying it out. So we
haled down to the beach the pieces of wood which lay about the bench;
and, making a boat, moored it to the strand, after which we stowed
therein somewhat of victual and returned to the castle. As soon as
evening fell the earth trembled under our feet and in came the
blackamoor upon us, snarling like a dog about to bite. He came up to us
and feeling us and turning us over one by one, took one of us and did
with him as he had done before and ate him, after which he lay down on
the bench and snored and snorted like thunder. As soon as we were
assured that he slept, we arose and taking two iron spits of those
standing there, heated them in the fiercest of the fire, till they were
red-hot, like burning coals, when we gripped fast hold of them and
going up to the giant, as he lay snoring on the bench, thrust them into
his eyes and pressed upon them, all of us, with our united might, so
that his eyeballs burst and he became stone blind. Thereupon he cried
with a great cry, whereat our hearts trembled, and springing up from
the bench, he fell a-groping after us, blind-fold. We fled from him
right and left and he saw us not, for his sight was altogether blent;
but we were in terrible fear of him and made sure we were dead men
despairing of escape. Then he found the door, feeling for it with his
hands and went out roaring aloud; and behold, the earth shook under us,
for the noise of his roaring, and we quaked for fear. As he quitted the
castle we followed him and betook ourselves to the place where we had
moored our boat, saying to one another, “If this accursed abide absent
till the going down of the sun and come not to the castle, we shall
know that he is dead; and if he come back, we will embark in the boat
and paddle till we escape, committing our affair to Allah.” But, as we
spoke, behold, up came the blackamoor with other two as they were
Ghuls, fouler and more frightful than he, with eyes like red-hot coals;
which when we saw, we hurried into the boat and casting off the
moorings paddled away and pushed out to sea.[FN#31] As soon as the
ogres caught sight of us, they cried out at us and running down to the
sea-shore, fell a-pelting us with rocks, whereof some fell amongst us
and others fell into the sea. We paddled with all our might till we
were beyond their reach, but the most part of us were slain by the
rock-throwing, and the winds and waves sported with us and carried us
into the midst of the dashing sea, swollen with billows clashing. We
knew not whither we went and my fellows died one after another, till
there remained but three, myself and two others;—And Shahrazad
perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.
When it was the Five Hundred and Forty-eighth Night,
She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Sindbad the
Seaman thus continued:—Most part of us were slain by the rock-thowing
and only three of us remained on board the boat for, as often as one
died, we threw him into the sea. We were sore exhausted for stress of
hunger, but we took courage and heartened one another and worked for
dear life and paddled with main and might, till the winds cast us upon
an island, as we were dead men for fatigue and fear and famine. We
landed on the island and walked about it for a while, finding that it
abounded in trees and streams and birds; and we ate of the fruits and
rejoiced in our escape from the black and our deliverance from the
perils of the sea; and thus we did till nightfall, when we lay down and
fell asleep for excess of fatigue. But we had hardly closed our eyes
before we were aroused by a hissing sound like the sough of wind, and
awaking, saw a serpent like a dragon, a seld-seen sight, of monstrous
make and belly of enormous bulk which lay in a circle around us.
Presently it reared its head and, seizing one of my companions,
swallowed him up to his shoulders; then it gulped down the rest of him,
and we heard his ribs crack in its belly. Presently it went its way,
and we abode in sore amazement and grief for our comrade and mortal
fear for ourselves, saying, “By Allah, this is a marvellous thing! Each
kind of death that threatened us is more terrible than the last. We
were rejoicing in our escape from the black ogre and our deliverance
from the perils of the sea; but now we have fallen into that which is
worse. There is no Majesty and there is no Might save in Allah! By the
Almighty, we have escaped from the blackamoor and from drowning: but
how shall we escape from this abominable and viperish monster?” Then we
walked about the island, eating of its fruits and drinking of its
streams till dusk, when we climbed up into a high tree and went to
sleep there, I being on the topmost bough. As soon as it was dark
night, up came the serpent, looking right and left; and, making for the
tree whereon we were, climbed up to my comrade and swallowed him down
to his shoulders. Then it coiled about the bole[FN#32] with him, whilst
I, who could not take my eyes off the sight, heard his bones crack in
its belly, and it swallowed him whole, after which it slid down from
the tree. When the day broke and the light showed me that the serpent
was gone, I came down, as I were a dead man for stress of fear and
anguish, and thought to cast myself into the sea and be at rest from
the woes of the world; but could not bring myself to this, for verily
life is dear. So I took five pieces of wood, broad and long, and bound
one crosswise to the soles of my feet and others in like fashion on my
right and left sides and over my breast; and the broadest and largest I
bound across my head and made them fast with ropes. Then I lay down on
the ground on my back, so that I was completely fenced in by the pieces
of wood, which enclosed me like a bier.[FN#33] So as soon as it was
dark, up came the serpent, as usual, and made towards me, but could not
get at me to swallow me for the wood that fenced me in. So it wriggled
round me on every side, whilst I looked on, like one dead by reason of
my terror; and every now and then it would glide away and come back;
but as often as it tried to come at me, it was hindered by the pieces
of wood wherewith I had bound myself on every side. It ceased not to
beset me thus from sundown till dawn, but when the light of day shone
upon the beast it made off, in the utmost fury and extreme
disappointment. Then I put out my hand and unbound myself, well-nigh
down among the dead men for fear and suffering; and went down to the
island-shore, whence a ship afar off in the midst of the waves suddenly
struck my sight. So I tore off a great branch of a tree and made signs
with it to the crew, shouting out the while; which when the ship’s
company saw they said to another, “We must stand in and see what this
is; peradventure ’tis a man.” So they made for the island and presently
heard my cries, whereupon they took me on board and questioned me of my
case. I told them all my adventures from first to last, whereat they
marvelled mightily and covered my shame[FN#34] with some of their
clothes. Moreover, they set before me somewhat of food and I ate my
fill and I drank cold sweet water and was mightily refreshed; and Allah
Almighty quickened me after I was virtually dead. So I praised the Most
Highest and thanked Him for His favours and exceeding mercies, and my
heart revived in me after utter despair, till meseemed as if all I had
suffered were but a dream I had dreamed. We sailed on with a fair wind
the Almighty sent us till we came to an island, called
Al-Saláhitah,[FN#35] which aboundeth in sandal-wood when the captain
cast anchor,—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying
her permitted say.
When it was the Five Hundred and Forty-ninth Night,
She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Sindbad the
Seaman continued:—And when we had cast anchor, the merchants and the
sailors landed with their goods to sell and to buy. Then the captain
turned to me and said, “Hark’ee, thou art a stranger and a pauper and
tellest us that thou hast undergone frightful hardship; wherefore I
have a mind to benefit thee with somewhat that may further thee to thy
native land, so thou wilt ever bless me and pray for me.” “So be it,”
answered I; “thou shalt have my prayers.” Quoth he, “Know then that
there was with us a man, a traveller, whom we lost, and we know not if
he be alive or dead, for we had no news of him; so I purpose to commit
his bales of goods to thy charge, that thou mayst sell them in this
island. A part of the proceeds we will give thee as an equivalent for
thy pains and service, and the rest we will keep till we return to
Baghdad, where we will enquire for his family and deliver it to them,
together with the unsold goods. Say me then, wilt thou undertake the
charge and land and sell them as other merchants do?” I replied
“Hearkening and obedience to thee, O my lord; and great is thy kindness
to me,” and thanked him; whereupon he bade the sailors and porters bear
the bales in question ashore and commit them to my charge. The ship’s
scribe asked him, “O master, what bales are these and what merchant’s
name shall I write upon them?”; and he answered, “Write on them the
name of Sindbad the Seaman, him who was with us in the ship and whom we
lost at the Rukh’s island, and of whom we have no tidings; for we mean
this stranger to sell them; and we will give him a part of the price
for his pains and keep the rest till we return to Baghdad where, if we
find the owner we will make it over to him, and if not, to his family.”
And the clerk said, “Thy words are apposite and thy rede is right.” Now
when I heard the captain give orders for the bales to be inscribed with
my name, I said to myself, “By Allah, I am Sindbad the Seaman!” So I
armed myself with courage and patience and waited till all the
merchants had landed and were gathered together, talking and chaffering
about buying and selling; then I went up to the captain and asked him,
“O my lord, knowest thou what manner of man was this Sindbad, whose
goods thou hast committed to me for sale?”; and he answered, “I know of
him naught save that he was a man from Baghdad-city, Sindbad hight the
Seaman, who was drowned with many others when we lay anchored at such
an island and I have heard nothing of him since then.” At this I cried
out with a great cry and said, “O captain, whom Allah keep! know that I
am that Sindbad the Seaman and that I was not drowned, but when thou
castest anchor at the island, I landed with the rest of the merchants
and crew; and I sat down in a pleasant place by myself and ate somewhat
of food I had with me and enjoyed myself till I became drowsy and was
drowned in sleep; and when I awoke, I found no ship and none near me.
These goods are my goods and these bales are my bales; and all the
merchants who fetch jewels from the Valley of Diamonds saw me there and
will bear me witness that I am the very Sindbad the Seaman; for I
related to them everything that had befallen me and told them how you
forgot me and left me sleeping on the island, and that betided me which
betided me.” When the passengers and crew heard my words, they gathered
about me and some of them believed me and others disbelieved; but
presently, behold, one of the merchants, hearing me mention the Valley
of Diamonds, came up to me and said to them, “Hear what I say, good
people! When I related to you the most wonderful thing in my travels,
and I told you that, at the time we cast down our slaughtered animals
into the Valley of Serpents (I casting with the rest as was my wont),
there came up a man hanging to mine, ye believed me not and gave me the
lie.” “Yes,” quoth they, “thou didst tell us some such tale, but we had
no call to credit thee.” He resumed, “Now this is the very man, by
token that he gave me diamonds of great value, and high price whose
like are not to be found, requiting me more than would have come up
sticking to my quarter of meat; and I companied with him to
Bassorah-city, where he took leave of us and went on to his native
stead, whilst we returned to our own land. This is he; and he told us
his name, Sindbad the Seaman, and how the ship left him on the desert
island. And know ye that Allah hath sent him hither, so might the truth
of my story be made manifest to you. Moreover, these are his goods for,
when he first foregathered with us, he told us of them; and the truth
of his words is patent.” Hearing the merchant’s speech the captain came
up to me and considered me straitly awhile, after which he said, “What
was the mark on thy bales?” “Thus and thus,” answered I, and reminded
him of somewhat that had passed between him and me, when I shipped with
him from Bassorah. Thereupon he was convinced that I was indeed Sindbad
the Seaman and took me round the neck and gave me joy of my safety,
saying, “By Allah, O my lord, thy case is indeed wondrous and thy tale
marvellous; but lauded be Allah who hath brought thee and me together
again, and who hath restored to thee thy goods and gear!”—And Shahrazad
perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.
When it was the Five Hundred and Fiftieth Night,
She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Sindbad the
Seaman thus continued:—“Alhamdolillah!” quoth the captain, “lauded be
Allah who hath restored unto thee thy goods and gear.” Then I disposed
of my merchandise to the best of my skill, and profited largely on them
whereat I rejoiced with exceeding joy and congratulated myself on my
safety and the recovery of my goods. We ceased not to buy and sell at
the several islands till we came to the land of Hind, where we bought
cloves and ginger and all manner spices; and thence we fared on to the
land of Sind, where also we bought and sold. In these Indian seas, I
saw wonders without number or count, amongst others a fish like a cow
which bringeth forth its young and suckleth them like human beings; and
of its skin bucklers are made.[FN#36] There were eke fishes like asses
and camels[FN#37] and tortoises twenty cubits wide.[FN#38] And I saw
also a bird that cometh out of a sea-shell and layeth eggs and hatcheth
her chicks on the surface of the water, never coming up from the sea to
the land.[FN#39] Then we set sail again with a fair wind and the
blessing of Almighty Allah; and, after a prosperous voyage, arrived
safe and sound at Bassorah. Here I abode a few days and presently
returned to Baghdad where I went at once to my quarter and my house and
saluted my family and familiars and friends. I had gained on this
voyage what was beyond count and reckoning, so I gave alms and largesse
and clad the widow and the orphan, by way of thanksgiving for my happy
return, and fell to feasting and making merry with my companions and
intimates and forgot, while eating well and drinking well and dressing
well, everything that had befallen me and all the perils and hardships
I had suffered. “These, then, are the most admirable things I sighted
on my third voyage, and to-morrow, an it be the will of Allah, you
shall come to me and I will relate the adventures of my fourth voyage,
which is still more wonderful than those you have already heard.”
(Saith he who telleth the tale), Then Sindbad the Seaman bade give
Sindbad the Landsman an hundred golden dinars as of wont and called for
food. So they spread the tables and the company ate the night-meal and
went their ways, marvelling at the tale they had heard. The Porter
after taking his gold passed the night in his own house, also wondering
at what his namesake the Seaman had told him, and as soon as day broke
and the morning showed with its sheen and shone, he rose and praying
the dawn-prayer betook himself to Sindbad the Seaman, who returned his
salute and received him with an open breast and cheerful favour and
made him sit with him till the rest of the company arrived, when he
caused set on food and they ate and drank and made merry. Then Sindbad
the Seaman bespake them and related to them the narrative of
The Fourth Voyage of Sindbad the Seaman.
Know, O my brethren that after my return from my third voyage and
foregathering with my friends, and forgetting all my perils and
hardships in the enjoyment of ease and comfort and repose, I was
visited one day by a company of merchants who sat down with me and
talked of foreign travel and traffic, till the old bad man within me
yearned to go with them and enjoy the sight of strange countries, and I
longed for the society of the various races of mankind and for traffic
and profit. So I resolved to travel with them and buying the
necessaries for a long voyage, and great store of costly goods, more
than ever before, transported them from Baghdad to Bassorah where I
took ship with the merchants in question, who were of the chief of the
town. We set out, trusting in the blessing of Almighty Allah; and with
a favouring breeze and the best conditions we sailed from island to
island and sea to sea, till, one day, there arose against us a contrary
wind and the captain cast out his anchors and brought the ship to a
standsill, fearing lest she should founder in mid-ocean. Then we all
fell to prayer and humbling ourselves before the Most High; but, as we
were thus engaged there smote us a furious squall which tore the sails
to rags and tatters: the anchor-cable parted and, the ship foundering,
we were cast into the sea, goods and all. I kept myself afloat by
swimming half the day, till, when I had given myself up for lost, the
Almighty threw in my way one of the planks of the ship, whereon I and
some others of the merchants scrambled.—And Shahrazad perceived the
dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say.
When it was the Five Hundred and Fifty-first Night,
She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Sindbad the
Seaman continued as follows:—And when the ship foundered I scrambled on
to a plank with some others of the merchants and, mounting it as we
would a horse, paddled with our feet in the sea. We abode thus a day
and a night, the wind and waves helping us on, and on the second day
shortly before the mid-time between sunrise and noon[FN#40] the breeze
freshened and the sea wrought and the rising waves cast us upon an
island, well-nigh dead bodies for weariness and want of sleep, cold and
hunger and fear and thirst. We walked about the shore and found
abundance of herbs, whereof we ate enough to keep breath in body and to
stay our failing spirits, then lay down and slept till morning hard by
the sea. And when morning came with its sheen and shone, we arose and
walked about the island to the right and left, till we came in sight of
an inhabited house afar off. So we made towards it, and ceased not
walking till we reached the door thereof when lo! a number of naked men
issued from it and without saluting us or a word said, laid hold of us
masterfully and carried us to their king, who signed us to sit. So we
sat down and they set food before us such as we knew not[FN#41] and
whose like we had never seen in all our lives. My companions ate of it,
for stress of hunger, but my stomach revolted from it and I would not
eat; and my refraining from it was, by Allah’s favour, the cause of my
being alive till now: for no sooner had my comrades tasted of it than
their reason fled and their condition changed and they began to devour
it like madmen possessed of an evil spirit. Then the savages gave them
to drink of cocoa-nut oil and anointed them therewith; and straightway
after drinking thereof, their eyes turned into their heads and they
fell to eating greedily, against their wont. When I saw this, I was
confounded and concerned for them, nor was I less anxious about myself,
for fear of the naked folk. So I watched them narrowly, and it was not
long before I discovered them to be a tribe of Magian cannibals whose
King was a Ghul.[FN#42] All who came to their country or whoso they
caught in their valleys or on their roads they brought to this King and
fed them upon that food and anointed them with that oil, whereupon
their stomachs dilated that they might eat largely, whilst their reason
fled and they lost the power of thought and became idiots. Then they
stuffed them with cocoa-nut oil and the aforesaid food, till they
became fat and gross, when they slaughtered them by cutting their
throats and roasted them for the King’s eating; but, as for the savages
themselves, they ate human flesh raw.[FN#43] When I saw this, I was
sore dismayed for myself and my comrades, who were now become so
stupefied that they knew not what was done with them and the naked folk
committed them to one who used every day to lead them out and pasture
them on the island like cattle. And they wandered amongst the trees and
rested at will, thus waxing very fat. As for me, I wasted away and
became sickly for fear and hunger and my flesh shrivelled on my bones;
which when the savages saw, they left me alone and took no thought of
me and so far forgot me that one day I gave them the slip and walking
out of their place made for the beach which was distant and there
espied a very old man seated on a high place, girt by the waters. I
looked at him and knew him for the herdsman, who had charge of
pasturing my fellows, and with him were many others in like case. As
soon as he saw me, he knew me to be in possession of my reason and not
afflicted like the rest whom he was pasturing; so signed to me from
afar, as who should say, “Turn back and take the right-hand road, for
that will lead thee into the King’s highway.” So I turned back, as he
bade me, and followed the right-hand road, now running for fear and
then walking leisurely to rest me, till I was out of the old man’s
sight. By this time, the sun had gone down and the darkness set in; so
I sat down to rest and would have slept, but sleep came not to me that
night, for stress of fear and famine and fatigue. When the night was
half spent, I rose and walked on, till the day broke in all its beauty
and the sun rose over the heads of the lofty hills and athwart the low
gravelly plains. Now I was weary and hungry and thirsty; so I ate my
fill of herbs and grasses that grew in the island and kept life in body
and stayed my stomach, after which I set out again and fared on all
that day and the next night, staying my greed with roots and herbs; nor
did I cease walking for seven days and their nights, till the morn of
the eighth day, when I caught sight of a faint object in the distance.
So I made towards it, though my heart quaked for all I had suffered
first and last, and behold it was a company of men gathering
pepper-grains.[FN#44] As soon as they saw me, they hastened up to me
and surrounding me on all sides, said to me, “Who art thou and whence
come?” I replied, “Know, O folk, that I am a poor stranger,” and
acquainted them with my case and all the hardships and perils I had
suffered,—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her
permitted say.
When it was the Five Hundred and Fifty-second Night,
She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Sindbad the
Seaman continued:—And the men gathering pepper in the island questioned
me of my case, when I acquainted them with all the hardships and perils
I had suffered and how I had fled from the savages; whereat they
marvelled and gave me joy of my safety, saying, “By Allah, this is
wonderful! But how didst thou escape from these blacks who swarm in the
island and devour all who fall in with them; nor is any safe from them,
nor can any get out of their clutches?” And after I had told them the
fate of my companions, they made me sit by them, till they got quit of
their work; and fetched me somewhat of good food, which I ate, for I
was hungry, and rested awhile, after which they took ship with me and
carrying me to their island-home brought me before their King, who
returned my salute and received me honourably and questioned me of my
case. I told him all that had befallen me, from the day of my leaving
Baghdad-city, whereupon he wondered with great wonder at my adventures,
he and his courtiers, and bade me sit by him; then he called for food
and I ate with him what sufficed me and washed my hands and returned
thanks to Almighty Allah for all His favours praising Him and
glorifying Him. Then I left the King and walked for solace about the
city, which I found wealthy and populous, abounding in market-streets
well stocked with food and merchandise and full of buyers and sellers.
So I rejoiced at having reached so pleasant a place and took my ease
there after my fatigues; and I made friends with the townsfolk, nor was
it long before I became more in honour and favour with them and their
King than any of the chief men of the realm. Now I saw that all the
citizens, great and small, rode fine horses, high-priced and
thorough-bred, without saddles or housings, whereat I wondered and said
to the King, “Wherefore, O my lord, dost thou not ride with a saddle?
Therein is ease for the rider and increase of power.” “What is a
saddle?” asked he: “I never saw nor used such a thing in all my life;”
and I answered, “With thy permission I will make thee a saddle, that
thou mayest ride on it and see the comfort thereof.” And quoth he, “Do
so.” So quoth I to him, “Furnish me with some wood,” which being
brought, I sought me a clever carpenter and sitting by him showed him
how to make the saddle-tree, portraying for him the fashion thereof in
ink on the wood. Then I took wool and teased it and made felt of it,
and, covering the saddle-tree with leather, stuffed it and polished it
and attached the girth and stirrup leathers; after which I fetched a
blacksmith and described to him the fashion of the stirrups and
bridle-bit. So he forged a fine pair of stirrups and a bit, and filed
them smooth and tinned[FN#45] them. Moreover, I made fast to them
fringes of silk and fitted bridle-leathers to the bit. Then I fetched
one of the best of the royal horses and saddling and bridling him, hung
the stirrups to the saddle and led him to the King. The thing took his
fancy and he thanked me; then he mounted and rejoiced greatly in the
saddle and rewarded me handsomely for my work. When the King’s Wazir
saw the saddle, he asked of me one like it and I made it for him.
Furthermore, all the grandees and officers of state came for saddles to
me; so I fell to making saddles (having taught the craft to the
carpenter and blacksmith), and selling them to all who sought, till I
amassed great wealth and became in high honour and great favour with
the King and his household and grandees. I abode thus till, one day, as
I was sitting with the King in all respect and contentment, he said to
me, “Know thou, O such an one, thou art become one of us, dear as a
brother, and we hold thee in such regard and affection that we cannot
part with thee nor suffer thee to leave our city; wherefore I desire of
thee obedience in a certain matter, and I will not have thee gainsay
me.” Answered I, “O King, what is it thou desirest of me? Far be it
from me to gainsay thee in aught, for I am indebted to thee for many
favours and bounties and much kindness, and (praised be Allah!) I am
become one of thy servants.” Quoth he, “I have a mind to marry thee to
a fair, clever and agreeable wife who is wealthy as she is beautiful;
so thou mayst be naturalised and domiciled with us: I will lodge thee
with me in my palace; wherefore oppose me not neither cross me in
this.” When I heard these words I was ashamed and held my peace nor
could make him any answer,[FN#46] by reason of my much bashfulness
before him. Asked he, “Why dost thou not reply to me, O my son?”; and I
answered saying, “O my master, it is thine to command, O King of the
age!” So he summoned the Kazi and the witnesses and married me
straightway to a lady of a noble tree and high pedigree; wealthy in
moneys and means; the flower of an ancient race; of surpassing beauty
and grace, and the owner of farms and estates and many a
dwelling-place.—And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased
saying her permitted say.
When it was the Five Hundred and Fifty-third Night,