# Voyages and travels of Sinbad the sailor

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THE
VOYAGES AND TRAVELS
OF
SINBAD THE SAILOR.
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THE VOYAGES
OF
SINDBAD THE SAILOR.
In the reign of the Caliph Haroun Alraschid, there lived in the city of Bagdad, a poor porter named Hindbad. One day, when the weather was hot, Hindbad was employed to carry a heavy burthen to a great distance from that part of the city where he lived. Being faint with the heat, and having still a long way to go, he entered a street where a refreshing breeze blew on his face, and the pavement was sprinkled with rosewater. Glad to find such a resting-place, he laid down his load, and seated himself beside it, near to a great house.
The windows of the house were open, and Hindbad was regaled with the smell of the richest perfumes that came from within. Presently he heard a delightful concert of all kinds of musical instruments, mixed with the finest voices, and the melodious notes of nightingales and other rare birds. Hindbad had never been in that quarter of the town before, and he felt a great desire to know to whom this magnificent house belonged. Seeing a servant standing at the gate in a splendid livery, he advanced towards him, and with great humility inquired the name of the master of the house.
"Is it possible," said the servant, "that you are an inhabitant of Bagdad, and do not know that this is the house of Sindbad the Sailor, who has sailed round the world!"
Poor Hindbad, who had often heard of the wonderful riches of Sindbad the Sailor, and whose condition he thought was as happy as his own was deplorable, turned away sorrowfully, and sitting down, cried aloud, "Alas! what a difference between this fortunate man and mo! I am every day exposed to the greatest fatigues, and all the wretchedness of extreme poverty, while happy Sindbad profusely expends immense riches, and leads a life of continual caso and pleasure. Oh, heavens! what has ho done to obtain a lot so fortunate? and why am I condemned to endure so much wretchedness?"
While the poor man was thus indulging his grief, a servant came from the house, and told him that Signior Sindbad wished immediately to speak to him. Hindbad was greatly alarmed at this message, thinking that Sindbad had heard his lamentations, and was going to reproach or punish him; he therefore ​tried to excuse himself from entering the house. Sindbad's servant, however, would not take a refusal, because his master’s commands had been absolute; and calling another domestic to look after the goods, he led the porter into a great hall, where a large company sat round a table covered with all sorts of dainties served in dishes of silver and gold. At the
upper end of the table sat Sindbad, a comely, venerable gentleman with a long white beard.
Hindbad's terror increased at the sight of so many people, and he hung back, till Sindbad, in the most eourteous manner imaginable, desired him to draw near; and placing him in a ehair on his right hand, served him from the ehoieest dishes, and gave him excellent wine in a crystal goblet.
When the porter had made an end of his dinner, Sindbad ​inquired his name and occupation. "My name, Signior," said he, "is Hindbad, and I am nothing but a poor porter."
"Well, Hindbad," rejoined the master of the house, "I and my friends hero are very glad to see you; but I sent for you on account of some words I heard you utter."
"Alas! Signior," exclaimed Hindbad, rising from his chair, and blushing exceedingly, "I confess that my weariness and the heat of the day put me out of humour, and made me speak many indiscreet things, which I beg you to pardon."
"My good friend," replied Sindbad, "I am not so unjust as to bo offended with you; on the contrary, I pity your condition; and when I commanded you to be brought hither, it was that I might convince you I did not attain to this happy condition without enduring more sufferings, and encountering greater dangers, than can well be imagined. Yes, gentlemen," he added, looking round the table upon his guests, "I assure you my difficulties were so extraordinary, that they were sufficient to discourage the most covetous man from running the same perils in pursuit of riches; and to convince you of the truth of what I assert, I will, if you are disposed to hear me, relate the history of the extraordinary adventures I met with in the course of my Seven Voyages."
This proposal was highly acceptable to the whole company; and Sindbad having ordered a servant to carry Hindbad's load to the appointed place, commenced his narration as follows:-
THE FIRST VOYAGE OF SINDBAD.
My father dying while I was very young, and leaving me a considerable fortune, I fell into a course of dissipation that injured my health and destroyed my fortune. Having no parent to control me, and being surrounded only by profligate persons, I continued my excesses till I fell into a fit of sickness. My riotous companions then forsook me, and I was left alone to struggle with my diseases, and to endure the severity of remorse for mis-spent youth. At length I recovered from my illness; and resolving never to return to my former course of living, I collected together the remains of my fortune, and embarked with several merchants on board a ship, which we had jointly laden with merchandise, for the port of Balsora.
One day we were becalmed near a small island almost level with the surface of the water, and which resembled a beautiful green meadow. The captain ordered his sails to be furled, and the merchants, among whom was myself, with several officers of the ship, determind to carry our provisions, and dine upon the pleasant little island. While wo were in the very midst of ​preparation for dinner, shouting, laughing, and had kindled a largo fire to dress our provisions, the island began to move, and at the same moment those who were left in the ship called to us to re-embark instantly, or we should all be lost, as what we had taken to be an island, was only the back of a monstrous whalc. The nimblest sprung into the sloop; others jumped into the waves, and betook themselves to swimming; but for my part I was still on the back of the whale when he dived into the sea, and had only time to catch hold of a broad piece of wood that had been brought out of the ship to serve as a table. On this piece of wood I floated, but the current carried me away from the ship; and the captain having received on board those who were in the boat, and picked up one or two of the swimmers, he concluded that I was lost. A favourable gale just then springing up, be pursued his voyage.
I struggled to save myself all the rest of the day and the following night, when happily a wave threw me against an island. I advanced along the shore till I came to a cave, wherein I lay down and slept. When I awoke it was almost sun-set. I left my cave and came to a small plain, surrounded with fine trees bearing all sorts of fruit; and what surprised me most was to see a great number of beautiful young colts grazing together, but no traces of any other animals. I supped upon fruit, and climbed the branches of a high tree for my lodging. About midnight I was greatly astonished and alarmed to hear the sound of trumpets and drums, which seemed to pass all round the island, and continued through the night; but when morning came, it still appeared uninhabited.
I elimbed my tree again that night, and the drums and trumpets at midnight seemed to be even louder than before. On tho third day, to my great joy, a party of men landed on the island, who wero astonished to find me there. They informed me they were the grooms of king Mihrage, and that the island upon which I was thrown was called Cassel, and belonged to the warlike geni Degial, who visited it every night with drums and trumpets; and that the geni being the friend of king Mihrage, permitted him to have his young colts trained upon the island, which contained such admirable pasture, that they became the swiftest and finest horses in the world; and that they, the grooms of the king, were sent at the expiration of every six months, to the island, to select such of the young horses as were fit to be placed in the royal stables.
The grooms carried me with them to tho eapital of king Mihrage, which has a fine harbour where ships arrive daily from all quarters of the world. The king allowed me apartments in his palace, and delighted in my conversation. ​One day, having walked to the principal quay, several seamen were busily employed in unloading a ship newly arrived. As I cast my eye on some of the bales of goods, I perceived them, by the marks, to be the same that I had put on board
when I embarked for Balsora. I also knew the captain; and some other persons coming from the ship instantly knew me, and I was not long in convincing the captain that I was the real Sindbad, and no impostor; upon which he presented me my bales with a thousand congratulations. I offered him a part of my goods in requital for his probity, but this he refused.
I then selected the most valuable artieles out of my bales, and presented them to king Mihrage, who accepted my present, and gave me a rich one in return. I then took leave of him and the whole court, and went on board the same ship, after I ​had exchanged my goods for the commodities of the country, and then came to the city with the sum of a hundred thousand sequins. Here I bought slaves, fine lands, and built a great house and settled myself, determined to forget my past dangers, and to enjoy the pleasures of life.
Sindbad then ordered the musicians to go on with their concert, and when it was ended, he gave a purse with a hundred sequins to Hindbad saying, "Take this, Hindbad, return home, and regale yourself with your family to-night; but come back to-morrow, when you shall hear more extraordinary adventures that have befallen me than those of my First Voyage."
THE SECOND VOYAGE OF SINDBAD.
I designed, after my first voyage, to spend the rest of my days at Bagdad; but ere long I grew weary of a quiet life. Accordingly I purchased rich commodities, and went to sea a second time, with some other merchants. One day we landed on an island, almost covered with trees bearing delicious fruits. Some diverted themselves with gathering flowers, others with gathering fruits, I sat down by a stream, between two large trees, which formed an agreeable shade, and fell asleep. I cannot tell how long I slept; but when I awakened, not only my companions, but the ship itself was goue. Nothing could exceed my grief and consternation at this event.
I elimbed to the top of a very high tree to see if there was any thing that could give me hopes. I perceived something large and white; but the distance was too great to allow me to distinguish what it was. I therefore hastened down from the tree, and I found it as white and smooth as ivory. I walked round it, to see if it was open on any side, but it was not; and it was impossible to climb to the top of it, the surface was so smooth and slippery. It was at least fifty paces round, and like a large white bowl.
On a sudden the sky became quite darkened. I looked up to see the cause, and beheld a bird of enormous size moving like a great black cloud toward me. I recollected that I had heard mariners speak of a bird called a Roe, so large that it eould carry away young elephants, and I concluded that the great white bowl, which I so much admired, must be its egg. I was right, for the bird alighted, and sat over the egg. As I perceived her coming, I had crept close to the egg for shelter, so that I had before me one of the legs of the bird, which was as large as the trunk of a tree. I tied myself firmly to the leg of the roc with the cloth of my turban, in hopes that when she ​flew away she would carry me out of this desert island; and having passed the night in this condition, the bird flew away the next morning, and carried me so high into the air that I could not see the earth; and suddenly descended so swift, that I lost my senses. On coming to myself, and finding the Roc on the ground, I speedily untied the cloth which bound me to
her leg, and the bird, having taken up a large serpent in her bill, again flew away.
As I paced up and down the valley, musing on my hard fortune, I observed that the ground was strewed with diamonds of a surprising large size. I took great pleasure in looking upon them, but I saw such objects as I could not behold without terror and dismay; these were serpents peeping out of the holes in the rocks.
I had heard of the famous Diamond Valley, and tho ​stratagems used to get jewels from thence, by merchants throwing joints of raw meat down into the valley. The diamonds upon which they fall adhere to them; and the eagles, lured by the smell of the meat, carry it to their nests to feed their young, when the merchants frighten away the eagles, and take the diamonds.
I picked up some of the largest diamonds I could find, which I carefully put into a little bag, and fastened it to my girdle. I then selected the largest piece of meat in the valley, which I tied to my waist with the cloth of my turban, and then lay down upon my face to wait the descent of the eagles. They were not long in coming, and one of the strongest having pounced upon the meat upon my back, flew with me to tho nest on the top of the mountain. The merchants began shouting to frighten the eagles, and when they had obliged them to quit their prey, one of them came to the nest where I was.
I told them my story, and they were equally surprised at my expedient to save myself and my courage to attempt it. Having carried me to the place where they sheltered themselves, I opened tho bag, and they declared, that in all the courts where they had been they had never seen any diamonds of equal size and lustre. I desired the merchant, to whose nest I had been carried to take as many as he pleased, but he contented himself with one of the least, declaring it was of sufficient value to make his fortune.
The merchants having gathered together their diamonds, wo left the place on the following morning, and crossed the mountains till we arrived at a port where we took shipping, and landed on the isle of Roha, where the trees grow that yield camphor. Here I exchanged some of my diamonds for other merchandise, and from thence we set sail for Balsora, and continued my journey over land to Bagdad; and onco moro arrived in my native city. I gave great alms to the poor and lived there for some time.
Thus Sindbad ended the history of his Second Voyage; and presenting Hindbad with another purse, desired him to return on the following day.
THE THIRD VOYAGE OF SINDBAD.
​After we had been at sea some weeks we were overtaken by a dreadful storm, which almost tore the vessel to pieces. We beat about several days, and at last were obliged to cast anchor before an island, from which the captain had vainly endeavoured to steer. He now informed us, that this and several other neighbouring islands were inhabited by savages, covered with hair, who would speedily attack us in great numbers; and that if we offered to make the least resistance they would come upon us in swarms and destroy us without mercy.
We soon found the captain’s information to be true; for a multitude of frightful savages, about two feet high, and covered
all over with red hair, came swimming towards us, and boarded our ship, chattering a language of which we could not comprehend a word. In an instant they took down our sails, cut ​the eable, towed the ship to land; and having made us all get out, they carried off our ship in triumph to another island.
We went forward into the island on which we were landed in deep dismay, expecting nothing but death. When we had got a little way, we found a lofty palace, with a folding gate of ebony, which we pushed open and entered a spacious court, that led to a vast apartment with a porch, having on one side a great heap of human bones, and on the other a number of roasting spits. At this terrible spectacle our legs trembled under us, and we fell to the ground with fear.
Presently the gate of the apartment opened, and there came lout a black monster as tall as a palm tree. He had but one eye, which was in the very middle of his forehead, and looked like a ball of fire. His fore-teeth were long and sharp, his under lip hung down upon his breast, his ears resembled those of an elephant, and covered his shoulders.
At the sight of so hideous a giant we could scarcely keep from swooning, while he sat down in the porch gazing upon us. At length he advanced, and taking me up by the skin of the neck, as I would take up a kitten, and having viewed me well, and perceived that I was nothing but skin and bone, he threw me on the ground with disdain. He took up all the rest one by one, and examined them in the same manner, and the poor captain being the fattest amongst us, fell the victim to his savage appetite: he was presently killed, roasted, and eaten by the dreadful monster, who then stretched himself upon a great stone bench and fell asleep snoring louder than thunder.
We passed the night in the most distressing fears imaginable. Day being eome, the giant awoke, got up, stretched himself, and went out, leaving us in the palace, which now resounded with our cries and lamentations. At length I cried to my companions in misfortune, "Let us not waste the hours in useless sorrow. Let us make floats of the timber we saw on the coast, and commit ourselves upon them to the sea. We had better trust to the mercy of the winds and waves than continue here, to fall one after the other a prey to the appetite of that devouring monster."
My advice was adopted; we hastened down to the sea shore, taking with us tools from the apartment, and laboured hard to make our floats ready to earry us out to sea, before the giant should diseover our purpose. We had not finished them till the evening, and before we could push them from the beach our tyrant came in search of us, and drove us like a floek of sheep before him to the palace. We had the anguish to behold another of our unfortunate comrades roasted for his supper.
Our desperate situation now gave us eourage to attempt some ​means for our deliverance. Nine of the most resolute of us got up very softly, and taking nino spits we held the points of them in the fire till they were red hot, and then thrusting them all at once into the monster's eye, we blinded him. The pain occasioned him to utter a frightful scream, and ho began to grope about with his hands to catch us, that he might sacrifice us to his rage, but we took care to keep out of his reach, and having sought for us some time in vain, he opened the ebony gate, and went out of the palace howling dreadfully.
We did not stay long behind him, but hastened to our floats, and only waited for day-light to embark upon them; but scarcely was the first dawn of day visible when we beheld our monstrous enemy approaching to the shore, led by others of the same species. We immediately jumped upon our floats, and pushed them from the shore; but the giants seeing us likely to escape, tore great pieces of rocks from the cliffs, and wading into the water up to their waists, hurled them at us with all their might, and instantly sunk every float but the one I was upon, and all my companions except two were drowned.
For two days we were tossed about at sea, and believed that we must perish for want of food if we were not swallowed up by the waves. On the evening of the second day, however, we drove upon an island, where we found excellent fruit and good water, with which we refreshed ourselves and lay down to sleep under the shade of tho trecs
We were soon awakened by the terrible hissings of an enormous serpent, who came gliding along the ground with incredible swiftness. One of my unfortunate comrades was swallowed by him in a moment, while I and the other fled, and climbed up into the highest treo we could find to shield ourselves from his attack. Presently the serpent came hissing to the root of the tree, and winding himself round the trunk, reared his head so high that he soon reached my only remaining companion, who sat much lower on the tree than I did, and devoured him like the former one. I sat motionless with terror, and already more dead than alive, the monstrous creature unwound himself from the tree and glided away.
I was so exhausted for want of sleep, and had suffered so greatly from his poisonous breath, that death seemed to me more desirable than living in such a deplorable condition, from which there appeared no means of escape, and I ran headlong towards the sea, resolving to throw myself in; but just as I was about to fulfil my rash determination, I perceived a ship in full sail at a considerable distance. I shouted as loud as I could bawl for help, and taking the linen from my turban, I displayed it like a flag to attract their notice. This expedient happily ​succeeded, and the captain sent his boat for me. As soon as I got on board, the merchants, officers, and sailors gathered round me, eager to know how I came into that desert island. I related the misfortunes of my voyage, and they testified their joy at my wonderful escape from such imminent dangers.
When we came to an anchor at the port of Jalabat, the captain calling me to him, said: "Sir, I have here some bales of goods which belonged to a merchant who sailed with me some time since, and he being dead, I intend to dispose of them for the benefit of his beirs. You shall sell them for me, and shall be allowed the usual factorage."
I eagerly inquired the name of the owner, and to my astonishment was told Sindbad.
I could not hear myself named without emotion, and looking earnestly at the captain, I recollected him to be the person who, in my second voyage, had left me in the island where I had fallen asleep, and had set sail without me.
"No, captain," I exclaimed, "I did not perish. In me you behold that Sindbad, who escaped that and many other perils." The captain being convinced, eagerly delivered me up the goods, and also strictly accounted with me for those he had sold.
I continued my voyage with the honest captain, and sold my merchandise very advantageously, and at length returned to Bagdad with a vast increase of riches.
Sindbad having finished the relation of his Third Voyage, gave another present to Hindbad, and invited him to dinner the next day, to hear the adventures of the Fourth Voyage.
THE FOURTH VOYAGE OF SINDBAD.
Having settled my affairs, I commeneed a journey over land into Persia, and having bought a large stock of the beautiful manufactures of that country, I loaded a vessel, and embarked with my goods. We had not beeu at sea many days when the ship struek upon a rock, and soon beat to pieces. The cargo went to the bottom, and many of the merchants and seamen were drowned.
I and a few others saved ourselves on a plank, and were carried by tho current to an island that lay before us. Having got safely on shore, we were presently surrounded by black savages, who seized us, and shared us among them.
I and five of my eompanions were taken by one man, who gave us some herbs to eat. My companions eat greedily; but I, being overcome with sorrow, kept them in my hand without tasting. I presently observed that my companions lost their ​senses, and when they spoke to me they knew not what they ⟨said⟩; I threw away the herbs, resolving never to taste them.
I soon understood that the savages had given us the herbs in ⟨order⟩ to rob us of our senses, to make us very fat, and then ⟨devour⟩ us. Accordingly I saw the cannibals eat my comrades ⟨one⟩ after another; but I, instead of growing fat, grew more ⟨thin⟩ daily, and I fell into a languishing disorder which proved my safety, for the savages did not think me fit to be eaten. They now entirely neglected me, and one day when they were ⟨gone⟩ into the woods, I determined to make my escape.
I took a contrary way to that the savages were gone, and ⟨travelled⟩ all night. I travelled in this manner during seven ⟨days⟩, avoiding every place where I saw habitations that ⟨appeared⟩ to belong to savages, and living on fruit and cocoa ⟨nuts⟩, and on the eighth day I came in sight of the sea shore, where I beheld a number of white persons gathering pepper.
I approached them without fear, and as I drew near they ⟨ran⟩ to meet me, and questioned me in Arabic as to who I was ⟨and⟩ whence I came: I speedily satisfied their curiosity, by ⟨giving⟩ them an account of my shipwreck and my escape from ⟨the⟩ savage negroes. In a few days I recovered my strength, ⟨and⟩ after they had gathered a sufficient quantity of pepper, I ⟨sailed⟩ with them to the island from whence they came. They ⟨presented⟩ me to their king, who was a good prince; he listened ⟨to⟩ my adventures, gave me clothes and commanded me to be ⟨taken⟩ care of.
I esteemed myself very fortunate in the kind treatment I received from this generous monarch and his whole court.
It appeared to me very extraordinary to see that when the king and his nobles went a hunting, they rode their horses without bridle or saddle. I could not forbear to question his majesty upon the reason of his avoiding the use of bridles and ⟨saddles⟩. The king heard me with a look of surprise, and then ⟨assured⟩ me he was quite at a loss to know what I meant, by the ⟨things⟩ called saddle and bridle. Upon this I went to a very ⟨skilful⟩ workman, and gave him the model of the stock of a ⟨saddle⟩, and under my constant superintendence he made it very well. I covered it myself with embroidered velvet; I then went to another mechanic, for whom I drew the pattern of a bridle and stirrups. I put them upon one of the king's horses and presented him to his majesty, who was so delighted, that ⟨he⟩ mounted immediately, and rode about the grounds belonging ⟨to⟩ the palace almost the whole of the day, while his ministers, the principal officers of the court, and others of the nobility, ⟨gathered⟩ round me, entreating that I would furnish them. I ⟨received⟩ such magnificent presents for my saddles and bridles, ⟨that⟩ I presently grew rich.
​The king one day said to me Sindbad, I love thee, and ⟨all⟩ my subjccts follow my example, and value thee according ⟨to⟩ thy merits. I wish to make thee one of my subjects. ⟨Thou⟩ must marry, and settle in my dominions.
He gave me one of his ladies of the court, who was young, noble, rich, beautiful, and virtuous. The marriage ⟨ceremonies⟩ being over, we retired to a place belonging to my wife, ⟨where⟩ we lived in great harmony and eontentment.
Yet notwithstanding the happiness I enjoyed, I could ⟨not⟩ forbear to think of my native country, and to wish I ⟨might⟩ behold it once more.
I had contracted a strict intimacy with one of my neighbours and one day as I was sitting down to dinner I was informed ⟨his⟩ wife had just died. I immediately hastened to afford him ⟨some⟩ consolation under his misfortune. "Alas!" said he "What comfort can I take who have not above an hour to live? ⟨It⟩ is tho established laws of this country, that the living ⟨husband⟩ shall be interred with the dead wife, and the living wife ⟨with⟩ the dead husband. Nothing therefore can save me: every ⟨one⟩ must submit to this law."
I went home, deeply affected, and day and night I ⟨thought⟩ of nothing but how to effect my escape. But while I ⟨was⟩ forming a thousand projects to escape this evil, my worst fears were verified—my wife fell sick and died. You may easily judge of my sorrow when I beheld the preparations for my ⟨own⟩ funeral, at which the king and his whole court, to show ⟨their⟩ regard for me, intended to assist.
The corpse, in her most magnificent apparel, was put into her coffin, and the eavalcade began. I went next the corpse with my eyes full of tears and my heart bursting with despair. When we arrived at the mountain I could no longer contain my anguish, and throwing myself at the feet of the king, I besought him in the most moving terms, to have compassion on me and spare my life. But all I said was to no effect, no one ⟨was⟩ moved by it; they only made the greater haste to let my ⟨wife⟩ into the pit, and the next moment I was put down after her in an open eoffin, with a vessel of water and seven loaves. They then covered up the pit, in despite of my grief and cries.
It was a long cave, many fathoms deep. I immediately smelt an insufferable stench from tho multitude of dead bodies I saw on the right and left; nay, I fancied I heard some of them sigh and groan. I lived for some days upon my bread and water, which being all spent, I prepared for death.
Having wandered very far into the eave, I lay down on the ground, wishing only for a speedy end to my misery. On a sudden I heard something walking and panting very hard, close beside ​⟨me⟩; I started up, upon which tho thing panted still harder, ⟨and⟩ ran away. I pursued it so long, that at last I saw a ⟨glimmering⟩ light that came from a hole in the roek, just large ⟨enough⟩ for a man to get out at. I crept through the hole, ⟨and⟩ found myself on the sea-shore. I leave you to judge of the ⟨excess⟩ of my joy. When I recovered from my surprise, I ⟨perceived⟩ I had been pursuing a sea monster.
I fell on my knees to thank God for my deliveranee, and having feasted on some shell fish I found on the shore, I returned to the cave, and groped about among the coffins for all the diamonds, rubies, pearls, gold bracelets, and rich stuff I could find. These I carried to the sea shore, and tying them up into bales, with the cords that let down the coffins, I laid them on the beach, waiting till some ship should sail by.
In two days a ship came out of the harbour, and passed by ​that part of the coast. I made a signal with my turban, ⟨and⟩ they sent a boat to take me on board. I told the mariners ⟨I⟩ had been wrecked, and had just been able to get on shore ⟨with⟩ the bales they saw. The captain questioned me no farther.
I found a ship ready to sail for Balsora, on board of which ⟨I⟩ embarked, having presented some fine jewels to the captain ⟨who⟩ had brought me to Kela.
The rest of my voyage was prosperous, and I arrived at Bagdad with a vast increase of riches.
Sindbad made another present to Hindbad, with the ⟨usual⟩ charge of returning the next day to hear more ⟨surprising⟩ adventures.
THE FIFTH VOYAGE OF SINDBAD.
Forgetting the perils I had suffered, I built me a ship at my own expense, loaded her with a rich cargo, and we set ⟨sail⟩ with a fair wind.
After being at sea several weeks, we landed upon a ⟨desert⟩ island in search of fresh water, where we found a roc's egg equal in size to that I formerly mentioned. The merchants and sailors gathered round it in great amazement, and though I entreated them not to meddle with the egg, they would ⟨not⟩ forbear, but making a hole in it with their hatchets, they picked out the young roc, piece after piece, and roasted it.
Scarcely had they made an end of their treat, when there appeared in the air at a distance, two great clouds. I knew it was the rocs belonging to the young bird they had just devoured, and calling all the people together, I made them embark and set sail with the utmost speed.
The two roes, meantime, alighted on the island, and seeing their egg destroyed, made a most frightful noise. Presently they took flight and disappeared. It was not long before they returned with stones, or rather rocks, between their talons, of a monstrous size. When they came directly over my ship, they hovered, and one let his stone drop, but by the dexterity of the man at the helm, who turned the ship instantly aside, it missed us and fell into the sea. The other roe, to our misfortune, threw the stone so exactly into tho very middle of the ship that it split into a thousand pieces. The mariners and passengers were all killed by the stone, or thrown into the sea. The latter was my fate, but I fortunately caught hold of a piece of the wreck, which carried me to an island.
On advancing into the island, I saw a little old man sitting upon the bank of a rivulet. He appeared very weak and ​⟨feeble⟩; I supposed him to be some unfortunate person shipwrecked like myself, and going nearer I saluted him, but he ⟨only⟩ bowed his head in return. I then asked him by what ⟨chance⟩ he had come into the island; but instead of answering me, he entreated by signs that I would carry him on my back
over the brook; I had no doubt that he was infirm, and destitute of help, and I readily took him on my back and erossed the brook, when instead of getting down, he clasped his legs so firmly round my throat, that I was almost strangled, and being unable to relieve myself, I swooned away with pain and affright. Notwithstanding my fainting, the old fellow held fast by my neck, and when I recovered my senses again, he struck me so rudely on the side, that I was forced to rise against my will.
He then compelled me to walk under the trees, while he ​diverted himself with gathering the fruit, I being obliged ⟨to⟩ content myself with what he threw away. He never ⟨quitted⟩ mo a moment. When I laid down at night he lay down ⟨with⟩ me, his legs always fast about my neck; and every ⟨morning⟩ he compelled me to get up as soon as the day dawned, ⟨from⟩ which time till sunset I was forced to bear this odious load.
One day I found in my way several dry calabashes; I ⟨picked⟩ out a large one, and pressed into it some juice of grapes. I ⟨set⟩ it aside for several days, and on coming to it again, I found ⟨it⟩ to be most excellent wine.
The old man perceiving tho effect which this drink had upon me, made a sign for me to give him some of it. I gave him the calabash, and the liquor pleasing his palate, he drank the whole of it, and became completely drunk, and by degrees loosened his legs from my neck, so that I was able to throw him upon tho ground, where he soon fell into convulsions, and I had the satisfaction to witness his death.
I was extremely rejoiced to be freed from this detestable old fellow. I hastened to the sea-side, where I found the crew of a ship who had just cast anchor there in order to get fresh water. They were greatly surprised to see me, and to hear of my adventures. "You fell," said they, "into tho hands of the old man of the sea, and you are the first person who ever escaped being strangled by him.
They took mo on board their vessel, and when we came to tho harbour of a great city, one of the merchants carried me to some persons in tho town, whoso employment was to gather cocoa nuts, and recommended me to their care. He gave mo also a great bag and provisions for the journey, and said, "Go, follow them, and do as you seo them do. Be careful not to separate from them, or you will endanger your life."
I followed them, and we camo to a great forest of tall strait cocoa trees, whose bark was so perfectly smooth, that it was impossible for any man to climb up to tho hranches. When we entered the forest, wo saw a surprising number of apes, who ran up to the top of the trees with the utmost swiftness.
Tho merchants with whom I was, picked up stones and pelted the apes, who, to revenge themselves, gathered cocoa nuts and threw at us. We secured the coeoa nuts, and continued throwing stones to provoke the apes, till we possessed ourselves of as many nuts as we could carry. We then returned to the city, where the merchants gave me the value of my nuts, and advised me to do the same every day till I had got money enough to carry me home. I soon amassed a eonsiderablo sum: and taking leave of all the kind merchants, I embarked joyfully on board a vessel, and returned safe home again.
​When Sindbad had finished, he ordered Hindbad his usual ⟨present⟩, and they returned to dinner the next day, when Sinbad gave them an account of his Sixth Voyage.
THE SIXTH VOYAGE OF SINDBAD.
At the expiration of one year, I prepared for a sixth voyage, which proved very long and most unfortunate, for the ship drove against the foot of an inaccessible mountain, and was a ⟨complete⟩ wreck. Yet we saved our lives, the most of our provisions, and our goods.
We looked around us, and saw the coast covered all over with pieces of wrecks of ships, and great heaps of men's bones, with incredible quantities of rich goods, which proved how ​many unfortunate persons must have perished there. To ⟨climb⟩ this mountain, which almost reached the skies, was ⟨impossible⟩ for it was formed of smooth granite, mixed with rocks of ⟨the⟩ finest crystal, which hung over us, and seemed every ⟨instant⟩ ready to fall upon our heads. In the midst of the ⟨mountain⟩ was a monstrous dark cavern into which ran a broad ⟨black⟩ river, the roaring of whose waves stunned us with the sound.
In this wretched place we continued till my comrades ⟨died⟩ one after the other. I survived them all, and my stock of ⟨food⟩ being exhausted, I suddenly made a desperate resolution ⟨to⟩ trust myself to the current of the black river.
I made a float, and I loaded it with bales of rich stuffs, ⟨and⟩ fastening my eargo with ropes, I went on board my float ⟨with⟩ two little oars, and left it to the mercy of the eurrent.
As soon as I was in the cavern, I lost all light. I ⟨floated⟩ for some days, and once found the arch so low that it ⟨nearly⟩ broke my head. At length a pleasing sleep seized upon me when I awoke, I found myself in a vast eountry, at the brim of a river, where my float was tied up, amidst a great ⟨number⟩ of negroes. I exelaimed aloud, "Alla be praised!" and one ⟨of⟩ the blacks who understood Arabic, came towards me and said "Brother, we came hither to-day to dig canals from this ⟨river⟩ which comes out of yonder mountain to water our fields when we found you floating in this manner. Pray inform ⟨us⟩ whence you came."
I begged of them to give me food, which they did, and ⟨after⟩ I had appeased my hunger, I gave them a true aecount of ⟨all⟩ that had befallen me. They requested I would go with ⟨them⟩ to their king, and they placed me on a fine horse, bringing my cargo and float after me.
We marched thus till we came to Serindib, for it was in ⟨that⟩ island I landed. I prostrated myself before the monarch, ⟨to⟩ whom I related my story, with which he was so surprised and pleased, that he ordered it to be written in letters of gold, and laid up among the archives of the kingdom. He then ordered one of his officers to take care of me, by whom I was condueted to the apartments provided for me, where I found my goods already placed in safety.
When I paid my next visit to the king, I presented him with the choicest pieces of my rock crystal, and then prayed him to allow me to return to my own country, which request he granted, and sent by me a letter and a brilliant present to the sovereign, the Caliph Haroun Alraschid, with many rich gifts for myself, I returned to Bagdad, where my first eare was to present myself at the throne of the Caliph, who received the letter and present of the king of Serendib with tho greatest ​satisfaction, and having testified his thanks, he dismissed me with a handsome present.
Sindbad here left off speaking, and they all returned the following day to hear the relation of the last voyage.
THE SEVENTH AND LAST VOYAGE OF SINDBAD THE SAILOR.
Being returned from my sixth voyage, I absolutely laid aside all thoughts of travelling any farther. But one day as I was
entertaining a company of my friends, I was sent for by the caliph. "Sindbad," said the monarch, "I stand in need of your services, you must bear an answer and present from me to the king of Serindib." I used my endeavours to be excused, ​but the king would take no denial, but ordered me one thousand sequins for the expenses of my journey.
I embarked and had a favourable voyage. When I arrived at Serindib, I delivered the caliph’s letter and present, which he received with satisfaction.
A little time afterwards I solicited leave to depart. We had not been long at sea before we were attacked by corsairs, who seized upon our ship, and carried us into slavery.
We were all sold for slaves, and I was bought by a rich merchant, who earried me to his house, and put on me a slave's habit. He inquired if I understood the use of the bow; I assured him I did. He then gave me a bow and arrows, and taking me behind him upon an elephant, carried me to a forest some leagues from the town. We rode a great way, and stopped near an exeeding high tree. My master bid me alight, and climb that tree; telling me I must wait there till I saw a troop ef elephants pass by, and then shoot at them, and if any one fell, I was to hasten back to the city to give him notice of it. Having given me proper directions, he left me a bag of provisions, and returned to the town.
As soon as tho sun arose on the following morning, I beheld a great number: I shot several arrows among them, and at last ono of the elephants fell; tho rest retired immediately, and left me at liberty to go and acquaint my patron with my success. He commended my diligenee, and we went back to the forest and dug a holo to bury the elephant in, till ho decayed, when the merchant intended to take his teeth, for he traded in ivory.
I continued this course for two months. One morning one of the largest of them wound his trunk round the stem of the tree on which I was, and tore it up by the roots. I fell with tho tree, and the same elephant taking me up with his trunk laid me on his back, and carried me to a hill, and left me. I ventured to get up, and discovered the hill covered all over with the bones and teeth of elephants. I did not stay, but returned to my master, who concluded I was destroyed. I conducted him to the hill, and we loaded the elephant on which we rode with as many teeth as he could carry.
My master then gave me liberty to return to my own country. He loaded a ship with a valuable eargo for me, and abundance of provisions.
We set sail, and at last I eame safe to Bagdad, and presented myself to the caliph.
Sindbad then gave Hindbad a hundred sequins, and desired him to quit his porter’s employment, and come every day to dine with him, that he might have reason to remember Sindbad the Sailor.
This work was published before January 1, 1929, and is in the public domain worldwide because the author died at least 100 years ago.
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