Evening star., 1928-11-24

where ships arrived daily from different
quarters of the world.
I frequented also the society of the
learned Indians and took delight in
hearing them discourse, but withal
took care to pay court regularly to the
king and converSed with the governors
and petty kings, his tributaries. that
were about him. They asked me a
thousand questions about my country,
and I, being willing to inform myself
as to their laws and customs, asked
them everything which thought worth
knowing.
There belonged to this king an island
named Cassei They assured me that
every night noise of drums was heard
there, whence the mariners fancied
that it was the residence of Degial.
had a great mind to see this wonderful
place, and on my way thither saw
fishes of one and two hundred cubits
| long, that occasion more fear than
hurt for they are so timid that they
will fly away at the rafting of two
sticks or boards. I saw likewise other
fish about cubit in length that had
heads like owls.
AS was one day at the port after
my return a ship arrived, and as soon
as she cast anchor they began to un-
| load her, and the merchants on board
ordered their goods to be carried into
1 the warehouse. AS cast my eve upon
some bales and looked at the name, I
found my own, and perceived the bales
to be the same that I had embarked
with.
/ also knew the captain, but being
persuaded that he believed me to be
drowned I went and asked him whose
bales they were. He told me readily
enough, and told me also how Sindbad
had been drowned. Then told him I
was Sindbad, but at first he would not
| believe me, telling me that he had seen
Sindbad drowned with his own eyes.
Have patience, captain" said I.
''Do me the favor to hear what 1 have
to say"
very WE'LL" said he. Speak; am
ready to hear you"
Then 1 told him how escaped and
by what adventure I met with the
grooms of King Mihrage, who brought
me to his court.
He was soon persuaded that I was no
cheat, for there came people from his
ship who knew me, paid me great COM
plimentS and expressed much joy to see
me alive. At last he knew me himself
and. embracing me, Heaven be praised. y
said he, for your happy escape. ]
cannot express enough joy for it, There
are your goods. Take and do with them
what you will"
thanked him, acknowledged his
honesty, and in return offered him part
Of my goods as present, which he
generously refused.
took out what was most valuable in
my bales and presented it to King Min
rage, who. knowing my misfortune
asked me how I came by such rarities
I acquainted him with the whole story
He was nightly pleased at my good
luck, accepted my present and gave me
one much more valuable in return
Upon this took leave of him and went
aboard the same ship after I had ex.
changed my goods for the commoditie.
of that country. I carried with mt
wood of aloes. sandal, camphor, nut.
megs, cloves, pepper and ginger
We passed by several islands, and a.
last arrived at Balsora, from which
port we had set sail and whence came
to this city, with the value of 100,OO(
sequins.
M family and received one an
other with transports of sincere Joy.
bought slaves and fine lands and bull
me a great house, and thus I settled
myself, resolving to forget the miserie
I had suffered and to enjoy the pleas
ures of life.