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 wordly 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.
