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I was feeling perfectly puzzled by my
sudden return to life and light, I spoke
to myself in Arabic language, "Close
the thin eyes, and
while doing that so sleepiest Heaven will change
your destiny from evil to good."
One of the pupil, who understood my language, came forward
and said:
"My brother, don't be afraid of us; this is
our land, and as we had came here to get water from the
river we saw that your boat was floating in
this river, and
seeing this one of us swam out and brought you to the shore.
We all were waiting for you to be awaken;
now tell us now that you came here and where you were going by that
dangerous way?"
I replied to them that nothing would be better
to tell them, but that I was starving
with hunger was the first thing to talk
about. I said that I would like to eat something first. I was soon
granted with all I needed, and having
fulfilled
my hunger I told them truly all that had
happened with me. They concentrated at my tale
when it was known to them, and said that
the adventures were so surprising and must
also be related to
their king only by the man with whom all of
those adventures had
happened. So, using a horse, they mounted me
upon it, and we set out, followed by a few
strong men carrying my boat upon
their shoulders.
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I told him my detailed story, and he
was so much surprised that he
ordered my adventures to be written in letters
of gold and should be placed up in the
collections of his
kingdom.
Presently my boat was brought in and the
treasures
opened in his presence, and the king declared
that in his entire life he had never
saw such treasures like
rubies and emeralds as those which rests in
the great
heaps before him. Seeing that he looked at them
with interest, I would like to say that I myself
and all that I had been at his clearance, but he
answered me smiling:
"No, Sinbad-the sailor. Heaven stopped
me that I should fancy
your riches; I will either add more to them, for I
wish that you shall not leave my kingdom
without I should grant you some gifts in
return of my good will." He then
ordered his officers to provide me with a
suitable place to stay at his costs and sent slaves
to look after me and carry my boat and my
treasures
to my new dwelling place. You may imagine that I
praised his kindness and gave him a big
thanks, nor did I fail to present myself daily
in his audience assembly hall, and for the rest of my
time I pleased myself in seeing all that was most
worthy of attention in the city.
As the island of Serendib is situated on the
equinoctial line, there the days and the nights are
equal. The capital of the city is situated
at the end of a beautiful valley, formed by
the highest mountain in the world, which is
in the middle of the island. I am interested to
soar to its
very height, for this was the place to which
Adam was driven out of this wonder. Here
many precious things are
found mostly, rubies, and rare
plants grow numerously, with cedar trees and
cocoa palms.
On the seashore and at the mouth of the rivers,
the divers dive into the sea and search for pearls, and in some valleys,
diamonds are found in a large quantity. After many days I
formally requested the king and begged him that I might return to my
own country, towards which he willingly
agreed.
Moreover, he presented me with rich gifts, and when
I went to take leave of him he granted me with
a royal present and a letter to the Commander of
the truly, our supreme ruler lord, saying, "I
pray you give these to the Caliph Haroun al
Raschid, and promise him of my friendship."
I accepted the responsibility of his promise
very politely, and soon
sailed upon the ship which the king himself
had chosen for me. The king's letter was written
in blue bold lovely letters upon a
extraordinary and precious skin
of yellowish color, and the words of
it were: "The Mercy King of the Indies, before whom walked a
thousand herds of elephants, who lives in a
marvelous palace, of
which the roof shines with a hundred thousand
rubies, and whose treasure house contains twenty
thousand diamond crowns, to the Caliph Haroun al
Raschid sends greeting.
Even if the offering we present to you is
worthless according to you, we pray you to accept
it as a mark of the respect and friendship which
we appreciate it for you, and of which we
cheerfully send
you this token of just a friendship, and we ask of you a like
respect
if you believe us admirable of your
friendship. goodbye, brother."
The present also included a vase carved from a
single ruby, six inches high and as thick as my
finger; this was filled with the precious
pearls, large, and of perfect shape and
shine;
also, a huge snake skin, with scales as
large as a tinsel, which would safeguard from
sickness to those who slept upon it. Then
quantities of aloes wood, camphor, and
pistachio-nuts; and lastly, a beautiful slave
girl, whose robes were decorated and glittered with precious
stones.
After a long and successful voyage we landed
ourselves at
Balsora, and I rushed as fast as I could to reach Baghdad, and
taking the king's letter I presented myself at
the gate of the marvelous palace, followed by the beautiful
slave, and various members of my own family,
carrying the treasure with themselves.
As soon as I had introduced my task to
everyone which was given by the king. I was
conducted into the presence of the Caliph,
to whom, I gave the letter and the king's
gift, and when he looked upon them he asked
and confirmed from me whether the
Prince of Serendib was really as rich and
powerful as he declared to be.
"Commander of the truthful," I replied, again
bowing before him to respect him, "I can
promise your
Majesty that he has in no way showing-off his
wealth and wonder. Nothing can be compared
as equal to the
finery of his palace. When he goes abroad
his throne is prepared upon the back of an
elephant, and on the either side of him ride
also his
ministers, his favorites, and his courtiers
too. There sits an officer on his
elephant's neck , his golden
lance in his hand, and behind him stands another
person holding a pillar of gold, at the top of which is
an emerald stone as long as my hand.
Thousands of men in the cloth of gold,
settled upon
the richly decorated elephants, go before him, and
as the parade moves onward the officer who
guides his elephant cries aloud, `Behold the
mighty monarch, the powerful and noble Sultan
of the Indies, whose palace is covered with a
hundred thousand rubies, who owns a twenty
thousand diamond crowns. Behold a monarch
greater than Solomon and Mirage in all their
glory!'"
"Then the one who stands behind the throne
answers: ''This king, which is so great and powerful, must
die, must die, and must at once die!'"
"And the first repeats again, ''All
praise to Him who lives for evermore."
"Moreover, my lord, in Serendib no
ruler to judge is
needed, for to the people their selves are
the king who judge
for the justice."
The Caliph was well pleased with my arrive.
"From the king's letter," said he, "I judged
that he was a wise man. It seems that he is
worthy of his people, and his people of him."
So saying he allow me to go with rich presents,
and I returned in peace to my own house.
When Sinbad had done speaking his guests
assembled, Hindbad having first received a
hundred tinsels, but all returned next day to
hear the story of the seventh voyage, Sinbad
thus began.
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