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One day after my return, as I went down to the
dock, I saw a ship which had just shed
the anchor on the ground,
and was releasing her loads, while the
merchants to whom it belonged were busily
directing the removal of it to their
storehouse.
Moving little closer I noticed that my own
name was marked upon some of the packages, and
after carefully observing them, I felt
sure that they were in fact those which I had put
on board our ship at Balsora. I then recognized
the captain of the vessel, but as I was certain
that he believed me to be dead, I went up to him
and asked who owned the packages that I was
looking at.
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"There was on board my ship," the
captain replied, "a
merchant of Baghdad named Sinbad. One day he and
several of my other passengers landed upon what
we supposed to be an island, but which was
really an huge whale floating asleep upon
the waves. No sooner did it feel upon its back
the heat of the fire which had been kindled,
than it plunged into the depths of the sea.
Several of the people who were upon it drowned
in the waters, and among others this unlucky
Sinbad. This merchandise is his, but I have
resolved to dispose of it for the benefit of his
family if I should ever chance to meet with
them."
"Captain," I said, "I am that Sinbad whom you
think to be dead, and these are my
belongings!"
When the captain heard him saying these words he cried out
surprisingly "Lackaday! and what is the world
coming up to? In these days there are a few a honest
man to be met with. Did I not
see Sinbad drowning with my own eyes, and now you have the
bravery
to tell me that you are he! I should have taken
you to be a just man, and yet for the sake of
obtaining that which does not belong to you, you
are ready to discover this horrible falsehood."
"Have patience captain, and do me the favor to hear my
story so that you could believe me that I myself
is Sinbad," I said.
"Then speak," replied the captain, "I'm all
in
attention."
So I told him of my escape and of my luckily
meeting with the king's grooms, and how kindly I
had been welcomed at the palace. Very soon I
began to see that I had created some impression
upon him, and when some of the merchants had
arrived, who showed great joy at once
more seeing me as I was, he declared that he also
recognized me.
So he came close to me and by hugging me he exclaimed,
"Heaven is also praised that you have escaped from so
great danger. I pray you
to take your goods with you, and dispose them as you
want them to be done." I
thanked him, and praised his honesty, and I
begged
him to accept several gifts of merchandise in
token of my gratitude, but he would take
nothing. Of the choicest of my goods I prepared
a present for King Mihrage, who was at first
amazed, having known that I had lost my all.
However, when I had explained to him how my
bales had been incredibly return to me, he
graciously accepted my gifts, and in return gave
me many valuable things.
I then took leave from there and said good-bye
to him, and exchanging my
products for sandal and aloes wood, camphor,
nutmegs, cloves, pepper, and ginger, I sailed
upon the same ship that I had sailed in Balsora
with Thousands of tinsels and reached our home
successfully.
My family received me with as much joy as I felt
upon seeing them once more. I bought land and
slaves, and built a great house in which I
lived happily, and in the enjoyment
of all the pleasures of life to forget my past
sufferings.
Here Sinbad waited, and ordered the musicians
to play the music again, while the feast continued
until evening. When the time came for the porter
to depart, Sinbad gave him a purse containing
one hundred tinsels, saying, "Take this, Hindbad,
and go home, but to-morrow come again and you
shall hear more of my adventures."
The porter retired quite overcome by so much
generosity, and you may imagine that he was well
received at home, where his wife and children
thanked their lucky stars that he had found such
a benefactor.
The next day Hindbad, dressed in his best,
returned to the Sinbad's house, and was
received with open arms. As soon as all the
guests had arrived the banquet began as before
and when they had feasted long and merrily,
Sinbad addressed them thus:
"My friends, I beg that you will give me your
attention while I relate my adventures of my
second voyage, which you will find even more
exciting than the first one."
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