Arabian Nights Entertainments (1706)/Volume 3/His First Voyage
The Story of Sindbad, the Sailor.
His First Voyage.
MY Father left me a conſiderable Eſtate, moſt Part of which I ſpent in Debauches, during my Youth; but I perceived my Error, and called to Mind that Riches were periſhable, and quickly conſumed by ſuch Ill Husbands as my ſelf. I further conſider’d, that, by my irregular Way of Living, I wretchedly miſpent my Time, which is the moſt valuable Thing in the World. I remembred the Saying of the Great Solomon, which I had frequently heard from my Father, That Death is more tolerable than Poverty. Being ſtruck with thoſe Reflections, I gathered together the Ruins of my Eſtate, and ſold all my Moveables in the publick Market to the higheſt Bidder. Then I entred into a Contract with ſome Merchants that traded by Sea; I took the Advice of ſuch as I thought moſt capable to give it me: And, reſolving to improve what Money I had, I went to Balſora, a Port on the Perſian Gulph, and embark’d with ſeveral Merchants, who join’d with me to fit out a Ship on Purpoſe,
We ſet Sail, and fteer’d our Courſe towards the Eaſt-Indies through the Perſian Gulph, which is formed the Coaſts of Arabia Falix on the Right, by thoſe of Perſia on the Left, and, according to common Account, is 70 Leagues over at the broadeſt Place. The Eaſtern Sea as well as that of the Indies, is very ſpacious. It is bounded on one Side by the Coafts of Abyſſinia, and is 4500 Leagues in Length to the Iſles of Vak vak.[1] At firſt I was troubled with the Sea-Sickneſs, but ſpeedily recovered my Health, and was not afterwards troubled with that Diſeaſe.
In our Voyage we touch’d at ſeveral lands, where we ſold or exchanged our Goods. One Day, whilſt under Sail, we were becalm’d, near a little Iſland, even almoſt within the Surface of the Water, which reſembled a green Meadow. The Captain order’d his Sails to be furl’d, and ſuffer’d ſuch Perſons, as had a Mind, to land upon the Iſland, amongſt whom I was one.
But, while we were diverting our Selves with Eating and Drinking, and refreſhing our ſelves from the Fatigue of the Sea, the Iſland trembled all of a ſudden, and ſhook us terribly.
Here Scheherazade ſtop’d, becauſe Day appear’d, but reſum’d her Diſcourſe next Morning as follows,
The Seventy Firft Night.
SIR, Sindbad purſued his Story thus, They perceived the Trembling of the Iſland on board the Ship, and called to us to reimbark ſpeedily, or we ſhould all be loſt; for what we took for an Iſland was only the Back of a Whale. The nimbleſt got into the Sloop, others betook themſelves to ſwim ; but, for my part, I was still upon the Back of the Whale when he div’d into the Sea, and had Time only to catch hold of a Piece of Wood, that we had brought out of the Ship to make a Fire. Mean while the Captain, having recciv’d thoſe on board, who were in the Sloop, and taken up ſome of thoſe that ſwam: reſolv’s to improve the favourable Gale that was juſt riſen, and hoiſting his Sails purſued his Voyage, ſo that it was impoſſible to recover the Ship.
Thus I was expos’d to the Mercy of the Waves and ſtruggled for my Life, all the reſt of the Day and the following Night. Next Morning I found my Strength gone, and deſpair’d of ſaving my Life, when a Wave threw me happily againſt an Iſland: The Bank was high and rugged, ſo that I could ſcarcely have got up had it not been for ſome Roots of Trees, which Fortune ſeem’d to have preſerv’d in this Place for my Safety. Being got up, I lay down upon the Ground half dead, until ſuch Time as the Sun appeared. Then, tho’ I was very feeble, both by reaſon of my hard Labour and want of Victuals, I creep’d along to ſee for ſome Herbs fit to eat, and had not only the good Luck to find ſome but likewiſe a Spring of excellent Water, which contributed much to recover me. After this I advanc’d further into the Iſland, and came at laſt into a fine Plain, where I perceived a Horſe feeding at a great Diſtance, I went towards him betwixt Hopes and Fear, not knowing whether I was going to loſe my Life or to ſave it. When I came near, I perceived it to be a very fine Mare, tied to a Stake. Whilſt I looked upon her, I heard the Voice of a Man from under Ground, who immediately appeared to me, and ask’d who I was? I gave him an Account of my Adventure, after which, taking me by the Hand, he led me into a Cave, where there were ſeveral other People, no leſs amaz’d to ſee me, than I was to ſee them.
I eat ſome Victuals which they offer’d me, and then having ask’d them what they did in ſuch a deſart Place? they anſwer’d; That they were Grooms, belonging to King Mihrage, Sovereign of the Iſland; and that every Year at the ſame Seaſon, they brought thither the King’s Mares, and faſten’d them as I ſaw that Mare, until they were cover’d by a Horſe that came out of the Sea, who, after he had done ſo, endeavour’d to deſtroy the Mares, but they hinder’d him by their Noiſe, and oblig’d him to return to the Sea; after which-they carry’d home the Mares, whoſe Foals were kept for the King’s Uſe, and called Sea-Horſes. They added, that they were to go home to Morrow, and had I been one Day later, I muſt have periſh’d; becauſe the inhabited Place of the Iſland, was at a great Diſtance, and it would have been impoſſible for me to have got thither without a Guide
Whilſt they entertain’d me thus, the Horſe came out of the Sea, as they had told me, cover’d the Mare, and afterwards would have devour’d her, but, upon a great Noiſe made by the Grooms, he left her, and went back to the Sea.
Next Morning they return’d with their Mares to the Captital of the Iſland, took me with them, and preſented me to King Mihrage; He ask’d me who I was? By what Adventure I came into his Dominions? And, after I had ſatisfy’d him, he told me he was much concerned for my Misfortune, and at the ſame time order’d that I ſhould want nothing, which his Officers were ſo generous and careful as to ſee exactly fulfill’d.
Being a Merchant, I frequented Men of my own Profeſſion, and particularly enquir’d for thoſe who were Strangers, If perhaps I might hear any News from Bagdad, or find an Opportunity to return thither. For King Mihrage’s Capital is ſituated on the Bank of the Sea, and has a fine Harbour where Ships arrive daily from the different Quarters of the World. I frequented alſo the Society of the learned Indians, and took delight to hear them diſcourſe; but withal I took care to make my Court regularly to the King, and convers’d with the Governors and Petty-Kings, his Tributaries that were about him. They ask’d me a thouſand Queſtions about my Country; and I being willing to inform my ſelf as to their Laws and Cuſtoms, ask’d them every thing, which I thought worth knowing.
There belongs to this King an Iſland named Caſſel, they aſſured me, that every Night a Noiſe of Drums was heard there, whence the Mariners fancied, that it was the Reſidence of Degial.[2] I had a great mind to ſee this wonderful Place, and in my way thither ſaw Fiſhes of 100 and 200 Cubits long, that occaſion more Fear than Hurt, for they are ſo fearful, that they will fly upon the Rattling of two Sticks, or Boards, I faw likewiſe other Fiſhes about a Cubit in Length, that had Heads like Owls.
As I was one Day at the Port, after my Return, a Ship arriv’d, and as ſoon as ſhe caſt Anchor, they began to unload her, and the Merchants on Board order’d their Goods to be carry’d into the Magazine; as I caſt my Eye upon ſome Bales, and look’d to the Name, I found my own, and perceived the Bales to be the ſame that I had embark’d at Balſora. I alſo knew the Captain, but being perſwaded that he believ’d me to be drown’d, I went and ask’d him whoſe thoſe Bales? He reply’d That they belong’d to a Merchant of Bagdad, call’d Sindbad, who came to Sea with him; but one Day, being near an Iſland, as we thought, he went aſhoar with feveral other Paſſengers upon this ſuppoſed Iſland, which was only a monſtrous Whale, that lay aſleep upon the Surface of the Water, but as ſoon he felt the Heat of the Fire, they had kindled on his Back, to dreſs ſome Victuals, began to move, and div’d under Water, moſt of the Perſons who were upon him periſh’d, and among them unfortunate Sindbad. Thoſe Bales belong’d to him, and I am reſolv’d to trade with them, until I meet with ſome of his Family, to whom I may return the Profit. Captain, ſays I, I am that Sindbad, whom you thought to be dead, and thoſe Bales are mine. Here Scheherazade ſtop’d, till next Morning, and went on as follows,
The Seventy Second Night.
SINDBAD, purſuing his Story, ſays to the Company. When the Captain heard me ſpeak thus: O Heaven, ſays he, who can ever truſt now a Days, there’s no Faith left among Men. I ſaw Sindbad periſh with my own Eyes, and the Paſſengers on Board ſaw it as well as I, and yet you tell me, you are that Sindbad, What Impudence this is? To look on you, one would take you to be a Man of Probity, and yet you tell a horrible Falſhood, in order to poſſeſs your ſelf of what does not belong to you. Have Patience, Captain, reply’d I, do me the Favour to hear what I have to ſay. Very well, ſays he, ſpeak, I am ready to hear you. Then I told him how I eſcap’d, and by what Adventure I met with the Grooms of King Miherage, who brought me to his Court.
He began to abate of his Confidence upon my Diſcourſe, and was ſoon perſwaded that I was no Cheat. For there came People from his Ship who knew me, made me great Compliments, and teſtify’d a great deal of Joy to ſee me alive. At laſt he knew me himſelf, and embracing me, Heaven be praiſed, ſays he; for your happy Eſcape, I can’t enough expreſs my Joy for it, there’s your Goods, take and do with ’em what you will. I thank’d him, acknowledg’d his Probity, and in Requital, offer’d him part of my Goods as a Preſent which he generouſly refuſed.
I took out what was moſt valuable in my Bales, and preſented it to King Mihrage, who, knowing my Misforetune, ask’d me how I came by ſuch Rarities? I acquainted him with the whole Story, he was mightily pleas’d at my good Luck, accepted my Preſent, and gave me one much more conſiderable in Return. Upon this I took Leave of him, and went a board the ſame Ship, after I had exchanged my Goods with the Commodities of that Country, I carried with me Wood of Aloes, Sanders, Camphire, Nutmegs, Cloves, Pepper and Ginger. We paſs’d by ſeveral Iſlands, and at laſt arriv’d at Balſora, from whence I came to this City, with the Value of 1000000 Sequins.[3] My Family and I receiv’d one another with all the Tranſports that can happen from true and ſincere Friendſhip. I bought Slaves of both Sexes, fine Lands, and built me a great Houſe. And thus I ſettled my ſelf, reſolving to forget the Miſeries I had ſuffer’d, and to enjoy the Pleaſures of Life.
Sindbad ſtop’d here, and order’d the Muſicians to go on with their Concerts, which his Story had interrupted. The Company continu’d to eat and drink till the Evening that it was time to retire, when Sindbad ſent for a Purſe of 100 Sequins, and giving it to the Porter, ſays, Take this, Hindbad, return to your Home, and come back to Morrow, to hear ſome more of my Adventures.
The Porter went Home aſtoniſh’d at the Honours done him, and the Preſent made him. The Relation of it was very agreeable to his Wife and Children, who did not fail to return Thanks to God for what Providence had ſent them by the Hands of Sindbad.
Hindbad put on his beſt Cloaths next Day, and return’d to the bountiful Traveller, who receiv’d him with a pleaſant Air, and careſs’d him mightily. When all the Gueſts were come, Dinner was ſet upon the Table, and continued a long Time. When it was ended, Sindbad, addreſſing himſelf to the Company, ſaid, Gentlemen, be pleaſed to give me Audience, and liſten to the Adventures of my Second Voyage; they better deſerve your Attention than the Firſt, upon which every one held his Peace, and Sindbad went on thus.
- ↑ Thoſe Iſlands, according to the Arabians, are beyond China; and are ſo called from a Tree which bears a Fruit of that Name. They are without doubt the Iſles of Japan; but they are not however ſo far from Abyſſinia.
- ↑ Degial to the Mahomitans is the ſame with Antichriſt to us. According to them he is to appear about the End of the World, and will conquer all the Earth, except Mecca, Medina, Tarſus and Jeruſalem, that are to be preſerved by Angels, which he ſhall ſee round them.
- ↑ The Turkiſh Sequin is about 9 s, Sterling.