Arabian Nights Entertainments (1706)/Volume 3/The Fifth Voyage
The Fifth Voyage of Sindbad the Sailor.
THE Pleaſures I enjoy’d had again Charms enough to make me forget ail the Troubles and Calamities I had undergone, without curing me of my inclination to make new Voyages. Therefore I bought Goods, order’d them to be pack’d up and loaded and ſet out with them, for the beſt Sea Port, and there, that I might not be oblig’d to depend upon a Captain, but have a Ship at my own Command, I ftaid till one was built on purpoſe, at my own Charge, When the Ship was ready I went on board with my Goods, but not having enough to load her, I took on board me ſeveral Merchants of different Nations with their Merchandize.
We ſail’d with the firſt fair Wind, and after a long Navigation, the firſt Place we touch’d at was a deſart Iſland, where we found an Egg of a Roc, equal in Bigneſs with that I formerly mention’d. There was a young Roc, in it juſt ready to be hatch’d, and the Bill of it began to appear.
At theſe words Schehernzade ſtop’d, becauſe Day began to enter the Sultan’s Apartment, but next Night ſhe reſum’d her Story thus.
The Eighty Third Night.
SIndbad the Sailor ſays ſhe, continu’d the Relation of his Fifth Voyage as follows. The Merchants, whom I had taken on board my Ship, who had landed with me, broke the Egg with Hatchets, and made a Hole in it, from whence they pull’d out the young Roc Piece after Piece, and roaſted it. I had earneſtly diſſwaded them from meddiing with the Egg but they would not liſten to me.
Scarce had they made an end of their Treat, when there appear’d in the Air at a conſiderable diſtance from us, two great Clouds. The Captain, whom I hir’d to ſail my Ship, knowing by Experience what it meant, cry’d that it was the He and She Roc, that belong’d to the young One, and preſs’d us to re-imbark with all ſpeed, to prevent the Misfortune which he ſaw would otherwiſe befal us. We made haſte to do ſo, and ſet ſail with all poſſible Diligence.
In the mean time the two Rocs approach’d with a frightful Noiſe, which they redoubled when they ſaw the Egg broke, and their young One gone. But having a mind to avenge themſelyes,they flew back towards the Place from whence they came, and diſappear’d for ſome time, while we made all the Sail we could, to prevent that which unhappily befel us.
They return’d, and we obſerv’d that each of ’em carry’d betwixt their Talons, Stones, or rather Rocks of a monſtrous ſize. When they came directly over my Ship, they hover’d, and one of ’em let fall a Stone, but by the Dexterity of the Steerſman, who turn’d the Ship with the Rudder, it miſ’d us, and falling by the fide of the Ship into the Sea, divided the Water ſo, that we almoſt could ſee to the Bottom. The other Rock, to our Misfortune, threw the Stone ſo exactly upon the Middle of the Ship, that it ſplit in a thouſand Pieces. The Mariners and Paſſengers were all kill’d by the Stone or Sunk, I my ſelf had the laſt Fate; but as I came up again I catch’d hold by good Fortune of a Piece of the Wreck, and ſwimming ſometimes with one Hand, and ſometimes with the other, but always holding ſaſt my Board, the Wind and Tide being for me, I came to an Iſland whoſe Bank was very ſteep. I overcame that Difficulty however, and got aſhore.
I ſat down upon the Grafs to recover my ſelf a little from my Fatigue, after which I got up and went into the Iſland to view it. It ſeem’d to be a delicious Garden I found Trees every where, ſome of them bearing green, and others ripe Fruits, and Streams of freſh pure Water with pleaſant windings and turnings, I eat of the Fruits which I found excellent, and drank of the Water which was very pleaſant.
Night being come, I lay down upon the Grafs, in a Place convenient enough, but I could not fleep an Hour at a time, my Mind was ſo diſturb’d with the Fear of being alone in ſo deſart a Place. Thus I ſpent the beſt part of the Night in fretting and reproaching my ſelf for my imprudence in not ſtaying at home, rather than undertaking this laſt Voyage. Thoſe Reflections carry’d me ſo far, that I began to form a Deſign againſt my own Life, but Day-light diſpers’d thoſe melancholy Thoughts, and I got up and walk’d among the Trees, but not without Apprehenfions of Danger.
When I was a little advanc’d into the Iſland, I aw an old Man, who to me ſeem’d very weak and feeble. He ſat upon the Bank of a Stream, and at firſt I took him to be one who had been ſhipwreck’d as my ſelf, I went towards him and ſaluted him, but he only bowed his Head a little. I asked him what he did there, but inſtead of anſwering me, he made a ſign for me to take him upon my Back, and carry him over the Brook, ſignifying that it was to gather Fruit.
I believ’d him really to ſtand in need of my Help, ſo took him upon my Back, and having carry’d him over bid him get down, and for that end ſtoop’d, that he might get off with eaſe; but inſtead of that, (which I laugh at every time I think on’t) the old Man, who to me appear’d very decripit, claſp’d his Legs nimbly about my Neck, and then I perceiv’d his Skin to reſemble that of a Cow. He ſat aſtride upon my Shoulders, and held my Throat ſo ſtrait, that I thought he would have ſtrangled me, the Fright of which made me faint away and fall down.
Day appearing, Scheherazade was oblig’d to ſtop here, but purſu’d her Story thus next Night.
The Eighty Fourth Night.
NOtwithſtanding my Fainting, continued Sindbad, the ill-natur’d old Fellow kept faſt about my Neck, but open’d his Leg a little to give me time to recover my Breath. When I had ſo done, he thruſt one of his Feet againſt my Stomach, and ſtruck me ſo rudely on the Side with the other, that he forc’d me to riſe up againſt my will. Being got up, he made me walk under the Trees, and forc’d me now and then to ſtop, to gather, and eat ſuch Fruit as we found. He never left me all Day, and when I lay down to reſt me by Night, he laid himſelf down with me, holding always faſtabout my Neck. Every Morning he puſh’d me to make me awake, and afterwards oblig’d me to get up and walk, and preſs’d me with his Feet. You may judge then, Gentlemen, what Troubie I was in, to be charg’d with ſuch a Burden as I could no ways rid my ſelf from.
One Day I found in my way ſeveral dry Calebaſhes that had fallen from a Tree, I took a large one, and after cleaning it, preſs’d into it ſome Juice of Grapes, which abounded in the Iſland; having fill’d the Calebaſh, I ſet it in a convenient Place, and coming hither again ſome Days after, I took up my Calebaſh, and ſetting it to my Mouth, found the Wine to be ſo good, that it made me preſently not only forget my Sorrow, but I grew vigorous, and was ſo light hearted that I began to ſing and dance as I walk’d along.
The old Man perceiving the Effect which this Drink had upon me, and that I carry’d him with more Eaſe than I did before, made a ſign for me to give him ſome of it. I gave him the Calebaſh, and the Liquor pleaſing his Pa-late, he drank it all off. There being enough of it to fuddle him, he became drunk immediately, and the Fumes getting up into his Head, he began to ſing after his manner, and to dance with his Breech upon my Shoulders. His jolting about made him vomit, and he looſen’d his Legs from about me by degrees; ſo finding that he did not preſs me as before, I threw him upon the Ground, where he lay without Motion, and then I took up a great Stone, with which I cruſh’d his Head to Pieces.
I was extreamly rejoyc’d to be freed thus for ever from this curſed old Fellow, and walk’d upon the Bank of the Sea, Where I met the Crew of a Ship that had caſt Anchor, to take in Water and refreſh themſelves. They were extremely ſurpriz’d to ſee me, and to hear the Particulars of my Adventures. You fell, ſay they, into the Hands of the old Man of the Sea, and are the firſt that ever eſcap’d ſtrangling by him. He never left thoſe he had once made himſelf Maſter of, till he deſtroy’d them, and he has made this Iſland famous by the Number of Men he has ſlain, fo that the Merchantsand Mariners, who landed upon it, dar’d not to advance into the Iſland but in Numbers together.
After having inform’d me of thoſe Things, they carry’d me with them to the Ship, the Captain receiv’d me with great Satisfaction, when they told him what had befallen me. He put out again to Sea, and after ten Days fail, we arriv’d at the Harbour at a great City, whoſe Houſes were built with good Stone.
One of the Merchants of the Ship, who had taken me in to his Friendſhip, oblig’d me to go along with him, and carry’d me to a Place appointed for a Retreat for foreign Merchants. He gave me a great Bag, and having recommended me to ſome People of the Town, who us’d to gather Cocoes, he deſired them to take me with them to do the like; Go, ſays he, follow them, and do as you ſee them do, and don’t ſeparate from them, otherwiſe you endanger your Life. Having thus ſpoke, he gave me Proviſions for the Journey, and I went with them.
We came to a great Foreſt of Trees extreme ſtrait and tall, and their Trunks were ſo ſmooth that it was not poſſible for any Man to climb up to the Branches that bore the Fruit. All the Trees were Cocoe Trees, and when we enter’d the Foreſt we ſaw a great Number of Apes of ſe-veral ſizes, that ſled, as ſoon as they perceiv’d us, and climb’d up to the Top of the Trees with ſurprizing Swiftneſs.
Scheherazade would have gone on, but Day appearing prevented her, and next Night ſhe reſumed the Diſcourſe as follows.
The Eighty Fifth Night.
THE Merchants with whom I was, continued Sindbad, gathered Stones, and threw them at the Apes on the Top of the Trees. I did the ſame, and the Apes out of Revenge threw Cocoe Nuts at us as faſt, and with ſuch Geſtures as ſufficiently teſtify’d their Anger and Refentment; we gather’d up the Cocoes, and from time to time threw Stones to provoke the Apes; fo that by this Stratagem, we fill’d our Bags with Cocoe Nuts, which it had been poſfible for us to have done otherwiſe.
When we had gather’d our Number, we return’d tothe City, where the Merchant, who ſent me to the Foreſt, gave me the Value of the Cocoes I brought: Go on, ſays he, and do the like every Day, until you have got Money enough to carry you home. I thank’d him for his good Advice, and inſenfibly gather’d together ſo many Cocoes as amounted to a confiderable Sum.
The Veſſel in which I came, ſail’d with Merchants who loaded her with Cocoes. I expected the Arrival of another, which landed ſpeedily for the like Loading. I embark’d on board the ſame all the Cocoes that belong’d to me, and when ſhe was ready to ſail, I went and took leave of the Merchant, who had been ſo kind to me, but he could not embark with me, becauſe he had not finiſh’d his Affairs.
We ſet ſail towards the Iſland where Pepper grows in great plenty. From thence we went to the Iſle of Comari,[1] where the beſt ſort of Wood of Aloes grows, and whoſe Inhabitants have made it an inviolable Law to themſe’ves to drink no Wine, nor to ſuffer any Place of Debauch. I exchang’d my Cocoes in thoſe two Iſlands, for Pepper and Wood of Aloes and went with other Merchants a Pearl Fiſhing. I hir’d divers who fetch’d me up thoſe that were very large and pure. I embark’d joyfully on a Veſſel that arriv’d happily at Balſora, from thence I return’d to Bagdad, where I made vaſt Sums of my Pepper, Wood of Aloes and Pearls. I gave the Tenth of my Gain in Alms, as I had done upon my return from other Voyages, and endeavour’d to eaſe my ſelf from my Fatigues, by Diverſions of all ſorts.
When Sindbad had done his Story, he ordered 100 Sequins to Hindbad, who retir’d with all the other Gueſts, but next Morning the ſame Company retir’d to dine with rich Sindbad, who after having treated them as formerly, demanded Audience, and gave the following Account of his Sixth Voyage.
- ↑ This Iſland, or Pen-Inſuls, ends at the Cape which we now call Cape Comorin. It is alſo call’d Comar and Comor.