Arabian Nights Entertainments (1706)/Volume 3/The Sixth Voyage
The Sixth Voyage of Sindbaad the Sailor.
GEntlemen, ſays he, you long without doubt to know how, after being ſhipwreck’d five times, and eſcaping ſo many Dangers, I could reſolve again to try my Fortune, and expoſe my ſelf to new Hardſhips. I am aftoniſhd at it my ſelf when I think on’t, and muſt certainly have been reduc’d to it by my Stars. But be that how it will, after a Year’s Reſt, I prepared for a Sixth Voyage, notwithſtanding the Prayers of my Kindred and Friends, who did all that was poſſible to prevent me.
Inſtead of taking my way by the Perſian Gulph, I travel’d once more through ſeveral Provinces of Perſia and the Indies, and arriv’d at a Sea-Port, where I embark’d on board a Ship, the Captain of which was reſolv’d on a long Voyage.
Ir was very long indeed, but at the ſame time ſo unfortunate, that the Captain and Pilot loſt their Courſe, ſo as they knew not where they were. We found it at laſt but we had no ground to rejoyce at it. We were all with extraordinary Fear, when we ſaw the Captain quit his Poſt, and cry out. He threw off his Turban, pull’d the Hair off his Beard, and beat his Head like a Madman, We ask’d him the Reaſon, and he anſſwer’d that he was in the moſt dangerous Place of all the Sea, A rapid Current carries the Ship along with it, and we ſhall all of us periſh in leſs than a Quarter of an Hour. Pray to God to deliver us from this Danger, we can’t eſcape if he don’t take pity on us. At theſe Words he order’d the Sails to be chang’d,but all the Ropes broke, and the Ship, without being poſlible to help it, was carry’d by the Current to the Foot of an unacceſſible Mountain, where ſhe was run aſhore, and broke to pieces, yet ſo as we ſav’d our Lives, our Proviſions and the beſt of our Goods.
This being over, the Captain ſays to us, God has now done what he pleas’d, we may every Man dig our Grave here, and bid the World adieu, fer we are in ſo fatal a Place, that none ſhipwreck’d here did ever return to their Homes again. His Diſcourſe afflicted us mortally, and we embraced one another with Tears in our Eyes, bewailing our deplorable Lot.
The Mountain at the Foot of which we were caſt, was the Coaſt of a very long and large Iſland. This Coaſt was cover’d all over with Wrecks, and by the vaſt number of Men’s Bones we ſaw every where, and which fill’d us with Horror, we concluded that abundance of People had died there. It’s alſo incredible to tell, what a Quantity of Goods and Riches we found caſt aſhore there. All thoſe Objects ſerv’d on!y to augment our Grief. Whereas in all other Places, Rivers run from their Channels into the Sea; here a great River of freſh Water runs out of the Sea into a dark Cave, whoſe Entrance is very high and large. What is moſt remarkable in this Place is, that the Stones of the Mountain are of Chryſtal, Rubies, or other precious Stones. Here’s alſo a Sort of of Mountain of Pitch, or Bitumen that runs into the Sea, which the Fiſhes ſwallow,and then vomit up again turn’d into Ambergreeſe, and this the Waves throw out upon the Beech in great Quantities. Here grow alſo Trees, moſt of which are of Wood of Aloes, equal in Goodneſs to thoſe of Camari.
To finiſh the Deſcription of this Place, which may well be calld a Gu’ph, ſince nothing ever returns from it, it is not poſſible for a Ship to get off from it, when once they come within ſuch a diſtance of it. If they be drove thither by a Wind from the Sea, the Wind and the Current ruins them; and if they come into it, when a Land wind biows, which might ſeem to favour their getting out again, the Height of the Mountain, ſtops the Wind, and occaſions a Calm, ſo that the Force of the Current runs them aſhore, where they are broke in pieces, as Ours was and that which compleats the Misfortune, is that there’s no Poſſibility to get to the top of the Mountain, or to get out any manner of way.
We continu’d upon-the Shore, like Men out of their Senſes, and expected Death every Day. Ar firſt we divided our Proviſions as equally as we could, and ſo every one liv’d a longer or ſhorter while, according to their Temper, and the uſe they made of their Proviſions.
Scheherazade, perceiving Day, left off ſpeaking, but next Night ſhe reſum’d the Story as follows.
The Eighty Sixth Night.
THOSE who died firſt, continu’d Sindbad, were interr’d by the reſt, and as for my part, I paid the laſt
Duty to all my Companions, nor are you to wonder at this; for, beſides that I husbanded the Proviſions, that fell to my ſhare better than they: I had Proviſions of my own, which I did not ſhare with my Comrades, yet when I buried the laſt, I had fo little remaining, that I thought I could not hold out long. So that I’ digg’d a Grave, reſolving to lie down in it, becauſe there was none left alive to interr me. I muſt confeſs to you at the ſame time, that while I was thus imploy’d, I could not but reflect upon my ſelf as the Cauſe of my own Ruin, and repented that I ever had undertaken this laſt Voyage. Nor did I ſtop at Reflections only, but had well nigh haſten’d my own Death, and began to tear my Hands with my Teeth.
Bur it pleas’d God once more to take Compaſſion on me, and put it in my Mind to go to the Bank of the River which runs unto the great Cave, where conſidering the River with great Attention, I ſaid to my ſelf, This River which runs thus underground, muſt come out ſome where or other. If I make a Float, and leave my ſelf to the Carrent, it will bring me to ſome inhabited Country, or drown me. If I be drown’d, I loſe nothing, but only change one kind of Death ſor another; and if I get out of this fatal Place, I ſhall not only avoid the ſad Fate of my Comrades, but perhaps find ſome new Occaſion of enriching my ſelf. Who knows but Fortune waits, upon-my getting off this dangerons Shelve, to compenſate my Shipwreck with Uſury. After this, I immediately went to work on a Float, I made it of good large Piece of Timber and Cables, for I had choice of ’em, and ty’d ’em together ſo ſtrong, that I made a very ſolid little Float, When I had finiſh’d it, I loaded it with ſome Bales of Rubies, Emeralds Amber- greele, Rock-Chryſtal, and rich Stuffs. Having balanc’d all my Cargo exactly, and faſten’d them well to the Float, I went on board it with two little Oars that I had made, and leaving it to the Courſe of the River, I reſign’d my ſelf to the will of God.
As ſoon as I came into the Cave, I loſt all Light, and the Stream carried me I know not whither. Thus I ſail’d ſome Days in perfect Darkneſs, and once found the Arch ſo low, that it well nigh broke my Head, which made me very cautious afterwards of avoiding the like Danger. All this while I eat nothing but what was juſt neceſſary to ſupport Nature, yet not withſtznding this Frugality, all my Proviſions were ſpent. Then a pleaſant Sleep ſeized upon me. I can’t tell how long it continued; but when I awaked, I was ſurprized to find my ſelf in the middle of a vaſt Country, at the brink of a River, where my Float was tied, amidſt a great Number of Negroes. I got up as ſoon as I ſaw them, and ſaluted them. They ſpoke to me, but I did not underſtand their Language. I was ſo tranſported with Joy, that I knew not whether I was aſleep or awake, but being perſwaded that I was not aſleep, I recited the following Words in Arabick aloud: Ca!l upon the Almighty, he will help thee, thou need it not perplex thy ſelf about any thing elſe; ſhut thy Eyes, and while thou art aſleep God will change thy bad Fortune into good.
Gne of the Blacks who underſtood Arabick, hearing me ſpeak thus, came towards me, and ſaid, Brother, don’t be ſurprized to ſee us, we are Inhabitants of this Country, and came hither to Day to water our Fields, by digging little Canals, for this River, which comes out of the neighbouring Mountain. We perceived fomerhing floating upon the Water, went ſpeedily to ſee what it was, and perceiving your Float, one of us ſwam into the River and brought it hither, where we faſtned it as you ſee, until you ſhould awake, Pray tell us your Hiſtory, for it muſt be extraordinary, how did you venture your ſelf into this River, and whence do you come? I begged of ’em firſt to give me ſomething to eat, and then I would ſatisfy their Curioſity. They gave me ſeveral ſorts of Food, and when I had ſatisfied my Hunger, I gave them a true Account of all that had befallen me, which they liſtened to with Admiration. As ſoon as I had finiſhed my Diſcourſe, they told me by the Perſon who ſpoke Arabick and interpreted to them what I ſaid That it was one of the moſt ſurprizing Stories they ever heard, and that I muſt go along with them, and tell it their King myſelf; the Thing is too extraordinary to be told him by any other than the Perſon to whom it happened! I told them I was ready to do whatever they pleas’d,
They immediately ſent for a Horſe, which was brought them in a little time, and having made me get up upon him, ſome of them walked before me to ſhew me the way, and the reſt took my Float and Cargo, and followed me.
Here Scheherazade was obliged to ſtop, becauſe Day appeared, but towards the cloſe of next Night reſum’d the Thread of her Story thus,
The Eighty Seventh Night.
WE marched thus altogether till we came to the City of Serendib, for ’twas in that Iſland where I landed. The Blacks preſented me to their King, I approached his Throne and ſaluted him as I uſed to do the Kings of the Indies; that’s to ſay, I proſtrated my ſelf at his Feet, and kiſſed the Earth. The Prince ordered me to rife up, received me with an obliging Air, and made me come up, and ſit down near him. He firſt ask’d me my Name, and I anſwer’d, They cal’d me, Sindbad the Sailor, becauſe of the many Voyages I had undertaken, and that I was a Citizen of Bagdad. But replys he how did you come into my Dominions, and from whence came you laſt?
I concea’d nothing from the King, I told him all that I have now told you, and his Majeſty was fo ſurpriz’d and charm’d with it, that he commanded my Adventures to be writ in Letters of Gold, and laid up in the Archive of his Kingdom. At laſt my Float was brought him, and the Bales open’d in his Preſence; he admir’d the Quantity of Wood of Aloes and Ambergreeſe, but above all, the Rubies and Emeralds, for he had none in his Treasury that came near them.
Obſerving that he look’d on my Jewels with Pleaſure; and view’d the moſt remarkable among them, one after another, I fell proſtrate at his Feet, and took the Liberty to ſay to him, Sir, not only my Perſon is at your Majeſty’s Service, but the Cargo of the Float, and I would beg of you to diſpoſe of it as your own. He anſwer’d me with a Smile, Sindbad. I will take care not to covet any thing of yours, nor to take any thing from you that God has given you; far from leſſening your Wealth, I deſign to augment it, and will not let you go out of my Dominions without Marks of my Liberality, All the Anſwer I return’d was Prayers for the Proſperity of that Prince, and Commendations of his Generofity and Bounty. He charg’d one of his Officers to take care of me, and ordered People to ſerve me at his own Charge. The Officer was very faithful in the Execution of his Orders, and made all the Goods to be carried to the Lodgings provided for me.
I went every Day at a ſet Hour to make my Court to the King, and ſpent the reſt of my time in ſeeing the City, and what was moſt worthy of my Curioſity.
The Iſle of[1] Serendib is ſituated juſt under the Equinoctial Line, ſo that the Days and Nights there are always of Twelve Hours each, and the Iſland is Eighty[2] Paraſangues in Length, and as many in Breadth.
The Capital City ſtands in the end of a fine Valley, form’d by a Mountain in the Middle of the Iſland, which is the higheſt in the World. It is ſeen three Days Sail off at Sea. There are Rubies, and ſeveral ſorts of Minerals in it, and all the Rocks for the moſt part Emerald, a Metallick Stone made uſe of to cut and ſmooth other precious Stones. There grows all ſorts of rare Plants and Trees, eſpecially Cedar and Cocoes. There’s alſo a Pearl Fiſhing in the Mouth of its River; and in ſome of its Valleys there are found Diamonds. I made, by way of Devotion, a Pilgrimage to the Place whither Adam was confin’d after his Baniſhment from Paradiſe, and had the Curioſity to go to the Top of it.
When I came back to the City, I pray’d the King to allow me to return to my Country, which he granted me in the moſt obliging and molt honourable Manner. He would needs force a rich Preſent upon me; and when I went to take my Leave of him, he gave me one much more conſiderable,and at the ſame time charg’d me with a Letter to the Commander of the Faithful our Sovereign Lord, ſaying to me, I pray you give this Preſent from me, and this Letter to Califf Haroun Alrſchid and aſſure him of my Friendſhip. I took the Preſent and Letter in a very reſpectful Manner, and promis’d his Majeſty punctually to execute the Commands with which he was pleas’d to honour me. Before I embark’d, this Prince ſent to ſeek for the Captain and the Merchants that were to go with me, and order’d them to treat me with all poſſible Reſpect.
The Letter from the King of Serendib was writ on the Ski nof a certain Animal of great Value, becauſe of its being ſo ſcarce, and of a yellowiſh Colour. The Characters of this Letter were of Azure, and the Contents thus.
THough the Preſent we ſend you be inconſiderable, receive it however as a Brother and a Friend, in Conſideration of the hearty Friendſhip which we bear for you, and of which we are willing to give you Proof. We deſire the ſame part in your Friendſhip, conſidering that we believe it to be our Merit, being of the ſame Dignity with your Self, We conjure you this in Quality of a Brother. Adieu.
The Preſent conſiſted in the firſt Place, of one ſingle Ruby made into a Cup, about half Foot high, an Inch thick, and fil’d with round Pearls of half a Dram each. 2. Of the Skin of a Serpent whoſe Scales were as large as an ordinary Piece of Gold, and had-the Virtue to preſerve from Sickneſs thoſe who lay upon it 3. In 50000 Drams of the beſt Wood of Aloes, with 30 Grains of Camphire as big as Piſtachos, And, 4. A She Slave of raviſhing Beauty, whoſe Apparel was all cover’d over with Jewels.
The Ship ſet fail, and after a long and very ſucceſsful Navigation, we landed at Balfora, from whence I went to Bagdad, where the firſt thing I did was to acquit my ſelf of my Committion.
Scheherazade ſtopt, becauſe Day began to appear, and next Night reſum’d her Diſcourſe thus,
The Eighty Eighth Night.
I Took the King of Serendib’s Letter, continu’d Sindbad, I and went to preſent my ſelf at the Gate of the Commander of the Faithtul, follow’d by the beauriful Slave, and ſuch of my own Family as carried the Preſents. I gave an Account of the Reaſon of my coming, and was immediately conducted to the Throne of the Califf, I made my Reverence by Proſtration, and after a ſhort Speech, gave him the Letter and Preſent. When he had read what the King of Serendib wrote to him, he ask’d me, If that Prince were really ſo rich and potent as he had ſaid in his Letter? I proſtrated my ſelf a fecond time, and rifing again, Commander of the Faithful, ſays I, I can aſſure your Majeſty he doth not exceed the Truth on that He’d, I am a Witneſs of it. There’s nothing more capable of railing a Man s Admiration, than the Magnificence of his Palace. When the Prince appears in Publick, he has a Throne fix’d on the Back of an Elephant, and marches betwixt two Ranks of his Miniſters, Favourites, and other People of his Court: Before him, upon the ſame Elephznt, an Officer carries a golden Lance in his Hand; and behind the Throne there’s another, who ſtands upright, with a Column of Gold, on the Top of which there’s an Emerald half a Foot long, and an Inch thick: before him there marches a guard-of a 1000 Men, clad in Cloth of Gold and Silk, and mounted on Elephants richly capariſon’d.
While the King is on his March, the Officer, who is before him on the ſame Elephant, cries from time to time with a loud Voice, Behold the Great Monarch, the potent and redoubtable Sultan of the Indies whoſe Palace is coverd with 10000 Rubies, and who poſſeſſes 10000 Crowns of Diamonds. Behold the crown’d Monarch Greater than the Greateſt Solima[3], and the great Mihrage.[4] After he has pronounc’d thoſe Words, the Officer behind the Throne cries in his Turn, This Monarch, ſo Great and ſo Powerful, muſt die, muſt die, muſt die. And the Officer before repiies, Praiſe be to him who lives for ever.
Further, the King of Serendib is ſo juſt, that there are no Judges in his Dominions. His People has no need of ’em, They underſtand and obſerve Juſtice exactly of themſelves. The Califf was much pleas’d with my Diſcourſe. The Wiſdom of that King, ſays he, appears in his Letter, and after what you tell me, I muſt confeſs, That his Wiſsdom is worthy of his People, and his People deſerve ſo wiſe a Prince. Having ſpoke thus, he diſcharg’d me, and ſent me home with a rich Preſent.
Sindbad left off ſpeaking, and his Company retir’d, Hindbad having firſt receiv’d 100 Sequins, and next Day they return’d to hear the Relation of his Seventh and laſt Voyage as follows.