Arabian Nights Entertainments (1706)/Volume 3/The third Voyage
Sindbad the Sailor’s third Voyage.
THE Pleaſures of the Life which I then led, ſoon made me forget the Risks I had run in my two former Voyages; but being then in the Flower of my Age, I grew weary of living without Buſineſs, and hardening my ſelf againſt the Thought of any Danger I might incur, I went from Bagdad with the richeſt Commodities of the Country of Balſora. There I embark’d again with other Merchants. We made a long Navigation, and touch’d at ſeveral Ports, where we drove a conſiderabe Commerce. One Day being out in the main Ocean, we were attack’d by a horrible Tempeſt, which made us loſe our Courſe. The Tempeſt continued ſeveral Days, and brought us before the Port of an Iſland, where the Captain was very unwilling to enter, but we were oblig’d to caſt Anchor there. When we had furl’d our Sails, the Captain told us, That this, and ſome other Neighbouring Iſlands, were inhabited by hairy Savages, who would ſpeedily attack us, and, tho’ they were but Dwarfs, yet our Misfortune was ſuch, that we muſt make no Reſiſtance, for they were more in Number than the Locuſts, and if we happen’d to kill one of them, they would all fall upon us and deſtroy us. Here Day beginning to appear, Scheherazade broke off her Story, and continued it next Night as follows.
The Seventy Fifth Night.
THIS Diſcourſe of the Captain, ſays Sindbad, put the whole Equipage into a great Conſternation, and we found very ſoon to our Coſt, that what he told us was but too true. An innumerable multitude of frightful Savages, cover’d all over with red Hair, and about two Foot high, came ſwimming towards us, and encompaſs’d our Ship in a little Time. They ſpoke to us as they came near, but we underſtood not their Language; they climb’d up the Sides of the Ship with ſo much Agility as ſurpriz’d us. We beheld all this with a mortal Fear, without daring to offer at defending our ſelves, or to ſpeak one Word to divert them from their miſchievous Defign. In ſhort, they took down our Sails, cut the Cable, and hawling to the Shore, made us all get out, and afterwards carry’d the Ship into another Iſland, from whence they came. All Travellers carefully avoided that Iſland where they left us, it being very dangerous to ſtay there, for a Reaſon you ſhall here anon, but we were forc’d to bear our Affliction with Patience.
We went forward into the Iſland, where we found ſome Fruits and Herbs to prolong our Lives as long as we could; but we expected nothing but Death. As we went on, we perceiv’d at a Diſtancea great Pile of Building, and made towards it. We found it to be a Palace well built, and very high, with a Gate of Ebony of two Leaves, which we thruſt open. We enter’d the Court, where we ſaw before us a vaſt Apartment, with a Porch, having on one Side a Heap of Men’s Bones, and on the other a vaſt Number of roaſt Spits. We trembled at this Spectacle, and being weary with travelling, our Legs ſail’d under us, we fell to the Ground, being ſeiz’d with a mortal Fear, and lay a long Time immoyeable,
The Sun was ſet, and whilſt we were in this lamentable Condition juſt now mention’d, the Gate of the Apartment open’d with a great Noiſe, and there came out the horrible Figure of a black Man, as high as a tall Palm-Tree. He had but one Eye, and that in the middle of his Forehead, where it look’d as red as a burning Coal. His Fore-teeth were very long and ſharp, and came without his Mouth, which was as deep as that of a Horſe. His upper Lip hung down upon his Breaſt. His Ears reſembled thoſe of an Elephant, and cover’d his Shoulder; and his Nails were as long and as crooked as the Tallons of the greateſt Birds. At the ſight of ſo frightful a Giant, we loſt all Senſe, and lay like Men dead.
At laſt we came to our ſelves, and aw him ſitting in the Porch looking at us; when he had conſider’d us well, he adyanc’d towards us, and, laying his Hand upon me, he took me up by the Nape of my Neck, and turn’d me round as a Butcher would do a Sheep’s-head; after having view’d me we!l, and perceiving me to be ſo lean that I had nothing but Skin and Bone, he let me go. He took up all the reſt one by one, view’d them in the ſame manner, and the Captain being the fatteſt, he held him with one Hand, as I would do a Sparrovw, and, thruſting a Spit thro’ him, kindled a great Fire, roaſted, and eat him in his Apartment, for his Supper, which being done, he returned to his Porch, where he lay and fell aſlzep, ſnoaring louder than Thunder: He ſlept thus til! the Morning; for our parts, it was not poſſible for us to enjoy any reſt, ſo that we paſſed the Night in the moſt cruel Fear that can be imagin’d, Day being come, the Giant awak’d, got up, went out, and letf us in the Palace.
When wethought him at a diſtance, then we broke the melancholy Silence we had kept all Night, and every one grieving more than another, we made the Palace to reſound with our Complaints and Groans. Though there was a great many of us, and that we had but one Enemy, we had not at firſt the preſence of mind to think of delivering our felves from him by his Death, This Enterprize however, tho’ hard to put in Execution, was the only Deſign we ought naturally to haye form’d.
We thought upon ſeveral other things, but determin’d nothing, ſo that ſubmitting to what it ſhould pleaſe God to order concerning us, we ſpent the Day in running about the Iſland, for Fruit and Herbs to ſuſtain our Lives. When Evening came, we ſought for a Place to lye in, but found none, ſo that we were forc’d, whether we would or not, to return to the Palace.
The Giant fail’d not to come back, and ſupped once more upon one of our Companions, after which he ſlept and ſnoar’d till Day, and then went out and left us as formerly. Our Condition was ſo very terrible, that ſeveral of my Comrades deſign’d to throw themſelves into the Sea, rather than die ſo ſtrange a Death; and thoſe, who were of this Mind, argued with the reſt to follow their Example. Upon which one of the Company anſwer’d, That we were forbid to deſtroy our ſelves; but, allowing it to be lawful, it was more reaſonable to think of a Way to rid our ſelves of the barbarous Tyrant, who deſign’d ſo cruel a Death for us.
Having thought of a Project for thiſ End, I communicated the ſame to my Comrades, Who approv’d it. Brethren, ſaid I, you know there’s a great deal of timber floating upon the Coaſt, if you’ll be advis’d by me, let us make ſeveral Floats of it that may carry us, and when they are done, leave them there till we think fit to make uſe of them. In the mean time we will execute the Deſign to deliver our ſelves from the Giant, and if it ſucceed, we may ſtay here with Patience till ſome Ship paſs by, that may carry us out of this fatal Iſland; but if it happen ts miſcarry, we will ſpeedily get to our Floats, and put to Sea. I confeſs that by expoſing our ſelves to the Fury of the Waves, we run a risk of loſing our Lives; but if we do, is it not better to be buried in the Sea, than in the Entrails of this Monſter, who has already devour’d two of us. My Advice was reliſh’d, and we made Floats capable of carrying Three Perſons each.
We return’d to the Palace towards the Evening, and the Giant arriv’d a little while after. We were forc’d to conclude on ſeeing another of our Comrades roaſted. But at laſt reveng’d our ſelves on the brutiſh Giant thus. After he had made an end of his curſed Supper, he lay down on his Back, and fell aſleep. As ſoon as we heard him ſnore[1] according to his Cuſtom, Nine of the boldeſt amongſt us and my ſelf, took each of us a Spit, and putting the Points of ’em into the Fire till they were burning hot, we thruſt them into his Eye all at once and blinded him. The Pain occaſioned him to make a frightful Cry, and to get up and ſtretch out his Hands, in order to ſacrifice ſome of us to his Rage; but we ran to ſuch Places as he could not find us, and after having ſought for us in vain he grop’d for the Gate, and went out howling dreadfuily, Scheherazade ſtop’d here, but next Night reſum’d her Stoyy thus:
The Seventy Sixth Night.
WE went out of the Palace after the Giant, continues Sindbad, and came to the Shore, where we had left our Flats, and put ’em immediately into the Sea. We waited till Day in order to get upon them in caſe the Giant came towards us with any Guide of his own Species, but we hop’d if he did not appear by Sun-riſing, and gave over his Howling, which we ſtill heard, that he would die, and if that happen’d to be the Caſe, we reſolv’d to ſtay in that Iſland, and not to risk our Lives upon the Floats; but Day had ſcarceappear’d till we perceiv’d our cruel Enemy, accompany’d with two others almoſt of the ſame ſize leading him; and a great Number more coming before him with a very quick pace.
When we aw this, we made no Delay, but got immediately upon our Floats, and row’d off from the Shore. The Giants, who perceiv’d this, took up great Stones, and, running to the Shore, enter’d the Water up to the Middle, and threw ſo exactly, that they ſunk all the Floats but that I was upon, and all my Comrades, except the Two with me, were drown’d, We row’d with all our Might, and got out of the reach of the Giants. But when we got out to Sea, we were expos’d to the Mercy of the Waves and Winds, and toſs’d about ſometimes on one ſide, and ſometimes on another, and ſpent that Night and the following Day under a cruel Uncertainty, as to our Fate; but next Morning we had the good Luck to be thrown upon an Iſland, where we landed with much Joy. We found excellent Fruit there, that gave us great Relief, ſo that we pretty well recover’d our Strength.
In the Evening we fell aſleep on the Bank of the Sea, but were awak’d by the Noiſe of a Serpent as long as a Palm Tree, whoſe Scales made a ruſling as he crept along. He ſwallow’d up one of my Comrades, notwithſtanding his loud Cries, and the Efforts he made to rid himſelf from the Serpent, which, ſhaking him ſeveral times againſt the Ground, cruſh’d hjm, and we could hear him gnaw and near the poor Wretche’s Bones, when we had fled at a great Diſtince from him. Next Day we ſaw the Serpent again to our great Terror, when I cry’d out, O Heaven, to what Dangers are we expos’d. We rejoic’d yeſterday at our having eſcap’d from the Cruelty of a Giant, and the Rage of the Waves, and now we are fallen into Danger altogether as terrible.
As we walk’d about, we ſaw a large tall Tree, upon which we deſign’d to paſs the following Night for our Security, and, having ſatisfied our Hunger with Fruit, we mounted it accordingly. A little while after, the Serpent came hiſſing to the Root of the Tree, rais’d it ſelf up againſt the Trunk of it, and meeting with my Comrade, who ſat lower than I, ſwallow’d him at once, and went off.
I ftaid upon the Tree till it was Day, and then came : down, more like a dead Man, than one alive, expecting the ſame Fate with my Two Companions. This filed me with Horror, ſo that I was going to throw my ſelf into the Sea, but Nature prompting us to a Deſire to live as long as we can, I withſtood this Temptation to Deſpair, and ſubmitted my ſelf to the will of God, who diſpoſes of our Lives at his Pleaſure.
In the mean time I gather’d together a great Quantity of ſmall Wood, Brambles, and dry Thorns, and making them up in Faggots made a great Circle with them round the Tree;, and alſo tied ſome of them to the Branches over my Head. Having done thus, when the Evening came, I ſhut my ſelt up within this Circle, with this melancholy Piece of Satisfaction, That I had neglected nothing which could preſerve me from the cruel Deſtiny with which I was threatned. The Serpent ſailed not to come at the uſua! Hour, and went round the Tree, ſeeking for an Opportunity to devour me, but was prevented by the Rampart I had made, ſo that he ſat till Day, like a Cat watching in vain for a Mouſe that has retired to a Place of Safety. When Day appeared he retired, but I dared not to leave my Fort until the Sun roſe.
I was ſo fatigued with the Toil he had put me to, and ſuffered ſo much by his poiſonou Breath, that Death ſeeming more eligible to me, than the Horror of ſuch a Condition, I came down from the Tree, and not thinking on the Reſignation had made to the Will of God the precee-ding Day, I ran toward the Sea, with a Deſign to throw my ſelf in to it headlong. Here Scheherazade ſtopt, becauſe Day appeared, and next Night continued her Story thus,
The Seventy Seventh Night.
Sindbad purſued the Account of his Third Voyage thus. God, ſays he, took Compaſſion on my deſperate State, for juſt as I was going to throw my ſelt into the Sea, I perceived a Ship at a conſiderable Diſtance. I called as loud as I could, and taking the Linnen from my Turban, diſplayed it that they might obſerve me. This had the deſired Effect, all the Crew perceived me, and the Captain ſent me his Sloop. As ſoon as I came aboard, the Merchants and Seamen flocked about me to know how I came into that deſart Iſland; and after I had told them all that befel me, the oldeſt among ’em ſaid to me, They had ſeveral times heard of the Giants who dwelt in that Iſland, that they were Canibals, and eat Men raw as well as roaſted; and as to the Serpents, they added, That there were abundance in the Iſle that hid themſelves by Day, and came abroad at Night. After having teſtified their Joy at my eſcaping ſo many Dangers, they brought me the beſt of what they had to eat; and the Captain, ſeeing that I was all in Rags, was fo generous as to give me one of his own Suits. We were at ſea for ſome time, touched at ſeveral Iſlands, and at laſt landed at that of Salabar, where there grows Sanders, a Wood of great Uſe in Phyſick. We entered the Port, and came to an Anchor. The Merchants began to unload their Goods, in order to ſell or exchange
them. In the meantime the Captain called me and ſaid, Brother, I have here a Parcel of Goods that belonged to a Merchant, who ſailed ſometime on board this Ship, and he being dead, I deſign to diſpoſe of ’em for the Benefit of his Heirs, when I know them. The Bales he ſpoke of lay on the Deck, and ſhewing them to me, he ſays, There’s the Goods. I hope you will take care to ſell ’em, and you ſhall have Factorage. I thank’d him that he gave me an Opportunity to employ my ſelf becauſe I hated to be idle.
The Clerk of the Ship took an Account of all the Bales, with the Names of the Merchants to whom they belonged. And when he ask’d the Captain in whoſe Name he ſhould enter thoſe he gave me the Charge of; Enter them, ſays the Captain, in the Name of Sindbad the Sailor. I could not hear my ſelf named without ſome Emotion, and looking ſtedfaſtly on the Captain, I knew him to be the Perſon, who, in my ſecond Voyage, had left me in the Iſland where I fell aſleep by a Brook, and ſet Sail without me, or ſending to ſee for me. But I cou’d not remember him at firſt, he was ſo much alter’d ſince I ſaw him.
And as for him who believed me to be dead, I could not wonder at his not knowing me. But Captain, ſays I, was the Merchant’s Name, to whom thoſe Bales belong d Sindbad? Yes, replies he, that was his Name; he came from Bagdad, and embark’d on board my Ship at Balſora. One Day, when we landed at an Iſland to take in Water and other Refreſhments, I know not by what Miſtake, I ſet Sail without obſerving that he did not embark with us; neither I nor the Merchants perceiv’d it till ſour Hours after. We had the Wind on our Stern, and fo freſh a Gale, that it was not poſſible for us to tack about for him, You believe him then to be dead, ſays I? Certainly, anſwrers he. No, Captain, ſays I, look upon me, and you may know that I am Sindbad, whom you left in that deſart Iſland. I fell aſleep by a Brook, and when I awaked, I found all the Company gone. At theſe Words the Captain looked ſtedfaſtly upon me. Here Scheherazade, perceiving Day, broke oft her Story, and next Night reſumed it thus,
The Seventy Eighth Night.
THE Captain, continued Sindbad, having conſidered me attentively, knew me at laſt, embrac’d me, and ſaid, God be praiſed that Fortune has ſupplied my Defect. There are your Goods, which I always took care to preſerve, and to make the beſt of them at every Port where I touched. I reſtore them to you with the Profit I have made of them. I took them from him, and at the ſame time acknowledged how much I owed to him.
From the Iſle of Salabar we went to another, where I furniſhed my ſelf with Cloves, Cinnamon, and other Spi-ces. As we ſailed from that Iſland, we ſaw a Tortoiſe that was 20 Cubits in Length and Breadth. We obſerved alſo, a Fiſh which looked like a Cow, and gave Milk, and it Skin is lo hard that they uſually make Bucklers of it. I ſaw another which had the Shape and Colour of a Camel. In ſhort, after a long Voyage, I arrived at Balſora, and from thence returned to this City of Bagdad, with ſo much Riches that I knew not what I had. I gave a great deal to the Poor, and bought another great Eſtate to what I had already.
Thus Sindbad finiſhed the Hiſtory of his Third Voyage; gave another 100 Sequins to Hindbad, invited him to Dinner again next Day, and to hear the Story of his Fourth Voyage. Hindbad and the Company retir’d; and next Day, when they returned. Sindbad after Dinner continued he Story of his Adventures.