20
diverted himself with gathering the fruit, I being obliged ⟨to⟩ content myself with what he threw away. He never ⟨quitted⟩ mo a moment. When I laid down at night he lay down ⟨with⟩ me, his legs always fast about my neck; and every ⟨morning⟩ he compelled me to get up as soon as the day dawned, ⟨from⟩ which time till sunset I was forced to bear this odious load.
One day I found in my way several dry calabashes; I ⟨picked⟩ out a large one, and pressed into it some juice of grapes. I ⟨set⟩ it aside for several days, and on coming to it again, I found ⟨it⟩ to be most excellent wine.
The old man perceiving tho effect which this drink had upon me, made a sign for me to give him some of it. I gave him the calabash, and the liquor pleasing his palate, he drank the whole of it, and became completely drunk, and by degrees loosened his legs from my neck, so that I was able to throw him upon tho ground, where he soon fell into convulsions, and I had the satisfaction to witness his death.
I was extremely rejoiced to be freed from this detestable old fellow. I hastened to the sea-side, where I found the crew of a ship who had just cast anchor there in order to get fresh water. They were greatly surprised to see me, and to hear of my adventures. "You fell," said they, "into tho hands of the old man of the sea, and you are the first person who ever escaped being strangled by him.
They took mo on board their vessel, and when we came to tho harbour of a great city, one of the merchants carried me to some persons in tho town, whoso employment was to gather cocoa nuts, and recommended me to their care. He gave mo also a great bag and provisions for the journey, and said, "Go, follow them, and do as you seo them do. Be careful not to separate from them, or you will endanger your life."
I followed them, and we camo to a great forest of tall strait cocoa trees, whose bark was so perfectly smooth, that it was impossible for any man to climb up to tho hranches. When we entered the forest, wo saw a surprising number of apes, who ran up to the top of the trees with the utmost swiftness.
Tho merchants with whom I was, picked up stones and pelted the apes, who, to revenge themselves, gathered cocoa nuts and threw at us. We secured the coeoa nuts, and continued throwing stones to provoke the apes, till we possessed ourselves of as many nuts as we could carry. We then returned to the city, where the merchants gave me the value of my nuts, and advised me to do the same every day till I had got money enough to carry me home. I soon amassed a eonsiderablo sum: and taking leave of all the kind merchants, I embarked joyfully on board a vessel, and returned safe home again.
