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33 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 prayed the king to allow me to return to my country, which he granted in the most obliging and and most 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 charged me with a letter for Caliph Haroun Alrachid.

The ship set sail, and after a long and very successful voyage we landed at Balsora, from whence I went to Bagdad, where the first thing I did was to acquit myself of my commission.

I took the king of Serendib a letter, and went to present myself at the gate of the Commander of the Faithful followed by the beautiful 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 Caliph. 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 said to me. "The wisdom of that king appears in his letter, and after what you tell me. I must confess, that his wisdom is worthy of his people, and his people deserve so wise a prince" Having spoke thus, he discharged me, and sent me home with a rich present.

The Seventh Voyage of Sindbad the Sailor.

returned from my sixth voyage I absolutely laid aside all my thoughts of travelling any further. For besides that my years did now require rest, I was resolved no more to expose myself to such risks as I had run. So that I thought of nothing but to pass the rest of my days in quiet. One day as I was treating a parcel of my friends,