Page:Voyages and travels of Sindbad the sailor (1).pdf/15

15 senses, and when they spoke to me they knew not what they ; I threw away the herbs, resolving never to taste them.

I soon understood that the savages had given us the herbs in to rob us of our senses, to make us very fat, and then  us. Accordingly I saw the cannibals eat my comrades after another; but I, instead of growing fat, grew more  daily, and I fell into a languishing disorder which proved my safety, for the savages did not think me fit to be eaten. They now entirely neglected me, and one day when they were into the woods, I determined to make my escape.

I took a contrary way to that the savages were gone, and all night. I travelled in this manner during seven, avoiding every place where I saw habitations that to belong to savages, and living on fruit and cocoa , and on the eighth day I came in sight of the sea shore, where I beheld a number of white persons gathering pepper.

I approached them without fear, and as I drew near they to meet me, and questioned me in Arabic as to who I was  whence I came: I speedily satisfied their curiosity, by  them an account of my shipwreck and my escape from  savage negroes. In a few days I recovered my strength, after they had gathered a sufficient quantity of pepper, I  with them to the island from whence they came. They me to their king, who was a good prince; he listened  my adventures, gave me clothes and commanded me to be  care of.

I esteemed myself very fortunate in the kind treatment I received from this generous monarch and his whole court.

It appeared to me very extraordinary to see that when the king and his nobles went a hunting, they rode their horses without bridle or saddle. I could not forbear to question his majesty upon the reason of his avoiding the use of bridles and. The king heard me with a look of surprise, and then me he was quite at a loss to know what I meant, by the  called saddle and bridle. Upon this I went to a very workman, and gave him the model of the stock of a, and under my constant superintendence he made it very well. I covered it myself with embroidered velvet; I then went to another mechanic, for whom I drew the pattern of a bridle and stirrups. I put them upon one of the king's horses and presented him to his majesty, who was so delighted, that mounted immediately, and rode about the grounds belonging  the palace almost the whole of the day, while his ministers, the principal officers of the court, and others of the nobility,  round me, entreating that I would furnish them. I such magnificent presents for my saddles and bridles,  I presently grew rich.