Page:Voyages and travels of Sindbad the sailor (2).pdf/22

 many unfortunate persons must have perished there. To climb this mountain, which almost readied the skies, was impossible; for it was formed of smooth granite, mixed with rocks of the finest crystal, which hung over us, and seemed every instant ready to fall upon our heads. In the midst of the mountain was a monstrous dark cavern into which ran a broad black river, the roaring of whose waves stunned us with the sound.

In this wretched place we continued till my comrades died one after the other. I survived them all, and my stock of food being exhausted, I suddenly made a desperate resolution to trust myself to the current of the black river.

I made a float, and I loaded it with bales of rich stuffs, and fastening my cargo with ropes, I went on board my float with two little oars, and left it to the mercy of the current.

As soon as I was in the cavern, I lost all light. I floated for some days, and once found the arch so low that it nearly broke my head. At length a pleasing sleep seized upon me; when I awoke, I found myself in a vast country, at the brink of a river, where my float was tied up, amidst a great number of negroes. I exclaimed aloud, “Alla be praised!” and ouo of the blacks who understood Arabic, came towards me and said, “Brother, we came hither to-day to dig canals from this river, which comes out of yonder mountain to water our fields. when we found you floating in this manner. Pray inform us whence you came.”

I begged of them to give me food, which they did, and after I had appeased my hunger, I gave them a true account of all that had befallen me. They requested I would go with them to their king, and they placed me on a fine horse, bringing my cargo and float after me.

We marched tlins till we came to Serindib, for it was in that island I landed. I prostrated myself before the monarch, to whom I related my story, with which he was so surprised and pleased, that he ordered it to be written in letters of gold, and laid up among the archives of the kingdom. He then ordered one of his officers to take care of me, by whom I was conducted to the apartments provided for me, where I found my goods already placed in safety.

When I paid my next visit to the king, I presented him with the choicest pieces of my rock crystal, and then prayed him to allow me to return to my own country, which request he granted, and sent by me a letter and a brilliant preseut to the sovereign, the Caliph Haroun Alraschid, with many rich gifts for myself, I returned to Bagdad, where my first care was to present myself at the throne of the Caliph, who received the letter and present of the king of Serendib with the greatest