On the 541st Night

Shaharzaad continued her story - "When they asked me about my country, I asked about theirs. They belonged to several races - Shakeeriyaa (Kshatriya), the most noble race who neither oppressed anyone nor made violence with anybody; the Braahman, who never drink wine. They told me that Indians were divided into 72 classes. I was astonished to hear that.

I saw an island, Kaasil, under our King, on which music was heard all night. In this sea I saw the fish 200 cubits (approximately 100 yards) long and people feared it.  The fishermen knock a wood and it flees from them. I saw another fish whose face was like that of an owl. I saw many wonderful, rarities. and strange things during that voyage.

One day, as I was standing on the shore, as it was my job, I saw a ship coming towards the shore. It anchored there, its people took out their goods on the shore. I asked the Master of the ship - "Is there anything left on the ship?" "Yes, I have some goods in my charge. The merchant got drowned in the sea so his goods are in my charge, we wanted to sell them to forward its proceed to his family in the city of Bagadaad." I asked him - "What was the name of that man?" He said - "Sindbaad of the Sea." Then I looked at him sharply and recognized him. I cried out with joy and said - "O Master, I am the owner of those goods, and I am that Sindbaad of the Sea."

On the 542nd Night

So I said - "These goods are mine and I am Sindbaad of the Sea." But the Master did not agree. I said - "Didn't you hear my story?" He said - "Because you heard me say that "I have goods whose owner was drowned, therefore you want to take them without giving their price, this is unlawful; because we have seen him drowning in the seal with many other passengers. When all passengers drowned how that one could survive?" Then I told him everything in detail, I reminded him some past events happened on the ship which other people also witnessed - "Remember when we landed on the back of a fish and you warned us to board the ship so that we could be saved from drowning the island, as it was not an island, but was the back of a large fish? God saved me and I came here. Its King is Al-Mihirjan. He has appointed me in his service. Thus these goods are mine." Then he got convinced and gave my goods on which my name was still written. I took out some of the costly presents, went to the King and told him that this is the ship on which I was the passenger. I offered him the present. He loved me very much, so he gave me a large present in return for mine.

Then I sold my things and earned a lot of profit on them. When that ship wanted to leave, I went to the King, thanked him for his kindness, and asked his permission to leave for my country. He bade me farewell, gave me an abundance of things. We then sailed and came to the city of Basaraa. We stayed there for a short time and then I came to Bagadaad and entered my house. All my friends and relations were very happy to see me back. I employed many servants, I bought many buildings, more than I had at first. This was the story of my first voyage, tomorrow I will tell you the story of my second voyage." 

Then both Sindbaad ate food. Sindbaad of the Sea gave 100 pieces of gold to the other Sindbaad the Hammaal. Sindbaad the Hammaal came back to his home. Next morning he went back again to Sindbaad of the Sea. He treated him with honor, offered food to all sitting there and then started telling the story of his second voyage. "Know O my brother, I was living a most comfortable life enjoying it fully as I told you yesterday ..."

Contd on 3rd Page