91-3-2 - The Third Voyage of Sindbaad of the Sea-2 (5 of 11) :
Sindbaad on the Mountain of Apes-2

On the 548th Night

"Sindbaad continued his story - "As we landed on another island, we walked around the island until the evening fell. We slept a little and when we woke up, we saw that an enormous sized snake with a huge belly had surrounded us. It approached one of us and swallowed him up first to the shoulder, then the rest of his body and went away. We were fearing for our safety. Every death that we witnessed was more horrible than the previous one. We were happy at our escape from the black man and from drowning, but how are we going to escape this snake? 

We again started walking around the island eating fruits and drinking water from streams. We walked the whole night and came to a very high tree. We both climbed up the tree and slept upon it, I slept upon the highest of its branches. But when the night came, and it was dark, the serpent came again looking for us. It found my companion and swallowed him the same way and went its way. I remained on the tree like a dead man for the rest of the night.

Next morning I descended from the tree and wanted to commit suicide by throwing myself into the sea, but it was not easy for me to do so. So I tied a wide piece of wood upon the soles of my feet crosswise; and I tied one like it upon my left side and a similar one on my right side; and one on my head - thus I was in the midst of these pieces of wood as they had enclosed me from all sides. I bound them tightly and threw myself with the whole force upon the ground. As the evening came, the serpent came, as it was expected. It tried to swallow me but could not swallow me because of those pieces of wood. It came to me, then went away from me. I looked at it in the state of a dead man because of its terror. It tried from sunset till next morning, then it went its way. Then I loosened myself and lay down like a dead man for some time.

I again walked along the island till I came to the other end of it. I looked at the sea and saw a ship at the distance. I took a long branch of a tree and made a sign with it to its passengers. The ship came to me and took me on it. They asked me about me, so I told them everything what happened to me from the beginning to end. They sympathized with me, they clad me in good clothes, gave me food and drink. I felt a great comfort after it. Only He gave me this new life after my death, so I thanked Him. Then we came to an island called Selaahitaah, where sandalwood trees were in abundant. The Captain cast the anchor." Shaharzaad saw the morning broke so she stopped her story.

On the 549th Night

Next night Shaharzaad resumed her story - "Sindbaad continued his story - "We cast the anchor on the island named Selaahitaah and disembarked there to trade their things. The Master of the ship said to me - "You are a stranger and poor and have suffered a lot, so I wish to advise you which will be beneficial to reach you country and you will pray for me." I said - "So be it, You have my prayers." He resumed - "There was a man with us voyaging on our ship, whom we have lost and we do not know whether he is living or dead. I wish to give his things to you. Take their charge and you may trade them on this island; and we will give you something for your labor and your service and keep the remaining with us. When we reach Bagadaad, we will enquire about his family and give its proceeds to them together with the price of that which was sold. Will you take charge of that?" I said, "OK, you are very kind to me."

So he ordered the porters to get off those goods and deliver them to me on the land. When the clerk asked the Master that in which name he should register those goods (which were handed over to me); he said, "In the name of Sindbaad of the Sea, who was with us and was drowned at the island of Rukh. We did  not hear about him so we are giving his goods to this stranger to sell them. We will give him something for selling the goods, and give the remainder to his family in Bagadaad along with the price of the goods sold." The clerk said - "It is a good idea."

When I heard my name inscribed on the goods, I kept patience till the goods came and talked to the Master of the ship as what kind of man was Sindbaad. He said - "I don't know anything about him except that his name was Sindbaad the Seaman and he lived in Bagadaad. He was drowned at the island of Rukh and we have not heard anything about him since then." Then I cried - "O Captain, By Allaah, I am Sindbaad of the Sea.. I was not drowned. I also landed with other people, but I was left behind because I slept there and maybe nobody knew that where was I; so when I woke up, I did not see anybody and the ship was also gone. These are my goods. All the merchants who transport diamonds saw me on the Mountain of Diamonds."

When other people heard my story, they gathered around me. Some of them believed me, while other did not. But as I was telling my story one merchant heard me saying "the Mountain of the Diamonds", so he came to me and said to those people - "When I told you my story that how I threw the slaughtered animal, a man came up with that animal, you did not believe me? This is the man who came with that animal and then we traveled along till we came to Basaraa. You should believe him because he told me that his name is Sindbaad of the Sea, and thus all these goods are his property."

Hearing this the Master of the ship came to me and asked - "What is the mark on your goods?" I told him the marks and I related an incident which happened between him and me when I embarked the ship from Basaraa. Then he was convinced that I was Sindbaad of the Sea, he embraced me and congratulated on my coming back safely.

On the 550th Night

He thanked Allaah for my safe return and I sold my goods there and restored a great wealth out of it. And we did not stop our selling and buying at different places until we arrived at Sindh (western Indian coast). There we bought cloves and ginger and many other spices. When we were sailing through Indian sea, I saw many wonders. Among the many things, I saw the fish in the form of cow; and creature in the form of an ass; a bird that comes forth from a sea-shell, lays its eggs and hatches them upon the surface of the water, and tortoise 20 cubits wide.

Then we came to Basaraa, and I came to my home in the city of Bagadaad. My family and friends were very happy to see me again. I told them about my adventures; hearing them they congratulated on my safe arrival. I clothed the widow and orphan and I gave alms. We again started living in plentiful enjoying life's bliss. Tomorrow I will tell you the account of my fourth voyage which is more wonderful than the previous ones." Then he called for food and drink and gave me 100 Deenaar. After having food and drink I departed. Next day, as the day broke, I rose said his morning prayer and went to Sindbaad the Seaman's palace. He welcomed me and waited till others had come and then started telling the account of his fourth journey."

Contd on 6th Page