apes.
Having filled it, I left it for several days, and at length found that
it became excellent wine. I drank of this, and for a while forgot my
sorrows, so that I began to sing with cheerfulness. The old man made me
give him the calabash, and liking the flavor of the wine, he drank it
off, soon became intoxicated, fell from my shoulders, and, died in
convulsions. I hastened to the seaside, and presently found the crew of
a ship. They told me I had fallen into the hands of the Old Man of the
Sea, and was the first person that had ever escaped. I sailed with them,
and the captain, when we landed, took me to some persons whose
employment was to gather cocoanuts. We all took up stones and pelted the
monkeys that were at the very top of the cocoanut trees, and these
animals in return pelted us with cocoanuts. When we had obtained as
many as we could carry, we returned to the town. I soon obtained a
considerable sum by the cocoanuts I thus gathered, and at length sailed
for my native land.

THE SIXTH VOYAGE

[Illustration]

At the expiration of another year, I prepared for a sixth voyage. This
proved very long and unfortunate, for the pilot lost his course and knew
not where to steer. At length he told us we must inevitably be dashed to
pieces against a rock, which we were fast approaching. In a few moments
the vessel was a complete wreck. We saved our lives, our provisions, and
our goods.

The shore on which we were cast was at the foot of a mountain which it
was impossible to climb, so that I shortly beheld my companions die one
after another. There was a frightful cavern in the rock, through which
flowed a river. To this, in a fit of desperation, I resolved to trust
myself. I went to work and made a long raft. I loaded it with bales of
rich stuffs, and large pieces of rock crystal, of which the mountain was
in a great measure formed. I went on board the raft, and the current
carried me along. I was carried in darkness during many days, and at
last fell asleep. When I awoke, I found myself in a pleasant country.
My raft was tied up and some blacks, who were near me, said that they
had found me floating in the river which waters their land. They took me
to their King, and carefully conducted my cargo with me. When we came to
the city of Serindib, I related my story to the monarch, who ordered it
to be written in letters of gold. I presented the King with some of the
most beautiful pieces of rock crystal, and entreat