he entrance, pronounced the words, "Open,
Sesame!" and the door opened. He entered the cavern, and by the
condition he found things in, judged that nobody had been there since
the captain had fetched the goods for his shop. From this time he
believed he was the only person in the world who had the secret of
opening the cave, and that all the treasure was at his sole disposal.
He put as much gold into his saddle-bag as his horse would carry, and
returned to town. Some years later he carried his son to the cave, and
taught him the secret, which he handed down to his posterity, who,
using their good fortune with moderation, lived in great honor and
splendor.

[Illustration]

THE STORY OF SINDBAD THE SAILOR [50]

In the reign of the same caliph, Haroun al Raschid, of whom we have
already heard, there lived at Bagdad a poor porter, called Hindbad.
One day, when the weather was excessively hot, he was employed to
carry a heavy burden from one end of the town to the other. Being much
fatigued, he took off his load, and sat upon it, near a large mansion.

He was much pleased that he stopped at this place, for the agreeable
smell of wood of aloes and of pastils, that came from the house,
mixing with the scent of the rose water, completely perfumed and
embalmed the air. Besides, he heard from within a concert of
instrumental music, accompanied with the harmonious notes of
nightingales and other birds. This charming melody, and the smell of
several sorts of savory dishes, made the porter conclude there was a
feast, with great rejoicings within. His business seldom leading him
that way, he knew not to whom the mansion belonged; but he went to
some of the servants, whom he saw standing at the gate in magnificent
apparel, and asked the name of the proprietor.

"How," replied one of them, "do you live in Bagdad, and know not that
this is the house of Sindbad the sailor, that famous voyager, who has
sailed round the world?"

[Footnote 50: These voyages of Sindbad are among the most curious of
the tales contained in the Arabian Nights. They deserve a passing word
of remark. Mr. Richard Hole of Exeter, about a century since, wrote a
treatise upon them. He shows that while they must be regarded in many
respects as fabulous, yet that they illustrate the early stories
prevalent about strange countries. The earlier writers, as Plutarch,
Aelian, Diodorus Siculus, and Pliny, mention the incidents related in
these tales, as also