as I used to do the kings of
the Indies; that is to say, I prostrated myself at his feet. The
prince ordered me to rise, received me with an obliging air, and made
me sit down near him.

I concealed nothing from the king, but related to him all that I have
told you. At last my raft was brought in, and the bales opened in his
presence: he admired the quantity of wood of aloes and ambergris; but,
above all, the rubies and emeralds, for he had none in his treasury
that equaled them.

Observing that he looked on my jewels with pleasure, and viewed the
most remarkable among them, one after another, I fell prostrate at his
feet, and took the liberty to say to him, "Sire, not only my person is
at your majesty's service, but the cargo of the raft, and I would beg
of you to dispose of it as your own."

He answered me with a smile, "Sindbad, I will take nothing of yours;
far from lessening your wealth, I design to augment it, and will not
let you quit my dominions without marks of my liberality."

He then charged one of his officers to take care of me, and ordered
people to serve me at his own expense. The officer was very faithful
in the execution of his commission, and caused all the goods to be
carried to the lodgings provided for me.

I went every day at a set hour to make my court to the king, and spent
the rest of my time in viewing the city, and what was most worthy of
notice.

The capital of Serendib stands at the end of a fine valley, in the
middle of the island, encompassed by high mountains. They are seen
three days' sail off at sea. Rubies and several sorts of minerals
abound. All kinds of rare plants and trees grow there, especially
cedars and coconut. There is also a pearl fishery in the mouth of its
principal river, and in some of its valleys are found diamonds. I
made, by way of devotion, a pilgrimage to the place where Adam was
confined after his banishment from Paradise, and had the curiosity to
go to the top of the mountain.

When I returned to the city I prayed the king to allow me to return to
my own country, and he granted me permission in the most obliging and
honorable manner. He would force a rich present upon me; and at the
same time he charged me with a letter for the Commander of the
Faithful, our sovereign, saying to me, "I pray you give this present
from me, and this letter, to the Caliph Haroun al Raschid, and assure
him of my friendship."

The letter from the King of Serendib was written