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91-1-2 -
The First Voyage of Sindbaad of the Sea
On
the 541st Night
Shaharzaad continued her story - "When the 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 was drowned in the sea so his goods are in my charge, we want 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 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 ...
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