SINDBAD, THE SAILOR. 493

were equally surprised at my ingenuity and courage. I then
opened my bag, and they declared that they had never seen
diamonds of equal lustre and size with mine. The merchants
having gathered their diamonds together, we left the place the
next morning ; and crossed the mountains until we reached a
port: we there took shipping, and proceeded to the island of
Roha. There I exchanged some of my diamonds for other
merchandise, and we proceeded to Balsora. From Balsora I
proceeded to my native city, Bagdad ; in which I lived in ease

 

had concluded the history of his second voyage ;
and having presented Hindbad with’ a hundred sequins, re-
quested him to return on the following day.

 

THE THIRD VOYAGE OF SINDBAD.

 

 

As I still continued of an active disposition, I soon resolved
upon a third voy and with a cargo of the richest merchan-
dise of Egypt, I once more took shipping at the port of Balsora,
After we had been at sea a few weeks, we were overtaken by a
dreadful storm. We were obliged at last to cast anchor neat
an island which the captain had endeavoured to avoid: for he
assured us that this and several other neighbouring islands
were inhabited by pigmy savages, covered with hair, who would
speedily attack us in great numbers. Very soon, an innumerable
multitude of frightful savages, about two feet high, boarded the
ship. Resistance was useless, They took down our sails, cut
our cable, towed the ship to land, and made us all go on shore.
We went towards the interior of the island, and discovered a
large building. It was a lofty palace, having a gate of ebony,
which was pushed open, and soondiscovered anapartment in which
were human bones and roasting-spits. Presently there appeared