AO ¥¥ Prince Beder and

so great, that I ought to remain with you all my life to testify
my gratitude; but since your majesty sets no limits to your
generosity, I entreat you to grant me one of your ships to trans-
port me to Persia, where I fear my absence, which has been but
too long, may have occasioned some disorder, and that the queen
my mother, from whom I concealed my departure, may be dead
of grief, under the uncertainty whether I am alive or dead.’

The king granted what he desired with the best grace
imaginable, and immediately gave orders for equipping one of his
largest ships, and the best sailer in his numerous fleet. The
ship was soon furnished with all its crew, provisions, and am-
munition; and as soon as ‘the wind, became fair, King Beder
embarked, after having taken leave of the dene, and thanked him
for all his favours.

The ship sailed before the wind for ten days: on the eleventh
day the wind changed, and becoming very violent, there followed a
furious tempest.. The ship was not only driven out of its course,
but so violently tossed, that all its masts went by the board ; and
driving along at the pleasure of the wind, it at length struck
against a rock and split open.

The greater part of the people were instantly drowned. Some
few were saved by swimming, and others by getting on pieces
of the wreck. King Beder was among the latter, and, after
having been tossed about for some time by the waves and currents,
he at length perceived himself near the shore, and not far from
a city that seemed large. He exerted his remaining strength
to reach the land, ‘and was. at length fortunate to come so
near as to be able to touch the ground with his feet. He imme-
diately abandoned his piece of wood, which had been of so great
service to him ; but when he came near the shore he was greatly
surprised to see horses, camels, mules, asses, oxen, cows, bulls, and:
other animals crowding to the shore to oppose his landing. He