Sinbad the Sailor he 223

came trooping about us, much astonished to see me; but they
were much more surprised when I told them my story. Yet
' they did not so much admire my stratagem to save myself as my
courage to attempt it.
‘They took me to the place where they were staying all together,
and there having opened my bag, they were surprised at the large-
ness of my diamonds, and confessed that in all the courts where
they had been they had never seen any that came near them. I
prayed the merchant to whom the nest belonged (for every merchant
had his own), to take as many for his share.as he pleased. He
contented himself with one, and that too the least of them ; and
when I pressed him to take nore, without fear of doing me any
injury, ‘No, said he, ‘I am. very ‘well satisfied with this, which is
valuable enough to save me:the trouble of making any more voyages
to raise as great a fortune as I desire.’ os
I spent the night with those merchants, to whom I told my
story a second time, for the satisfaction of those who had not heard
-it,. I could not moderate my joy when I found myself delivered
from the danger. I have mentioned: I thought I was in a dream,
and could scarcely believe myself to be out of danger.
‘The merchants had thrown their pieces of meat into the valley
_ for several days, and each of them being satisfied with the diamonds
that had fallen to his lot, we left the place next morning all together,
and travelled near high mountains, where there were serpents of a
prodigious length, which we liad the good fortune to escape. We
took ship at the nearest port and came to the Isle of Roha, where
the trees grow that yield camphor. This tree'is so large, and its
branches so thick, that a hundred men may easily sit under its
_ shade. The juice of which the camphor is made runs out from a
hole bored in the upper part of the tree, is received in a vessel,
where it grows thick, and becomes what we call camphor; and the
juice thus drawn out the tree withers and. dies. :
Q