254 onle =i _The Sixth Voyage of

I be drowned I lose nothing, but only change one kind of death for
another; and if I get out of this fatal place, I shall not only avoid
the sad fate of my comrades, but perhaps find some new occasion of
enriching myself, Who knows but fortune waits, upon my getting off
this dangerous shelf, to compensate my shipwreck with interest ??

I immediately went to work on a raft. I made it of large pieces
of timber and cables, for I had choice of them, and tied them
together so strongly that I had made a very solid little raft. When
I had finished it I loaded it with some bales of rubies, emeralds,
ambergris, rock-crystal, and rich stuffs. Having balanced all my
cargo exactly and fastened it well to the raft, I went on board it
with two little oars that I had made, and, leaving it to the course of
the river, I resigned myself to the will of God.

As soon as I came into the cave I lost all light, and the stream
carried me I knew not whither. Thus I floated for some days in per-
fect darkness, and once found the arch so low that it well nigh broke
my head, which made me very cautious afterwards to avoid the. like
danger. All this while I ate nothing but what was just necessary to
support nature ; yet, notwithstanding this frugality, all my provisions
were spent. : Then a pleasing sleep fell upon me. I cannot tell
how long it continued; but when I awoke, I was surprised to find
myself in the middle of a vast country, at the bank of a river, where
my raft was. tied, amidst a great number of negroes. I got up as
soon as I saw them and saluted ‘them. They spoke to me, but I did
not understand their language. I was so transported with joy that I
knew not whether I.was asleep or awake ; but being persuaded that I
- was not asleep, I recited the following words in Arabic aloud: ‘Call
upon the Almighty, he will help thee; thou needest not perplex —
thyself about anything else; shut thy eyes, and while thou art asleep, ©
God will change thy bad fortune into good. : 5

One of the blacks, who. understood Arabic, hearing me speak
; thus, came towards me and said, ‘Brother, be not surprised to see