12 THE FIRST VOYAGE OF

the sea for many days and nights. We had
passed by island after island, and from sea to
sea, and from land to land; and in every place
by which we passed we sold and bought, and
exchanged merchandise. We continued our voy-
age until we arrived at an island like one of
the gardens of Paradise, and at that island the
master of the ship brought her to anchor with
us. He cast the anchor, and put forth the
landing-plank, and all who were in the ship
landed upon that island. They had prepared for
themselves fire-pots, and they lighted the fires in
them ; and their occupations were various: some
cooked; others washed; and others amused them-
selves. JI was among those who were amusing
themselves upon the shores of the island, and
the passengers were assembled to eat and drink
and play and sport. But while we were thus
engaged, lo, the master of the ship, standing
upon its side, called out with his loudest voice,
“O ye passengers, whom may God preserve!
come up quickly into the ship, hasten to embark,
and leave your merchandise, and flee for your
lives, and save yourselves from destruction; for
this apparent island, upon which ye are, is not
really an island, but it is a great fish that hath
become stationary in the midst of the sea, and