36 THE SECOND VOYAGE OF

from sea to sea, and from island to island; and
at every place where we cast anchor, we met the
merchants and the grandees, and the sellers and
buyers, and we sold and bought, and exchanged
goods. Thus we continued to do until destiny
conveyed us to a beautiful island, abounding with
trees bearing ripe fruits, where flowers diffused
their fragrance, with birds warbling, and pure
rivers: but there was not in it an inhabitant,
nor a blower of a fire. The master anchored our
vessel at that island, and the merchants with the
other passengers landed there, to amuse them-
selves with the sight of its trees, and to extol
the perfection of God, the One, the Omnipotent,
and to wonder at the power of the Almighty
King. I also landed upon the island with the
rest, and sat by a spring of pure water among
the trees. I had with me some food, and I sat
in that place eating what God (whose name be
exalted !) had allotted me. The zephyr was sweet
tous in that place, and the time was pleasant to
me ; so slumber overcame me, and I reposed there,
and became immersed in sleep, enjoying that
sweet zephyr, and the fragrant gales. I then
arose, and found not in the place a human being
nor a Jinnee. The vessel had gone with the
passengers, and not one of them remembered