ES-SINDIBAD OF THE SEA 51

I am a human being, of the best of mankind;
and I was a merchant, and my tale is marvel-
lous, and my story extraordinary, and the cause
of my coming to this mountain and this valley
is wondrous to relate. Fear not; for thou shalt
receive of me what will rejoice thee: I have with
me abundance of diamonds, of which I will give
thee as much as will suffice thee, and every piece
that I have is better than all that would come to
thee by other means: therefore be not timorous
nor afraid.” And upon this the man thanked me,
and prayed for me, and conversed with me; and,
lo, the other merchants heard me talking with .
their companion; so they came to me. Each
merchant had thrown down a slaughtered animal ;
and when they came to us, they saluted me, and
congratulated me on my safety, and -took me
with them; and I acquainted them with my whole
story, relating to them what I had suffered on my
voyage, and telling them the cause of my arrival
in this valley. Then I gave to the owner of the
slaughtered animal to which I had attached my-
self an abundance of what I had brought with
me; and he was delighted with me, and prayed
for me, and thanked me for that; and the other
merchants said to me, “By Allah, a new life
hath been decreed thee; for no one ever arrived