54 THE SECOND VOYAGE OF

flowing upon its head, entereth its eyes, so that
it becometh blind. Then it lieth down upon
the shore, and the rukh’ cometh to it, and carrieth
it off [with the elephant] in its talons to its
young ones, and feedeth them with it and with
that which is upon its horn, [namely the ele-
phant]. I saw also in that island abundance
of the buffalo-kind, the like of which existeth~
not among us.

The valley before mentioned containeth a great.
quantity of diamonds such as I carried off and
hid in my pockets. For these the people gave
me in exchange goods and commodities belonging
to them; and they conveyed them for me, giving
me likewise pieces of silver and pieces of gold;
and I ceased not to proceed with them, amusing
myself with the sight of different countries, and
of what God hath created from valley to valley
and from city to city, we, in our way, selling
and buying, until we arrived at the city of El-
Basrah. We remained there a few days, and
then I came to the city of Baghdad, the Abode
of Peace, and came to my quarter, and entered
my house, bringing with me a great quantity
of diamonds, and money and commodities and
goods in abundance. I met my family and re-
lations, bestowed alms and gifts, made presents