ES-SINDIBAD OF THE SEA 84

following day, shortly before the mid-time be-
tween sunrise and noon, a wind rose against us,
the sea became boisterous, the waves and the
wind were violent, and the water cast us upon
an island; and we were like dead men, from ex-
cess of sleeplessness and fatigue, and cold and
hunger, and fear and thirst.

We walked along the shores of that island,
and found upon it abundant herbs; so we ate
some of them to stay our departing spirits, and
to sustain us; and passed the next night upon
the shore of the island. And when the morn-
ing came, and diffused its light and shone, we
arose and walked about the island to the right
and left, and there appeared to us a building in
the distance. We therefore proceeded over the
island in the direction of that building which
we had seen from a distance, and ceased not to
proceed until we stood at its door. And while
we were standing there, lo, there came forth to
us from that door a’ party of naked men, who,
without speaking to us, seized us, and took us
to their King, and he commanded us to sit. So
we sat; and they brought to us some food, such
as we knew not, nor in our lives had we seen
the like of it; wherefore my stomach consented
not to it, and I ate none of it in comparison