112 THE FOURTH VOYAGE OF

when I saw it, I advanced towards it; and the
nearer I approached to it, the larger did the
light from it appear to me. So upon this I
was convinced that it was a hole in that
cavern, communicating with the open country ;
and JI said within myself, “There must be
some cause for this: either it is a second
mouth, like that from which they let me
down, or it is a fissure in this place.” I
meditated in my. mind a while, and advanced
towards the light; and, lo, it was a perforation
in the back of that mountain, which the wild
beasts had made, and through which they
entered this place; and they ate of the dead
bodies until they were satiated, and went forth
through this perforation. When I saw it,
therefore, my mind was quieted, my soul was
tranquillised, and my heart was at ease; I
made sure of life after death, and ‘became as
in a dream. Then I managed to force my
way through that perforation, and found my-
self on the shore of the sea, upon a great
mountain, which formed a barrier between the
sea on the one side, and the island and city
on the other, and to which no one could
gain access. So I praised God (whose name
be exalted!), and thanked Him, and rejoiced