ES-SINDIBAD OF THE SEA 113

exceedingly, and my heart was strengthened. I
then returned through that perforation into the
cavern, and removed all the food and water
that was in it, that I had spared. I also’ took
the clothes of the dead, and clad myself in
some of them, in addition to those I had on
me; and I took abundance of the things that
were on the dead, consisting of varieties of
necklaces and jewels, long necklaces of pearls,
ornaments of silver and gold set with various
minerals, and rarities; and, having tied up some
clothes of the dead in apparel of my own, I
went forth from the perforation to the back of
the mountain, and stood upon the shore of the
sea. Every day I entered the cavern, and ex-
plored it; and whenever they buried a person
alive, I took the food and water, and killed
that person, whether male or female; after
which I went forth from the perforation, and
sat upon the shore of the sea, to wait for relief
from God (whose name be exalted!), by means
of a ship passing by me. And I removed from
that cavern all the ornaments that I found, and
tied them up in the clothes of the dead.

I ceased not to remain in this state for a
length of time; and afterwards, as' I was sit-
ting, one day, upon the shore of the sea, medi-