ES-SINDIBAD OF THE SEA 169

I went from Baghdéd to the sea, and embarked
in a ship, and we proceeded days and nights,
by the aid of God (whose name be exalted !),
until we arrived at the island of Sarandeeb, and
with us were many merchants. As soon as we
arrived, we landed at the city, and I took the
present and the letter, and went in with them
to the King, and kissed the ground before him.
And. when he saw me, he said, “A friendly
welcome to thee, O Sindibéd! By Allah the
Great, we have longed to see thee, and praise
be to God who hath shown us thy face a
second time!” Then he took me by my hand,
and seated me by his side, welcoming me, and
treating me with familiar kindness, and he re-
joiced greatly. He began to converse with me,
and addressed me with courtesy, and _ said,
“What was the cause of thy coming to us, O
Sindibéd?” So I kissed his hand, and thanked
him, and answered him, “O my lord, I have
brought thee a present and a letter from my
master the Khaleefeh Haroon Er-Rasheed.” I
then offered to him the present and the letter,
and he read the letter, and rejoiced at it greatly.
The present was a horse worth ten thousand
pieces of gold, with its saddle adorned with
gold set with jewels; and a book, and a sump-