246 APPENDIX

planks of the ship, and caught hold of it. Then I got
upon it and bestrode it, and the waves and the wind
sported with me upon the face of the water, while I
kept grasping that plank. The waves carried me up
and down, and I was in a state of the most violent
distress, and fear, and hunger, and thirst. I began to
blame myself for that which I had done; my soul was
weary after enjoying ease, and I said to myself, “O
Sindibad of the Sea, thou repentedst not; and every
time thou sufferest troubles and fatigue, yet repentest
not of voyaging upon the sea; and if thou sayest that
thou repentest, thou liest: suffer then all that thou
meetest with; for thou deservest all that happeneth to
thee. All this,’ I added, “is decreed to befall me by
God (whose name be exalted!), that I may relinquish my
covetousness ; and this that I suffer is occasioned by my
covetousness; for I had abundant wealth.” Then I
returned to my reason, and said, “ Verily, in this voyage,
I turn unto God (whose name be exalted !), sincerely
repenting of travel, and I will never again in my life
mention it with my tongue nor in my mind.” I ceased
not to humble myself before God (whose name be
exalted !), and to weep; and afterwards I reflected in
my mind upon my former state of ease, and happiness,
and sport, and merriment, and joy. Thus I continued
the first day, and the second day, until I landed upon a
great island, wherein were many trees and rivers. So
I ate of the fruits of those trees, and drank of the water
of those rivers, until I was revived, and my soul re-
turned to me, and my energy was strengthened, and my
bosom expanded.