SINDBAD, THE SAILOR. 149

had told the merchants and seamen how I came to be on the
island, they behaved very kindly to me.

We remained a considerable time at sea, and touched at seve-
ral islands ; at length we landed on that of Salahat, where the
sandal-wood is cultivated, which is much used in medicine. We
entered the port and cast anchor, and the merchants began to
unload their goods, to sell or exchange them. One day the cap-
tain called me to him, and said, “ Brother, I have in my posses-
sion some goods which belonged to a merchant, who was for
some time on board my ship. As this merchant is dead, I am
going to have them valued, that I may render some account of
them to his heirs, should I ever meet with them.” The bales he
was speaking of were already upon deck. He shewed them me,
saying, “ These are the goods in question ; 1 wish you to take
charge of them, and negotiate them, on the condition of re-
ceiving what is usually due for your trouble.” I consented, and
thanked him for the opportunity he afforded me of employing
myself,

On looking earnestly at the captain, I recognised him to be
the very same person who, in my second voyage, had left me on
the island. “ Captain,’ said I to him, “was the merchant to
whom these things belonged called Sindbad?” “Yes,” returned
he, “that was his name ; he was from Bagdad, and embarked on
board my vessel at Balsora. One day, when we went ashore on
an island for fresh water, 1 know not by what mistake he was
left behind ; none of the crew perceived it till four hours after,
when the wind blew so fresh against us, that it was impossible
to return.” “You believe him to be dead?” resumed I. “ Most
assuredly,” replied the captain. “Well then,” said I, “open
your eyes and know that the same Sindbad whom you left in the
desert island is now before you. I fell asleep on the banks of a
little stream, and when I awoke I perceived that the ship was
gone.”

At these words, the captain fixed his eyes on me very atten-
tively, and at last recollected me. “God be praised!” cried he.
“Here are your goods, which I have preserved with care, and
always had valued at every port I stopped at. I return them to
you with the profit I have made on them.”

At length, after a long vnyage, we arrived at Balsora, from