Know, O my brothers, my friends, and my companions, that I remained for some time after my return from my fifth voyage in great comfort and satisfaction, merrymaking and entertainment, joy and enjoyment. I forgot what I had suffered, seeing the great wealth and profit I had made. Then one day, as I sat making merry and enjoying myself with my friends, a company of merchants came to me. Their appearance told of travel, and they spoke to me of voyages and adventures and the great riches that could be made. At that moment, I remembered the joy of returning home from abroad, of seeing my native land again, and of being reunited with my family and friends. My soul yearned for travel and trade. Driven by Fate and Fortune, I resolved to undertake another voyage. I bought fine and costly merchandise suitable for foreign trade, made it into bales, and journeyed from Baghdad to Bassorah. There I found a great ship ready for sea, full of merchants and nobles who carried goods of value. I loaded my bales aboard. We left Bassorah in safety and good spirits under the protection of the King, the Preserver.—

When it was the Five Hundred and Sixties night

All the merchants and sailors gathered around the captain and asked him, "Master, what is the matter?" The day had turned to night before their eyes. He answered, "Know, all of you, that we have strayed from our course and left the sea whose ways we know. We have come into a sea whose ways I do not know. Unless Allah grants us a means of escape, we are all dead men. Therefore, I beg you all to pray to the Most High to deliver us from this strait. Perhaps among you is someone righteous whose prayers the Lord will accept."

He rose and climbed the mast to see if there was any escape from this danger. He wanted to loosen the sails, but the wind doubled in force, whirled the ship round three times, and drove her backward. The rudder broke, and the ship fell toward a high mountain. The captain came down from the mast, saying, "There is no power and no strength save in Allah, the Glorious, the Great. No man can prevent what is decreed by fate! By God, we have come to a place of certain destruction. There is no way of escape, and none of us can be saved!"

We all wept over ourselves and bade one another farewell, for our days had come to an end and we had lost all hope of life. Soon the ship struck the mountain and broke up. Everything aboard was plunged into the sea. Some merchants drowned, but others managed to reach the shore and save themselves on the mountain. I was among those who escaped. When we got ashore, we found a great island—or rather a peninsula—whose base was covered with the wreckage of ships and goods cast up by the sea from broken vessels whose passengers had drowned. The quantity was beyond reckoning.

I climbed the cliffs toward the interior of the island and walked inland until I came to a stream of fresh water that welled up at the foot of the mountains and disappeared beneath the hills on the opposite side. The other passengers went over the mountains into the inner regions and, spreading out, were amazed at what they saw. They became like madmen at the sight of the wealth and treasures scattered on the shores. As for me, I looked into the bed of the stream and saw within it great quantities of rubies and magnificent pearls, and all kinds of jewels and precious stones that lay like gravel in the beds of the small streams running through the fields. The sand sparkled and glittered with gems and precious ores.

Moreover, we found in the island an abundance of the finest lign aloes, both Chinese and Comorin. There was also a spring of crude ambergris that flowed like resin over the stream banks because of the great heat of the sun. It ran down to the seashore, where the great sea creatures came up and swallowed it, then returned to the sea. But the ambergris burned in their bellies, so they cast it up again, and it congealed on the surface of the water. Its colour and quantity changed, and finally the waves cast it ashore. travellers and merchants who knew of it collected it and sold it. As for the raw ambergris that was not swallowed, it flowed over the channel and congealed on the banks. When the sun shone on it, it melted and scented the whole valley with a musk-like fragrance. When the sun left it, it congealed again. But no one could reach the place where the crude ambergris was because the mountains enclosed the island on all sides and could not be climbed by any man.

We continued to explore the island, marvelling at the wonderful works of Allah and the riches we found there. But we were deeply troubled about our own situation and worried about our prospects. We had picked up only a small amount of food from the wreck and rationed it carefully, eating only once every day or two, fearing it would run out and we would die of starvation. Moreover, we were weakened by sickness from the sea and poor diet, and my companions began to die, one after another, until only a few of us remained. We washed and wrapped each dead man in clothes and linen from the wreck, and soon the rest of my companions perished one by one.

Finally, I alone remained on the island with only a little food left—I who had once had so much! I wept over myself, saying, "Would that I had died before my companions, and they had washed and buried me! It would have been better than to die alone with none to wash me, shroud me, or bury me. But there is no power and no strength save in Allah, the Glorious, the Great!"—

When it was the Five Hundred and Sixty first night

Then I blamed myself bitterly for my foolishness in leaving my native land and undertaking travel again, after all I had suffered in my first five voyages. Not one of them had passed without more horrible perils and more terrible hardships than the one before. Now I had no hope of escape from my present distress. I repented of my folly and lamented, especially because I had no need of money. I had enough and more than enough—I could not spend what I had, not even half of it, in all my life.

However, after a while, Allah sent me an idea, and I said to myself, "By God, this stream must have a beginning and an end. It must flow somewhere, and perhaps its course leads to some inhabited place. My best plan is to make a small boat large enough to sit in. I will build it, launch it on the river, embark in it, and follow the stream. If I escape, I escape by God's will. If I perish, it is better to die in the river than here."

Then, sighing for myself, I began collecting pieces of Chinese and Comorin aloes wood and bound them together with ropes from the wreckage. I selected straight planks of even size from the broken ships and fixed them firmly to the aloes wood, making a boat raft a little narrower than the channel of the stream. I tied it tightly and securely, as though it were nailed. Then I loaded it with precious goods and ores, jewels, perfect pearls that were like gravel, and the best of the crude and pure ambergris, along with what I had collected on the island and what remained of my food and wild herbs. Finally, I lashed a piece of wood on either side to serve me as oars, launched it, embarked, and did as the poet says:

"Fly, fly with life when evils threaten: Leave the house to tell of its builder's fate! Land after land will you seek and find But no other life on your wish shall wait: Fret not your soul in your thoughts of night; All woes shall end, sooner or late. Whoever is born in one land to die, There and only there shall gang his gait: Nor trust great things to another people, Soul has only soul for confederate"

My boat raft drifted with the stream as I pondered what would become of me. The drifting did not stop until I came to the place where the stream disappeared beneath the mountain. I rowed my vessel into that place, which was intensely dark. The current carried the raft down the underground channel. The thin stream bore me through a narrow tunnel where the raft touched either side and my head rubbed against the roof. There was no way to turn back. Then I blamed myself for risking my life so recklessly, and I said, "If this passage grows any narrower, the raft will hardly pass, and I cannot turn back. So I will inevitably perish in this place."

I threw myself flat on the raft because of the narrowness of the channel, while the stream carried me along without stopping. I could not tell night from day because of the intense darkness that surrounded me and my terror at what might happen. In this condition, my course continued down the channel, which grew wider at times and narrower at others. Worn out by the darkness that could be felt, I fell asleep as I lay prone on the raft. I slept without knowing if the time was long or short.

When I awoke at last, I found myself in the light of heaven. Opening my eyes, I saw that the raft had reached the widest part of the stream and was moored to an island in the midst of a number of Indians and Abyssinians. As soon as these people saw that I was awake, they approached me and spoke to me in their speech. I did not understand what they said and thought this was a dream and a vision brought on by my stress and sorrow. But I was delighted at my escape from the river.

When they saw that I did not understand them and made no answer, one of them came forward and said to me in Arabic, "Peace be with you, O my brother! Who are you and from where did you come? How did you enter this river and what kind of land lies behind those mountains? We have never known anyone to come from that place."

I said, "And upon you be peace, and may Allah's mercy and blessings be upon you! Who are you and what country is this?"

"O my brother," he answered, "we are farmers and tillers of the soil who came out to water our fields and plantations. When we found you asleep on this raft, we seized it and made it fast by us so that you could awake at your leisure. Now tell us how you came here."

I answered, "For Allah's sake, O my lord, before I speak, please give me something to eat. I am starving, and then ask me whatever you wish."

He hastened to bring me food, and I ate my fill until I was refreshed. My fear left me as my belly was full, and I felt my life returning to me. Then I rendered thanks to the Most High for both great and small mercies. I was glad to be out of the river and rejoiced to be among them. I told them all my adventures from beginning to end, especially my troubles in the narrow channel.—

When it was the Five Hundred and Sixty second night

They took me, along with the raft boat and its cargo of money and merchandise, jewels, minerals, and gold, and brought me to their King, who was the King of Sarandib. They told him what had happened. He greeted me and bade me welcome. Through the man who had spoken Arabic, he questioned me about my condition and adventures, and I repeated my story from beginning to end. He marvelled exceedingly and rejoiced at my deliverance. I rose and brought from the raft great stores of precious ores, jewels, ambergris, and lign aloes, which I presented to the King. He accepted them and treated me with the utmost honour, giving me lodging in his own palace.

I consorted with the chief of the islanders, and they paid me the utmost respect. I did not leave the royal palace. The Island of Sarandib lies under the equinoctial line, with night and day both lasting twelve hours. It measures eighty leagues in length and thirty in breadth. Its width is bounded by a lofty mountain and a deep valley. The mountain is visible from three days' journey away and contains many kinds of rubies and other minerals, and spice trees of all sorts. The surface is covered with emery used for cutting and polishing gems. Diamonds are found in its rivers, and pearls in its valleys. I ascended that mountain and delighted myself with viewing its marvels, which are indescribable. Afterward, I returned to the King.

Then all the travellers and merchants who came to the place questioned me about the affairs of my native land and about the Caliph Harun al-Rashid and his rule. I told them of him and of what he was renowned for, and they praised him because of this. In turn, I questioned them about the manners and customs of their own countries and gained the knowledge I desired.

One day, the King himself asked me about the customs and form of government of my country. I acquainted him with the circumstances of the Caliph's rule in Baghdad and the justice of his administration. The King marvelled at my account of his arrangements and said, "By God, the Caliph's ordinances are indeed wise, and his customs are praiseworthy. You have made me love him by what you have told me. Indeed, I have a mind to make him a present and send it by you."

I said, "I hear and obey, O my lord. I will bear your gift to him and inform him that you are his sincere lover and true friend."

I remained with the King in great honour, regard, and consideration for a long time. Then one day, as I sat in his palace, I heard news of a company of merchants who were fitting out a ship for Bassorah. I said to myself, "I cannot do better than voyage with these men." So I rose without delay and kissed the King's hand. I told him of my longing to set out with the merchants, saying that I yearned for a sight of my people and my native land.

He said, "You are your own master. But if it is your will to remain with us, then by all means, for your company gladdens us."

"By God, O my lord," I answered, "you have overwhelmed me with your favours and kindness, but I long to see my friends, family, and native country."

When he heard this, he summoned the merchants and entrusted me to their care, paying my freight and passage money. Then he bestowed great riches upon me from his treasuries and charged me with a magnificent present for the Caliph Harun al-Rashid. Moreover, he gave me a sealed letter, saying, "Carry this with your own hand to the Commander of the Faithful and give him many greetings from me!"

"I hear and obey," I replied.

The letter was written on the skin of the Khawi, which is finer than parchment and yellow in colour, with ink of ultramarine. The contents were as follows: "Peace be with you from the King of al-Hind, before whom are a thousand elephants, and upon whose palace walls are a thousand jewels. But after praise to the Lord and blessings upon His Prophet: We send you a small gift, which we hope you will be pleased to accept. You are to us a brother and a sincere friend, and great is the love we bear for you. Do us the favour of replying. The gift is not worthy of your dignity, but we beg you, O our brother, graciously to accept it. Peace be with you."

The present was a cup of ruby a span high, its interior adorned with precious pearls; a bed covered with the skin of the serpent that swallows the elephant—a skin marked with spots like dinars, and whoever sits upon it never becomes ill; a hundred thousand miskals of Indian lign aloes; and a slave girl as beautiful as the moon.

Then I took leave of the King and of all my friends and acquaintances on the island. I embarked with the merchants and we sailed with a fair wind, committing ourselves to the care of Allah, whose name be exalted. By His permission, we arrived safely at Bassorah. I spent a few days there equipping myself and packing my bales. Then I travelled to Baghdad, the House of Peace, where I sought an audience with the Caliph and laid the King's presents before him.

He asked me where they came from, and I said, "By God, O Commander of the Faithful, I do not know the name of the city or the way there!"

He then asked me, "O Sindbad, is what the King writes in his letter true?" I answered, after kissing the ground, "O my lord, I saw in his kingdom much more than he has written in his letter. For state processions, a throne is set for him upon a huge elephant, eleven cubits high. Upon this he sits with his great lords, officers, and guests standing in two ranks, on his right hand and on his left. At his head is a man holding a golden javelin, and behind him another with a great mace of gold whose head is an emerald a span long and as thick as a man's thumb. When he mounts his horse, a thousand horsemen clothed in gold brocade and silk mount with him. As the King proceeds, a man goes before him, crying, 'This is the King of great dignity, of high authority!' He continues to repeat his praises in words I cannot remember, saying at the end of his panegyric, 'This is the King who possesses a crown the like of which neither Solomon nor the Mihraj ever owned.' Then he is silent, and one behind him proclaims, 'He will die! Again I say he will die!' And another adds, 'Extolled be the perfection of the Living who dies not!' Moreover, because of his justice, ordinances, and intelligence, there is no judge needed in his city, and all his subjects distinguish between truth and falsehood."

The Caliph said, "How great is this King! His letter has shown me this much, and as for the mightiness of his dominion, you have told us what you have yourself witnessed. By God, he has been blessed with wisdom and broad rule."

Then I related to the Commander of the Faithful all that had befallen me in my sixth voyage. He marvelled exceedingly and commanded his historians to record my story and preserve it in his treasuries for the edification of all who might see it. Then he bestowed upon me exceeding great favours. I returned to my quarter and entered my home, where I warehoused all my goods and possessions. Presently, my friends came to me, and I distributed presents among my family and gave alms and gifts. After that, I yielded myself to joy and enjoyment, mirth and merriment, and forgot all that I had suffered.

"Such, then, O my brothers, is the history of what befell me in my sixth voyage. Tomorrow, God willing, I will tell you the story of my seventh and last voyage, which is even more wondrous and marvellous than the first six."

(Says he who tells the tale): Then he bade the table be laid, and the company supped with him. After that, he gave the Porter a hundred dinars, as was his custom, and they all departed, marvelling beyond measure at all they had heard.—

When it was the Five Hundred and Sixty third night

She said, when Sindbad the Seaman had related the history of his sixth voyage, and all the company had departed, Sindbad the Porter went home and slept as was his custom. The next day he rose and prayed the dawn prayer, then went to his namesake's house. When the company was all assembled, the host began to relate