Page:Arabian Nights Entertainments (1728)-Vol. 3.djvu/25

I Had the good Fortune, continues Sindbad, with ſeveral of the Merchants and Mariners, to get a Plank, and we were carried by the Current to an Iſland which lay before us. There we found Fruit and Fountain-Water, which preſerved our Lives, We ſtaid all Night near the Place where the Sea caſt us aſhore, without confulting what we fhould do, our Misfortune had diſ-ſpirited us ſo much.

Next Morning, as ſoon as the Sun was up, we walked from the Shore, and advancing into the Iſland, ſaw ſome Houſes, to which we went; and as ſoon as we came thither, we were encompaſſed by a great Number of Blacks, who ſeized us, ſhared us among ’em, and carried us to their reſpective Habitations.

I and Five of my Comrades were carried to one Place; they made us fit down immediately, and gave us a certain Herb, which they made ſigns for us to eat. My Comrades not taking notice that the Blacks eat none of it themſelves conſulted only the Satisfying of their own Hunger, and fell a eating with Greedineſs. But, I ſuſpecing ſome Trick, would not ſo much as taſte it, which happened well for me; for in a little time after I perceived my Companions had loſt their Senſes and that, when they ſpoke to me they knew not what they ſaid.

The Blacks fed us afterwards with Rice, prepared with Oil of Cocoes, and my Comrades, who had loſt their Reaſon, eat of it greedily. I eat of it alſo, but very ſparingly. The Backs gave us that Herb at firſt, on purpoſe to deprive us of our Senſes, that we might not be aware of the ſad Deſtiny prepared for us, and they gave us Rice on purpole to fatten us, for, being Canibals, their Deſign was to eat us as ſoon as we grew fat. They did accordingly eat my Comrades, who were not ſenlible of their Condition. But my Senſes being entire, you may eaſily gueſs, Gentlemen, that inſtead of growing fat, as the reſt did, I grew leaner every Pay. The Fear of Death, under which I laboured, turned all my Food into Poiſon, fell into a languiſhing Diſtemper, which proved my Satety; for the Blacks having killed and eat up my Companions, ſeeing me to be wither’d, lean and ſick, deferred my Death till another time.