Page:Arabian Nights Entertainments (1728)-Vol. 3.djvu/42

After this, I immediately went to work on a Float, I made it of good large Piece of Timber and Cables, for I had choice of ’em, and ty’d ’em together ſo ſtrong, that I made a very ſolid little Float, When I had finiſh’d it, I loaded it with ſome Bales of Rubies, Emeralds Amber- greele, Rock-Chryſtal, and rich Stuffs. Having balanc’d all my Cargo exactly, and faſten’d them well to the Float, I went on board it with two little Oars that I had made, and leaving it to the Courſe of the River, I reſign’d my ſelf to the will of God.

As ſoon as I came into the Cave, I loſt all Light, and the Stream carried me I know not whither. Thus I ſail’d ſome Days in perfect Darkneſs, and once found the Arch ſo low, that it well nigh broke my Head, which made me very cautious afterwards of avoiding the like Danger. All this while I eat nothing but what was juſt neceſſary to ſupport Nature, yet not withſtznding this Frugality, all my Proviſions were ſpent. Then a pleaſant Sleep ſeized upon me. I can’t tell how long it continued; but when I awaked, I was ſurprized to find my ſelf in the middle of a vaſt Country, at the brink of a River, where my Float was tied, amidſt a great Number of Negroes. I got up as ſoon as I ſaw them, and ſaluted them. They ſpoke to me, but I did not underſtand their Language. I was ſo tranſported with Joy, that I knew not whether I was aſleep or awake, but being perſwaded that I was not aſleep, I recited the following Words in Arabick aloud: Ca!l upon the Almighty, he will help thee, thou need it not perplex thy ſelf about any thing elſe; ſhut thy Eyes, and while thou art aſleep God will change thy bad Fortune into good.

Gne of the Blacks who underſtood Arabick, hearing me ſpeak thus, came towards me, and ſaid, Brother, don’t be ſurprized to ſee us, we are Inhabitants of this Country, and came hither to Day to water our Fields, by digging little Canals, for this River, which comes out of the neighbouring Mountain. We perceived fomerhing floating upon the Water, went ſpeedily to ſee what it was, and perceiving your Float, one of us ſwam into the River and brought it hither, where we faſtned it as you ſee, until you ſhould awake, Pray tell us your Hiſtory, for it muſt be extraordinary, how did you venture your ſelf into this River, and whence do you come? I begged of ’em firſt to give me ſomething to eat, and then