Page:Arabian Nights Entertainments (1728)-Vol. 3.djvu/5

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We ſet Sail, and fteer’d our Courſe towards the Eaſt-Indies through the Perſian Gulph, which is formed the Coaſts of Arabia Falix on the Right, by thoſe of Perſia on the Left, and, according to common Account, is 70 Leagues over at the broadeſt Place. The Eaſtern Sea as well as that of the Indies, is very ſpacious. It is bounded on one Side by the Coafts of Abyſſinia, and is 4500 Leagues in Length to the Iſles of Vak vak.[1] At firſt I was troubled with the Sea-Sickneſs, but ſpeedily recovered my Health, and was not afterwards troubled with that Diſeaſe.

In our Voyage we touch’d at ſeveral lands, where we ſold or exchanged our Goods. One Day, whilſt under Sail, we were becalm’d, near a little Iſland, even almoſt within the Surface of the Water, which reſembled a green Meadow. The Captain order’d his Sails to be furl’d, and ſuffer’d ſuch Perſons, as had a Mind, to land upon the Iſland, amongſt whom I was one.

But, while we were diverting our Selves with Eating and Drinking, and refreſhing our ſelves from the Fatigue of the Sea, the Iſland trembled all of a ſudden, and ſhook us terribly.

Here Scheherazade ſtop’d, becauſe Day appear’d, but reſum’d her Diſcourſe next Morning as follows,


The Seventy Firft Night.


SIR, Sindbad purſued his Story thus, They perceived the Trembling of the Iſland on board the Ship, and called to us to reimbark ſpeedily, or we ſhould all be loſt; for what we took for an Iſland was only the Back of a Whale. The nimbleſt got into the Sloop, others betook themſelves to ſwim ; but, for my part, I was still upon the Back of the Whale when he div’d into the Sea, and had Time only to catch hold of a Piece of Wood, that we had brought out of the Ship to make a Fire. Mean while the Captain, having recciv’d thoſe on board, who were

in

  1. ↑ Thoſe Iſlands, according to the Arabians, are beyond China; and are ſo called from a Tree which bears a Fruit of that Name. They are without doubt the Iſles of Japan; but they are not however ſo far from Abyſſinia.
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