“The same voice was heard three successive years, yet not one person was converted. On the last day of the third year, between three and four o’clock in the morning, every one of the inhabitants were in an instant transformed into stones; each remaining in the very posture and spot he then happened to be in. The king, my father, experienced the same fate; he was changed to a black stone, as you might see in a part of the palace; and the queen, my mother, experienced a similar transformation. “I am the only person on whom God has not inflicted this terrible punishment. From this moment I have continued to serve him with greater zeal than ever, and I am well persuaded, my dear lady, that he has sent you for my consolation and comfort. How much do I thank him for his great mercies; for I own to you, that this solitude was become quite distressing.” This narrative, and more particularly the latter part, still farther increased my attachment to the prince. “I can no longer doubt,” I said to him, “that Providence has conducted me to your country for the express purpose of enabling you to leave so melancholy a spot. The vessel in which I arrived, may lead you to conclude, that I am of some consequence in Bagdad, where I have left things of equal value with those I have brought. I can venture to offer you a safe retreat there, till the powerful Commander of the Faithful, the vicar of our great Prophet, whom you are not ignorant of, shall have bestowed upon you all the honours you so well deserve. This illustrious prince resides at Bagdad; and be assured he will no sooner be informed of your arrival in his capital, than you will acknowledge you have not sought his assistance in vain. It is not possible for you to live any longer in a city where every object is become insupportable to you. My vessel is at your service, and you may dispose of it at your pleasure.” He joyfully accepted the offer, and we passed the rest of the night in talking of our voyage. As soon as the morning appeared, we departed from the palace, and went towards the harbour; where we found my sisters, the captain, and my slaves, all in great pain about my safety. After introducing my sisters to the prince, I informed them of the reason that had prevented my return on the preceding day; I related to them also my adventures, how I met the young prince, his history, and the cause of the entire desolation which reigned over the whole of so beautiful a city. The sailors were many days engaged in landing the merchandize which I had brought with me, and in shipping, in the place of it, the most valuable and precious things we could find in the palace, in silver, in gold, and in jewels. We left behind us all the furniture, and a multitude of articles worked in gold, because we had no room to stow them in. Many vessels would have been necessary to have transported to Bagdad all the riches we saw in this city.