Arabs -- Folklore; Fairy tales -- Arab countries; Tales -- Arab countries
They who were in the ship perceived the earth quake in the island,
and immediately called to us to re-embark as soon as possible, or we
should all perish, for that what we supposed to be an island was no
more than the back of a whale. The most active of the party jumped
into the boat, whilst others threw themselves into the water, to
swim to the ship; as for me I was still on the island, or, more
properly speaking, on the whale, when it plunged into the sea, and I
had only time to seize hold of a piece of wood which had been
brought to make a fire with. Meantime the captain, willing to avail
himself of a fair breeze which had sprung up, set sail with those
who had reached his vessel, and left me to the mercy of the waves. I
remained in this situation the whole of that day and the following
night; and on the return of morning I had neither strength nor hope
left when a breaker happily dashed me on an island. The shore was
high and steep, and I should have found great difficulty in landing
had not some roots of trees, which fortune seemed to have furnished
for my preservation, assisted me. I threw myself on the ground,
where I continued more than half dead till the sun arose.
Although I was extremely enfeebled by the fatigues I had undergone,
I tried to creep about in search of some herb or fruit that might
satisfy my hunger. I found some; and had also the good luck to meet
with a stream of excellent water, which contributed not a little to
my recovery. Having in a great measure regained my strength, I began
to explore the island, and entered a beautiful plain, where I
perceived, at some distance, a horse that was grazing. I bent my
steps that way, trembling between fear and joy, for I could not
ascertain whether I was advancing to safety or perdition. I
remarked, as I approached, that it was a mare tied to a stake; her
beauty attracted my attention; but whilst I was admiring her I heard
a voice, under ground, of a man, who shortly after appeared, and
coming to me, asked me who I was. I related my adventure to him;
after which he took me by the hand, and led me into a cave where
there were some other persons, who were not less astonished to see
me than I was to find them there.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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