ceived me on board I might be the occasion of some misfortune to them during their voyage. On this account they said, “Let us throw him into the sea.” Some one of them would not have failed to carry this threat into execution, had I not gone to the captain, thrown myself at his feet, and taken hold of his robe in a supplicating posture. This action together with the tears which he saw gush from my eyes, moved his compassion. He took me under his protection, and loaded me with a thousand caresses. On my part, though I had not power to speak, I showed by my gestures every mark of gratitude in my power.
The wind that succeeded the calm continued to blow in the same direction for fifty days, and brought us safe to the port of a city, well peopled, and of great trade, where we cast anchor.
Our vessel was instantly surrounded with multitudes of boats full of people. Among the rest, some officers of the sultan came on board, and said, “Our master rejoices in your safe arrival, and he beseeches each of you to write a few lines upon this roll. The grand vizier, who, besides possessing great abilities for the management of public affairs, could write in the highest perfection, died a few days since, and the sultan has made a solemn vow not to give the place to anyone who cannot write equally well. No one in the empire has been judged worthy to supply the vizier’s place.”
Those of the merchants who thought they could write well
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