The First Voyage of Sindbad the
Sailor
My father was a wealthy merchant of much repute. He bequeathed me a large estate, which I wasted in riotous living. I finally perceived my error, and realized that I was misspending my time, which is of all things the most valuable. I remembered the saying of the great Solomon, which I had frequently heard from my father, “A good name is better than precious ointment,” and again, “Wisdom is good with an inheritance.” Struck with these reflections, I resolved to walk in my father’s ways, and entered into a contract with some merchants, embarking with them on board a ship we had jointly fitted out.
We set sail, and steered our course toward the Indies, through the Persian Gulf, touching at several islands, where we sold or exchanged our goods. One day, while under sail, we were becalmed near a small island, but little elevated above the level of the water, and resembling a green meadow. The captain ordered his sails to be furled, and permitted such persons as were so inclined to land; of this number I was one.
But while we were enjoying ourselves and recovering ourselves from the fatigue of the sea, the island on a sudden trembled terribly.
The trembling of the island was perceived on board the
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