in vain.
O Night! Salams of me to friends and let to them be known *
Of thee true knowledge how I wake and waking ever wone."

Meanwhile, the hermit said to Uns al-Wujud, "Go down to the palm-
grove in the valley and fetch some fibre."[FN#56] So he went and
returned with the palm-fibre, which the hermit took and, twisting
into ropes, make therewith a net,[FN#57] such as is used for
carrying straw; after which he said, "O Uns al-Wujud, in the
heart of the valley groweth a gourd, which springeth up and
drieth upon its roots. Go down there and fill this sack
therewith; then tie it together and, casting it into the water,
embark thereon and make for the midst of the sea, so haply thou
shalt win thy wish; for whoso never ventureth shall not have what
he seeketh." "I hear and obey," answered Uns al-Wujud. Then he
bade the hermit farewell after the holy man had prayed for him;
and, betaking himself to the sole of the valley, did as his
adviser had counselled him; made the sack, launched it upon the
water, and pushed from shore. Then there arose a wind, which
drave him out to sea, till he was lost to the eremite's view; and
he ceased not to float over the abysses of the ocean, one billow
tossing him up and another bearing him down (and he beholding the
while the dangers and marvels of the deep), for the space of
three days. At the end of that time Fate cast him upon the Mount
of the Bereft Mother, where he landed, giddy and tottering like a
chick unfledged, and at the last of his strength for hunger and
thirst; but, finding there streams flowing and birds on the
branches cooing and fruit-laden trees in clusters and singly
growing, he ate of the fruits and drank of the rills. Then he
walked on till he saw some white thing afar off, and making for