way a great tub of wood, of those the crew had used to wash
withal, and the winds and waves carried me to this island, where
by Allah's grace, I fell in with King Mihrjan's grooms and they
brought me hither to the King their master. When I told him my
story, he entreated me with favour and made me his harbour-
master, and I have prospered in his service and found acceptance
with him. These bales, therefore are mine, the goods which God
hath given me."--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and
ceased to say her permitted say.

When it was the Five Hundred and Forty-second Night,

She continued, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when
Sindbad the Seaman said to the captain, "These bales are mine,
the goods which Allah hath given me," the other exclaimed, "There
is no Majesty and there is no Might save in Allah, the Glorious,
the Great! Verily, there is neither conscience nor good faith
left among men!" said I, "O Rais,[FN#18] what mean these words,
seeing that I have told thee my case?" And he answered, "Because
thou heardest me say that I had with me goods whose owner was
drowned, thou thinkest to take them without right; but this is
forbidden by law to thee, for we saw him drown before our eyes,
together with many other passengers, nor was one of them saved.
So how canst thou pretend that thou art the owner of the goods?"
"O captain," said I, "listen to my story and give heed to my
words, and my truth will be manifest to thee; for lying and
leasing are the letter-marks of the hypocrites." Then I recounted
to him all that had befallen me since I sailed from Baghdad with
him to the time when we came to the fish-island where we were
nearly drowned; and I reminded him of certain matters which had