climbed a tall tree and looked in all directions, but saw nothing
save sky and sea and trees and birds and isles and sands.
However, after a while my eager glances fell upon some great
white thing, afar off in the interior of the island; so I came
down from the tree and made for that which I had seen; and
behold, it was a huge white dome rising high in air and of vast
compass. I walked all around it, but found no door thereto, nor
could I muster strength or nimbleness by reason of its exceeding
smoothness and slipperiness. So I marked the spot where I stood
and went round about the dome to measure its circumference which
I found fifty good paces. And as I stood, casting about how to
gain an entrance the day being near its fall and the sun being
near the horizon, behold, the sun was suddenly hidden from me and
the air became dull and dark. Methought a cloud had come over the
sun, but it was the season of summer; so I marvelled at this and
lifting my head looked steadfastly at the sky, when I saw that
the cloud was none other than an enormous bird, of gigantic girth
and inordinately wide of wing which, as it flew through the air,
veiled the sun and hid it from the island. At this sight my
wonder redoubled and I remembered a story,--And Shahrazad
perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.

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

She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that Sindbad the
Seaman continued in these words:--My wonder redoubled and I
remembered a story I had heard aforetime of pilgrims and
travellers, how in a certain island dwelleth a huge bird, called
the "Rukh"[FN#22] which feedeth its young on elephants; and I was
certified that the dome which caught my sight was none other than