anchored at such an island and I have heard nothing of him since
then." At this I cried out with a great cry and said, "O captain,
whom Allah keep! know that I am that Sindbad the Seaman and that
I was not drowned, but when thou castest anchor at the island, I
landed with the rest of the merchants and crew; and I sat down in
a pleasant place by myself and ate somewhat of food I had with me
and enjoyed myself till I became drowsy and was drowned in sleep;
and when I awoke, I found no ship and none near me. These goods
are my goods and these bales are my bales; and all the merchants
who fetch jewels from the Valley of Diamonds saw me there and
will bear me witness that I am the very Sindbad the Seaman; for I
related to them everything that had befallen me and told them how
you forgot me and left me sleeping on the island, and that
betided me which betided me." When the passengers and crew heard
my words, they gathered about me and some of them believed me and
others disbelieved; but presently, behold, one of the merchants,
hearing me mention the Valley of Diamonds, came up to me and said
to them, "Hear what I say, good people! When I related to you the
most wonderful thing in my travels, and I told you that, at the
time we cast down our slaughtered animals into the Valley of
Serpents (I casting with the rest as was my wont), there came up
a man hanging to mine, ye believed me not and gave me the lie."
"Yes," quoth they, "thou didst tell us some such tale, but we had
no call to credit thee." He resumed, "Now this is the very man,
by token that he gave me diamonds of great value, and high price
whose like are not to be found, requiting me more than would have
come up sticking to my quarter of meat; and I companied with him
to Bassorah-city, where he took leave of us and went on to his
native stead, whilst we returned to our own land. This is he; and
he told us his name, Sindbad the Seaman, and how the ship left