pepper-bunch groweth a great leaf which shadeth it from the sun
and casteth the water off it in the wet season; but, when the
rain ceaseth the leaf turneth over and droopeth down by the side
of the bunch.[FN#68] Here I took in great store of pepper and
cloves and cinnamon, in exchange for cocoa-nuts, and we passed
thence to the Island of Al-Usirat,[FN#69] whence cometh the
Comorin aloes-wood and thence to another island, five days'
journey in length, where grows the Chinese lign-aloes, which is
better than the Comorin; but the people of this island[FN#70] are
fouler of condition and religion than those of the other, for
that they love fornication and wine-bibbing, and know not prayer
nor call to prayer. Thence we came to the pearl-fisheries, and I
gave the divers some of my cocoa-nuts and said to them, "Dive for
my luck and lot!" They did so and brought up from the deep
bight[FN#71] great store of large and priceless pearls; and they
said to me, "By Allah, O my master, thy luck is a lucky!" Then we
sailed on, with the blessing of Allah (whose name be exalted!);
and ceased not sailing till we arrived safely at Bassorah. There
I abode a little and then went on to Baghdad, where I entered my
quarter and found my house and foregathered with my family and
saluted my friends who gave me joy of my safe return, and I laid
up all my goods and valuables in my storehouses. Then I
distributed alms and largesse and clothed the widow and the
orphan and made presents to my relations and comrades; for the
Lord had requited me fourfold that I had lost. After which I
returned to my old merry way of life and forgot all I had
suffered in the great profit and gain I had made. "Such, then, is
the history of my fifth voyage and its wonderments, and now to
supper; and to-morrow, come again and I will tell you what befel
me in my sixth voyage; for it was still more wonderful than