r
what I have undergone. I have also made a vow never to go out of
Bagdad.' Hence I took occasion to give him a full and particular account
of all my adventures, which he had the patience to hear out.

"As soon as I had finished, 'I confess,' said he, 'that the things you
tell me are very extraordinary, yet you must for my sake undertake this
voyage which I propose to you. You will only have to go to the isle of
Serendib, and deliver the commission which I give you, for you know it
would not comport with my dignity to be indebted to the king of that
island.' Perceiving that the caliph insisted upon my compliance, I
submitted, and told him that I was willing to obey. He was very well
pleased, and ordered me one thousand sequins for the expenses of my
journey.

"I prepared for my departure in a few days, and as soon as the caliph's
letter and present were delivered to me, I went to Bussorah, where I
embarked, and had a very happy voyage. Having arrived at the isle of
Serendib, I acquainted the king's ministers with my commission, and
prayed them to get me speedy audience. They did so, and I was conducted
to the palace, where I saluted the king by prostration, according to
custom. That prince knew me immediately, and testified very great joy at
seeing me, 'Sinbad,' said he, 'you are welcome; I have many times
thought of you since you departed; I bless the day on which we see one
another once more.' I made my compliments to him, and after having
thanked him for his kindness, delivered the caliph's letter and present,
which he received with all imaginable satisfaction.

"The caliph's present was a complete suit of cloth of gold, valued at
one thousand sequins; fifty robes of rich stuff, a hundred of white
cloth, the finest of Cairo, Suez, and Alexandria; a vessel of agate
broader than deep, an inch thick, and half a foot wide, the bottom of
which represented in bas-relief a man with one knee on the ground, who
held a bow and an arrow, ready to discharge at a lion. He sent him also
a rich tablet, which, according to tradition, belonged to the great
Solomon. The caliph's letter was as follows:

"'Greeting, in the name of the sovereign guide of the right way, from
the dependant on God, Haroun-al-Raschid, whom God hath set in the
place of vicegerent to his prophet, after his ancestors of happy
memory, to the potent and esteemed Raja of Serendib:--

'We received your letter with joy, and send you this from our impe