Page:Arabian Nights Entertainments (1728)-Vol. 3.djvu/7

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Morrow, and had I been one Day later, I muſt have periſh’d; becauſe the inhabited Place of the Iſland, was at a great Diſtance, and it would have been impoſſible for me to have got thither without a Guide

Whilſt they entertain’d me thus, the Horſe came out of the Sea, as they had told me, cover’d the Mare, and afterwards would have devour’d her, but, upon a great Noiſe made by the Grooms, he left her, and went back to the Sea.

Next Morning they return’d with their Mares to the Captital of the Iſland, took me with them, and preſented me to King Mihrage; He ask’d me who I was? By what Adventure I came into his Dominions? And, after I had ſatisfy’d him, he told me he was much concerned for my Misfortune, and at the ſame time order’d that I ſhould want nothing, which his Officers were ſo generous and careful as to ſee exactly fulfill’d.

Being a Merchant, I frequented Men of my own Profeſſion, and particularly enquir’d for thoſe who were Strangers, If perhaps I might hear any News from Bagdad, or find an Opportunity to return thither. For King Mihrage’s Capital is ſituated on the Bank of the Sea, and has a fine Harbour where Ships arrive daily from the different Quarters of the World. I frequented alſo the Society of the learned Indians, and took delight to hear them diſcourſe; but withal I took care to make my Court regularly to the King, and convers’d with the Governors and Petty-Kings, his Tributaries that were about him. They ask’d me a thouſand Queſtions about my Country; and I being willing to inform my ſelf as to their Laws and Cuſtoms, ask’d them every thing, which I thought worth knowing.

There belongs to this King an Iſland named Caſſel, they aſſured me, that every Night a Noiſe of Drums was heard there, whence the Mariners fancied, that it was the Reſidence of Degial.[1] I had a great mind to ſee this wonderful Place, and in my way thither ſaw Fiſhes of 100 and 200 Cubits long, that occaſion more Fear than Hurt, for they are ſo fearful, that they will fly upon the Rattling of two

Sticks,

  1. ↑ Degial to the Mahomitans is the ſame with Antichriſt to us. According to them he is to appear about the End of the World, and
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