We steered our course towards the Indies.  At first I was troubled with seasickness, but speedily regained my health.  In our voyage we touched at several islands, where we sold or exchanged our goods.  One day, whilst under sail, we were becalmed near a small island rising but little above the level of the water and resembling a green meadow.  The captain permitted such persons as were so inclined to land; of this number I was one.  But whilst we were eating and drinking, and resting from the fatigue of the sea, the island of a sudden trembled and shook us terribly.

The trembling of the island was soon noticed on board the ship, and we were called to reembark quickly, or we should all be lost; for what we took to be an island proved to be the back of a sea monster.  The nimblest got into the sloop; others betook themselves to swimming; as for me, I was still upon the island when it sank into the sea, and I had only time to catch hold of a piece of wood that we brought from the ship to make a fire.  Meanwhile the captain, having taken the others on board, resolved to make the most of the favoring gale that had just risen, and sailed away.

Thus was I left to the mercy of the waves for the rest of the day and the night that followed.  By this time I found my strength gone, and was despairing of my life, when happily a wave threw me against an island.  The bank was high and rugged, but some roots of trees helped me to get up.  When the sun arose, I was very feeble, but managed to find some herbs that were fit to eat, and a spring of good water.  Thus refreshed, I advanced farther into the island, and reached a fine plain, where I saw some horses feeding.  As I went towards them, I heard the voice of a man who appeared and asked me who I was.  When I had told him my adventure, he led me by the hand into a cave, where there were several other people, no less amazed to see me than I was to see them.

I partook of some food which they gave me, and then learned that they were grooms belonging to the sovereign of the island, where they brought the king’s horses every year for pasturage.  They were to return home on the morrow, and had I been one day later I must have perished, because the inhabited part of the island was far off, and I could never have reached it without a guide.

The next morning they took me to the capital of the island, and presented me to the sovereign.  When at his request I told him of my misfortune, he was much concerned, and gave orders that I should want for nothing; and his commands were carefully fulfilled.

As a merchant I met with many men of my own profession, and sought news from Bagdad, and the opportunity to return; for the capital of the island has a fine harbor, where ships arrive daily from many quarters of the world.  I took delight also in hearing the talk of learned Indians, and withal paid my court to the sovereign, and met with the governors and petty kings that were subject to him, telling and learning much.