THE THIRD VOYAGE OF SINDBAD THE SAILOR

I grew weary soon again of living an idle life, and, hardening myself against the thought of any danger, embarked with some merchants on another long voyage.  After trading at several ports, we were overtaken one day by a dreadful tempest, which drove us from our course.  Before it ceased we were brought to the port of an island, which the captain was very unwilling to enter; but we were obliged to cast anchor.  The captain then told us that in this and some islands near it dwelt hairy savages who would soon attack us; and, though they were but dwarfs, we must not resist them, for they were more in number than the locusts, and, if we happened to kill one, they would all fall upon us and destroy us.

We soon found the captain’s words but too true.  A great multitude of frightful savages, about two feet high, covered all over with red hair, came swimming towards us, and surrounded the ship.  They chattered as they came near, but we understood not their language.  They climbed up the sides of the ship with surprising quickness.  They took down our sails, cut the cable, and, hauling the vessel to the shore, made us all get out, and then carried the ship into another island, from which they had come.  We saw at a distance a vast pile of building, and made towards it.  We found it to be a palace, elegantly built, and very lofty, with a gate of ebony of two leaves, which we opened.  Before us was a large room, with a porch, having on one side a heap of human bones, and on the other a vast number of roasting spits.  We trembled at this sight, and were seized with deadly fear, when suddenly the gate of the room opened with a loud crash, and there came out the horrible figure of a black man, as tall as a lofty palm-tree.  He had but one eye, and that in the middle of his forehead, where it blazed bright as a burning coal.  His fore-teeth were very long and sharp, and stood out of his mouth, which was as deep as that of a horse.  His upper lip hung down upon his breast.  His ears were like an elephant’s, and covered his shoulders; and his nails were as long and crooked as the talons of the greatest birds.  At the sight of so frightful a genie, we lost our senses, and lay like dead men.

At last we came to ourselves, and saw him sitting in the porch, looking closely at us.  Then he advanced, and, laying his hand upon me, took me up by the nape of my neck, and turned me round, as a butcher would turn a sheep’s head.  When he saw that I had nothing but skin and bone, he let me go.  He took up all the rest one by one, and viewed them in the same manner.  As the captain was the fattest, he held him with one hand, as I would a sparrow, and thrust a spit through him; he then kindled a great fire, roasted, and ate him for his supper.  Then he fell asleep, snoring louder than thunder.  He slept thus till morning.  As to ourselves, it was not possible for us to enjoy any rest, and we passed the night in the most painful fear.  When day appeared the giant awoke, went out, and left us in the palace.