It is not possible for ships to get off from this place when once they approach within a certain distance.  If the wind is from the sea, this and the current drive them on.  If it is a land wind, it is stopped by the height of the mountain, which causes a calm, so that the force of the current carries them ashore.  What is worse, it is no more possible to ascend the mountain than to escape by sea.  Here we remained in a state of despair, expecting death every day.

When we landed, we divided the food equally, and thus each one lived a longer or shorter time, according to the use he made of his share.  I outlived my comrades, and, when I buried the last of them, had so little food left that I dug a grave for myself.  But God once more took pity on me, and put it in my mind to go to the bank of the river which ran into the cavern.  I said to myself,—­

“This underground river must somewhere have an outlet.  If I make a raft, and leave myself to the current, it will convey me to some inhabited country, or I shall perish.  If I be drowned, I only change one kind of death for another.”

Out of pieces of timber and cables from the wrecks, I soon made myself a solid raft.  Then I loaded it carefully with some chests of rubies, emeralds, ambergris, rock crystal, and bales of rich stuffs, and went on board with two oars that I had made, leaving the raft to the course of the river, and resigning myself to the will of God.

As soon as I entered the cavern, I lost all light, and the stream carried me I knew not whither.  Thus I floated on, eating only enough to keep myself alive.  But the food was soon spent, and I lost my senses.  When I revived, I found myself on the brink of a river, where my raft was tied, amidst a great number of negroes.  When I saluted them, they spoke to me, but I did not understand their tongue.  In my joy I recited aloud the following words in Arabic,—­

“Call upon the Almighty.  He will help thee; shut thine eyes, and while thou art asleep, God will change thy bad fortune into good.”

One of the negroes, who understood Arabic, came forward and told me that they had seen my raft, and fastened it until I should awake.  Through him I told the others, at their request, of all that had befallen me.  The story was so strange that they said I must tell it to their king myself.  Then they mounted me on a horse, and some led the way, and some followed with my raft and cargo.

The king received me kindly, and bade me sit by his side while I told him what I have told you.  When my bales were opened in his presence, he marveled at what they contained, above all at the rubies and emeralds, which surpassed any in his treasury.

When I saw with what pleasure he viewed them, I fell at his feet and said,—­

“Sire, not only is my person at your majesty’s service, but the cargo of the raft, and I beg of you to dispose of it as your own.”

But he would take none of my goods, and promised that I should leave his realm richer than I came.  His officers were charged to serve me at his expense, and every day I paid the king my court, and saw what was most worthy of notice in the city.  By way of devotion I made a pilgrimage to the place where Adam was confined after his banishment from Paradise.