Meanwhile I had much liberty, so that scarcely any notice was taken of what I did, and this gave me an opportunity one day to get at a distance from the houses, and to make my escape.  An old man, who saw me, and suspected my design, called to me as loud as he could to return; but instead of obeying him, I redoubled my speed, and quickly got out of sight.  At that time there was none but the old man about the houses, the rest being abroad, and not to return till night, which was usual with them.  Therefore, being sure that they could not arrive time enough to pursue me, I went on till night, when I stopped to rest a little, and to eat some of the provisions I had secured; but I speedily set forward again, and travelled seven days, avoiding those places which seemed to be inhabited, and lived for the most part upon cocoa-nuts, which served me both for meat and drink.  On the eighth day I came near the sea, and saw some white people like myself, gathering pepper, of which there was great plenty in that place.  This I took to be a good omen, and went to them without any scruple.

The people who gathered pepper came to meet me as soon as they saw me, and asked me in Arabic who I was, and whence I came?  I was overjoyed to hear them speak in my own language, and satisfied their curiosity, by giving them an account of my shipwreck, and how I fell into the hands of the negroes.  “Those negroes,” replied they, “eat men, and by what miracle did you escape their cruelty?” I related to them the circumstances I have just mentioned, at which they were wonderfully surprised.

I staid with them till they had gathered their quantity of pepper, and then sailed with them to the island from whence they had come.  They presented me to their king, who was a good prince.  He had the patience to hear the relation of my adventures, which surprised him; and he afterwards gave me clothes, and commanded care to be taken of me.

The island was very well peopled, plentiful in everything, and the capital a place of great trade.  This agreeable retreat was very comfortable to me after my misfortunes, and the kindness of this generous prince completed my satisfaction.  In a word, there was not a person more in favour with him than myself; and, consequently, every man in court and city sought to oblige me; so that in a very little time I was looked upon rather as a native than a stranger.

I observed one thing, which to me appeared very extraordinary.  All the people, the king himself not excepted, rode their horses without saddle, bridle, or stirrups.  This made me one day take the liberty to ask the king how it came to pass?  His majesty answered, that I talked to him of things which nobody knew the use of in his dominions.