Pagina 443 de 1116

For a time we knew naught of this; and the wind blew fair for us

ten days, after which the look out man went aloft to see about

him and cried, "Good news!" Then he came down rejoicing and said,

"I have seen what seemeth to be a city as 'twere a pigeon."

Hereat we rejoiced and, ere an hour of the day had passed, the

buildings showed plain in the offing and we asked the Captain,

"What is the name of yonder city?" and he answered By Allah I wot

not, for I never saw it before and never sailed these seas in my

life: but, since our troubles have ended in safety, remains for

you only to land there with your merchandise and, if you find

selling profitable, sell and make your market of what is there;

and if not, we will rest here two days and provision ourselves

and fare away." So we entered the port and the Captain went up

town and was absent awhile, after which he returned to us and

said, "Arise; go up into the city and marvel at the works of

Allah with His creatures and pray to be preserved from His

righteous wrath!" So we landed and going up into the city, saw at

the gate men hending staves in hand; but when we drew near them,

behold, they had been translated[FN#306] by the anger of Allah

and had become stones.