When I had
finished it I loaded it with some bales of rubies, emeralds,
ambergris, rock-crystal, and rich stuffs. Having balanced all my
cargo exactly and fastened it well to the raft, I went on board it
with two little oars that I had made, and, leaving it to the course
of the river, I resigned myself to the will of God.
As soon as I came into the cave I lost all light, and the stream
carried me I knew not whither. Thus I floated for some days in
perfect darkness, and once found the arch so low that it well nigh
broke my head, which made me very cautious afterwards to avoid the
like danger. All this while I ate nothing but what was just
necessary to support nature; yet, notwithstanding this frugality,
all my provisions were spent. Then a pleasing sleep fell upon me. I
cannot tell how long it continued; but when I awoke, I was
surprised to find myself in the middle of a vast country, at the
bank of a river, where my raft was tied, amidst a great number of
negroes. I got up as soon as I saw them and saluted them. They
spoke to me, but I did not understand their language. I was so
transported with joy that I knew not whether I was asleep or awake;
but being persuaded that I was not asleep, I recited the following
words in Arabic aloud: 'Call upon the Almighty, he will help thee;
thou needest not perplex thyself about anything else; shut thy
eyes, and while thou art asleep, God will change thy bad fortune
into good.
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