1001 Arabian Nights - The Complete Adventures of Sindbad, Aladdin and Ali Baba - Special Edition

Book excerpt: 1001 Arabian Nights is a beloved collection of folk tales and other stories. It is often known in English as Arabian Nights, from the first English language edition (1706), which named the title, Arabian Nights Entertainments. Originally, there were 12 volumes published, totaling more than 2,000 pages. This full sized paperback edition has been restored for a modern audience, and contains the 3 most popular and well known sagas from Arabian Nights, including the complete Seven Voyages of Sindbad, Aladdin and the Magic Lamp, as well as Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves. Excerpt from The Fifth Voyage of Sindbad Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved Scarcely had they finished their repast, when there appeared in the air, at a considerable distance, two great clouds. The captain of my ship, knowing by experience what they meant, said they were the male and female parents of the roc, and pressed us to re-embark with all speed, to prevent the misfortune which he saw would otherwise befall us. The two rocs approached with a frightful noise, which they redoubled when they saw the egg broken, and their young one gone. They flew back in the direction they had come, and disappeared for some time, while we made all the sail we could in the endeavor to prevent that which unhappily befell us. They soon returned, and we observed that each of them carried between its talons an enormous rock. When they came directly over my ship, they hovered, and one of them let go his rock; but by the dexterity of the steersman it missed us and fell into the sea. The other so exactly hit the middle of the ship as to split it into pieces. The mariners and passengers were all crushed to death or fell into the sea. I myself was of the number of the latter; but, as I came up again, I fortunately caught hold of a piece of the wreck, and swimming, sometimes with one hand and sometimes with the other, but always holding fast the plank, the wind and the tide favoring me, I came to an island, and got safely ashore. I sat down upon the grass, to recover myself from my fatigue, after which I went into the island to explore it. It seemed to be a delicious garden. I found trees everywhere, some of them bearing green and others ripe fruits, and streams of fresh pure water. I ate of the fruits, which I found excellent; and drank of the water, which was very light and good.