book is a marvellous matter, denoting that whoso cometh hither
shall surely die, without hope of escape; for that this ocean is
called the Sea of the Clime of the King, wherein is the sepulchre
of our lord Solomon, son of David (on both be peace!) and therein
are serpents of vast bulk and fearsome aspect: and what ship
soever cometh to these climes there riseth to her a great
fish[FN#90] out of the sea and swalloweth her up with all and
everything on board her." Hearing these words from the captain
great was our wonder, but hardly had he made an end of speaking,
when the ship was lifted out of the water and let fall again and
we applied to praying the death-prayer[FN#91] and committing our
souls to Allah. Presently we heard a terrible great cry like the
loud-pealing thunder, whereat we were terror-struck and became as
dead men, giving ourselves up for lost. Then behold, there came
up to us a huge fish, as big as a tall mountain, at whose sight
we became wild for affight and, weeping sore, made ready for
death, marvelling at its vast size and gruesome semblance; when
lo! a second fish made its appearance than which we had seen
naught more monstrous. So we bemoaned ourselves of our lives and
farewelled one another; but suddenly up came a third fish bigger
than the two first; whereupon we lost the power of thought and
reason and were stupefied for the excess of our fear and horror.
Then the three fish began circling round about the ship and the
third and biggest opened his mouth to swallow it, and we looked
into its mouth and behold, it was wider than the gate of a city
and its throat was like a long valley. So we besought the
Almighty and called for succour upon His Apostle (on whom be
blessing and peace!), when suddenly a violent squall of wind
arose and smote the ship, which rose out of the water and settled
upon a great reef, the haunt of sea-monsters, where it broke up