"Beware of going forth hereafter with yonder folk, neither
consort with them, for they are brethren of the devils, and know
not how to mention the name of Allah Almighty; neither worship
they Him." "And how did thy father with them?" asked I; and she
answered, "My father was not of them, neither did he as they; and
as now he is dead methinks thou hadst better sell all we have and
with the price buy merchandise and journey to thine own country
and people, and I with thee; for I care not to tarry in this
city, my father and my mother being dead." So I sold all the
Shaykh's property piecemeal, and looked for one who should be
journeying thence to Bassorah that I might join myself to him.
And while thus doing I heard of a company of townsfolk who had a
mind to make the voyage, but could not find them a ship; so they
bought wood and built them a great ship wherein I took passage
with them, and paid them all the hire. Then we embarked, I and my
wife, with all our moveables, leaving our houses and domains and
so forth, and set sail, and ceased not sailing from island to
island and from sea to sea, with a fair wind and a favouring,
till we arrived at Bassorah safe and sound. I made no stay there,
but freighted another vessel and, transferring my goods to her,
set out forthright for Baghdad-city, where I arrived in safety,
and entering my quarter and repairing to my house, foregathered
with my family and friends and familiars who laid up my goods in
my warehouses. When my people who, reckoning the period of my
absence on this my seventh voyage, had found it to be seven and
twenty years, and had given up all hope of me, heard of my
return, they came to welcome me and to give me joy of my safety;
and I related to them all that had befallen me; whereat they
marvelled with exceeding marvel. Then I forswore travel and vowed
to Allah the Most High I would venture no more by land or sea,