Be that as it may, after a year's rest I prepared for a sixth
voyage, notwithstanding the entreaties of my kindred and friends, who
did all in their power to dissuade me.
Instead of taking my way by the Persian Gulf I traveled once more
through several provinces of Persia and the Indies, and arrived at a
seaport. Here I embarked in a ship, the captain of which was bound on
a long voyage, in which he and the pilot lost their course. Suddenly
we saw the captain quit his rudder, uttering loud lamentations. He
threw off his turban, pulled his beard, and beat his head like a
madman. We asked him the reason; and he answered that we were in the
most dangerous place in all the ocean.
"A rapid current carries the ship along with it, and we shall all
perish in less than a quarter of an hour. Pray to God to deliver us
from this peril. We cannot escape, if He do not take pity on us."
At these words he ordered the sails to be lowered; but all the ropes
broke, and the ship was carried by the current to the foot of an
inaccessible mountain, where she struck and went to pieces; yet in
such a manner that we saved our lives, our provisions, and the best of
our goods.
The mountain at the foot of which we were was covered with wrecks,
with a vast number of human bones, and with an incredible quantity of
goods and riches of all kinds, These objects served only to augment
our despair. In all other places it is usual for rivers to run from
their channels into the sea; but here a river of fresh water[62] runs
from the sea into a dark cavern, whose entrance is very high and
spacious.
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