God bless you with all happiness and prosperity. I
henceforth give you your liberty; I will also give you riches."
To this I replied, "Master, God preserve you. I desire no other reward
for the service I had the good fortune to do to you and your city, but
leave to return to my own country."
"Very well," said he, "the monsoon[71] will in a little time bring
ships for ivory. I will then send you home."
[Footnote 71: Periodical winds blowing six months from the same
quarter or point of the compass, then changing, and blowing the same
time from the opposite quarter.]
I stayed with him while waiting for the monsoon; and during that time
we made so many journeys to the hill that we filled all our warehouses
with ivory. The other merchants who traded in it did the same; for my
master made them partakers of his good fortune.
The ships arrived at last, and my master himself having made choice of
the ship wherein I was to embark, loaded half of it with ivory on my
account, laid in provisions in abundance for my passage, and besides
obliged me to accept a present of some curiosities of the country of
great value. After I had returned him a thousand thanks for all his
favors, I went aboard.
We stopped at some islands to take in fresh provisions. Our vessel
being come to a port on the mainland in the Indies, we touched there,
and not being willing to venture by sea to Bussorah, I landed my
portion of the ivory, resolving to proceed on my journey by land.
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