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Short Stories
 

      The Crowns of the Cocoa Palms   (The Fifth Voyage of Sinbad the Sailor)

He also with that, supplied me with requirements of food and other necessities, and said goodbye to me, and I went with my new companions. I soon came to know that the object of our voyage was to fill our sacks with cocoanuts, but when after a few distance, I saw the trees and noted their gigantic height and also the slippery smoothness of their thin trunks, I did not at all understand how we would be able to do it so.


The top of the cocoa-trees were all full with monkeys, big and little, which jumped from one tree to the another with alertness , looking to be very unfamiliar about us and were disturbed due to our approach, and I was at first surprised when my companions started collecting stones and began to throw on them at the lively creatures, which looks to me quite harmless. But very soon I saw that the reason of this would surely work and joined them heartily because it was for our benefit, and for the monkeys who were very angry and wishing to take revenge, began to tear the nuts from the trees and throw them at us with angry and cruel deed, so that after very little struggle our sacks were filled with the fruit which we could not or else have obtained.


As soon as we had enough to carry, we went back to the town, where my friend bought my share and advised me to continue the same task until I had earned money enough to carry me to my own country. I did this till I had earned a considerable sum.


Just then I heard that there was a trading ship ready to sail, and taking leave,  I went on the ship, carrying with me an enough store of cocoanuts; and we sailed first to the islands where pepper grows, then to Comari where the best aloes wood is found, and where men drink no wine by law. There I exchanged my nuts for pepper and good aloes wood, and went a-fishing for pearls with some of the other companions, and my divers were so lucky that very soon I had an large number and were also very large and perfect.

With all these treasures I came happily back to Baghdad, where I sold them for large amount of money, of which I did not fail as before to give the tenth part to the poor, and after that I rested from my hard work and gratified myself with all the happiness that my reserves could give me.

Thus having ended this story, Sinbad ordered that one hundred tinsels should be given to Hindbad, and the guests then vacate; but after the next day's feast he began the account of his sixth voyage as follows.