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.