of my own which I did not share with my comrades; yet, when I buried the last, I had so little remaining, that I thought it could not hold out long:  So I dug a grave, resolving to lie down in it, because there was none left alive to inter me.  I must confess to you, at the same time, that, while I was thus employed, I could not but reflect upon myself as the cause of my own ruin, and repented that I had ever undertaken this last voyage.  Nor did I stop at reflections only, but had well nigh hastened my own death, and began to tear my hands with my teeth.  But it pleased God once more to take compassion on me, and put it in my mind to go to the bank of the river which ran into the great cave, where, considering the river with great attention, I said to myself, This river, which runs thus under the ground, must come out somewhere or other.  If I make a float, and leave myself to the current, it will bring me to some inhabited country, or drown me.  If I be drowned, I lose nothing, but only change one kind of death for another; and if I get out of this fatal place, I shall not only avoid the fate of my comrades, but perhaps find some new occasion of enriching myself.  Who knows but fortune waits, upon my getting off this dangerous shelve, to compensate my shipwreck with usury?  After this, I immediately went to work on a float.  I made it of good large pieces of timber and cables, for I had choice of them, and tied them together so strong, that I had made a very solid little float.  When I had finished it, I loaded it with some bales of rubies, emeralds, ambergris, rock crystal, and rich stuffs.  Having balanced all my cargo exactly, and fastened them well to the float.  I went on board it with two little oars that I had made:  and leaving it to the course of the river, I resigned myself to the will of God.

As soon as I came into the cave, I lost all light, and the stream carried me I knew not whither.  Thus I sailed some days in perfect darkness, and once found the arch so low, that it almost broke my head, which made me very cautious afterwards to avoid the like danger.  All this while I ate nothing but what was just necessary to support nature; yet, notwithstanding this frugality, all my provisions were spent.  Then a pleasant sleep seized upon me:  I cannot tell how long it continued; but when I awaked, I was surprised to find myself in the middle of a vast country, on the brink of a river, where my float was tied amidst a great number of negroes.  I got up as soon as I saw them, and saluted them.  They spoke to me, but I did not understand their language.  I was so transported with joy, that I knew not whether I was asleep or awake; but being persuaded that I was not asleep, I recited the following words in Arabic aloud:  Call upon the Almighty, and he will help thee; thou needest not perplex thyself about any thing else; shut thine eyes, and, while thou art asleep, God will change thy bad fortune into good.  One of the blacks who understood Arabic, hearing me speak