base of the rock without any beach, at sight of which a desperate chance of escape struck his mind:  this was, to throw himself from the precipice into the ocean, in hopes, should he survive the fall and rise to the surface, he might reach land.  He commended himself to God, shut his eyes, held in his breath, and giving a desperate spring, plunged headlong into the dreadful abyss, which providentially received him unhurt, and a friendly wave drove him on shore; where, however, he remained some minutes in a lifeless stupor, owing to the rapidity of his descent from the brain-sickening precipice.

When his senses returned Mazin looked wildly around him, at first scarcely able to bear the light from the recollection of the dizzy eminence from which he had plunged; and an uneasy interval elapsed before he could persuade himself that the certainty of death was past.  Convinced at length of this, he prostrated himself to the earth, and exclaimed, “In God alone is our refuge and support!  I thought I should have perished, but his providence has sustained me.”  He then wept exceedingly, entreated forgiveness of his offences, read several passages from the Koran, which he had preserved in his vestband, repeated the whole of his rosary, and besought the intercession of the prophet for his deliverance from future dangers.  After this he walked onwards till evening, the fruits of the forest his food, his drink the water of the streams, and his resting place the green turf.  Such was his progress, that after three days he reached the spot under the mountain where he had been taken up by the roc in the camel’s skin.  He now recognized the road he had come; and after measuring back his steps for nine days, beheld on the last the superb palace, concerning which he had inquired of the magician, who had informed him it was inhabited by evil genii, his most bitter enemies.

For some time Mazin hesitated whether he should advance to the gates of the palace; but considering that no greater calamity could happen to him than he had already endured, he contemned danger, and boldly advanced to a grand lodge built of white marble exquisitely polished.  He entered, and beheld on one of the raised platforms which skirted the passage into the court two beautiful damsels playing at the game of chess; one of whom on beholding him exclaimed, “Surely, sister, this is the young man who passed this way about a month ago with Bharam the magician?” “I am he!” exclaimed Mazin, at the same time throwing himself at her feet, “and entreat your hospitable protection.”  The lady, raising him from the ground, said, “Stranger, you resemble so much a once beloved brother, that I feel inclined to adopt thee as such, if my sister will also agree to do so.”  The other lady readily assented.  They then embraced Mazin, seated him between them, and requested to be informed of his adventures, of which he gave them a true narration.