DARK AGES TRUE STORY ABOUT SINBAD

DARK AGES TRUE STORY 
ABOUT SINBAD

DURING THE TIME WHEN THE ROMAN EMPIRE WAS LOST TO THE BARBARIC TRIBES IN THE WESTERN WORLD

THE EASTERN WORLD STARTED A NEW CIVILIZATION STARTED WITHE THE UMMAYADAN AND  THE ABBASID  DYNASTY OF THE ARABS...

THE CITY OF BAGHDAD BECOMES THE CENTER OF ARAB TRADING...
THE TALE OF THE ARABIAN NIGHTS OF SINBAD BECAME FAMOUS TO THE ARAB TRADERS IN SEARCH FOR EL DORADO KNOWN AS THE MOUNTAINS OF GOLD.....

It was this tale, among a thousand others, that Scheherazade told one summer night to King Shahriar. It happened in the days of the famous Caliph known as Haroun al Raschid.

Note
Abbasid caliph Harun al-Rashid (r.786-809). A contemporary of Charlemagne, his caliphate (the title caliph comes from the Arabic khalifa meaning the deputy of God on earth) stretched from modern Tunisia, through Egypt, Syria and Iraq, to Iran and ex-Soviet Central Asia. Oman, Yemen and much of modern Pakistan were in his domains  


 THE REAL NAME OF SINBAD   WAS  ALI COGIA
                                Sinbad wad just a alias name in the story

                    ALI COLIA  WAS THE MERCHANT OF BAGHDAD   

                     In the reign of Haroun-al-Raschid, there lived in Bagdad a merchant named Ali Cogia, who, having neither wife nor child, contented himself with the modest profits produced by his trade. He had spent some years quite happily in the house his father had left him, when three nights running he dreamed that an old man had appeared to him, and reproached him for having neglected the duty of a good Mussulman, in delaying so long his pilgrimage to Mecca.     
 

                                  Ali Cogia was much troubled by this dream, as he was unwilling to give up his shop, and lose all his customers. He had shut his eyes for some time to the necessity of performing this pilgrimage, and tried to atone to his conscience by an extra number of good works, but the dream seemed to him a direct warning, and he resolved to put the journey off no longer.

              The first thing he did was to sell his furniture and the wares he had in his shop, only reserving to himself such goods as he might trade with on the road. The shop itself he sold also, and easily found a tenant for his private house. The only matter he could not settle satisfactorily was the safe custody of a thousand pieces of gold which he wished to leave behind him       


                 After some thought, Ali Cogia hit upon a plan which seemed a safe one. He took a large vase, and placing the money in the bottom of it, filled up the rest with olives. After corking the vase tightly down, he carried it to one of his friends, a merchant like himself, and said to him     

                  My brother, you have probably heard that I am staffing with a caravan in a few days for Mecca. I have come to ask whether you would do me the favour to keep this vase of olives for me till I come back?"  

                   The merchant replied readily, "Look, this is the key of my shop: take it, and put the vase wherever you like. I promise that you shall find it in the same place on your return." 

                   A few days later, Ali Cogia mounted the camel that he had laden with merchandise, joined the caravan, and arrived in due time at Mecca. Like the other pilgrims he visited the sacred Mosque, and after all his religious duties were performed, he set out his goods to the best advantage, hoping to gain some customers among the passers-by.  

                    Very soon two merchants stopped before the pile, and when they had turned it over, one said to the other:   

                   "If this man was wise he would take these things to Cairo, where he would get a much better price than he is likely to do here."  Ali Cogia heard the words, and lost no time in following the advice. He packed up his wares, and instead of returning to Bagdad, joined a caravan that was going to Cairo. The results of the journey gladdened his heart. He sold off everything almost directly, and bought a stock of Egyptian curiosities, which he intended selling at Damascus; but as the caravan with which he would have to travel would not be starting for another six weeks, he took advantage of the delay to visit the Pyramids, and some of the cities along the banks of the Nile 

                   Now the attractions of Damascus so fascinated the worthy Ali, that he could hardly tear himself away, but at length he remembered that he had a home in Bagdad, meaning to return by way of Aleppo, and after he had crossed the Euphrates, to follow the course of the Tigris 

                   But when he reached Mossoul, Ali had made such friends with some Persian merchants, that they persuaded him to accompany them to their native land, and even as far as India, and so it came to pass that seven years had slipped by since he had left Bagdad, and during all that time the friend with whom he had left the vase of olives had never once thought of him or of it. In fact, it was only a month before Ali Cogia's actual return that the affair came into his head at all, owing to his wife's remarking one day, that it was a long time since she had eaten any olives, and would like some. 

                   "That reminds me," said the husband, "that before Ali Cogia went to Mecca seven years ago, he left a vase of olives in my care. But really by this time he must be dead, and there is no reason we should not eat the olives if we like. Give me a light, and I will fetch them and see how they taste." 

                    "My husband," answered the wife, "beware, I pray, of your doing anything so base! Supposing seven years have passed without news of Ali Cogia, he need not be dead for all that, and may come back any day. How shameful it would be to have to confess that you had betrayed your trust and broken the seal of the vase! Pay no attention to my idle words, I really have no desire for olives now. And probably after all this while they are no longer good. I have a presentiment that Ali Cogia will return, and what will he think of you? Give it up, I entreat."
                    
                   The merchant, however, refused to listen to her advice, sensible though it was. He took a light and a dish and went into his shop
                   "If you will be so obstinate," said his wife, "I cannot help it; but do not blame me if it turns out ill."
                 
                  When the merchant opened the vase he found the topmost olives were rotten, and in order to see if the under ones were in better condition he shook some out into the dish. As they fell out a few of the gold pieces fell out too

                  The sight of the money roused all the merchant's greed. He looked into the vase, and saw that all the bottom was filled with gold. He then replaced the olives and returned to his wife 
                                      

            A few days later, Ali Cogia mounted the camel that he had laden with merchandise, joined the caravan, and arrived in due time at Mecca. Like the other pilgrims he visited the sacred Mosque, and after all his religious duties were performed, he set out his goods to the best advantage, hoping to gain some customers among the passers-by.

                     A month later Ali Cogia re-entered Bagdad, and as his house was still let he went to an inn; and the following day set out to see his friend the merchant, who received him with open arms and many expressions of surprise. After a few moments given to inquiries Ali Cogia begged the merchant to hand him over the vase that he had taken care of for so long

                  Oh certainly," said he, "I am only glad I could be of use to you in the matter. Here is the key of my shop; you will find the vase in the place where you put it."
 THE VOYAGE OF ALI COGIA TO THE FAR EAST BETOND THE LANDS AND WATERS OF INDIA AND THE SO CALLEDKINGDOM OF  KHAM BO JA       
IT WAS TOLD THAT THE FAR MOST EAST FROM KHAMBOJA WAS THE LANDS CALLED MALAKKU  IN THE SANSKIT LANGUAGEIN THOSE LANDS THE EL DORADO OR THE  MOUNTAIN OF GOLD CAN BE FOUND BEFORE REACHING THE AUSTRALIS    OR THE  SO CALLED THE SOUTHERN LAND 

        YET BEFORE GOING TO TH SAID PLACE WE HAVE TO VISIT THE SO CALLED   SULTAN OF SULU AND ALSOTO PAY RESPECT TO THE  THE SRI , THE KING OF THEVISHAYA  KINGDOM OF  KHAMBO JA   SO THAT WE CAN BE GUIDED .... some dangerous  cannibals CAcalled  MAGAJAT  LOCALLY KNOWN AS WAK WAK that were residing in those islands  . these cannibals were the remnants of the heathens that live in the Aztec kingdom of Montezuma where they eat  ntrails of human bodies icluding the heart as offering to the sun god these cannibals came to settle in the pacific islands as well as in Malakkuempire  inclulding the so called  babuyan islands where the mountains of gold can be found...  

                 Moreover, as I was still in the prime of life, it pleased me better to be up and doing. So once more providing myself with the rarest and choicest merchandise of Bagdad, I conveyed it to Balsora, and set sail with other merchants of my acquaintance for distant lands. We had touched at many ports and made much profit, when one day upon the open sea we were caught by a terrible wind which blew us completely out of our reckoning, and lasting for several days finally drove us into harbour on a strange island

             "I would rather have come to anchor anywhere than here," quoth our captain. "This island and all adjoining it are inhabited by hairy savages, who are certain to attack us, and whatever these dwarfs may do we dare not resist, since they swarm like locusts, and if one of them is killed the rest will fall upon us, and speedily make an end of us."

                These words caused great consternation among all the ship's company, and only too soon we were to find out that the captain spoke truly. There appeared a vast multitude of hideous savages, not more than two feet high and covered with reddish fur. Throwing themselves into the waves they surrounded our vessel. Chattering meanwhile in a language we could not understand, and clutching at ropes and gangways, 
                 Turning away from the sea we wandered miserably inland, finding as we went various herbs and fruits which we ate, feeling that we might as well live as long as possible though we had no hope of escape. Presently we saw in the far distance what seemed to us to be a splendid palace, towards which we turned our weary steps, but when we reached it we saw that it was a castle, lofty, and strongly built. Pushing back the heavy ebony doors we entered the courtyard, but upon the threshold of the great hall beyond it we paused, frozen with horror, at the sight which greeted us. On one side lay a huge pile of bones--human bones, and on the other numberless spits for roasting! Overcome with despair we sank trembling to the ground, and lay there without speech or motion. The sun was setting when a loud noise aroused us, the door of the hall was violently burst open and a horrible giant entered. He was as tall as a palm tree, and perfectly black, and had one eye, which flamed like a burning coal in the middle of his forehead. His teeth were long and sharp and grinned horribly, while his lower lip hung down upon his chest, and he had ears like elephant's ears, which covered his shoulders, and nails like the claws of some fierce GIANT MONKEY

                       When at last we came to ourselves the giant  MONKEY THEY CALLED ALIWAS  sat examining us attentively with his fearful eye. Presently when he had looked at us enough he came towards us, and stretching out his hand took me by the back of the neck, turning me this way and that, but feeling that I was mere skin and bone he set me down again and went on to the next, whom he treated in the same fashion; at last he came to the captain, and finding him the fattest of us all, he took him up in one hand and stuck him upon a spit and proceeded to kindle a huge fire at which he presently roasted him. After the giant had supped he lay down to sleep, snoring like the loudest thunder, while we lay shivering with horror the whole night through, and when day broke he awoke and went out, leaving us in the castle.   

       
When we believed him to be really gone we started up bemoaning our horrible fate, until the hall echoed with our despairing cries. Though we were many and our enemy was alone it did not occur to us to kill him, and indeed we should have found that a hard task, even if we had thought of it, and no plan could we devise to deliver ourselves. So at last, submitting to our sad fate, we spent the day in wandering up and down the island eating such fruits as we could find, and when night came we returned to the castle, having sought in vain for any other place of shelter. At sunset the giant returned, supped upon one of our unhappy comrades, slept and snored till dawn, and then left us as before. Our condition seemed to us so frightful that several of my companions thought it would be better to leap from the cliffs and perish in the waves at once, rather than await so miserable an end; but I had a plan of escape which I now unfolded to them, and which they at once agreed to attempt.
"Listen, my brothers," I added. "You know that plenty of driftwood lies along the shore. Let us make several rafts, and carry them to a suitable place. If our
                                        

                
          


         I must tell you, noble gentlemen, about that the tale of the roc . After all the dangers, misery and distress I had to endure, the sea devil induced my poor tortured soul to recount the adventure of the extraordinary roc bird and its egg to a group of my Baghdad friends - the evil spirit was obviously determined not to give me up. My tale was received with scepticism, which was deeply wounding to my pride and vanity. I equipped a large tall newly rigged ship, and challenged the doubters to accompany me to the island so that I could convince them there and then of the truth of my words. When we arrived at the bleak desert island, we could see from afar the gleaming dome: the egg of the roc bird. My friends and guests, the merchants, disembarked and, although they were full of amazement, they were still not convinced that such a huge bird could exist which would be capable of laying an egg of that size. They rather thought that this shimmering round object was a freak of nature. Therefore they wantonly began to bombard the shell of the egg with large stones until it broke.        
                I beseech you: stop, for heavens' sake! The roc bird will wreck out ship and destroy us!" I appealed to them. But they did not heed my words and could not be brought to desist from their foolish plan. All at once the sun disappeared and the skies darkened. As soon as we raised our eyes to see what had come between us and the sun, we saw that it was the roc bird with its huge wings. When the airborn monster saw that its egg had been broken, it uttered a terrible scream which echoed loudeer than thunder. Everybody fled in panic to my ship. But it was too late. We had hardly reefed the sails when the bird appeared over us, a colossal piece of rock in its claws. img "Air-raid" It hurled the rock with such force on to the stern of our ship that we were catapulted into the air together with the planks of our smashed vessel; the impact drove the water assunder so that for a moment we could see the bottom of the ocean. I was the only person who managed with great difficulty to keep hold of a plank of wood and thus save myself.      

         My lucky star brought me to an island resembling the Garden of Eden with its shimmering fruit trees, flowers, clear streams and warbling birds. Little did I know what new trials awaited me here. Close by I saw a little old mal with long grey hair sitting on the bank of a strem: the colour of his skin was green like the unripe fruit of a banana tree. He indicated to me that he wanted to cross to the other side of the stream. As I felt sorry for the old man, I took him up on my back intending to carry him over. But no sooner had I lifted him up than the scoundrel sat on my shoulders, his legs so firmly around my throat that I was unable to breathe and I was afraid I was about to lose consciousness.


 
              the sea devil has now trapped me and got me in his claws. At that moment I stumbled over a big round fruit. I recognised it at once as one whose juice has an intoxicating effect. I fell to the ground as though in a faint, but in my fall seized hold of the pumpkin and took a big drink out of it. The green monster on my shoulders that was trying to strangle me at once wanted the fruit and drank the rest of the juice. Very soon it fell off me and lay on the ground in a deep sleep - and I was saved. Not long after this my miraculous escape, a ship arrived at the island which took me on board. The passengers had me tell my story and were most astonished. - "The old green man who sat on your shoulders," they said, "is called the Sheik of the Seas, and you are the only person who was ridden by him who has succeeded in escaping with his life."        

                     After weeks at sea under good conditions we reached a city with high buildings called the City of Monkeys because there were so many monkeys in the area that they actually caome into the city and pestered the inhabitants. In this City of Monkeys there was a prosperous trade in coconuts. The residents had a strange manner of taking possession of the goods
            They would throw stones at the top of the palm trees on which the monkeys were sitting; these became so annoyed that they picked off the coconuts and threw them down at the people below, who then only had to collect the valuable booty. As I was destitute, I took an active part in this business. Day and night I threw stones at the monkeys and accumulated an impressive harvest, which I sold for a considerable sum of money. I was now able to purchase everything which pleased me and which I wanted, and therefore had a pleasant stay in the City of the Monkeys. I took the next ship which cast its anchor on the strand to return to Baghdad. Once I had arrived, I went to greet my family and friends and told them that the doubters who had accompanied me had fallen victim to their distrust and scepticism and that they had been destroyed by the roc bird itself.     .