"'Having deposited the packages upon the sands, we sat down
beneath some trees, and looked out into the ocean in the hope of
perceiving a ship, but during several hours we saw none whatever. At
length I fancied that I could hear a singular buzzing or humming
sound; and the porter, after listening awhile, declared that he also
could distinguish it. Presently it grew louder, and then still louder,
so that we could have no doubt that the object which caused it was
approaching us. At length, on the edge of the horizon, we discovered a
black speck, which rapidly increased in size until we made it out to
be a vast monster, swimming with a great part of its body above the
surface of the sea. It came toward us with inconceivable swiftness,
throwing up huge waves of foam around its breast, and illuminating all
that part of the sea through which it passed, with a long line of fire
that extended far off into the distance.
"'As the thing drew near we saw it very distinctly. Its length was
equal to that of three of the loftiest trees that grow, and it was
as wide as the great hall of audience in your palace, O most sublime
and munificent of the Caliphs.
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