The Arabian Nights, Part 13 summary

What happens

1. Sinbad grows tired of leisure, sails with merchants, and misses the ship after falling asleep on an island.
2. He ties himself to a roc’s leg and reaches a steep-sided valley filled with diamonds and enormous serpents.
3. After a fearful night, he sees falling meat and recognizes the merchants’ method of retrieving diamonds with eagles.
4. He gathers diamonds, ties himself to meat, and reaches an eagle’s nest, where a merchant initially accuses him of theft.
5. The merchants welcome him, and the merchant whose nest receives him accepts only the smallest diamond as his share.
6. Sinbad trades on Roha, returns through Bussorah to Bagdad, gives to the poor, and rewards Hindbad after finishing his account.

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What to notice

Fear makes valuable stones seem unimportant. The line distinguishes immediate safety from the desire for riches that brings Sinbad back to sea.

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