The Seven Voyages of Sindbad

In the days of the Caliph Harun al-Rashid, there lived in Baghdad a poor porter called Hindbad. One day, when the weather was terribly hot, he had to carry a heavy load from one end of the city to the other. He was very tired, and he still had a long way to go. Then he came into a street where a cool wind blew in his face, and the ground had been sprinkled with rose water. He could not wish for a better place to rest, so he put down his load and sat on it, near a large and beautiful house.

He was glad that he had stopped there. A sweet smell of perfume and burning sandalwood came from the house and mixed with the smell of the rose water. He could also hear music from inside, with the songs of nightingales and other birds. The music and the smell of rich food told him that there was a great feast inside. He did not often come this way, and he did not know who owned the house. So he went to some of the servants, who stood at the gate in fine clothes, and asked the name of the owner.