VII 

 HASISADRA'S ADVENTURE 



[1891] 



SOME thousands of years ago there was a city in 

 Mesopotamia called Surippak. One night a 

 strange dream came to a dweller therein, whose 

 name, if rightly reported, was Hasisadra. The 

 dream foretold the speedy coming of a great 

 flood ; and it warned Hasisadra to lose no time 

 in building a ship, in which, when notice was 

 given, he, his family and friends, with their do- 

 mestic animals and a collection of wild creatures 

 and seed of plants of the land, might take refuge 

 and be rescued from destruction. Hasisadra 

 awoke, and at once acted upon the warning. A 

 strong decked ship was built, and her sides were 

 paid, inside and out, with the mineral pitch, or 

 bitumen, with which the country abounded ; the 

 vessel's seaworthiness was tested, the cargo was 

 stowed away, and a trusty pilot or steersman 

 appointed. 



