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
domestic 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.
The promised signal arrived. Wife and friends embarked;
Hasisadra, following, prudently "shut the door," or, as we
should say, put on the hatches; and Nes-Hea, the pilot, was left
alone on deck to do his best for the ship. Thereupon a hurricane
began to rage; rain fell in torrents; the subterranean waters
burst forth; a deluge swept over the land, and the wind lashed
it into waves sky high; heaven and earth became mingled in
chaotic gloom. For six days and seven nights the gale raged, but
the good ship held out until, on the seventh day, the storm
lulled. Hasisadra ventured on deck; and, seeing nothing but a
waste of waters strewed with floating corpses and wreck, wept
over the destruction of his land and people. Far away, the
mountains of Nizir were visible; the ship was steered for them
and ran aground upon the higher land.
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