Jonathan Swift - The Gulliver's Travels

      The Gulliver's Travels - Part 2

                         - Jonathan Swift

   The Emperor ordered his soldiers to search Gulliver for any dangerous thing on his person. Gulliver picked up the two royal soldiers and helped them climb on him for search. Lo! They found everything strange on him. His handkerchief was a great floor covering! His snuff box was a huge silver chest! They found the comb as big as railing in front of the royal palace! His watch could be lifted by two men on a pole on their shoulders to be shown around. The watch made a noise like a water-mill! They called Gulliver the Great Man Mountain.

The Gulliver's Travels

   Gulliver’s sword and pistol dangling from his belt attracted their attention. At the Emperor’s request, the pistol was fired. It terrorized the little men.  Both these weapons were taken away from him. Other possessions of Gulliver such as comb, knife, kerchief, notebook, snuff box were returned to him. His spectacles which were hidden inside his pocket remained with him. 

   By then, the little men from the land of Lilliput realized that he meant no harm to them. When he was resting, they would come and dance on his hand. Little boys and girls would come and play hide and seek in his hair without any fear.

   One day, the Emperor invited Gulliver to see his palace. When he reached the inner court, the Empress offered her hand to be kissed. Gulliver once again requested the Emperor to set him free. The Emperor asked Gulliver,  “To do his utmost to destroy the fleet of the Island of Blefuscu which is preparing to invade us.”

   The Royal officer then explained, “It all began with the Emperor’s great-grandfather, who was a little boy. Until then the people of Lilliput had always cut the big end of a boiled egg. One day, in doing so, the boy cut his finger. So an act was passed that all subjects should cut the smaller end of their egg. The matter has caused six rebellions. One Emperor lost his life, another his crown. Such unrests always started from the Island of Blefuscu, so that the subjects of Lilliput who did not obey the law would flee there to make their Island stronger. It is these Big Indians who were getting their ship ready to invade our lands.”

   Gulliver thought of a plan. He asked for lot of cable and iron bars. He made ropes and hooks and took it along with him to reach the Isle of Blefuscu. Gulliver roped in and hooked as many ships as he could that were anchored in the port. The little men on the ship got frightened at his sight. Many jumped from the ship into the sea. They screamed and shot arrows all over his body. He put on spectacles to save his eyes. After roping in the ships, Gulliver pulled them out into the sea towards the land of Lilliput. On seeing him at the royal port of Lilliput, the Emperor was highly pleased. He made Gulliver Nardac, second only to the Prince in rank. The Emperor then asked him to capture the rest of the enemy ships so that he could rule over Blefuscu. Gulliver was in no mood to do this. The Emperor was not pleased at this.

The Gulliver's Travels

   Three weeks later, six ambassadors and five hundred men from Blefuscu came with a peace offer to the Emperor and requested that their King would like to meet Gulliver. The Emperor gave permission reluctantly. Some high officers did not like Gulliver. They told the Emperor that Gulliver’s refusal of his earlier order was amounting to betrayal. The High Admiral disliked him for his capture of the enemy fleet. Lord High Treasurer disliked him for it took so much money to feed and clothe him. Both these high officers were jealous of Gulliver for being made a Nardac, a whole rank higher than either of them.

   One evening, a High Lord came to see Gulliver and informed about a conspiracy against him. All those against him asked the Emperor to put Gulliver to death for being a traitor. Only the Royal Secretary saved the situation by recalling his services to the kingdom. The high ups were fearful that Big-Indians might use the strength of Gulliver and declare war on Lilliput. They decided to put out his eyes.

   Now Gulliver realized that it was high time for him to leave the land of Lilliput. On seeing an opportunity, he made his way to the land of Blefuscu. He was given a royal welcome there. After a few days he came across an overturned boat. The King of Blefuscu lent him twenty ships and three thousand seamen to help set the boat upright. Five hundred men helped to make two sails. Gulliver cut down some big trees to make oars and mast.

   When Gulliver was ready to set sail, the King of Blefuscu gave a portrait of himself. Then with a boat load of oxen, sheep, cows, bullocks and so much food as a hundred cooks could provide. Gulliver finally sailed o his return journey home.

   On reaching back home he sold some cattle and others he set to graze near his home. Gulliver’s greatest joy came when he got reunited with his wife and children! This immensely pleased all.





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