Gulliver’s discontent with being on this Flying Island increases, and so he is lowered to Balnibarbi where he visits Munodi, at one time the Governor of the city of Lagado. Munodi shows Gulliver around the island—and a most unusual island it proves to be. Except for Munodi’s estate, which is flourishing and green, the land is completely eroded and barren. Munodi explains that everything changed after several people visited Laputa. These travelers came back dissatisfied with the way things were and established an “academy of PROJECTORS,” the objective of the academy being to change the direction of all “arts, sciences, languages and mechanics” and “to contrive new rules and methods of agriculture and building.” But none of their plans ever worked. Now the land is unproductive. Munodi’s fields are bountiful because he follows the customs of his ancestors.
