Story

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Chapter: 18. The Second Voyage

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Literary Appreciation

“The Second Voyage of Sinbad the Sailor,” taken from the timeless collection The Arabian Nights (also known as One Thousand and One Nights), is a fantastic example of a classic adventure folk tale. These stories, with their roots in the Middle East, weave together magic, daring feats, and encounters with mythical creatures, captivating readers across generations. What makes them so special is their enduring appeal, passed down verbally for centuries before being written, connecting us to ancient cultures and their understanding of bravery, luck, and the vast unknown world. This particular tale exemplifies the human spirit of exploration and resilience, proving that even when faced with impossible odds, quick thinking and courage can lead to extraordinary outcomes and great fortune.

Summary of the Story

“The Second Voyage” tells the exciting tale of Sinbad, a wealthy merchant from Baghdad who, despite his comforts, feels an irresistible pull to explore new lands and trade goods. He sets sail with other merchants but is accidentally left behind on a beautiful, uninhabited island after falling asleep from the scent of giant flowers. Stranded and alone, Sinbad discovers a colossal white dome, which he soon realizes is the egg of a mythical giant bird called a Roc. Resourcefully, he ties himself to the Roc’s leg and is carried high into the sky before being dropped into a deep valley. This valley is not only filled with enormous diamonds but also dangerous giant snakes that emerge at night. Remembering stories, Sinbad uses a clever trick: he ties himself to a large piece of meat that merchants throw into the valley to retrieve diamonds via large birds. A bird picks him up, carrying him out of the valley to a hilltop where other merchants are waiting. Sinbad surprises them, shares his incredible story, sells his diamonds, and eventually returns to Baghdad, richer than ever, though with a hint that his adventurous spirit will call him back to sea again.

Detailed Explanation of Each Scene

Scene 1: The Lure of Adventure and Departure Sinbad, having returned from his first voyage and settled into a comfortable life in Baghdad, finds himself restless. Despite his wealth and a beautiful home, the desire to travel, see new cities, and engage in trade in faraway lands becomes too strong to ignore. He diligently prepares for a new journey, filling many boxes with the finest goods from Baghdad. He then boards a new, magnificent ship with other merchants, eager to embark on his next adventure. This scene sets the stage, highlighting Sinbad’s inherent adventurous spirit.

Scene 2: Stranded on the Island After a long journey at sea, the ship arrives at a stunning island that appears to be uninhabited. While some sailors venture off to collect water and merchants explore the land, Sinbad joins them. Drawn by their beauty, he wanders deep into the trees to admire very large, fragrant flowers. The powerful scent of these flowers is so overwhelming that it lulls him into a deep sleep. When he wakes, he is completely alone. His ship has sailed away, leaving him stranded. Initially, Sinbad feels immense regret and foolishness for leaving his comfortable home, but he quickly shifts his mindset from despair to determination, deciding it’s “foolish to cry out and do nothing.” He reaches the shore to assess his situation.

Scene 3: Discovery of the Roc’s Egg As Sinbad scans the horizon, he spots his ship disappearing in the distance. On the island itself, apart from trees, he sees only one distinct, non-green object: a massive white, round dome-like structure far away. Driven by curiosity and hope, he walks for many hours towards it, reaching it by evening. He realizes it’s an enormous egg. As he examines it, a colossal shadow suddenly blocks out the sun. Looking up, he sees an enormous bird—the legendary Roc (or Rukh), a creature so massive that sailors’ tales claim it feeds elephants to its young. Sinbad correctly deduces that he has found a Roc’s egg and watches as the giant bird settles on it to sleep. He hopes this majestic creature might offer a way to escape the desolate island.

Scene 4: The Flight with the Roc and Landing in the Valley With a daring plan, Sinbad removes his turban, ties one end firmly around the Roc’s leg (which is as thick as a tree), and waits for dawn. As morning breaks, the Roc takes flight, carrying Sinbad high into the sky. After a long flight, it descends into a vast valley, enclosed by hills that resemble immense walls. The Roc lands near an enormous snake and carries it away. Sinbad quickly hides by a large stone, grateful to have survived the ride. He then surveys his new surroundings, only to realize that the valley’s steep, wall-like sides offer no obvious way out.

Scene 5: The Valley of Diamonds and Night’s Dangers Sinbad discovers that the entire floor of the valley is covered in glistening, very large, and beautiful diamonds. However, his immediate concern isn’t the riches but finding a way to escape this enclosed space. As night falls, a new danger emerges: huge snakes begin to slither out of their holes. Fortunately, Sinbad spots a small cave. He quickly runs inside and uses a large stone to block the mouth of the cave, securing himself from the predatory snakes until morning. This scene highlights Sinbad’s quick thinking and survival instincts.

Scene 6: The Clever Escape from the Valley In the morning, Sinbad emerges from the cave, determined to find an escape route. Suddenly, a huge piece of raw meat, red from knife cuts, thumps onto the ground near him, landing on the diamonds. Sinbad remembers the tales of the Valley of Diamonds: merchants, unable to descend, throw chunks of meat into the valley. Diamonds stick to the meat, which is then carried out by large birds to feed their young on the hills. The merchants then scare the birds away to collect the diamonds. A brilliant idea strikes Sinbad: “A bird brought me here, so, a bird can take me away.” He fills his food bag with the biggest and best diamonds he can find. Then, he ties one end of his turban around his body and the other end around the largest piece of meat, lying on his back with the meat on top. After a while, a great bird swoops down, grabs the meat (and Sinbad), and flies out of the valley.

Scene 7: Reunion with Merchants and Return to Riches The bird carries Sinbad to the top of a hill on the valley’s side, where its young are waiting. To Sinbad’s surprise and relief, merchants are also waiting there. They make a loud noise, scaring the bird away, expecting to collect diamonds from the meat. Sinbad, covered in red meat and shaken but alive, stands up. The merchants are initially petrified, thinking he is some monster, but Sinbad reassures them. He explains his miraculous escape from the Valley of Diamonds and offers them some of the magnificent diamonds he has collected. Astonished and delighted, they welcome him. They acknowledge his extraordinary fortune, noting that no one has ever returned from that valley before. The merchants help him sell his diamonds, making him even richer, and arrange passage on a ship back to his homeland.

Scene 8: Return to Baghdad and Future Hints Finally, Sinbad arrives back in Baghdad, a truly rich man, possessing the largest and most valuable diamonds, along with other goods. He reflects on his journey, telling himself that he will now stay at home in his beautiful house, enjoy his immense wealth, and spend time with his friends, vowing never to go to sea again. However, the story ends with a tantalizing hint: “But I did go to sea again. I will tell you about my third voyage another day.” This final line reveals that Sinbad’s adventurous spirit is too strong to be contained, promising more thrilling adventures to come.

Theme and Moral of the Story

Themes:

Adventure and Exploration: The story highlights the irresistible human desire to explore the unknown, even at great personal risk. Sinbad’s wanderlust is the driving force behind his voyages.

Resilience and Resourcefulness: Sinbad faces seemingly impossible situations – being stranded, confronting a Roc, surviving in a valley of snakes – yet he never gives up. He uses his intelligence and creativity to devise clever escape plans, demonstrating the power of adaptability and quick thinking.

Fortune and Fate: While Sinbad’s efforts are crucial, a significant element of luck (or fate) plays a role in his survival and eventual immense wealth. The chance encounter with the Roc, the discovery of the diamonds, and the arrival of the merchants all contribute to his extraordinary fortune.

The Wonders of the World: The tale introduces fantastical elements like the giant Roc and the Valley of Diamonds, showcasing the imaginative richness of ancient folk tales and the idea that the world is full of incredible, awe-inspiring, and sometimes dangerous wonders.

Moral:

The moral of “The Second Voyage of Sinbad the Sailor” is that even in the face of daunting challenges and despair, one should never lose hope or stop using their intelligence and resourcefulness. Sinbad’s ability to remain calm, observe his surroundings, and recall past knowledge to formulate ingenious solutions (tying himself to the Roc, then to the meat) is what ultimately saves him and leads him to unimaginable wealth. It teaches us that difficulties can become opportunities for incredible gains if approached with courage, ingenuity, and a never-say-die attitude.

Author Spotlight

“The Arabian Nights,” from which “The Second Voyage of Sinbad the Sailor” originates, is not the creation of a single author. Instead, it is a magnificent collection of Middle Eastern and South Asian folk tales, myths, and legends that evolved over many centuries through oral tradition. Imagine storytellers in bustling marketplaces, passing down these incredible adventures from generation to generation, with each telling perhaps adding a new twist or detail.

While the precise origins are unknown, the oldest fragments date back to the 9th century. Various editors and translators have compiled and shaped the collection over time. One of the most famous figures associated with The Arabian Nights in the Western world is Antoine Galland, a French orientalist who produced the first European version of the tales in the early 18th century, introducing beloved characters like Aladdin, Ali Baba, and, of course, Sinbad the Sailor, to a global audience.

The true “authors” of The Arabian Nights are the countless anonymous storytellers who kept these vibrant narratives alive, celebrating the spirit of adventure, wisdom, and imagination across cultures and centuries. Their collective artistry has ensured that these tales continue to enchant and inspire readers of all ages, proving the power of storytelling itself.

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