because I had not a word to offer upon them in defence of my
species, which otherwise I certainly had done from my own
inclinations. But I could have easily vindicated humankind from
the imputation of singularity upon the last article, if there had
been any swine in that country (as unluckily for me there were
not), which, although it may be a sweeter quadruped than a
YAHOO, cannot, I humbly conceive, in justice, pretend to more
cleanliness; and so his honour himself must have owned, if he had
seen their filthy way of feeding, and their custom of wallowing
and sleeping in the mud.
My master likewise mentioned another quality which his servants
had discovered in several Yahoos, and to him was wholly
unaccountable. He said, "a fancy would sometimes take a
YAHOO to retire into a corner, to lie down, and howl, and groan,
and spurn away all that came near him, although he were young
and fat, wanted neither food nor water, nor did the servant
imagine what could possibly ail him. And the only remedy they
found was, to set him to hard work, after which he would
infallibly come to himself." To this I was silent out of partiality to
my own kind; yet here I could plainly discover the true seeds of
spleen, which only seizes on the lazy, the luxurious, and the rich;
who, if they were forced to undergo the same regimen, I would
undertake for the cure.
His honour had further observed, "that a female YAHOO would
often stand behind a bank or a bush, to gaze on the young males
passing by, and then appear, and hide, using many antic gestures
and grimaces, at which time it was observed that she had a most.
offensive smell; and when any of the males advanced, would
slowly retire, looking often back, and with a counterfeit show of
fear, run off into some convenient place, where she knew the male
would follow her.
"At other times, if a female stranger came among them, three or
four of her own sex would get about her, and stare, and chatter,
and grin, and smell her all over; and then turn off with gestures,
that seemed to express contempt and disdain."
Perhaps my master might refine a little in these speculations,
which he had drawn from what he observed himself, or had been
told him by others; however, I could not reflect without some
amazement, and much sorrow, that the rudiments of lewdness,
coquetry, censure, and scandal, should have place by instinct in
womankind.
I expected every moment that my master would accuse the
YAHOOS of those unnatural appetites in both sexes, so common
among us. But nature, it seems, has not been so expert a school-mistress;
and these politer pleasures are entirely the productions
of art and reason on our side of the globe..
[The author relates several particulars of the YAHOOS. The great
virtues of the HOUYHNHNMS. The education and exercise of
their youth. Their general assembly.]
As I ought to have understood human nature much better than I
supposed it possible for my master to do, so it was easy to apply
the character he gave of the YAHOOS to myself and my
countrymen; and I believed I could yet make further discoveries,
from my own observation. I therefore often begged his honour to
let me go among the herds of YAHOOS in the neighbourhood; to
which he always very graciously consented, being perfectly
convinced that the hatred I bore these brutes would never suffer
me to be corrupted by them; and his honour ordered one of his
servants, a strong sorrel nag, very honest and good-natured, to be
my guard; without whose protection I durst not undertake such
adventures. For I have already told the reader how much I was
pestered by these odious animals, upon my first arrival; and I
afterwards failed very narrowly, three or four times, of falling into
their clutches, when I happened to stray at any distance without
my hanger. And I have reason to believe they had some
imagination that I was of their own species, which I often assisted
myself by stripping up my sleeves, and showing my naked arms
and breasts in their sight, when my protector was with me. At.
which times they would approach as near as they durst, and
imitate my actions after the manner of monkeys, but ever with
great signs of hatred; as a tame jackdaw with cap and stockings is
always persecuted by the wild ones, when he happens to be got
among them.
They are prodigiously nimble from their infancy. However, I once
caught a young male of three years old, and endeavoured, by all
marks of tenderness, to make it quiet; but the little imp fell a
squalling, and scratching, and biting with such violence, that I was
forced to let it go; and it was high time, for a whole troop of old
ones came about us at the noise, but finding the cub was safe (for
away it ran), and my sorrel nag being by, they durst not venture
near us. I observed the young animal's flesh to smell very rank,
and the stink was somewhat between a weasel and a fox, but much
more disagreeable. I forgot another circumstance (and perhaps I
might have the reader's pardon if it were wholly omitted), that
while I held the odious vermin in my hands, it voided its filthy
excrements of a yellow liquid substance all over my clothes; but
by good fortune there was a small brook hard by, where I washed
myself as clean as I could; although I durst not come into my
master's presence until I were sufficiently aired.
By what I could discover, the YAHOOS appear to be the most
unteachable of all animals: their capacity never reaching higher
than to draw or carry burdens. Yet I am of opinion, this defect
arises chiefly from a perverse, restive disposition; for they are
cunning, malicious, treacherous, and revengeful. They are strong
and hardy, but of a cowardly spirit, and, by consequence, insolent,.
abject, and cruel. It is observed, that the red haired of both sexes
are more libidinous and mischievous than the rest, whom yet they
much exceed in strength and activity.
The HOUYHNHNMS keep the YAHOOS for present use in huts
not far from the house; but the rest are sent abroad to certain
fields, where they dig up roots, eat several kinds of herbs, and
search about for carrion, or sometimes catch weasels and
LUHIMUHS (a sort of wild rat), which they greedily devour.
Nature has taught them to dig deep holes with their nails on the
side of a rising ground, wherein they lie by themselves; only the
kennels of the females are larger, sufficient to hold two or three
cubs.
They swim from their infancy like frogs, and are able to continue
long under water, where they often take fish, which the females
carry home to their young. And, upon this occasion, I hope the
reader will pardon my relating an odd adventure.
Being one day abroad with my protector the sorrel nag, and the
weather exceeding hot, I entreated him to let me bathe in a river
that was near. He consented, and I immediately stripped myself
stark naked, and went down softly into the stream. It happened
that a young female YAHOO, standing behind a bank, saw the
whole proceeding, and inflamed by desire, as the nag and I
conjectured, came running with all speed, and leaped into the
water, within five yards of the place where I bathed. I was never in
my life so terribly frightened. The nag was grazing at some
distance, not suspecting any harm. She embraced me after a most.
fulsome manner. I roared as loud as I could, and the nag came
galloping towards me, whereupon she quitted her grasp, with the
utmost reluctancy, and leaped upon the opposite bank, where she
stood gazing and howling all the time I was putting on my clothes.
This was a matter of diversion to my master and his family, as
well as of mortification to myself. For now I could no longer deny
that I was a real YAHOO in every limb and feature, since the
females had a natural propensity to me, as one of their own
species. Neither was the hair of this brute of a red colour (which
might have been some excuse for an appetite a little irregular), but
black as a sloe, and her countenance did not make an appearance
altogether so hideous as the rest of her kind; for I think she could
not be above eleven years old.
Having lived three years in this country, the reader, I suppose, will
expect that I should, like other travellers, give him some account
of the manners and customs of its inhabitants, which it was indeed
my principal study to learn.
As these noble HOUYHNHNMS are endowed by nature with a
general disposition to all virtues, and have no conceptions or ideas
of what is evil in a rational creature, so their grand maxim is, to
cultivate reason, and to be wholly governed by it. Neither is
reason among them a point problematical, as with us, where men
can argue with plausibility on both sides of the question, but
strikes you with immediate conviction; as it must needs do, where
it is not mingled, obscured, or discoloured, by passion and
interest. I remember it was with extreme difficulty that I could.
bring my master to understand the meaning of the word opinion,
or how a point could be disputable; because reason taught us to
affirm or deny only where we are certain; and beyond our
knowledge we cannot do either. So that controversies, wranglings,
disputes, and positiveness, in false or dubious propositions, are
evils unknown among the HOUYHNHNMS. In the like manner,
when I used to explain to him our several systems of natural
philosophy, he would laugh, "that a creature pretending to reason,
should value itself upon the knowledge of other people's
conjectures, and in things where that knowledge, if it were certain,
could be of no use." Wherein he agreed entirely with the
sentiments of Socrates, as Plato delivers them; which I mention as
the highest honour I can do that prince of philosophers -I have
often since reflected, what destruction such doctrine would make
in the libraries of Europe; and how many paths of fame would be
then shut up in the learned world.
Friendship and benevolence are the two principal virtues among
the HOUYHNHNMS; and these not confined to particular
objects, but universal to the whole race; for a stranger from the
remotest part is equally treated with the nearest neighbour, and
wherever he goes, looks upon himself as at home. They preserve
decency and civility in the highest degrees, but are altogether
ignorant of ceremony. They have no fondness for their colts or
foals, but the care they take in educating them proceeds entirely
from the dictates of reason. And I observed my master to show the
same affection to his neighbour's issue, that he had for his own..
They will have it that nature teaches them to love the whole
species, and it is reason only that makes a distinction of persons,
where there is a superior degree of virtue.
When the matron HOUYHNHNMS have produced one of each
sex, they no longer accompany with their consorts, except they
lose one of their issue by some casualty, which very seldom
happens; but in such a case they meet again; or when the like
accident befalls a person whose wife is past bearing, some other
couple bestow on him one of their own colts, and then go together
again until the mother is pregnant. This caution is necessary, to
prevent the country from being overburdened with numbers. But
the race of inferior HOUYHNHNMS, bred up to be servants, is
not so strictly limited upon this article: these are allowed to
produce three of each sex, to be domestics in the noble families.
In their marriages, they are exactly careful to choose such colours
as will not make any disagreeable mixture in the breed. Strength
is chiefly valued in the male, and comeliness in the female; not
upon the account of love, but to preserve the race from
degenerating; for where a female happens to excel in strength, a
consort is chosen, with regard to comeliness.
Courtship, love, presents, jointures, settlements have no place in
their thoughts, or terms whereby to express them in their
language. The young couple meet, and are joined, merely because
it is the determination of their parents and friends; it is what they
see done every day, and they look upon it as one of the necessary
actions of a reasonable being. But the violation of marriage, or.
any other unchastity, was never heard of; and the married pair
pass their lives with the same friendship and mutual benevolence,
that they bear to all others of the same species who come in their
way, without jealousy, fondness, quarrelling, or discontent.
In educating the youth of both sexes, their method is admirable,
and highly deserves our imitation. These are not suffered to taste a
grain of oats, except upon certain days, till eighteen years old; nor
milk, but very rarely; and in summer they graze two hours in the
morning, and as many in the evening, which their parents likewise
observe; but the servants are not allowed above half that time, and
a great part of their grass is brought home, which they eat at the
most convenient hours, when they can be best spared from work.
Temperance, industry, exercise, and cleanliness, are the lessons
equally enjoined to the young ones of both sexes: and my master
thought it monstrous in us, to give the females a different kind of
education from the males, except in some articles of domestic
management; whereby, as he truly observed, one half of our
natives were good for nothing but bringing children into the
world; and to trust the care of our children to such useless
animals, he said, was yet a greater instance of brutality.
But the HOUYHNHNMS train up their youth to strength, speed,
and hardiness, by exercising them in running races up and down
steep hills, and over hard stony grounds; and when they are all in a
sweat, they are ordered to leap over head and ears into a pond or
river. Four times a year the youth of a certain district meet to show
their proficiency in running and leaping, and other feats of.
strength and agility; where the victor is rewarded with a song in
his or her praise. On this festival, the servants drive a herd of
YAHOOS into the field, laden with hay, and oats, and milk, for a
repast to the HOUYHNHNMS; after which, these brutes are
immediately driven back again, for fear of being noisome to the
assembly.
Every fourth year, at the vernal equinox, there is a representative
council of the whole nation, which meets in a plain about twenty
miles from our house, and continues about five or six days. Here
they inquire into the state and condition of the several districts;
whether they abound or be deficient in hay or oats, or cows, or
YAHOOS; and wherever there is any want (which is but seldom)
it is immediately supplied by unanimous consent and
contribution. Here likewise the regulation of children is settled: as
for instance, if a HOUYHNHNM has two males, he changes one
of them with another that has two females; and when a child has
been lost by any casualty, where the mother is past breeding, it is
determined what family in the district shall breed another to
supply the loss..
[A grand debate at the general assembly of the HOUYHNHNMS,
and how it was determined. The learning of the
HOUYHNHNMS. Their buildings. Their manner of burials. The
defectiveness of their language.]
One of these grand assemblies was held in my time, about three
months before my departure, whither my master went as the
representative of our district. In this council was resumed their old
debate, and indeed the only debate that ever happened in their
country; whereof my master, after his return, give me a very
particular account.
The question to be debated was, "whether the YAHOOS should be
exterminated from the face of the earth?" One of the members for
the affirmative offered several arguments of great strength and
weight, alleging, "that as the YAHOOS were the most filthy,
noisome, and deformed animals which nature ever produced, so
they were the most restive and indocible, mischievous and
malicious; they would privately suck the teats of the
HOUYHNHNMS' cows, kill and devour their cats, trample down
their oats and grass, if they were not continually watched, and
commit a thousand other extravagancies." He took notice of a
general tradition, "that YAHOOS had not been always in their.
country; but that many ages ago, two of these brutes appeared
together upon a mountain; whether produced by the heat of the
sun upon corrupted mud and slime, or from the ooze and froth of
the sea, was never known; that these YAHOOS engendered, and
their brood, in a short time, grew so numerous as to overrun and
infest the whole nation; that the HOUYHNHNMS, to get rid of
this evil, made a general hunting, and at last enclosed the whole
herd; and destroying the elder, every HOUYHNHNM kept two
young ones in a kennel, and brought them to such a degree of
tameness, as an animal, so savage by nature, can be capable of
acquiring, using them for draught and carriage; that there seemed
to be much truth in this tradition, and that those creatures could
not be YINHNIAMSHY (or ABORIGINES of the land), because
of the violent hatred the HOUYHNHNMS, as well as all other
animals, bore them, which, although their evil disposition
sufficiently deserved, could never have arrived at so high a degree
if they had been ABORIGINES, or else they would have long
since been rooted out; that the inhabitants, taking a fancy to use
the service of the YAHOOS, had, very imprudently, neglected to
cultivate the breed of asses, which are a comely animal, easily
kept, more tame and orderly, without any offensive smell, strong
enough for labour, although they yield to the other in agility of
body, and if their braying be no agreeable sound, it is far
preferable to the horrible howlings of the YAHOOS."
Several others declared their sentiments to the same purpose,
when my master proposed an expedient to the assembly, whereof
he had indeed borrowed the hint from me. "He approved of the
tradition mentioned by the honourable member who spoke before,.
and affirmed, that the two YAHOOS said to be seen first among
them, had been driven thither over the sea; that coming to land,
and being forsaken by their companions, they retired to the
mountains, and degenerating by degrees, became in process of
time much more savage than those of their own species in the
country whence these two originals came. The reason of this
assertion was, that he had now in his possession a certain
wonderful YAHOO (meaning myself) which most of them had
heard of, and many of them had seen. He then related to them how
he first found me; that my body was all covered with an artificial
composure of the skins and hairs of other animals; that I spoke in
a language of my own, and had thoroughly learned theirs; that I
had related to him the accidents which brought me thither; that
when he saw me without my covering, I was an exact YAHOO in
every part, only of a whiter colour, less hairy, and with shorter
claws. He added, how I had endeavoured to persuade him, that in
my own and other countries, the YAHOOS acted as the
governing, rational animal, and held the HOUYHNHNMS in
servitude; that he observed in me all the qualities of a YAHOO,
only a little more civilized by some tincture of reason, which,
however, was in a degree as far inferior to the HOUYHNHNM
race, as the YAHOOS of their country were to me; that, among
other things, I mentioned a custom we had of castrating
HOUYHNHNMS when they were young, in order to render them
tame; that the operation was easy and safe; that it was no shame to
learn wisdom from brutes, as industry is taught by the ant, and
building by the swallow (for so I translate the word LYHANNH,
although it be a much larger fowl); that this invention might be
practised upon the younger YAHOOS here, which besides.
rendering them tractable and fitter for use, would in an age put an
end to the whole species, without destroying life; that in the mean
time the HOUYHNHNMS should be exhorted to cultivate the
breed of asses, which, as they are in all respects more valuable
brutes, so they have this advantage, to be fit for service at five
years old, which the others are not till twelve."
This was all my master thought fit to tell me, at that time, of what
passed in the grand council. But he was pleased to conceal one
particular, which related personally to myself, whereof I soon felt
the unhappy effect, as the reader will know in its proper place, and
whence I date all the succeeding misfortunes of my life.
The HOUYHNHNMS have no letters, and consequently their
knowledge is all traditional. But there happening few events of
any moment among a people so well united, naturally disposed to
every virtue, wholly governed by reason, and cut off from all
commerce with other nations, the historical part is easily
preserved without burdening their memories. I have already
observed that they are subject to no diseases, and therefore can
have no need of physicians. However, they have excellent
medicines, composed of herbs, to cure accidental bruises and cuts
in the pastern or frog of the foot, by sharp stones, as well as other
maims and hurts in the several parts of the body..
They calculate the year by the revolution of the sun and moon, but
use no subdivisions into weeks. They are well enough acquainted
with the motions of those two luminaries, and understand the
nature of eclipses; and this is the utmost progress of their
astronomy.
In poetry, they must be allowed to excel all other mortals; wherein
the justness of their similes, and the minuteness as well as
exactness of their descriptions, are indeed inimitable. Their verses
abound very much in both of these, and usually contain either
some exalted notions of friendship and benevolence or the praises
of those who were victors in races and other bodily exercises.
Their buildings, although very rude and simple, are not
inconvenient, but well contrived to defend them from all injuries
of and heat. They have a kind of tree, which at forty years old
loosens in the root, and falls with the first storm: it grows very
straight, and being pointed like stakes with a sharp stone (for the
HOUYHNHNMS know not the use of iron), they stick them erect
in the ground, about ten inches asunder, and then weave in oat
straw, or sometimes wattles, between them. The roof is made after
the same manner, and so are the doors.
The HOUYHNHNMS use the hollow part, between the pastern
and the hoof of their fore-foot, as we do our hands, and this with
greater dexterity than I could at first imagine. I have seen a white
mare of our family thread a needle (which I lent her on purpose)
with that joint. They milk their cows, reap their oats, and do all the
work which requires hands, in the same manner. They have a
kind of hard flints, which, by grinding against other stones, they.
form into instruments, that serve instead of wedges, axes, and
hammers. With tools made of these flints, they likewise cut their
hay, and reap their oats, which there grow naturally in several
fields; the YAHOOS draw home the sheaves in carriages, and the
servants tread them in certain covered huts to get out the grain,
which is kept in stores. They make a rude kind of earthen and
wooden vessels, and bake the former in the sun.
If they can avoid casualties, they die only of old age, and are
buried in the obscurest places that can be found, their friends and
relations expressing neither joy nor grief at their departure; nor
does the dying person discover the least regret that he is leaving
the world, any more than if he were upon returning home from a
visit to one of his neighbours. I remember my master having once
made an appointment with a friend and his family to come to his
house, upon some affair of importance: on the day fixed, the
mistress and her two children came very late; she made two
excuses, first for her husband, who, as she said, happened that
very morning to SHNUWNH. The word is strongly expressive in
their language, but not easily rendered into English; it signifies,
"to retire to his first mother." Her excuse for not coming sooner,
was, that her husband dying late in the morning, she was a good
while consulting her servants about a convenient place where his
body should be laid; and I observed, she behaved herself at our
house as cheerfully as the rest. She died about three months after.
They live generally to seventy, or seventy-five years, very seldom
to fourscore. Some weeks before their death, they feel a gradual
decay; but without pain. During this time they are much visited by.
their friends, because they cannot go abroad with their usual ease
and satisfaction. However, about ten days before their death,
which they seldom fail in computing, they return the visits that
have been made them by those who are nearest in the
neighbourhood, being carried in a convenient sledge drawn by
YAHOOS; which vehicle they use, not only upon this occasion,
but when they grow old, upon long journeys, or when they are
lamed by any accident: and therefore when the dying
HOUYHNHNMS return those visits, they take a solemn leave of
their friends, as if they were going to some remote part of the
country, where they designed to pass the rest of their lives.
I know not whether it may be worth observing, that the
HOUYHNHNMS have no word in their language to express any
thing that is evil, except what they borrow from the deformities or
ill qualities of the YAHOOS. Thus they denote the folly of a
servant, an omission of a child, a stone that cuts their feet, a
continuance of foul or unseasonable weather, and the like, by
adding to each the epithet of YAHOO. For instance, HHNM
YAHOO; WHNAHOLM YAHOO, YNLHMNDWIHLMA
YAHOO, and an ill-contrived house YNHOLMHNMROHLNW
YAHOO.
I could, with great pleasure, enlarge further upon the manners and
virtues of this excellent people; but intending in a short time to
publish a volume by itself, expressly upon that subject, I refer the
reader thither; and, in the mean time, proceed to relate my own
sad catastrophe...
[The author's economy, and happy life, among the Houyhnhnms.
His great improvement in virtue by conversing with them. Their
conversations. The author has notice given him by his master, that
he must depart from the country. He falls into a swoon for grief;
but submits. He contrives and finishes a canoe by the help of a
fellow-servant, and puts to sea at a venture.]
I had settled my little economy to my own heart's content. My
master had ordered a room to be made for me, after their manner,
about six yards from the house: the sides and floors of which I
plastered with clay, and covered with rush-mats of my own
contriving. I had beaten hemp, which there grows wild, and made
of it a sort of ticking; this I filled with the feathers of several birds
I had taken with springes made of YAHOOS' hairs, and were
excellent food. I had worked two chairs with my knife, the sorrel
nag helping me in the grosser and more laborious part.
When my clothes were worn to rags, I made myself others with
the skins of rabbits, and of a certain beautiful animal, about the
same size, called NNUHNOH, the skin of which is covered with a
fine down. Of these I also made very tolerable stockings. I soled
my shoes with wood, which I cut from a tree, and fitted to the
upper-leather; and when this was worn out, I supplied it with the.
skins of YAHOOS dried in the sun. I often got honey out of
hollow trees, which I mingled with water, or ate with my bread.
No man could more verify the truth of these two maxims, "That
nature is very easily satisfied;" and, "That necessity is the mother
of invention." I enjoyed perfect health of body, and tranquillity of
mind; I did not feel the treachery or inconstancy of a friend, nor
the injuries of a secret or open enemy. I had no occasion of
bribing, flattering, or pimping, to procure the favour of any great
man, or of his minion; I wanted no fence against fraud or
oppression: here was neither physician to destroy my body, nor
lawyer to ruin my fortune; no informer to watch my words and
actions, or forge accusations against me for hire: here were no
gibers, censurers, backbiters, pickpockets, highwaymen,
housebreakers, attorneys, bawds, buffoons, gamesters, politicians,
wits, splenetics, tedious talkers, controvertists, ravishers,
murderers, robbers, virtuosos; no leaders, or followers, of party
and faction; no encouragers to vice, by seducement or examples;
no dungeon, axes, gibbets, whipping-posts, or pillories; no
cheating shopkeepers or mechanics; no pride, vanity, or
affectation; no fops, bullies, drunkards, strolling whores, or poxes;
no ranting, lewd, expensive wives; no stupid, proud pedants; no
importunate, overbearing, quarrelsome, noisy, roaring, empty,
conceited, swearing companions; no scoundrels raised from the
dust upon the merit of their vices, or nobility thrown into it on
account of their virtues; no lords, fiddlers, judges, or dancing-masters..
I had the favour of being admitted to several HOUYHNHNMS,
who came to visit or dine with my master; where his honour
graciously suffered me to wait in the room, and listen to their
discourse. Both he and his company would often descend to ask
me questions, and receive my answers. I had also sometimes the
honour of attending my master in his visits to others. I never
presumed to speak, except in answer to a question; and then I did
it with inward regret, because it was a loss of so much time for
improving myself; but I was infinitely delighted with the station
of an humble auditor in such conversations, where nothing passed
but what was useful, expressed in the fewest and most significant
words; where, as I have already said, the greatest decency was
observed, without the least degree of ceremony; where no person
spoke without being pleased himself, and pleasing his
companions; where there was no interruption, tediousness, heat,
or difference of sentiments. They have a notion, that when people
are met together, a short silence does much improve conversation:
this I found to be true; for during those little intermissions of talk,
new ideas would arise in their minds, which very much enlivened
the discourse. Their subjects are, generally on friendship and
benevolence, on order and economy; sometimes upon the visible
operations of nature, or ancient traditions; upon the bounds and
limits of virtue; upon the unerring rules of reason, or upon some
determinations to be taken at the next great assembly: and often
upon the various excellences of poetry. I may add, without vanity,
that my presence often gave them sufficient matter for discourse,
because it afforded my master an occasion of letting his friends
into the history of me and my country, upon which they were all
pleased to descant, in a manner not very advantageous to.
humankind: and for that reason I shall not repeat what they said;
only I may be allowed to observe, that his honour, to my great
admiration, appeared to understand the nature of YAHOOS much
better than myself. He went through all our vices and follies, and
discovered many, which I had never mentioned to him, by only
supposing what qualities a YAHOO of their country, with a small
proportion of reason, might be capable of exerting; and
concluded, with too much probability, "how vile, as well as
miserable, such a creature must be."
I freely confess, that all the little knowledge I have of any value,
was acquired by the lectures I received from my master, and from
hearing the discourses of him and his friends; to which I should be
prouder to listen, than to dictate to the greatest and wisest
assembly in Europe. I admired the strength, comeliness, and speed
of the inhabitants; and such a constellation of virtues, in such
amiable persons, produced in me the highest veneration. At first,
indeed, I did not feel that natural awe, which the YAHOOS and all
other animals bear toward them; but it grew upon me by decrees,
much sooner than I imagined, and was mingled with a respectful
love and gratitude, that they would condescend to distinguish me
from the rest of my species.
When I thought of my family, my friends, my countrymen, or the
human race in general, I considered them, as they really were,
YAHOOS in shape and disposition, perhaps a little more civilized,
and qualified with the gift of speech; but making no other use of
reason, than to improve and multiply those vices whereof their
brethren in this country had only the share that nature allotted.
them. When I happened to behold the reflection of my own form
in a lake or fountain, I turned away my face in horror and
detestation of myself, and could better endure the sight of a
common YAHOO than of my own person. By conversing with the
HOUYHNHNMS, and looking upon them with delight, I fell to
imitate their gait and gesture, which is now grown into a habit;
and my friends often tell me, in a blunt way, "that I trot like a
horse;" which, however, I take for a great compliment. Neither
shall I disown, that in speaking I am apt to fall into the voice and
manner of the HOUYHNHNMS, and hear myself ridiculed on
that account, without the least mortification.
In the midst of all this happiness, and when I looked upon myself
to be fully settled for life, my master sent for me one morning a
little earlier than his usual hour. I observed by his countenance
that he was in some perplexity, and at a loss how to begin what he
had to speak. After a short silence, he told me, "he did not know
how I would take what he was going to say: that in the last general
assembly, when the affair of the YAHOOS was entered upon, the
representatives had taken offence at his keeping a YAHOO
(meaning myself) in his family, more like a HOUYHNHNM than
a brute animal; that he was known frequently to converse with me,
as if he could receive some advantage or pleasure in my company;
that such a practice was not agreeable to reason or nature, or a
thing ever heard of before among them; the assembly did
therefore exhort him either to employ me like the rest of my
species, or command me to swim back to the place whence I
came: that the first of these expedients was utterly rejected by all
the HOUYHNHNMS who had ever seen me at his house or their.
own; for they alleged, that because I had some rudiments of
reason, added to the natural pravity of those animals, it was to be
feared I might be able to seduce them into the woody and
mountainous parts of the country, and bring them in troops by
night to destroy the HOUYHNHNMS' cattle, as being naturally of
the ravenous kind, and averse from labour."
My master added, "that he was daily pressed by the
HOUYHNHNMS of the neighbourhood to have the assembly's
exhortation executed, which he could not put off much longer. He
doubted it would be impossible for me to swim to another
country; and therefore wished I would contrive some sort of
vehicle, resembling those I had described to him, that might carry
me on the sea; in which work I should have the assistance of his
own servants, as well as those of his neighbours." He concluded,
"that for his own part, he could have been content to keep me in
his service as long as I lived; because he found I had cured myself
of some bad habits and dispositions, by endeavouring, as far as
my inferior nature was capable, to imitate the HOUYHNHNMS."
I should here observe to the reader, that a decree of the general
assembly in this country is expressed by the word HNHLOAYN,
which signifies an exhortation, as near as I can render it; for they
have no conception how a rational creature can be compelled, but
only advised, or exhorted; because no person can disobey reason,
without giving up his claim to be a rational creature..
I was struck with the utmost grief and despair at my master's
discourse; and being unable to support the agonies I was under, I
fell into a swoon at his feet. When I came to myself, he told me
"that he concluded I had been dead;" for these people are subject
to no such imbecilities of nature. I answered in a faint voice, "that
death would have been too great a happiness; that although I
could not blame the assembly's exhortation, or the urgency of his
friends; yet, in my weak and corrupt judgment, I thought it might
consist with reason to have been less rigorous; that I could not
swim a league, and probably the nearest land to theirs might be
distant above a hundred: that many materials, necessary for
making a small vessel to carry me off, were wholly wanting in this
country; which, however, I would attempt, in obedience and
gratitude to his honour, although I concluded the thing to be
impossible, and therefore looked on myself as already devoted to
destruction; that the certain prospect of an unnatural death was the
least of my evils; for, supposing I should escape with life by some
strange adventure, how could I think with temper of passing my
days among YAHOOS, and relapsing into my old corruptions, for
want of examples to lead and keep me within the paths of virtue?
that I knew too well upon what solid reasons all the
determinations of the wise HOUYHNHNMS were founded, not to
be shaken by arguments of mine, a miserable YAHOO; and
therefore, after presenting him with my humble thanks for the
offer of his servants' assistance in making a vessel, and desiring a
reasonable time for so difficult a work, I told him I would
endeavour to preserve a wretched being; and if ever I returned to
England, was not without hopes of being useful to my own.
species, by celebrating the praises of the renowned
HOUYHNHNMS, and proposing their virtues to the imitation of
mankind."
My master, in a few words, made me a very gracious reply;
allowed me the space of two months to finish my boat; and
ordered the sorrel nag, my fellow-servant (for so, at this distance,
I may presume to call him), to follow my instruction; because I
told my master, "that his help would be sufficient, and I knew he
had a tenderness for me."
In his company, my first business was to go to that part of the
coast where my rebellious crew had ordered me to be set on shore.
I got upon a height, and looking on every side into the sea; fancied
I saw a small island toward the north-east. I took out my pocket
glass, and could then clearly distinguish it above five leagues off,
as I computed; but it appeared to the sorrel nag to be only a blue
cloud: for as he had no conception of any country beside his own,
so he could not be as expert in distinguishing remote objects at
sea, as we who so much converse in that element.
After I had discovered this island, I considered no further; but
resolved it should if possible, be the first place of my banishment,
leaving the consequence to fortune.
I returned home, and consulting with the sorrel nag, we went into
a copse at some distance, where I with my knife, and he with a
sharp flint, fastened very artificially after their manner, to a
wooden handle, cut down several oak wattles, about the thickness.
of a walking-staff, and some larger pieces. But I shall not trouble
the reader with a particular description of my own mechanics; let
it suffice to say, that in six weeks time with the help of the sorrel
nag, who performed the parts that required most labour, I finished
a sort of Indian canoe, but much larger, covering it with the skins
of YAHOOS, well stitched together with hempen threads of my
own making. My sail was likewise composed of the skins of the
same animal; but I made use of the youngest I could get, the older
being too tough and thick; and I likewise provided myself with
four paddles. I laid in a stock of boiled flesh, of rabbits and fowls,
and took with me two vessels, one filled with milk and the other
with water.
I tried my canoe in a large pond, near my master's house, and then
corrected in it what was amiss; stopping all the chinks with
YAHOOS' tallow, till I found it staunch, and able to bear me and
my freight; and, when it was as complete as I could possibly make
it, I had it drawn on a carriage very gently by YAHOOS to the sea-side,
under the conduct of the sorrel nag and another servant.
When all was ready, and the day came for my departure, I took
leave of my master and lady and the whole family, my eyes
flowing with tears, and my heart quite sunk with grief. But his
honour, out of curiosity, and, perhaps, (if I may speak without
vanity,) partly out of kindness, was determined to see me in my
canoe, and got several of his neighbouring friends to accompany
him. I was forced to wait above an hour for the tide; and then
observing the wind very fortunately bearing toward the island to
which I intended to steer my course, I took a second leave of my.
master: but as I was going to prostrate myself to kiss his hoof, he
did me the honour to raise it gently to my mouth. I am not
ignorant how much I have been censured for mentioning this last
particular. Detractors are pleased to think it improbable, that so
illustrious a person should descend to give so great a mark of
distinction to a creature so inferior as I. Neither have I forgotten
how apt some travellers are to boast of extraordinary favours they
have received. But, if these censurers were better acquainted with
the noble and courteous disposition of the HOUYHNHNMS, they
would soon change their opinion.
I paid my respects to the rest of the HOUYHNHNMS in his
honour's company; then getting into my canoe, I pushed off from
shore..
[The author's dangerous voyage. He arrives at New Holland,
hoping to settle there. Is wounded with an arrow by one of the
natives. Is seized and carried by force into a Portuguese ship. The
great civilities of the captain. The author arrives at England.]
I began this desperate voyage on February 15, 1714-15, at nine
o'clock in the morning. The wind was very favourable; however, I
made use at first only of my paddles; but considering I should
soon be weary, and that the wind might chop about, I ventured to
set up my little sail; and thus, with the help of the tide, I went at
the rate of a league and a half an hour, as near as I could guess.
My master and his friends continued on the shore till I was almost
out of sight; and I often heard the sorrel nag (who always loved
me) crying out, "HNUY ILLA NYHA, MAJAH YAHOO;" "Take
care of thyself, gentle YAHOO."
My design was, if possible, to discover some small island
uninhabited, yet sufficient, by my labour, to furnish me with the
necessaries of life, which I would have thought a greater
happiness, than to be first minister in the politest court of Europe;
so horrible was the idea I conceived of returning to live in the
society, and under the government of YAHOOS. For in such a
solitude as I desired, I could at least enjoy my own thoughts, and.
reflect with delight on the virtues of those inimitable
HOUYHNHNMS, without an opportunity of degenerating into
the vices and corruptions of my own species.
The reader may remember what I related, when my crew
conspired against me, and confined me to my cabin; how I
continued there several weeks without knowing what course we
took; and when I was put ashore in the long-boat, how the sailors
told me, with oaths, whether true or false, "that they knew not in
what part of the world we were." However, I did then believe us to
be about 10 degrees southward of the Cape of Good Hope, or
about 45 degrees southern latitude, as I gathered from some
general words I overheard among them, being I supposed to the
south-east in their intended voyage to Madagascar. And although
this were little better than conjecture, yet I resolved to steer my
course eastward, hoping to reach the south-west coast of New
Holland, and perhaps some such island as I desired lying
westward of it. The wind was full west, and by six in the evening
I computed I had gone eastward at least eighteen leagues; when I
spied a very small island about half a league off, which I soon
reached. It was nothing but a rock, with one creek naturally
arched by the force of tempests. Here I put in my canoe, and
climbing a part of the rock, I could plainly discover land to the
east, extending from south to north. I lay all night in my canoe;
and repeating my voyage early in the morning, I arrived in seven
hours to the south-east point of New Holland. This confirmed me
in the opinion I have long entertained, that the maps and charts
place this country at least three degrees more to the east than it.
really is; which thought I communicated many years ago to my
worthy friend, Mr. Herman Moll, and gave him my reasons for it,
although he has rather chosen to follow other authors.
I saw no inhabitants in the place where I landed, and being
unarmed, I was afraid of venturing far into the country. I found
some shellfish on the shore, and ate them raw, not daring to kindle
a fire, for fear of being discovered by the natives. I continued
three days feeding on oysters and limpets, to save my own
provisions; and I fortunately found a brook of excellent water,
which gave me great relief.
On the fourth day, venturing out early a little too far, I saw twenty
or thirty natives upon a height not above five hundred yards from
me. They were stark naked, men, women, and children, round a
fire, as I could discover by the smoke. One of them spied me, and
gave notice to the rest; five of them advanced toward me, leaving
the women and children at the fire. I made what haste I could to
the shore, and, getting into my canoe, shoved off: the savages,
observing me retreat, ran after me: and before I could get far
enough into the sea, discharged an arrow which wounded me
deeply on the inside of my left knee: I shall carry the mark to my
grave. I apprehended the arrow might be poisoned, and paddling
out of the reach of their darts (being a calm day), I made a shift to
suck the wound, and dress it as well as I could.
I was at a loss what to do, for I durst not return to the same
landing-place, but stood to the north, and was forced to paddle, for
the wind, though very gentle, was against me, blowing north-.
west. As I was looking about for a secure landing-place, I saw a
species, which otherwise I certainly had done from my own
inclinations. But I could have easily vindicated humankind from
the imputation of singularity upon the last article, if there had
been any swine in that country (as unluckily for me there were
not), which, although it may be a sweeter quadruped than a
YAHOO, cannot, I humbly conceive, in justice, pretend to more
cleanliness; and so his honour himself must have owned, if he had
seen their filthy way of feeding, and their custom of wallowing
and sleeping in the mud.
My master likewise mentioned another quality which his servants
had discovered in several Yahoos, and to him was wholly
unaccountable. He said, "a fancy would sometimes take a
YAHOO to retire into a corner, to lie down, and howl, and groan,
and spurn away all that came near him, although he were young
and fat, wanted neither food nor water, nor did the servant
imagine what could possibly ail him. And the only remedy they
found was, to set him to hard work, after which he would
infallibly come to himself." To this I was silent out of partiality to
my own kind; yet here I could plainly discover the true seeds of
spleen, which only seizes on the lazy, the luxurious, and the rich;
who, if they were forced to undergo the same regimen, I would
undertake for the cure.
His honour had further observed, "that a female YAHOO would
often stand behind a bank or a bush, to gaze on the young males
passing by, and then appear, and hide, using many antic gestures
and grimaces, at which time it was observed that she had a most.
offensive smell; and when any of the males advanced, would
slowly retire, looking often back, and with a counterfeit show of
fear, run off into some convenient place, where she knew the male
would follow her.
"At other times, if a female stranger came among them, three or
four of her own sex would get about her, and stare, and chatter,
and grin, and smell her all over; and then turn off with gestures,
that seemed to express contempt and disdain."
Perhaps my master might refine a little in these speculations,
which he had drawn from what he observed himself, or had been
told him by others; however, I could not reflect without some
amazement, and much sorrow, that the rudiments of lewdness,
coquetry, censure, and scandal, should have place by instinct in
womankind.
I expected every moment that my master would accuse the
YAHOOS of those unnatural appetites in both sexes, so common
among us. But nature, it seems, has not been so expert a school-mistress;
and these politer pleasures are entirely the productions
of art and reason on our side of the globe..
[The author relates several particulars of the YAHOOS. The great
virtues of the HOUYHNHNMS. The education and exercise of
their youth. Their general assembly.]
As I ought to have understood human nature much better than I
supposed it possible for my master to do, so it was easy to apply
the character he gave of the YAHOOS to myself and my
countrymen; and I believed I could yet make further discoveries,
from my own observation. I therefore often begged his honour to
let me go among the herds of YAHOOS in the neighbourhood; to
which he always very graciously consented, being perfectly
convinced that the hatred I bore these brutes would never suffer
me to be corrupted by them; and his honour ordered one of his
servants, a strong sorrel nag, very honest and good-natured, to be
my guard; without whose protection I durst not undertake such
adventures. For I have already told the reader how much I was
pestered by these odious animals, upon my first arrival; and I
afterwards failed very narrowly, three or four times, of falling into
their clutches, when I happened to stray at any distance without
my hanger. And I have reason to believe they had some
imagination that I was of their own species, which I often assisted
myself by stripping up my sleeves, and showing my naked arms
and breasts in their sight, when my protector was with me. At.
which times they would approach as near as they durst, and
imitate my actions after the manner of monkeys, but ever with
great signs of hatred; as a tame jackdaw with cap and stockings is
always persecuted by the wild ones, when he happens to be got
among them.
They are prodigiously nimble from their infancy. However, I once
caught a young male of three years old, and endeavoured, by all
marks of tenderness, to make it quiet; but the little imp fell a
squalling, and scratching, and biting with such violence, that I was
forced to let it go; and it was high time, for a whole troop of old
ones came about us at the noise, but finding the cub was safe (for
away it ran), and my sorrel nag being by, they durst not venture
near us. I observed the young animal's flesh to smell very rank,
and the stink was somewhat between a weasel and a fox, but much
more disagreeable. I forgot another circumstance (and perhaps I
might have the reader's pardon if it were wholly omitted), that
while I held the odious vermin in my hands, it voided its filthy
excrements of a yellow liquid substance all over my clothes; but
by good fortune there was a small brook hard by, where I washed
myself as clean as I could; although I durst not come into my
master's presence until I were sufficiently aired.
By what I could discover, the YAHOOS appear to be the most
unteachable of all animals: their capacity never reaching higher
than to draw or carry burdens. Yet I am of opinion, this defect
arises chiefly from a perverse, restive disposition; for they are
cunning, malicious, treacherous, and revengeful. They are strong
and hardy, but of a cowardly spirit, and, by consequence, insolent,.
abject, and cruel. It is observed, that the red haired of both sexes
are more libidinous and mischievous than the rest, whom yet they
much exceed in strength and activity.
The HOUYHNHNMS keep the YAHOOS for present use in huts
not far from the house; but the rest are sent abroad to certain
fields, where they dig up roots, eat several kinds of herbs, and
search about for carrion, or sometimes catch weasels and
LUHIMUHS (a sort of wild rat), which they greedily devour.
Nature has taught them to dig deep holes with their nails on the
side of a rising ground, wherein they lie by themselves; only the
kennels of the females are larger, sufficient to hold two or three
cubs.
They swim from their infancy like frogs, and are able to continue
long under water, where they often take fish, which the females
carry home to their young. And, upon this occasion, I hope the
reader will pardon my relating an odd adventure.
Being one day abroad with my protector the sorrel nag, and the
weather exceeding hot, I entreated him to let me bathe in a river
that was near. He consented, and I immediately stripped myself
stark naked, and went down softly into the stream. It happened
that a young female YAHOO, standing behind a bank, saw the
whole proceeding, and inflamed by desire, as the nag and I
conjectured, came running with all speed, and leaped into the
water, within five yards of the place where I bathed. I was never in
my life so terribly frightened. The nag was grazing at some
distance, not suspecting any harm. She embraced me after a most.
fulsome manner. I roared as loud as I could, and the nag came
galloping towards me, whereupon she quitted her grasp, with the
utmost reluctancy, and leaped upon the opposite bank, where she
stood gazing and howling all the time I was putting on my clothes.
This was a matter of diversion to my master and his family, as
well as of mortification to myself. For now I could no longer deny
that I was a real YAHOO in every limb and feature, since the
females had a natural propensity to me, as one of their own
species. Neither was the hair of this brute of a red colour (which
might have been some excuse for an appetite a little irregular), but
black as a sloe, and her countenance did not make an appearance
altogether so hideous as the rest of her kind; for I think she could
not be above eleven years old.
Having lived three years in this country, the reader, I suppose, will
expect that I should, like other travellers, give him some account
of the manners and customs of its inhabitants, which it was indeed
my principal study to learn.
As these noble HOUYHNHNMS are endowed by nature with a
general disposition to all virtues, and have no conceptions or ideas
of what is evil in a rational creature, so their grand maxim is, to
cultivate reason, and to be wholly governed by it. Neither is
reason among them a point problematical, as with us, where men
can argue with plausibility on both sides of the question, but
strikes you with immediate conviction; as it must needs do, where
it is not mingled, obscured, or discoloured, by passion and
interest. I remember it was with extreme difficulty that I could.
bring my master to understand the meaning of the word opinion,
or how a point could be disputable; because reason taught us to
affirm or deny only where we are certain; and beyond our
knowledge we cannot do either. So that controversies, wranglings,
disputes, and positiveness, in false or dubious propositions, are
evils unknown among the HOUYHNHNMS. In the like manner,
when I used to explain to him our several systems of natural
philosophy, he would laugh, "that a creature pretending to reason,
should value itself upon the knowledge of other people's
conjectures, and in things where that knowledge, if it were certain,
could be of no use." Wherein he agreed entirely with the
sentiments of Socrates, as Plato delivers them; which I mention as
the highest honour I can do that prince of philosophers -I have
often since reflected, what destruction such doctrine would make
in the libraries of Europe; and how many paths of fame would be
then shut up in the learned world.
Friendship and benevolence are the two principal virtues among
the HOUYHNHNMS; and these not confined to particular
objects, but universal to the whole race; for a stranger from the
remotest part is equally treated with the nearest neighbour, and
wherever he goes, looks upon himself as at home. They preserve
decency and civility in the highest degrees, but are altogether
ignorant of ceremony. They have no fondness for their colts or
foals, but the care they take in educating them proceeds entirely
from the dictates of reason. And I observed my master to show the
same affection to his neighbour's issue, that he had for his own..
They will have it that nature teaches them to love the whole
species, and it is reason only that makes a distinction of persons,
where there is a superior degree of virtue.
When the matron HOUYHNHNMS have produced one of each
sex, they no longer accompany with their consorts, except they
lose one of their issue by some casualty, which very seldom
happens; but in such a case they meet again; or when the like
accident befalls a person whose wife is past bearing, some other
couple bestow on him one of their own colts, and then go together
again until the mother is pregnant. This caution is necessary, to
prevent the country from being overburdened with numbers. But
the race of inferior HOUYHNHNMS, bred up to be servants, is
not so strictly limited upon this article: these are allowed to
produce three of each sex, to be domestics in the noble families.
In their marriages, they are exactly careful to choose such colours
as will not make any disagreeable mixture in the breed. Strength
is chiefly valued in the male, and comeliness in the female; not
upon the account of love, but to preserve the race from
degenerating; for where a female happens to excel in strength, a
consort is chosen, with regard to comeliness.
Courtship, love, presents, jointures, settlements have no place in
their thoughts, or terms whereby to express them in their
language. The young couple meet, and are joined, merely because
it is the determination of their parents and friends; it is what they
see done every day, and they look upon it as one of the necessary
actions of a reasonable being. But the violation of marriage, or.
any other unchastity, was never heard of; and the married pair
pass their lives with the same friendship and mutual benevolence,
that they bear to all others of the same species who come in their
way, without jealousy, fondness, quarrelling, or discontent.
In educating the youth of both sexes, their method is admirable,
and highly deserves our imitation. These are not suffered to taste a
grain of oats, except upon certain days, till eighteen years old; nor
milk, but very rarely; and in summer they graze two hours in the
morning, and as many in the evening, which their parents likewise
observe; but the servants are not allowed above half that time, and
a great part of their grass is brought home, which they eat at the
most convenient hours, when they can be best spared from work.
Temperance, industry, exercise, and cleanliness, are the lessons
equally enjoined to the young ones of both sexes: and my master
thought it monstrous in us, to give the females a different kind of
education from the males, except in some articles of domestic
management; whereby, as he truly observed, one half of our
natives were good for nothing but bringing children into the
world; and to trust the care of our children to such useless
animals, he said, was yet a greater instance of brutality.
But the HOUYHNHNMS train up their youth to strength, speed,
and hardiness, by exercising them in running races up and down
steep hills, and over hard stony grounds; and when they are all in a
sweat, they are ordered to leap over head and ears into a pond or
river. Four times a year the youth of a certain district meet to show
their proficiency in running and leaping, and other feats of.
strength and agility; where the victor is rewarded with a song in
his or her praise. On this festival, the servants drive a herd of
YAHOOS into the field, laden with hay, and oats, and milk, for a
repast to the HOUYHNHNMS; after which, these brutes are
immediately driven back again, for fear of being noisome to the
assembly.
Every fourth year, at the vernal equinox, there is a representative
council of the whole nation, which meets in a plain about twenty
miles from our house, and continues about five or six days. Here
they inquire into the state and condition of the several districts;
whether they abound or be deficient in hay or oats, or cows, or
YAHOOS; and wherever there is any want (which is but seldom)
it is immediately supplied by unanimous consent and
contribution. Here likewise the regulation of children is settled: as
for instance, if a HOUYHNHNM has two males, he changes one
of them with another that has two females; and when a child has
been lost by any casualty, where the mother is past breeding, it is
determined what family in the district shall breed another to
supply the loss..
[A grand debate at the general assembly of the HOUYHNHNMS,
and how it was determined. The learning of the
HOUYHNHNMS. Their buildings. Their manner of burials. The
defectiveness of their language.]
One of these grand assemblies was held in my time, about three
months before my departure, whither my master went as the
representative of our district. In this council was resumed their old
debate, and indeed the only debate that ever happened in their
country; whereof my master, after his return, give me a very
particular account.
The question to be debated was, "whether the YAHOOS should be
exterminated from the face of the earth?" One of the members for
the affirmative offered several arguments of great strength and
weight, alleging, "that as the YAHOOS were the most filthy,
noisome, and deformed animals which nature ever produced, so
they were the most restive and indocible, mischievous and
malicious; they would privately suck the teats of the
HOUYHNHNMS' cows, kill and devour their cats, trample down
their oats and grass, if they were not continually watched, and
commit a thousand other extravagancies." He took notice of a
general tradition, "that YAHOOS had not been always in their.
country; but that many ages ago, two of these brutes appeared
together upon a mountain; whether produced by the heat of the
sun upon corrupted mud and slime, or from the ooze and froth of
the sea, was never known; that these YAHOOS engendered, and
their brood, in a short time, grew so numerous as to overrun and
infest the whole nation; that the HOUYHNHNMS, to get rid of
this evil, made a general hunting, and at last enclosed the whole
herd; and destroying the elder, every HOUYHNHNM kept two
young ones in a kennel, and brought them to such a degree of
tameness, as an animal, so savage by nature, can be capable of
acquiring, using them for draught and carriage; that there seemed
to be much truth in this tradition, and that those creatures could
not be YINHNIAMSHY (or ABORIGINES of the land), because
of the violent hatred the HOUYHNHNMS, as well as all other
animals, bore them, which, although their evil disposition
sufficiently deserved, could never have arrived at so high a degree
if they had been ABORIGINES, or else they would have long
since been rooted out; that the inhabitants, taking a fancy to use
the service of the YAHOOS, had, very imprudently, neglected to
cultivate the breed of asses, which are a comely animal, easily
kept, more tame and orderly, without any offensive smell, strong
enough for labour, although they yield to the other in agility of
body, and if their braying be no agreeable sound, it is far
preferable to the horrible howlings of the YAHOOS."
Several others declared their sentiments to the same purpose,
when my master proposed an expedient to the assembly, whereof
he had indeed borrowed the hint from me. "He approved of the
tradition mentioned by the honourable member who spoke before,.
and affirmed, that the two YAHOOS said to be seen first among
them, had been driven thither over the sea; that coming to land,
and being forsaken by their companions, they retired to the
mountains, and degenerating by degrees, became in process of
time much more savage than those of their own species in the
country whence these two originals came. The reason of this
assertion was, that he had now in his possession a certain
wonderful YAHOO (meaning myself) which most of them had
heard of, and many of them had seen. He then related to them how
he first found me; that my body was all covered with an artificial
composure of the skins and hairs of other animals; that I spoke in
a language of my own, and had thoroughly learned theirs; that I
had related to him the accidents which brought me thither; that
when he saw me without my covering, I was an exact YAHOO in
every part, only of a whiter colour, less hairy, and with shorter
claws. He added, how I had endeavoured to persuade him, that in
my own and other countries, the YAHOOS acted as the
governing, rational animal, and held the HOUYHNHNMS in
servitude; that he observed in me all the qualities of a YAHOO,
only a little more civilized by some tincture of reason, which,
however, was in a degree as far inferior to the HOUYHNHNM
race, as the YAHOOS of their country were to me; that, among
other things, I mentioned a custom we had of castrating
HOUYHNHNMS when they were young, in order to render them
tame; that the operation was easy and safe; that it was no shame to
learn wisdom from brutes, as industry is taught by the ant, and
building by the swallow (for so I translate the word LYHANNH,
although it be a much larger fowl); that this invention might be
practised upon the younger YAHOOS here, which besides.
rendering them tractable and fitter for use, would in an age put an
end to the whole species, without destroying life; that in the mean
time the HOUYHNHNMS should be exhorted to cultivate the
breed of asses, which, as they are in all respects more valuable
brutes, so they have this advantage, to be fit for service at five
years old, which the others are not till twelve."
This was all my master thought fit to tell me, at that time, of what
passed in the grand council. But he was pleased to conceal one
particular, which related personally to myself, whereof I soon felt
the unhappy effect, as the reader will know in its proper place, and
whence I date all the succeeding misfortunes of my life.
The HOUYHNHNMS have no letters, and consequently their
knowledge is all traditional. But there happening few events of
any moment among a people so well united, naturally disposed to
every virtue, wholly governed by reason, and cut off from all
commerce with other nations, the historical part is easily
preserved without burdening their memories. I have already
observed that they are subject to no diseases, and therefore can
have no need of physicians. However, they have excellent
medicines, composed of herbs, to cure accidental bruises and cuts
in the pastern or frog of the foot, by sharp stones, as well as other
maims and hurts in the several parts of the body..
They calculate the year by the revolution of the sun and moon, but
use no subdivisions into weeks. They are well enough acquainted
with the motions of those two luminaries, and understand the
nature of eclipses; and this is the utmost progress of their
astronomy.
In poetry, they must be allowed to excel all other mortals; wherein
the justness of their similes, and the minuteness as well as
exactness of their descriptions, are indeed inimitable. Their verses
abound very much in both of these, and usually contain either
some exalted notions of friendship and benevolence or the praises
of those who were victors in races and other bodily exercises.
Their buildings, although very rude and simple, are not
inconvenient, but well contrived to defend them from all injuries
of and heat. They have a kind of tree, which at forty years old
loosens in the root, and falls with the first storm: it grows very
straight, and being pointed like stakes with a sharp stone (for the
HOUYHNHNMS know not the use of iron), they stick them erect
in the ground, about ten inches asunder, and then weave in oat
straw, or sometimes wattles, between them. The roof is made after
the same manner, and so are the doors.
The HOUYHNHNMS use the hollow part, between the pastern
and the hoof of their fore-foot, as we do our hands, and this with
greater dexterity than I could at first imagine. I have seen a white
mare of our family thread a needle (which I lent her on purpose)
with that joint. They milk their cows, reap their oats, and do all the
work which requires hands, in the same manner. They have a
kind of hard flints, which, by grinding against other stones, they.
form into instruments, that serve instead of wedges, axes, and
hammers. With tools made of these flints, they likewise cut their
hay, and reap their oats, which there grow naturally in several
fields; the YAHOOS draw home the sheaves in carriages, and the
servants tread them in certain covered huts to get out the grain,
which is kept in stores. They make a rude kind of earthen and
wooden vessels, and bake the former in the sun.
If they can avoid casualties, they die only of old age, and are
buried in the obscurest places that can be found, their friends and
relations expressing neither joy nor grief at their departure; nor
does the dying person discover the least regret that he is leaving
the world, any more than if he were upon returning home from a
visit to one of his neighbours. I remember my master having once
made an appointment with a friend and his family to come to his
house, upon some affair of importance: on the day fixed, the
mistress and her two children came very late; she made two
excuses, first for her husband, who, as she said, happened that
very morning to SHNUWNH. The word is strongly expressive in
their language, but not easily rendered into English; it signifies,
"to retire to his first mother." Her excuse for not coming sooner,
was, that her husband dying late in the morning, she was a good
while consulting her servants about a convenient place where his
body should be laid; and I observed, she behaved herself at our
house as cheerfully as the rest. She died about three months after.
They live generally to seventy, or seventy-five years, very seldom
to fourscore. Some weeks before their death, they feel a gradual
decay; but without pain. During this time they are much visited by.
their friends, because they cannot go abroad with their usual ease
and satisfaction. However, about ten days before their death,
which they seldom fail in computing, they return the visits that
have been made them by those who are nearest in the
neighbourhood, being carried in a convenient sledge drawn by
YAHOOS; which vehicle they use, not only upon this occasion,
but when they grow old, upon long journeys, or when they are
lamed by any accident: and therefore when the dying
HOUYHNHNMS return those visits, they take a solemn leave of
their friends, as if they were going to some remote part of the
country, where they designed to pass the rest of their lives.
I know not whether it may be worth observing, that the
HOUYHNHNMS have no word in their language to express any
thing that is evil, except what they borrow from the deformities or
ill qualities of the YAHOOS. Thus they denote the folly of a
servant, an omission of a child, a stone that cuts their feet, a
continuance of foul or unseasonable weather, and the like, by
adding to each the epithet of YAHOO. For instance, HHNM
YAHOO; WHNAHOLM YAHOO, YNLHMNDWIHLMA
YAHOO, and an ill-contrived house YNHOLMHNMROHLNW
YAHOO.
I could, with great pleasure, enlarge further upon the manners and
virtues of this excellent people; but intending in a short time to
publish a volume by itself, expressly upon that subject, I refer the
reader thither; and, in the mean time, proceed to relate my own
sad catastrophe...
[The author's economy, and happy life, among the Houyhnhnms.
His great improvement in virtue by conversing with them. Their
conversations. The author has notice given him by his master, that
he must depart from the country. He falls into a swoon for grief;
but submits. He contrives and finishes a canoe by the help of a
fellow-servant, and puts to sea at a venture.]
I had settled my little economy to my own heart's content. My
master had ordered a room to be made for me, after their manner,
about six yards from the house: the sides and floors of which I
plastered with clay, and covered with rush-mats of my own
contriving. I had beaten hemp, which there grows wild, and made
of it a sort of ticking; this I filled with the feathers of several birds
I had taken with springes made of YAHOOS' hairs, and were
excellent food. I had worked two chairs with my knife, the sorrel
nag helping me in the grosser and more laborious part.
When my clothes were worn to rags, I made myself others with
the skins of rabbits, and of a certain beautiful animal, about the
same size, called NNUHNOH, the skin of which is covered with a
fine down. Of these I also made very tolerable stockings. I soled
my shoes with wood, which I cut from a tree, and fitted to the
upper-leather; and when this was worn out, I supplied it with the.
skins of YAHOOS dried in the sun. I often got honey out of
hollow trees, which I mingled with water, or ate with my bread.
No man could more verify the truth of these two maxims, "That
nature is very easily satisfied;" and, "That necessity is the mother
of invention." I enjoyed perfect health of body, and tranquillity of
mind; I did not feel the treachery or inconstancy of a friend, nor
the injuries of a secret or open enemy. I had no occasion of
bribing, flattering, or pimping, to procure the favour of any great
man, or of his minion; I wanted no fence against fraud or
oppression: here was neither physician to destroy my body, nor
lawyer to ruin my fortune; no informer to watch my words and
actions, or forge accusations against me for hire: here were no
gibers, censurers, backbiters, pickpockets, highwaymen,
housebreakers, attorneys, bawds, buffoons, gamesters, politicians,
wits, splenetics, tedious talkers, controvertists, ravishers,
murderers, robbers, virtuosos; no leaders, or followers, of party
and faction; no encouragers to vice, by seducement or examples;
no dungeon, axes, gibbets, whipping-posts, or pillories; no
cheating shopkeepers or mechanics; no pride, vanity, or
affectation; no fops, bullies, drunkards, strolling whores, or poxes;
no ranting, lewd, expensive wives; no stupid, proud pedants; no
importunate, overbearing, quarrelsome, noisy, roaring, empty,
conceited, swearing companions; no scoundrels raised from the
dust upon the merit of their vices, or nobility thrown into it on
account of their virtues; no lords, fiddlers, judges, or dancing-masters..
I had the favour of being admitted to several HOUYHNHNMS,
who came to visit or dine with my master; where his honour
graciously suffered me to wait in the room, and listen to their
discourse. Both he and his company would often descend to ask
me questions, and receive my answers. I had also sometimes the
honour of attending my master in his visits to others. I never
presumed to speak, except in answer to a question; and then I did
it with inward regret, because it was a loss of so much time for
improving myself; but I was infinitely delighted with the station
of an humble auditor in such conversations, where nothing passed
but what was useful, expressed in the fewest and most significant
words; where, as I have already said, the greatest decency was
observed, without the least degree of ceremony; where no person
spoke without being pleased himself, and pleasing his
companions; where there was no interruption, tediousness, heat,
or difference of sentiments. They have a notion, that when people
are met together, a short silence does much improve conversation:
this I found to be true; for during those little intermissions of talk,
new ideas would arise in their minds, which very much enlivened
the discourse. Their subjects are, generally on friendship and
benevolence, on order and economy; sometimes upon the visible
operations of nature, or ancient traditions; upon the bounds and
limits of virtue; upon the unerring rules of reason, or upon some
determinations to be taken at the next great assembly: and often
upon the various excellences of poetry. I may add, without vanity,
that my presence often gave them sufficient matter for discourse,
because it afforded my master an occasion of letting his friends
into the history of me and my country, upon which they were all
pleased to descant, in a manner not very advantageous to.
humankind: and for that reason I shall not repeat what they said;
only I may be allowed to observe, that his honour, to my great
admiration, appeared to understand the nature of YAHOOS much
better than myself. He went through all our vices and follies, and
discovered many, which I had never mentioned to him, by only
supposing what qualities a YAHOO of their country, with a small
proportion of reason, might be capable of exerting; and
concluded, with too much probability, "how vile, as well as
miserable, such a creature must be."
I freely confess, that all the little knowledge I have of any value,
was acquired by the lectures I received from my master, and from
hearing the discourses of him and his friends; to which I should be
prouder to listen, than to dictate to the greatest and wisest
assembly in Europe. I admired the strength, comeliness, and speed
of the inhabitants; and such a constellation of virtues, in such
amiable persons, produced in me the highest veneration. At first,
indeed, I did not feel that natural awe, which the YAHOOS and all
other animals bear toward them; but it grew upon me by decrees,
much sooner than I imagined, and was mingled with a respectful
love and gratitude, that they would condescend to distinguish me
from the rest of my species.
When I thought of my family, my friends, my countrymen, or the
human race in general, I considered them, as they really were,
YAHOOS in shape and disposition, perhaps a little more civilized,
and qualified with the gift of speech; but making no other use of
reason, than to improve and multiply those vices whereof their
brethren in this country had only the share that nature allotted.
them. When I happened to behold the reflection of my own form
in a lake or fountain, I turned away my face in horror and
detestation of myself, and could better endure the sight of a
common YAHOO than of my own person. By conversing with the
HOUYHNHNMS, and looking upon them with delight, I fell to
imitate their gait and gesture, which is now grown into a habit;
and my friends often tell me, in a blunt way, "that I trot like a
horse;" which, however, I take for a great compliment. Neither
shall I disown, that in speaking I am apt to fall into the voice and
manner of the HOUYHNHNMS, and hear myself ridiculed on
that account, without the least mortification.
In the midst of all this happiness, and when I looked upon myself
to be fully settled for life, my master sent for me one morning a
little earlier than his usual hour. I observed by his countenance
that he was in some perplexity, and at a loss how to begin what he
had to speak. After a short silence, he told me, "he did not know
how I would take what he was going to say: that in the last general
assembly, when the affair of the YAHOOS was entered upon, the
representatives had taken offence at his keeping a YAHOO
(meaning myself) in his family, more like a HOUYHNHNM than
a brute animal; that he was known frequently to converse with me,
as if he could receive some advantage or pleasure in my company;
that such a practice was not agreeable to reason or nature, or a
thing ever heard of before among them; the assembly did
therefore exhort him either to employ me like the rest of my
species, or command me to swim back to the place whence I
came: that the first of these expedients was utterly rejected by all
the HOUYHNHNMS who had ever seen me at his house or their.
own; for they alleged, that because I had some rudiments of
reason, added to the natural pravity of those animals, it was to be
feared I might be able to seduce them into the woody and
mountainous parts of the country, and bring them in troops by
night to destroy the HOUYHNHNMS' cattle, as being naturally of
the ravenous kind, and averse from labour."
My master added, "that he was daily pressed by the
HOUYHNHNMS of the neighbourhood to have the assembly's
exhortation executed, which he could not put off much longer. He
doubted it would be impossible for me to swim to another
country; and therefore wished I would contrive some sort of
vehicle, resembling those I had described to him, that might carry
me on the sea; in which work I should have the assistance of his
own servants, as well as those of his neighbours." He concluded,
"that for his own part, he could have been content to keep me in
his service as long as I lived; because he found I had cured myself
of some bad habits and dispositions, by endeavouring, as far as
my inferior nature was capable, to imitate the HOUYHNHNMS."
I should here observe to the reader, that a decree of the general
assembly in this country is expressed by the word HNHLOAYN,
which signifies an exhortation, as near as I can render it; for they
have no conception how a rational creature can be compelled, but
only advised, or exhorted; because no person can disobey reason,
without giving up his claim to be a rational creature..
I was struck with the utmost grief and despair at my master's
discourse; and being unable to support the agonies I was under, I
fell into a swoon at his feet. When I came to myself, he told me
"that he concluded I had been dead;" for these people are subject
to no such imbecilities of nature. I answered in a faint voice, "that
death would have been too great a happiness; that although I
could not blame the assembly's exhortation, or the urgency of his
friends; yet, in my weak and corrupt judgment, I thought it might
consist with reason to have been less rigorous; that I could not
swim a league, and probably the nearest land to theirs might be
distant above a hundred: that many materials, necessary for
making a small vessel to carry me off, were wholly wanting in this
country; which, however, I would attempt, in obedience and
gratitude to his honour, although I concluded the thing to be
impossible, and therefore looked on myself as already devoted to
destruction; that the certain prospect of an unnatural death was the
least of my evils; for, supposing I should escape with life by some
strange adventure, how could I think with temper of passing my
days among YAHOOS, and relapsing into my old corruptions, for
want of examples to lead and keep me within the paths of virtue?
that I knew too well upon what solid reasons all the
determinations of the wise HOUYHNHNMS were founded, not to
be shaken by arguments of mine, a miserable YAHOO; and
therefore, after presenting him with my humble thanks for the
offer of his servants' assistance in making a vessel, and desiring a
reasonable time for so difficult a work, I told him I would
endeavour to preserve a wretched being; and if ever I returned to
England, was not without hopes of being useful to my own.
species, by celebrating the praises of the renowned
HOUYHNHNMS, and proposing their virtues to the imitation of
mankind."
My master, in a few words, made me a very gracious reply;
allowed me the space of two months to finish my boat; and
ordered the sorrel nag, my fellow-servant (for so, at this distance,
I may presume to call him), to follow my instruction; because I
told my master, "that his help would be sufficient, and I knew he
had a tenderness for me."
In his company, my first business was to go to that part of the
coast where my rebellious crew had ordered me to be set on shore.
I got upon a height, and looking on every side into the sea; fancied
I saw a small island toward the north-east. I took out my pocket
glass, and could then clearly distinguish it above five leagues off,
as I computed; but it appeared to the sorrel nag to be only a blue
cloud: for as he had no conception of any country beside his own,
so he could not be as expert in distinguishing remote objects at
sea, as we who so much converse in that element.
After I had discovered this island, I considered no further; but
resolved it should if possible, be the first place of my banishment,
leaving the consequence to fortune.
I returned home, and consulting with the sorrel nag, we went into
a copse at some distance, where I with my knife, and he with a
sharp flint, fastened very artificially after their manner, to a
wooden handle, cut down several oak wattles, about the thickness.
of a walking-staff, and some larger pieces. But I shall not trouble
the reader with a particular description of my own mechanics; let
it suffice to say, that in six weeks time with the help of the sorrel
nag, who performed the parts that required most labour, I finished
a sort of Indian canoe, but much larger, covering it with the skins
of YAHOOS, well stitched together with hempen threads of my
own making. My sail was likewise composed of the skins of the
same animal; but I made use of the youngest I could get, the older
being too tough and thick; and I likewise provided myself with
four paddles. I laid in a stock of boiled flesh, of rabbits and fowls,
and took with me two vessels, one filled with milk and the other
with water.
I tried my canoe in a large pond, near my master's house, and then
corrected in it what was amiss; stopping all the chinks with
YAHOOS' tallow, till I found it staunch, and able to bear me and
my freight; and, when it was as complete as I could possibly make
it, I had it drawn on a carriage very gently by YAHOOS to the sea-side,
under the conduct of the sorrel nag and another servant.
When all was ready, and the day came for my departure, I took
leave of my master and lady and the whole family, my eyes
flowing with tears, and my heart quite sunk with grief. But his
honour, out of curiosity, and, perhaps, (if I may speak without
vanity,) partly out of kindness, was determined to see me in my
canoe, and got several of his neighbouring friends to accompany
him. I was forced to wait above an hour for the tide; and then
observing the wind very fortunately bearing toward the island to
which I intended to steer my course, I took a second leave of my.
master: but as I was going to prostrate myself to kiss his hoof, he
did me the honour to raise it gently to my mouth. I am not
ignorant how much I have been censured for mentioning this last
particular. Detractors are pleased to think it improbable, that so
illustrious a person should descend to give so great a mark of
distinction to a creature so inferior as I. Neither have I forgotten
how apt some travellers are to boast of extraordinary favours they
have received. But, if these censurers were better acquainted with
the noble and courteous disposition of the HOUYHNHNMS, they
would soon change their opinion.
I paid my respects to the rest of the HOUYHNHNMS in his
honour's company; then getting into my canoe, I pushed off from
shore..
[The author's dangerous voyage. He arrives at New Holland,
hoping to settle there. Is wounded with an arrow by one of the
natives. Is seized and carried by force into a Portuguese ship. The
great civilities of the captain. The author arrives at England.]
I began this desperate voyage on February 15, 1714-15, at nine
o'clock in the morning. The wind was very favourable; however, I
made use at first only of my paddles; but considering I should
soon be weary, and that the wind might chop about, I ventured to
set up my little sail; and thus, with the help of the tide, I went at
the rate of a league and a half an hour, as near as I could guess.
My master and his friends continued on the shore till I was almost
out of sight; and I often heard the sorrel nag (who always loved
me) crying out, "HNUY ILLA NYHA, MAJAH YAHOO;" "Take
care of thyself, gentle YAHOO."
My design was, if possible, to discover some small island
uninhabited, yet sufficient, by my labour, to furnish me with the
necessaries of life, which I would have thought a greater
happiness, than to be first minister in the politest court of Europe;
so horrible was the idea I conceived of returning to live in the
society, and under the government of YAHOOS. For in such a
solitude as I desired, I could at least enjoy my own thoughts, and.
reflect with delight on the virtues of those inimitable
HOUYHNHNMS, without an opportunity of degenerating into
the vices and corruptions of my own species.
The reader may remember what I related, when my crew
conspired against me, and confined me to my cabin; how I
continued there several weeks without knowing what course we
took; and when I was put ashore in the long-boat, how the sailors
told me, with oaths, whether true or false, "that they knew not in
what part of the world we were." However, I did then believe us to
be about 10 degrees southward of the Cape of Good Hope, or
about 45 degrees southern latitude, as I gathered from some
general words I overheard among them, being I supposed to the
south-east in their intended voyage to Madagascar. And although
this were little better than conjecture, yet I resolved to steer my
course eastward, hoping to reach the south-west coast of New
Holland, and perhaps some such island as I desired lying
westward of it. The wind was full west, and by six in the evening
I computed I had gone eastward at least eighteen leagues; when I
spied a very small island about half a league off, which I soon
reached. It was nothing but a rock, with one creek naturally
arched by the force of tempests. Here I put in my canoe, and
climbing a part of the rock, I could plainly discover land to the
east, extending from south to north. I lay all night in my canoe;
and repeating my voyage early in the morning, I arrived in seven
hours to the south-east point of New Holland. This confirmed me
in the opinion I have long entertained, that the maps and charts
place this country at least three degrees more to the east than it.
really is; which thought I communicated many years ago to my
worthy friend, Mr. Herman Moll, and gave him my reasons for it,
although he has rather chosen to follow other authors.
I saw no inhabitants in the place where I landed, and being
unarmed, I was afraid of venturing far into the country. I found
some shellfish on the shore, and ate them raw, not daring to kindle
a fire, for fear of being discovered by the natives. I continued
three days feeding on oysters and limpets, to save my own
provisions; and I fortunately found a brook of excellent water,
which gave me great relief.
On the fourth day, venturing out early a little too far, I saw twenty
or thirty natives upon a height not above five hundred yards from
me. They were stark naked, men, women, and children, round a
fire, as I could discover by the smoke. One of them spied me, and
gave notice to the rest; five of them advanced toward me, leaving
the women and children at the fire. I made what haste I could to
the shore, and, getting into my canoe, shoved off: the savages,
observing me retreat, ran after me: and before I could get far
enough into the sea, discharged an arrow which wounded me
deeply on the inside of my left knee: I shall carry the mark to my
grave. I apprehended the arrow might be poisoned, and paddling
out of the reach of their darts (being a calm day), I made a shift to
suck the wound, and dress it as well as I could.
I was at a loss what to do, for I durst not return to the same
landing-place, but stood to the north, and was forced to paddle, for
the wind, though very gentle, was against me, blowing north-.
west. As I was looking about for a secure landing-place, I saw a