oors 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..

        CHAPTER XI.

[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
sail to the north-north-east, which appearing every minute more
visible, I was in some doubt whether I should wait for them or not;
but at last my detestation of the YAHOO race prevailed: and
turning my canoe, I sailed and paddled together to the south, and
got into the same creek whence I set out in the morning, choosing
rather to trust myself among these barbarians, than live with
European YAHOOS. I drew up my canoe as close as I could to the
shore, and hid myself behind a stone by the little brook, which, as
I have already said, was excellent water.
The ship came within half a league of this creek, and sent her long
boat with vessels to take in fresh water (for the place, it seems,
was very well known); but I did not observe it, till the boat was
almost on shore; and it was too late to seek another hiding-place.
The seamen at their landing observed my canoe, and rummaging
it all over, easily conjectured that the owner could not be far off.
Four of them, well armed, searched every cranny and lurking-hole,
till at last they found me flat on my face behind the stone.
They gazed awhile in admiration at my strange uncouth dress; my
coat made of skins, my wooden-soled shoes, and my furred
stockings; whence, however, they concluded, I was not a native of
the place, who all go naked. One of the seamen, in Portuguese, bid
me rise, and asked who I was. I understood that language very
well, and getting upon my feet, said, "I was a poor YAHOO
banished from the HOUYHNHNMS, and desired they would
please to let me depart." They admired to hear me answer them in
their own tongue, and saw by my complexion I must be a
European; but were at a loss to know what I meant by YAHOOS.
and HOUYHNHNMS; and at the same time fell a-laughing at my
strange tone in speaking, which resembled the neighing of a
horse. I trembled all the while betwixt fear and hatred. I again
desired leave to depart, and was gently moving to my canoe; but
they laid hold of me, desiring to know, "what country I was of?
whence I came?" with many other questions. I told them "I was
born in England, whence I came about five years ago, and then
their country and ours were at peace. I therefore hoped they would
not treat me as an enemy, since I meant them no harm, but was a
poor YAHOO seeking some desolate place where to pass the
remainder of his unfortunate life."
When they began to talk, I thought I never heard or saw any thing
more unnatural; for it appeared to me as monstrous as if a dog or a
cow should speak in England, or a YAHOO in
HOUYHNHNMLAND. The honest Portuguese were equally
amazed at my strange dress, and the odd manner of delivering my
words, which, however, they understood very well. They spoke to
me with great humanity, and said, "they were sure the captain
would carry me GRATIS to Lisbon, whence I might return to my
own country; that two of the seamen would go back to the ship,
inform the captain of what they had seen, and receive his orders;
in the mean time, unless I would give my solemn oath not to fly,
they would secure me by force. I thought it best to comply with
their proposal. They were very curious to know my story, but I
gave them very little satisfaction, and they all conjectured that my
misfortunes had impaired my reason. In two hours the boat, which
went laden with vessels of water, returned, with the captain's
command to fetch me on board. I fell on my knees to preserve my.
liberty; but all was in vain; and the men, having tied me with
cords, heaved me into the boat, whence I was taken into the ship,
and thence into the captain's cabin.
His name was Pedro de Mendez; he was a very courteous and
generous person. He entreated me to give some account of myself,
and desired to know what I would eat or drink; said, "I should be
used as well as himself;" and spoke so many obliging things, that I
wondered to find such civilities from a YAHOO. However, I
remained silent and sullen; I was ready to faint at the very smell of
him and his men. At last I desired something to eat out of my own
canoe; but he ordered me a chicken, and some excellent wine, and
then directed that I should be put to bed in a very clean cabin. I
would not undress myself, but lay on the bed-clothes, and in half
an hour stole out, when I thought the crew was at dinner, and
getting to the side of the ship, was going to leap into the sea, and
swim for my life, rather than continue among YAHOOS. But one
of the seamen prevented me, and having informed the captain, I
was chained to my cabin.
After dinner, Don Pedro came to me, and desired to know my
reason for so desperate an attempt; assured me, "he only meant to
do me all the service he was able;" and spoke so very movingly,
that at last I descended to treat him like an animal which had some
little portion of reason. I gave him a very short relation of my
voyage; of the conspiracy against me by my own men; of the
country where they set me on shore, and of my five years
residence there. All which he looked upon as if it were a dream or
a vision; whereat I took great offence; for I had quite forgot the.
faculty of lying, so peculiar to YAHOOS, in all countries where
they preside, and, consequently, their disposition of suspecting
truth in others of their own species. I asked him, "whether it were
the custom in his country to say the thing which was not?" I
assured him, "I had almost forgot what he meant by falsehood,
and if I had lived a thousand years in HOUYHNHNMLAND, I
should never have heard a lie from the meanest servant; that I was
altogether indifferent whether he believed me or not; but,
however, in return for his favours, I would give so much
allowance to the corruption of his nature, as to answer any
objection he would please to make, and then he might easily
discover the truth."
The captain, a wise man, after many endeavours to catch me
tripping in some part of my story, at last began to have a better
opinion of my veracity. But he added, "that since I professed so
inviolable an attachment to truth, I must give him my word and
honour to bear him company in this voyage, without attempting
any thing against my life; or else he would continue me a prisoner
till we arrived at Lisbon." I gave him the promise he required; but
at the same time protested, "that I would suffer the greatest
hardships, rather than return to live among YAHOOS."
Our voyage passed without any considerable accident. In
gratitude to the captain, I sometimes sat with him, at his earnest
request, and strove to conceal my antipathy against human kind,
although it often broke out; which he suffered to pass without
observation. But the greatest part of the day I confined myself to
my cabin, to avoid seeing any of the crew. The captain had often.
entreated me to strip myself of my savage dress, and offered to
lend me the best suit of clothes he had. This I would not be
prevailed on to accept, abhorring to cover myself with any thing
that had been on the back of a YAHOO. I only desired he would
lend me two clean shirts, which, having been washed since he
wore them, I believed would not so much defile me. These I
changed every second day, and washed them myself.
We arrived at Lisbon, Nov. 5, 1715. At our landing, the captain
forced me to cover myself with his cloak, to prevent the rabble
from crowding about me. I was conveyed to his own house; and at
my earnest request he led me up to the highest room backwards. I
conjured him "to conceal from all persons what I had told him of
the HOUYHNHNMS; because the least hint of such a story would
not only draw numbers of people to see me, but probably put me
in danger of being imprisoned, or burnt by the Inquisition." The
captain persuaded me to accept a suit of clothes newly made; but I
would not suffer the tailor to take my measure; however, Don
Pedro being almost of my size, they fitted me well enough. He
accoutred me with other necessaries, all new, which I aired for
twenty-four hours before I would use them.
The captain had no wife, nor above three servants, none of which
were suffered to attend at meals; and his whole deportment was so
obliging, added to very good human understanding, that I really
began to tolerate his company. He gained so far upon me, that I
ventured to look out of the back window. By degrees I was
brought into another room, whence I peeped into the street, but
drew my head back in a fright. In a week's time he seduced me.
down to the door. I found my terror gradually lessened, but my
hatred and contempt seemed to increase. I was at last bold enough
to walk the street in his company, but kept my nose well stopped
with rue, or sometimes with tobacco.
In ten days, Don Pedro, to whom I had given some account of my
domestic affairs, put it upon me, as a matter of honour and
conscience, "that I ought to return to my native country, and live
at home with my wife and children." He told me, "there was an
English ship in the port just ready to sail, and he would furnish me
with all things necessary." It would be tedious to repeat his
arguments, and my contradictions. He said, "it was altogether
impossible to find such a solitary island as I desired to live in; but
I might command in my own house, and pass my time in a manner
as recluse as I pleased."
I complied at last, finding I could not do better. I left Lisbon the
24th day of November, in an English merchantman, but who was
the master I never inquired. Don Pedro accompanied me to the
ship, and lent me twenty pounds. He took kind leave of me, and
embraced me at parting, which I bore as well as I could. During
this last voyage I had no commerce with the master or any of his
men; but, pretending I was sick, kept close in my cabin. On the
fifth of December, 1715, we cast anchor in the Downs, about nine
in the morning, and at three in the afternoon I got safe to my house
at Rotherhith. (7).
My wife and family received me with great surprise and joy,
because they concluded me certainly dead; but I must freely
confess the sight of them filled me only with hatred, disgust, and
contempt; and the more, by reflecting on the near alliance I had to
them. For although, since my unfortunate exile from the
HOUYHNHNM country, I had compelled myself to tolerate the
sight of YAHOOS, and to converse with Don Pedro de Mendez,
yet my memory and imagination were perpetually filled with the
virtues and ideas of those exalted HOUYHNHNMS. And when I
began to consider that, by copulating with one of the YAHOO
species I had become a parent of more, it struck me with the
utmost shame, confusion, and horror.
As soon as I entered the house, my wife took me in her arms, and
kissed me; at which, having not been used to the touch of that
odious animal for so many years, I fell into a swoon for almost an
hour. At the time I am writing, it is five years since my last return
to England. During the first year, I could not endure my wife or
children in my presence; the very smell of them was intolerable;
much less could I suffer them to eat in the same room. To this
hour they dare not presume to touch my bread, or drink out of the
same cup, neither was I ever able to let one of them take me by the
hand. The first money I laid out was to buy two young stone-horses,
which I keep in a good stable; and next to them, the groom
is my greatest favourite, for I feel my spirits revived by the smell
he contracts in the stable. My horses understand me tolerably
well; I converse with them at least four hours every day. They are
strangers to bridle or saddle; they live in great amity with me and
friendship to each other...

        CHAPTER XII.

[The author's veracity. His design in publishing this work. His
censure of those travellers who swerve from the truth. The author
clears himself from any sinister ends in writing. An objection
answered. The method of planting colonies. His native country
commended. The right of the crown to those countries described
by the author is justified. The difficulty of conquering them. The
author takes his last leave of the reader; proposes his manner of
living for the future; gives good advice, and concludes.]
Thus, gentle reader, I have given thee a faithful history of my
travels for sixteen years and above seven months: wherein I have
not been so studious of ornament as of truth. I could, perhaps, like
others, have astonished thee with strange improbable tales; but I
rather chose to relate plain matter of fact, in the simplest manner
and style; because my principal design was to inform, and not to
amuse thee.
It is easy for us who travel into remote countries, which are
seldom visited by Englishmen or other Europeans, to form
descriptions of wonderful animals both at sea and land. Whereas a
traveller's chief aim should be to make men wiser and better, and
to improve their minds by the bad, as well as good, example of
what they deliver concerning foreign places..
I could heartily wish a law was enacted, that every traveller,
before he were permitted to publish his voyages, should be
obliged to make oath before the Lord High Chancellor, that all he
intended to print was absolutely true to the best of his knowledge;
for then the world would no longer be deceived, as it usually is,
while some writers, to make their works pass the better upon the
public, impose the grossest falsities on the unwary reader. I have
perused several books of travels with great delight in my younger
days; but having since gone over most parts of the globe, and been
able to contradict many fabulous accounts from my own
observation, it has given me a great disgust against this part of
reading, and some indignation to see the credulity of mankind so
impudently abused. Therefore, since my acquaintance were
pleased to think my poor endeavours might not be unacceptable to
my country, I imposed on myself, as a maxim never to be swerved
from, that I would strictly adhere to truth; neither indeed can I be
ever under the least temptation to vary from it, while I retain in
my mind the lectures and example of my noble master and the
other illustrious HOUYHNHNMS of whom I had so long the
honour to be an humble hearer.
-NEC SI MISERUM FORTUNA SINONEM FINXIT, VANUM
 ETIAM, MENDACEMQUE IMPROBA FINGET.

I know very well, how little reputation is to be got by writings
which require neither genius nor learning, nor indeed any other
talent, except a good memory, or an exact journal. I know
likewise, that writers of travels, like dictionary-makers, are sunk.
into oblivion by the weight and bulk of those who come last, and
therefore lie uppermost. And it is highly probable, that such
travellers, who shall hereafter visit the countries described in this
work of mine, may, by detecting my errors (if there be any), and
adding many new discoveries of their own, justle me out of
vogue, and stand in my place, making the world forget that ever I
was an author. This indeed would be too great a mortification, if I
wrote for fame: but as my sole intention was the public good, I
cannot be altogether disappointed. For who can read of the virtues
I have mentioned in the glorious HOUYHNHNMS, without being
ashamed of his own vices, when he considers himself as the
reasoning, governing animal of his country? I shall say nothing of
those remote nations where YAHOOS preside; among which the
least corrupted are the BROBDINGNAGIANS; whose wise
maxims in morality and government it would be our happiness to
observe. But I forbear descanting further, and rather leave the
judicious reader to his own remarks and application.
I am not a little pleased that this work of mine can possibly meet
with no censurers: for what objections can be made against a
writer, who relates only plain facts, that happened in such distant
countries, where we have not the least interest, with respect either
to trade or negotiations? I have carefully avoided every fault with
which common writers of travels are often too justly charged.
Besides, I meddle not the least with any party, but write without
passion, prejudice, or ill-will against any man, or number of men,
whatsoever. I write for the noblest end, to inform and instruct
mankind; over whom I may, without breach of modesty, pretend
to some superiority, from the advantages I received by conversing.
so long among the most accomplished HOUYHNHNMS. I write
without any view to profit or praise. I never suffer a word to pass
that may look like reflection, or possibly give the least offence,
even to those who are most ready to take it. So that I hope I may
with justice pronounce myself an author perfectly blameless;
against whom the tribes of Answerers, Considerers, Observers,
Reflectors, Detectors, Remarkers, will never be able to find matter
for exercising their talents.
I confess, it was whispered to me, "that I was bound in duty, as a
subject of England, to have given in a memorial to a secretary of
state at my first coming over; because, whatever lands are
discovered by a subject belong to the crown." But I doubt whether
our conquests in the countries I treat of would be as easy as those
of Ferdinando Cortez over the naked Americans. The
LILLIPUTIANS, I think, are hardly worth the charge of a fleet
and army to reduce them; and I question whether it might be
prudent or safe to attempt the BROBDINGNAGIANS; or whether
an English army would be much at their ease with the Flying
Island over their heads. The HOUYHNHNMS indeed appear not
to be so well prepared for war, a science to which they are perfect
strangers, and especially against missive weapons. However,
supposing myself to be a minister of state, I could never give my
advice for invading them. Their prudence, unanimity,
unacquaintedness with fear, and their love of their country, would
amply supply all defects in the military art. Imagine twenty
thousand of them breaking into the midst of an European army,
confounding the ranks, overturning the carriages, battering the
warriors' faces into mummy by terrible yerks from their hinder.
hoofs; for they would well deserve the character given to
Augustus, RECALCITRAT UNDIQUE TUTUS. But, instead of
proposals for conquering that magnanimous nation, I rather wish
they were in a capacity, or disposition, to send a sufficient number
of their inhabitants for civilizing Europe, by teaching us the first
principles of honour, justice, truth, temperance, public spirit,
fortitude, chastity, friendship, benevolence, and fidelity. The
names of all which virtues are still retained among us in most
languages, and are to be met with in modern, as well as ancient
authors; which I am able to assert from my own small reading.
But I had another reason, which made me less forward to enlarge
his majesty's dominions by my discoveries. To say the truth, I had
conceived a few scruples with relation to the distributive justice of
princes upon those occasions. For instance, a crew of pirates are
driven by a storm they know not whither; at length a boy
discovers land from the topmast; they go on shore to rob and
plunder, they see a harmless people, are entertained with
kindness; they give the country a new name; they take formal
possession of it for their king; they set up a rotten plank, or a
stone, for a memorial; they murder two or three dozen of the
natives, bring away a couple more, by force, for a sample; return
home, and get their pardon. Here commences a new dominion
acquired with a title by divine right. Ships are sent with the first
opportunity; the natives driven out or destroyed; their princes
tortured to discover their gold; a free license given to all acts of
inhumanity and lust, the earth reeking with the blood of its.
inhabitants: and this execrable crew of butchers, employed in so
pious an expedition, is a modern colony, sent to convert and
civilize an idolatrous and barbarous people!
But this description, I confess, does by no means affect the British
nation, who may be an example to the whole world for their
wisdom, care, and justice in planting colonies; their liberal
endowments for the advancement of religion and learning; their
choice of devout and able pastors to propagate Christianity; their
caution in stocking their provinces with people of sober lives and
conversations from this the mother kingdom; their strict regard to
the distribution of justice, in supplying the civil administration
through all their colonies with officers of the greatest abilities,
utter strangers to corruption; and, to crown all, by sending the
most vigilant and virtuous governors, who have no other views
than the happiness of the people over whom they preside, and the
honour of the king their master.
But as those countries which I have described do not appear to
have any desire of being conquered and enslaved, murdered or
driven out by colonies, nor abound either in gold, silver, sugar, or
tobacco, I did humbly conceive, they were by no means proper
objects of our zeal, our valour, or our interest. However, if those
whom it more concerns think fit to be of another opinion, I am
ready to depose, when I shall be lawfully called, that no European
did ever visit those countries before me. I mean, if the inhabitants
ought to be believed, unless a dispute may arise concerning the
two YAHOOS, said to have been seen many years ago upon a
mountain in HOUYHNHNMLAND..
But, as to the formality of taking possession in my sovereign's
name, it never came once into my thoughts; and if it had, yet, as
my affairs then stood, I should perhaps, in point of prudence and
self-preservation, have put it off to