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, 1714/5, at nine o’clock in
the morning. The wind was very favorable; 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 with my labor 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 any 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 longboat,
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 southeast 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 southwest 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 southwest 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 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 towards 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 northwest. 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 longboat
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 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 me 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 anything so
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 meantime, 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 bedclothes,
and in half an hour stole out when I thought the crew were 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 offense; for I had quite forgot
the faculty of lying, so peculiar to _yahoos_ in all countries where
they preside, and consequently, the 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 no; but
however, in return for his favors, I would give so much allowance to the
corruption of his nature, as to answer any objection he might please to
make, and then he might easily discover the truth.
The captain, a wise man, after many endeavors to catch me tripping in
some part of my story, at last began to have a better opinion of my
veracity, and the rather because he confessed he met with a Dutch skipper
who pretended to have landed with five others of his crew on a certain
island or continent south of New Holland, where they went for fresh
water, and observed a horse driving before him several animals exactly
resembling those I described under the name of _yahoos_, with some other
particulars which the captain said he had forgotten, because he then
considered them all to be lies. But he added that since I professed so
inviolable an attachment to truth, I must give him my word and honor to
bear him company in this voyage without attempting anything against my
life, or else he would continue to hold me a prisoner till we arrived at
Lisbon. I gave him the required promise, but at the same time I 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 anything 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, November 5th, 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 accoutered 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, and
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 honor 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 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 had 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 do no 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 the 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 5th of December, 1715, we cast anchor at the Downs, about
nine in the morning, and at three in the afternoon I got safe to my house
at Redriff.
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.
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 and children in my presence;
the 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 horses, which I keep in a good stable; and next to them the groom
is my greatest favorite; 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 and saddle; they live in great amity with me, and friendship to
each other.