Reading Help Gulliver's Travels. Part II, III, IV
between the Yahoos of several neighbourhoods, without any visible `
` cause; those of one district watching all opportunities to surprise `
` the next, before they are prepared. But if they find their project `
` has miscarried, they return home, and, for want of enemies, engage `
` in what I call a civil war among themselves. `
` `
` "That in some fields of his country there are certain shining `
` stones of several colours, whereof the Yahoos are violently fond: `
` and when part of these stones is fixed in the earth, as it `
` sometimes happens, they will dig with their claws for whole days to `
` get them out; then carry them away, and hide them by heaps in their `
` kennels; but still looking round with great caution, for fear their `
` comrades should find out their treasure." My master said, "he `
` could never discover the reason of this unnatural appetite, or how `
` these stones could be of any use to a Yahoo; but now he believed it `
` might proceed from the same principle of avarice which I had `
` ascribed to mankind. That he had once, by way of experiment, `
` privately removed a heap of these stones from the place where one `
` of his Yahoos had buried it; whereupon the sordid animal, missing `
` his treasure, by his loud lamenting brought the whole herd to the `
` place, there miserably howled, then fell to biting and tearing the `
` rest, began to pine away, would neither eat, nor sleep, nor work, `
` till he ordered a servant privately to convey the stones into the `
` same hole, and hide them as before; which, when his Yahoo had `
` found, he presently recovered his spirits and good humour, but took `
` good care to remove them to a better hiding place, and has ever `
` since been a very serviceable brute." `
` `
` My master further assured me, which I also observed myself, "that `
` in the fields where the shining stones abound, the fiercest and `
` most frequent battles are fought, occasioned by perpetual inroads `
` of the neighbouring Yahoos." `
` `
` He said, "it was common, when two Yahoos discovered such a stone in `
` a field, and were contending which of them should be the `
` proprietor, a third would take the advantage, and carry it away `
` from them both;" which my master would needs contend to have some `
` kind of resemblance with our suits at law; wherein I thought it for `
` our credit not to undeceive him; since the decision he mentioned `
` was much more equitable than many decrees among us; because the `
` plaintiff and defendant there lost nothing beside the stone they `
` contended for: whereas our courts of equity would never have `
` dismissed the cause, while either of them had any thing left. `
` `
` My master, continuing his discourse, said, "there was nothing that `
` rendered the Yahoos more odious, than their undistinguishing `
` appetite to devour every thing that came in their way, whether `
` herbs, roots, berries, the corrupted flesh of animals, or all `
` mingled together: and it was peculiar in their temper, that they `
` were fonder of what they could get by rapine or stealth, at a `
` greater distance, than much better food provided for them at home. `
` If their prey held out, they would eat till they were ready to `
` burst; after which, nature had pointed out to them a certain root `
` that gave them a general evacuation. `
` `
` "There was also another kind of root, very juicy, but somewhat rare `
` and difficult to be found, which the Yahoos sought for with much `
` eagerness, and would suck it with great delight; it produced in `
` them the same effects that wine has upon us. It would make them `
` sometimes hug, and sometimes tear one another; they would howl, and `
` grin, and chatter, and reel, and tumble, and then fall asleep in `
` the mud." `
` `
` I did indeed observe that the Yahoos were the only animals in this `
` country subject to any diseases; which, however, were much fewer `
` than horses have among us, and contracted, not by any ill-treatment `
` they meet with, but by the nastiness and greediness of that sordid `
` brute. Neither has their language any more than a general `
` appellation for those maladies, which is borrowed from the name of `
` the beast, and called hnea-yahoo, or Yahoo's evil; and the cure `
` prescribed is a mixture of their own dung and urine, forcibly put `
` down the Yahoo's throat. This I have since often known to have `
` been taken with success, and do here freely recommend it to my `
` countrymen for the public good, as an admirable specific against `
` all diseases produced by repletion. `
` `
` "As to learning, government, arts, manufactures, and the like," my `
` master confessed, "he could find little or no resemblance between `
` the Yahoos of that country and those in ours; for he only meant to `
` observe what parity there was in our natures. He had heard, `
` indeed, some curious Houyhnhnms observe, that in most herds there `
` was a sort of ruling Yahoo (as among us there is generally some `
` leading or principal stag in a park), who was always more deformed `
` in body, and mischievous in disposition, than any of the rest; that `
` this leader had usually a favourite as like himself as he could `
` get, whose employment was to lick his master's feet and posteriors, `
` and drive the female Yahoos to his kennel; for which he was now and `
` then rewarded with a piece of ass's flesh. This favourite is hated `
` by the whole herd, and therefore, to protect himself, keeps always `
` near the person of his leader. He usually continues in office till `
` a worse can be found; but the very moment he is discarded, his `
` successor, at the head of all the Yahoos in that district, young `
` and old, male and female, come in a body, and discharge their `
` excrements upon him from head to foot. But how far this might be `
` applicable to our courts, and favourites, and ministers of state, `
` my master said I could best determine." `
` `
` I durst make no return to this malicious insinuation, which debased `
` human understanding below the sagacity of a common hound, who has `
` judgment enough to distinguish and follow the cry of the ablest dog `
` in the pack, without being ever mistaken. `
` `
` My master told me, "there were some qualities remarkable in the `
` Yahoos, which he had not observed me to mention, or at least very `
` slightly, in the accounts I had given of humankind." He said, `
` "those animals, like other brutes, had their females in common; but `
` in this they differed, that the she Yahoo would admit the males `
` while she was pregnant; and that the hes would quarrel and fight `
` with the females, as fiercely as with each other; both which `
` practices were such degrees of infamous brutality, as no other `
` sensitive creature ever arrived at. `
` `
` "Another thing he wondered at in the Yahoos, was their strange `
` disposition to nastiness and dirt; whereas there appears to be a `
` natural love of cleanliness in all other animals." As to the two `
` former accusations, I was glad to let them pass without any reply, `
` 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. `
` `
` `
` `
` CHAPTER VIII. `
` `
` `
` `
` [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 `
`
` cause; those of one district watching all opportunities to surprise `
` the next, before they are prepared. But if they find their project `
` has miscarried, they return home, and, for want of enemies, engage `
` in what I call a civil war among themselves. `
` `
` "That in some fields of his country there are certain shining `
` stones of several colours, whereof the Yahoos are violently fond: `
` and when part of these stones is fixed in the earth, as it `
` sometimes happens, they will dig with their claws for whole days to `
` get them out; then carry them away, and hide them by heaps in their `
` kennels; but still looking round with great caution, for fear their `
` comrades should find out their treasure." My master said, "he `
` could never discover the reason of this unnatural appetite, or how `
` these stones could be of any use to a Yahoo; but now he believed it `
` might proceed from the same principle of avarice which I had `
` ascribed to mankind. That he had once, by way of experiment, `
` privately removed a heap of these stones from the place where one `
` of his Yahoos had buried it; whereupon the sordid animal, missing `
` his treasure, by his loud lamenting brought the whole herd to the `
` place, there miserably howled, then fell to biting and tearing the `
` rest, began to pine away, would neither eat, nor sleep, nor work, `
` till he ordered a servant privately to convey the stones into the `
` same hole, and hide them as before; which, when his Yahoo had `
` found, he presently recovered his spirits and good humour, but took `
` good care to remove them to a better hiding place, and has ever `
` since been a very serviceable brute." `
` `
` My master further assured me, which I also observed myself, "that `
` in the fields where the shining stones abound, the fiercest and `
` most frequent battles are fought, occasioned by perpetual inroads `
` of the neighbouring Yahoos." `
` `
` He said, "it was common, when two Yahoos discovered such a stone in `
` a field, and were contending which of them should be the `
` proprietor, a third would take the advantage, and carry it away `
` from them both;" which my master would needs contend to have some `
` kind of resemblance with our suits at law; wherein I thought it for `
` our credit not to undeceive him; since the decision he mentioned `
` was much more equitable than many decrees among us; because the `
` plaintiff and defendant there lost nothing beside the stone they `
` contended for: whereas our courts of equity would never have `
` dismissed the cause, while either of them had any thing left. `
` `
` My master, continuing his discourse, said, "there was nothing that `
` rendered the Yahoos more odious, than their undistinguishing `
` appetite to devour every thing that came in their way, whether `
` herbs, roots, berries, the corrupted flesh of animals, or all `
` mingled together: and it was peculiar in their temper, that they `
` were fonder of what they could get by rapine or stealth, at a `
` greater distance, than much better food provided for them at home. `
` If their prey held out, they would eat till they were ready to `
` burst; after which, nature had pointed out to them a certain root `
` that gave them a general evacuation. `
` `
` "There was also another kind of root, very juicy, but somewhat rare `
` and difficult to be found, which the Yahoos sought for with much `
` eagerness, and would suck it with great delight; it produced in `
` them the same effects that wine has upon us. It would make them `
` sometimes hug, and sometimes tear one another; they would howl, and `
` grin, and chatter, and reel, and tumble, and then fall asleep in `
` the mud." `
` `
` I did indeed observe that the Yahoos were the only animals in this `
` country subject to any diseases; which, however, were much fewer `
` than horses have among us, and contracted, not by any ill-treatment `
` they meet with, but by the nastiness and greediness of that sordid `
` brute. Neither has their language any more than a general `
` appellation for those maladies, which is borrowed from the name of `
` the beast, and called hnea-yahoo, or Yahoo's evil; and the cure `
` prescribed is a mixture of their own dung and urine, forcibly put `
` down the Yahoo's throat. This I have since often known to have `
` been taken with success, and do here freely recommend it to my `
` countrymen for the public good, as an admirable specific against `
` all diseases produced by repletion. `
` `
` "As to learning, government, arts, manufactures, and the like," my `
` master confessed, "he could find little or no resemblance between `
` the Yahoos of that country and those in ours; for he only meant to `
` observe what parity there was in our natures. He had heard, `
` indeed, some curious Houyhnhnms observe, that in most herds there `
` was a sort of ruling Yahoo (as among us there is generally some `
` leading or principal stag in a park), who was always more deformed `
` in body, and mischievous in disposition, than any of the rest; that `
` this leader had usually a favourite as like himself as he could `
` get, whose employment was to lick his master's feet and posteriors, `
` and drive the female Yahoos to his kennel; for which he was now and `
` then rewarded with a piece of ass's flesh. This favourite is hated `
` by the whole herd, and therefore, to protect himself, keeps always `
` near the person of his leader. He usually continues in office till `
` a worse can be found; but the very moment he is discarded, his `
` successor, at the head of all the Yahoos in that district, young `
` and old, male and female, come in a body, and discharge their `
` excrements upon him from head to foot. But how far this might be `
` applicable to our courts, and favourites, and ministers of state, `
` my master said I could best determine." `
` `
` I durst make no return to this malicious insinuation, which debased `
` human understanding below the sagacity of a common hound, who has `
` judgment enough to distinguish and follow the cry of the ablest dog `
` in the pack, without being ever mistaken. `
` `
` My master told me, "there were some qualities remarkable in the `
` Yahoos, which he had not observed me to mention, or at least very `
` slightly, in the accounts I had given of humankind." He said, `
` "those animals, like other brutes, had their females in common; but `
` in this they differed, that the she Yahoo would admit the males `
` while she was pregnant; and that the hes would quarrel and fight `
` with the females, as fiercely as with each other; both which `
` practices were such degrees of infamous brutality, as no other `
` sensitive creature ever arrived at. `
` `
` "Another thing he wondered at in the Yahoos, was their strange `
` disposition to nastiness and dirt; whereas there appears to be a `
` natural love of cleanliness in all other animals." As to the two `
` former accusations, I was glad to let them pass without any reply, `
` 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. `
` `
` `
` `
` CHAPTER VIII. `
` `
` `
` `
` [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 `
`