The two horfes came up clofe to me, looking with great earneftnefs upon my face and hands. The grey fteed rubbed my hat all round with his right forehoof, and discomposed it so much, that I was forced to adjust it better by taking it off, and fettling it again; whereat both he and his companion (who was a brown bay) appeared to be much furprised; the latter felt the lappet of my coat, and finding it to hang loose about me, they both looked with new figns of wonder. He ftroaked my right hand, feeming to admire the foftnefs, and colour; but he fqueefed it fo hard between his hoof and his pastern, that I was forced to roar; after which they both touched me with all poffible tenderness. They were under great perplexity about my shoes and stockings, which they felt very often, neighing to each other, and using various geftures not unlike those of a philofopher, when he would attempt to folve some new and difficult phænomenon.

Upon the whole, the behaviour of these animals was fo orderly and rational, fo acute and judicious, that I at last concluded,

3

cluded, they muft needs be magicians, who had thus metamorphofed themselves upon some defign, and feeing a stranger in the way refolved to divert themselves with him; or perhaps were really amazed at the fight of a man fo very different in habit, feature, and complexion, from those who might probably live in fo remote a climate. Upon the ftrength of this reafoning I ventured to addrefs them in the following manner: gentlemen, if you be conjurers, as I have good caufe to believe, you can understand any language; therefore I make bold to let your worships know that I am a poor diftreffed englishman driven by his misfortunes upon your coaft, and I entreat one of you to let me ride upon his back, as if he were a real horfe, to fome houfe or village, where I can be relieved. In return of which favour I will make you a prefent of this knife and bracelet (taking them out of my pocket.) The two creatures ftood filent while I fpoke, feeming to liften with great attention; and when I had ended, they neighed frequently towards each other, as if they were engaged in ferious conver

fation.

fation. I plainly observed, that their language expreffed the paffions very well, and the words might with little pains be refolved into an alphabet more easily than the chinese.

I could frequently distinguish the word yahoo, which was repeated by each of them feveral times; and although it was impoffible for me to conjecture what it meant, yet while the two horfes were bufy in converfation, I endeavoured to practise this word upon my tongue; and as foon as they were filent, I boldly pronounced yahoo in a loud voice, imitating at the fame time as near as I could the neighing of a horse; at which they were both visibly surprised, and the grey repeated the fame word twice, as if he meant to teach me the right accent, wherein I spoke after him as well as I could, and found myfelf perceivably to improve every time, though very far from any degree of perfection. Then the bay tried me with a fecond word much harder to be pronounced; but reducing it to the english orthography, may be spelt thus, Houyhnhnm. I did not fucceed in this fo well as the former; but after two or three

farther

farther trials I had better fortune; and they both appeared amazed at my capacity.

After fome farther difcourfe, which I then conjectured might relate to me, the two friends took their leaves with the fame compliment of striking each others hoof; and the grey made me figns that I fhould walk before him; wherein I thought it prudent to comply, till I could find a better director. When I offered to flacken my pace, he would cry bhuun, bhuun; I gueffed his meaning, and gave him to understand, as well as I could, that I was weary, and not able to walk fafter; upon which he would ftand a-while to let me reft.

CHA P. II.

The author conducted by a Houyhnhnm to his house. The house defcribed. The author's reception. The food of the Houyhnhnms. The author in diftrefs for want of meat, is at laft relieved. His manner of feeding in this country.

HAving travelled about three miles, we came to a long kind of building made of timber stuck in the ground, and

Cc 2

wattled

wattled a-crofs; the roof was low, and covered with straw. I now began to be a little comforted; and took out fome toys, which travellers ufually carry for presents to the favage indians of america and other parts, in hopes the people of the house would be thereby encouraged to receive me kindly. The horse made me a fign to go in firft; it was a large room with a fmooth clay floor, and a rack and manger, extending the whole length on one fide. There were three nags, and two mares not eating, but fome of them fitting down upon their hams, which I very much wondered at; but wondered more to see the reft employed in domeftic bufinefs, these feemed but ordinary cattle; however this confirmed my first opinion, that a people, who could fo far civilize brute animals, muft needs excel in wifdom all the nations of the world. The grey came in just after, and thereby prevented any ill treatment, which the others might have given me. He neighed to them feveral times in a ftyle of authority, and received answers.

Beyond this room there were three others reaching